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Archive Article

Police Education in Texas – A Status Report

By Wallace D. Beasley

Executive Director, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education

Reprinted from the October, 1968 issue of the Texas Police Journal

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education was created because
officers of Texas wanted it created. It was an idea conceived by many officers and formed through the
work of many committees.

The law was written by a joint committee, chaired by Mr. C. C. Benson, National Automobile Theft
Bureau, and composed of representatives from all police agencies. It was given the breath of life when
the Legislature enacted the law that was sponsored by Senator Jack Hightower of Vernon.

September 1, 1967, the program of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education officially got under way with the appointment of a director and four staff members. Employed
as training consultants were Mr. Wordie W. Burrow, who came to the Commission from the Abilene
Police Department where he was assistant training officer; Mr. Fred Toler, former Chief of Police at
Kingsville. The secretary for the Commission is Mrs. Sally Jo Griffith, who was transferred from the
Department of Public Safety to our agency. Our file clerk and typist is Mrs. Thelma Stevenson.

REGIONAL TRAINING CENTERS

Lamar Tech, Beaumont
The staff of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education organized,
developed curriculum, and coordinated the initial police school for the Lamar Tech Training Center at
Beaumont. This school was organized for the purpose of making training available to over 400 officers
in Jefferson County, in order that they might meet the minimum curriculum as recommended by this
Commission. Mr. Roland R. Howerton, retired police officer from the Fort Worth Police Department,
was hired on a consultant basis to coordinate this program. He was assisted by W. W. Burrow, consultant
for the Commission. The first class had 20 officers enrolled, with 19 completing this 160 hour course.

East Texas State University, Commerce
Another training center sponsored by the Commission has been established at the East Texas State
University of Commerce. The minimum curriculum, as recommended by the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, was broken down into four units to be taught one unit at
a time for this particular training program. This program will be conducted in cooperation with the
continuing educational department of East Texas State University.

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