Third-Party School-Based Law Enforcement Resources

The links on this page point to resources developed by third parties. The Fund does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided in these outside sources. This information is not legal advice and is neither an exhaustive treatment on the subject nor is it intended to substitute for the advice of an attorney. Consult with your school attorney for guidance on any principles discussed or referenced. Information provided in this document is subject to change without notice and the Fund makes no warranties, either expressed or implied.

On This Page

• Policies
• Grants
• Training
• Personnel
• Memorandums of Understanding

Policies

• TASB Polices: The CKE policy series addresses SBLE in school districts. The CHA series applies to SBLE and community colleges.
• Texas Police Chiefs Association Policy Manual*: These sample policies outline police department organization, authority, and the policy and procedure manual.

*The TPCAF’s sample policies are not customized for school districts. There are significant legal differences in the regulation of peace officers employed by a school district compared to peace officers employed by other governmental entities. School district police department policies should not be adopted without being reviewed by a school attorney and should not be identical to policies of city police departments.

• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Model Policies: Policies include duty to intervene, report excessive force, and render aid; prohibition against chokeholds; body worn cameras, hiring procedures; misconduct allegations; and personnel files.
• A La Carte Policies from Other Agencies: Access model polices for body cameras, computer security, canine encounters, vehicular pursuit, social media, evidence room inspections, and more.

Grants

These grants are subject to change and may become unavailable without notice, so stay up to date concerning their availability, deadlines, and requirements. 

• Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement: This federal grant provides funding to law enforcement agencies to promote safe outcomes during police encounters with persons in crisis through relevant training.
• State of Texas eGrants: eGrants is the online grant management system used by Public Safety Office Programs.
• Department of Justice COPS Grant: A variety of grants are available. Examples include de-escalation training, crisis intervention, and school violence prevention.
• TEA Safety and Facilities Enhancement Grant: This Texas Education Agency grant helps local education agencies meet the state’s new safety standards for educational facilities.

Training

• Training Requirements: The Texas Education Agency and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement break down training requirements for a variety of SBLE professionals, including school district peace officers, school resource officers, school marshals, and school guardians.
• Texas School Safety Center (TXSSC) Trainings: The TxSSC offers no-cost, TCOLE-accredited school-based law enforcement training virtually and in person.
• Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE): The CRASE course provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. The course is available at all regional education service centers and the Texas School Safety Center.
• National Association of School Resource Officers (NASR): NASR offers a variety of training throughout the year, including basic and advanced SRO courses.
• Texas Law Enforcement Recognition Program Training Documents: Training topics include biased-based profiling, harassment prevention, firearms, deadly force, background investigations, performance evaluations, media relations, interrogations, investigative interviewing, sworn employee safety, ethics, evidence collection, patrol operations, searches, seizures and arrests, vehicle operations, and other supplemental material.

Personnel

• Mandated SBLE Personnel Qualifications: Texas Commission on Law Enforcement rules regulate the qualifications of and certification options for licensed peace officers.
• TASB HR Services Model Job Descriptions: Includes sample job descriptions for chief of police, police officer, police lieutenant, police sergeant, director of safety and security, police dispatcher, armed/unarmed security guard, and security technician.
• Establishing Appropriate Staffing Levels for Campus Public Safety Departments: Learn how efficient resource allocation and effective work schedules help campus public safety departments and their institutions establish appropriate staffing levels and identify opportunities to engage in or expand community policing activities on campus.
• Performance-Based Approach to Police Staffing and Allocation: Glean a practical, step-by-step approach any agency can follow to assess its patrol staffing needs based on workload and performance objectives.
• SRO Performance Evaluation: A Guide to Getting Results: Learn how to assess school resource officer performance based on results/outcomes (e.g., reducing school crime and disorder) rather than activities (e.g., how many classroom presentations the SRO conducted).

Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)

• SRO MOU Fact Sheet: The Department of Justice breaks down key elements of MOUs between school districts and local law enforcement who provide school resource officers.
• TXSSC Safety and Security Agreements Toolkit: The Texas School Safety Center offers MOU, Mutual Aid Agreement, and Interlocal Agreement samples and templates.