TCLEOSE

[MinhWin]

TCLEOSE is the board that handles the licensing for Texas Peace Officer. I am wondering how come they considered deferred adjudication of a Class A misdemeanor a conviction which disqualifies a lot of applicants who messed up when they were younger? Will TCLEOSE ever change their policies regarding this in the rules 215.15. In the P.C. 42.12, once deferred adjudication had been completed successfully, the charges will be dismissed and will not be a conviction. Aren't TCLEOSE bending the Texas Penal Code which makes it unfair for a lot of people.

[boomerang]

It would be unfair to me and thousands of other people with a CHL and no criminal record who aren't allowed to carry in bars and schools if someone with a criminal record was allowed to become a cop and carry places we can't.

[LaUser]

Getting a CHL and becoming a law enforcement officer are two different mutually exclusive things.

The criteria for both should be high and in my opinion qualifying to become a police officer should be difficult, with very high standards. The only basis of judging possible future actions is past actions. Even then it is difficult to judge correctly. Nobody is perfect and officers with spotless records have given into temptation.

I think law enforcement officers need to be better screened than the average CHL because they have greater responsibilities. No offense to anyone.

[boomerang]

In LA maybe.....but they're not mutually exclusive in Texas.

[KRM45]

Getting a CHL and becoming a law enforcement officer are two different mutually exclusive things.

They are certainly two different things, but not mutually exclusive. I hold both a peace officer license and a CHL. As long as I am able to, I won't let either one of them lapse...

As far as the OP, the Penal Code does not set the minnumum standards for TCLEOSE, this is found in the Occupations Code, title 10. Setting minimum standards for licensure is appropriate, and I happen to believe that setting the bar higher for peace officers than for CHL's is appropriate. Many on this board believe that there should be no need to have a license to carry a gun for selfe defense, I doubt you would find anyone that feels no license or training should be required of police officers.

[G.A. Heath]

As far as the OP, the Penal Code does not set the minnumum standards for TCLEOSE, this is found in the Occupations Code, title 10. Setting minimum standards for licensure is appropriate, and I happen to believe that setting the bar higher for peace officers than for CHL's is appropriate. Many on this board believe that there should be no need to have a license to carry a gun for selfe defense, I doubt you would find anyone that feels no license or training should be required of police officers.

I agree whole heartedly that there should be very strict standards for both training and qualifications of Peace Officers in Texas (and anywhere else). These guys are people the public should be able to trust without hesitation unless circumstances warrant otherwise. As for CHLs I believe There should be no licensed required to carry open or concealed but the option should be there (With current or better standards) for those who go out of state and need a CHL to carry.

[MinhWin]

It would be unfair to me and thousands of other people with a CHL and no criminal record who aren't allowed to carry in bars and schools if someone with a criminal record was allowed to become a cop and carry places we can't.

People with criminal records that have lapsed a certain period of time can have a CHL. In my opinion, I believe TCLEOSE should look at each person's record to determine eligibility. There are people who TCLEOSE certified that I've heard such as Jailers or Peace Officers who become Police Officers violates the law all the time. Jailers sneak in drugs and contraband to immates. Jailers are hired at 18 with no criminal record because they haven't got arrested yet so their record is clean. Same goes for Police Officers.

I understand people aren't perfect and each situation should be taken into consideration. I'm writing this is because I was arrested over 10 years ago and was charged with a Class A misdemeanor when my old neighbor needed to borrow my car to go buy some food but I didn't want to let him drive it by himself so I went with him but I was sick so I let him drove. He sped and got pulled over and didn't have his driver license. The police officer made him get out of the car. Few minutes later the police officer asked me what his name was and I was being honest and gave it to him First, Middle and Last name. The officer said that was not his name and arrested me. I found out that my friend had an arrest warrant for traffic tickets and I was arrested for Hindering Apprehension. What I didn't know was when he got his US Citizenship he took an American First name so the system showed a different first name then I have given. Bad luck Yes it is.

Hired a lawyer from those flyers I got in the mail and she said best thing to do is get it deferred adjudication on it so I thought lawyers know best so I agreed. Now as I am old I wish I had taken it to trial because I would of won.

Not all CHL holders are responsible. It does not mean if you have a CHL you are a person that the public can trust. There are a lot of Criminals who have clean records. They're smart and haven't got arrested yet.

By the way with all of this, I have my CHL because the requirements are fair compared to TCLEOSE. Since my arrest, I have never gotten in trouble. I am an IT Director for a big oil and energy company, got my Masters at UT Austin, and under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure is not considered to be at fault for a Class A misdemeanor but under TCLEOSE I am.

I am writing about this is because my friend wants to be a police officer in the State of Texas and he can't because of a deferred adjudication which TCLEOSE considers as a conviction while the penal code system does not. Unfair. You tell me.

[roberts]

I am writing about this is because my friend wants to be a police officer in the State of Texas and he can't because of a deferred adjudication which TCLEOSE considers as a conviction while the penal code system does not. Unfair. You tell me.

I'll tell you this. If he got deferred adjudication after admitting guilt then that's completely fair.