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Basic Peace Officer Flashcards

7 cards from real TCOLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Basic Peace Officer flashcards as text

  1. What is the legal standard required before a Texas peace officer can conduct a pat-down (frisk) of a detained person?

    Answer: Reasonable belief the person is armed and dangerous

    A frisk is justified only when the officer has reasonable belief, based on specific facts, that the detained person is armed and presently dangerous.

  2. A Texas officer encounters an emotionally disturbed person (EDP) making erratic statements. Which initial approach is MOST consistent with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) principles?

    Answer: Slow down, lower voice, create distance, and actively listen

    CIT training emphasizes de-escalation: slowing the encounter, using a calm voice, creating safe distance, and listening actively.

  3. Under the Texas Penal Code, 'deadly force' is defined as force intended or known by the actor to cause:

    Answer: Death or serious bodily injury

    Texas Penal Code Section 9.01 defines deadly force as force intended or known to cause death or serious bodily injury.

  4. When writing an offense report, an officer should describe a suspect's race/ethnicity using:

    Answer: The victim's or witness's own description as stated to the officer

    Descriptors in offense reports should reflect what witnesses or victims stated, accurately capturing the reported description.

  5. A store security officer detains a shoplifting suspect until police arrive. This is authorized under Texas law as:

    Answer: Merchant's privilege — a statutory right to detain for reasonable investigation

    Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code provides merchants a privilege to detain persons suspected of shoplifting for a reasonable time to investigate.

  6. Which Texas statute establishes the basic duties of a peace officer, including preserving the peace and preventing offenses?

    Answer: Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.13

    Article 2.13 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure enumerates the duties of peace officers, including preserving the peace and preventing and suppressing crime.

  7. During a vehicle pursuit, an officer's FIRST obligation when the pursuit becomes unsafe is to:

    Answer: Notify dispatch and consider terminating the pursuit

    TCOLE guidelines and agency pursuit policies require officers to continuously evaluate risk and notify supervisors, with termination as an option when danger exceeds benefit.