Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Summary

TCOLE is Texas's peace-officer licensing and standards body. Nine members are appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent: three agency heads (sheriffs, constables, or chiefs), three licensed officers (two non-supervisory), and three public members. The commission holds binding authority to revoke or suspend individual officer licenses and agency authority to employ licensed officers (Sec. 1701.501). It has subpoena power to compel production of employment and personnel records relevant to license investigations (Sec. 1701.166), but the statute does not grant TCOLE independent authority to investigate use-of-force incidents at the scene. Terms are six-year staggered.