TCLEOSE is now TCOLE

By OSS Academy Staff | Wed, 4 Dec 2013

OSS Academy® has received numerous questions regarding whether or not the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education [TCLEOSE] is changing their name to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement [TCOLE].

The quick answer is yes, TCLEOSE is now TCOLE.

For all of us old school Texas law enforcement officers and trainers … even saying TCOLE vs. TCLEOSE has proven difficult.

During the TCOLE Training Coordinators’ conference in Corpus Christi in October 2013 there was a formal TCOLE Speakspresentation by Chief Kim Vickers, Executive Director and Mr. John Helenberg, Director of Agency Operations for TCOLE.  First on the list, “Why the name change?”

Their response to this question was to inform the Texas TCOLE Training Coordinators that the name change was regulatory in nature and because TCOLE is continuing to enhance their customer service role.

83(R) SB 686 Bill Analysis conducted by the Senate Research Center goes on to explain:

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) has experienced a lot of confusion as to the nature of its mission.  Most of that confusion stems from its history and is exacerbated by its name, as it still reflects a mainly training and education mission.

In the 47 years since it was created, the role of TCLEOSE has evolved, through legislative direction, from a training and education role to a regulatory role.  As a regulatory agency, its mission is to “establish and enforce standards to ensure that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications personnel.”  To fulfill its mission, TCLEOSE is not only responsible for the licensing and certifications of Texas peace officers, county jailers, and telecommunicators, but also investigates both administrative and criminal violations of law related to the agency’s mission.

S.B. 686 changes the name of TCLEOSE to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement effective January 1, 2014, in order to “rebrand” the commission so that its name more accurately reflects its mission statement and purpose as a regulatory agency, and requires the commission to adopt a schedule for phasing in that name change so as to minimize the fiscal impact of the name change.

As proposed, S.B. 686 amends current law relating to the change of the name of the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

OSS Academy® will be transitioning all of our information from TCLEOSE to TCOLE slowly over the next six months.  Many of our web pages and downloadable Texas Online Training Course literature has already been modified.

Our hats are off to TCOLE, the Commissioners, Chief Vickers, Mr. Helenberg, and their entire staff.  OSS Academy® staff has nothing but great things to say about working with each member on their team.

About OSS Academy

To learn more about OSS Academy® contact our Training Coordinator at 281-288-9190 ext. 205.