It is the objective of the Carrollton Police Department to perform with integrity and high ethical standards in order to work toward a common goal - the achievement of our Mission, Vision, and Values Statements.

The mission of the Carrollton Police Department is to proactively protect our community while treating all we encounter with professionalism, dignity, and respect.

The Carrollton Police Department takes our ability to limit freedom and seize persons and property very seriously. We strive to ensure that our policy and practice not only meet and/or exceed the recommendations of the state and federal governments, but more importantly safeguard the lives and property of our citizens.

We are constantly evaluating our training and the actions of our officers in the field. Accountability is a hallmark of our agency, and we are always listening to what the community expects of us.

Learn more about our use of force policies and procedures.

 Learn more about our use of force review process here. 

Chokeholds, strangleholds, and carotid restraints are specifically prohibited by the Carrollton Police Department. 

De-escalation is required and part of the culture of the Carrollton Police Department. Officers receive training in verbal judo, de-escalation techniques, and crisis intervention to deal with a variety of circumstances.  

All officers are taught and expected to treat the public with professionalism, dignity and respect.  We actively look for ways to bring calm to each situation we are called to respond to. 

These situations are often tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving; however, it is the practice of the Carrollton Police Department to make ourselves known and make every attempt to stop the threat without using deadly force.  Whenever feasible, officers are required to give warnings prior to engaging with any force, including deadly force.

Inherent in each officer’s values is the desire to protect human life.  We take this seriously and extend it to ourselves, those that call us for help, and those that we are called to investigate.

Required.  Primary officers, assisting officers, and supervisors would all be held accountable for an improper or excessive use of force. 

Officers are expected to intervene and have a duty to ensure that citizens are treated appropriately.  The Carrollton Police Department values all human life and requires specific justification for each application of force.

Firing at or from moving vehicles is expressly prohibited by the Carrollton Police Department unless an occupant of the vehicle is using or attempting to use deadly force on the officer or other persons. 

We require officers to make force decisions that are reasonable and necessary for the circumstances based on the information that they have at that moment in time. 

The report includes elements such as what legal reason the officer was there, what circumstance prompted the force response, the effectiveness of that force response, and what was done to care for the suspect after our response. 

Each incident is thoroughly reviewed by supervisors of escalating rank. The incident is also reviewed by a committee of officers and supervisors who are subject matter experts and training advisors to determine if the force was necessary and justified. 

The committee also suggests changes to our training to address any ways that our officers could be taught to deal with situations differently to make our actions more efficient and effective.

The Carrollton Police Department deployed body cameras to all officers in May of 2016. We were one of the first North Texas law enforcement agencies to do so. 

Every Carrollton Police Officer has a body camera assigned to them and all field officers are required to wear them daily. Body cameras are automatically activated when patrol car emergency lights are activated, and officers are required by policy to manually activate them for every other law enforcement encounter with a citizen.

The Carrollton Police Department uses the Axon camera system. 

We are an approved contractual training provider for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.  To be approved as a training provider applicant must pass an inspection of facilities and instructional materials.

Learn more about TCOLE here. 

Training starts as soon as new officers are hired.  Prior to the police academy, officers start at the Carrollton Police Department with a new hire orientation. The new recruits are then provided with all the equipment needed for the upcoming academy they will attend.  We are required to provide personnel orientation courses which must cover:

• Civil Service rules
• Compensation
• Personnel files and other employee records
• Management-employee relations in law enforcement
• Work-related injuries
• Complaints and investigations of employee misconduct
• Disciplinary actions and the agency’s internal appeal process  

It is also during this time that we provide our new recruits with the expectations of the Carrollton Police Department.

Next, our recruit officers attend a TCOLE Certified Law Enforcement Academy.  Like our agency, police academies are governed by TCOLE and must meet many requirements.  must be a law enforcement agency with a minimum of 75 full-time peace officers, county jailers, or telecommunicators; be an institution recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; or a regional planning commission or council of governments’ (COG) board. TCOLE-approved academies must, like our agency, also have a Training Advisory Board.

Currently we send recruits to two different basic police academies:

• Collin County College Law Enforcement Academy
• North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Police Academy. 

These academies are independent and provide their own training. Currently there are 114 approved training academies in the state of Texas. The current approved academy curriculum consists of 696 hours of training.  Both of our academies provide training above the state minimum.  We choose which academy to send recruits to based on timing on the police entrance exam and academy start date.

TCOLE approved curriculum provides what is required to be taught and both academies provide several different scenario-based trainings. The types of scenario training utilized consist of lecture, practical and comprehensive. Both academies have rigorous standards that must be met for recruits to pass the academy.  During the time spent at the academy recruits are also provided several content-based exams.  We require our recruits to achieve a score of 80 or above on all tests which is above what the academies and state require.

Learn more about the minimum basic requirements of a TCOLE-approved academy here. 

Prior to the conclusion of both academies, all recruits must pass a comprehensive final exam consisting of information taught during the academies. All recruits must also pass the State Licensing Exam created by TCOLE that covers all of the learning objectives. Both exams are completed under TCOLE rules and are fully proctored by certified academy staff. The state licensing test is performed digitally and is graded independently by TCOLE.

Once a recruit graduates from the academy and successfully passes the TCOLE state licensing exam, they are sworn in as Carrollton Police Officers and begin the next phase of training.

Upon return to the Carrollton Police Department the recruits enter our In-Service Training Program.  This additional layer of training is department-specific and instills our agency's expectations and values. All the training provided meets or exceeds TCOLE training standards.

In-Service training lasts five weeks.  Recruit officers receive additional training on the following topics:

• City of Carrollton Geography: Recruits are expected to learn major roadways, highways, intersections, school locations, government building locations, and high call locations.  This course prepares the recruits for the knowledge needed to efficiently and effectively navigate the City.

• Defensive Tactics/Arrest Control (Pressure Point Control Tactics, Gracie Survival Tactics): We provide additional training in this area to ensure our officers are using the correct methods that we allow.  Officers are taught the proper arrest control techniques that are intended to establish control of subjects and provide a margin of safety for the officer.  To achieve the lawful objective of control and maintain the highest possible degree of officer safety, the Carrollton Police Department requires that officers receive this training and utilize approved arrest control techniques.  Officers are tested on the techniques and must pass an exam showing to certified instructors that they can perform the techniques properly.

• Less Lethal Training (Baton, Taser, Bean Bag Weapons): Officers receive training on the proper use of each of these.  For Taser and bean bag weapons, officers must demonstrate proper handling and application knowledge. Baton instruction provides hands-on training in the proper deployment and use of expandable batons.

• Firearms: Officers are held to a higher qualification standard than the state and academies require.  We provide additional training in weapons usage, care, policy, low light shooting, decision-making scenarios, and weapons malfunctions.

• Driving Training: Officers are provided with knowledge about safe driving practices.  We cover historical data both from within our agency and outside to speak about the high rate of crashes officers are involved in.  The goal of this course is to ensure officers understand the expectations of driving safely.

• Building Searches, Ballistic Shield: Police vehicles are equipped with ballistic shields for officers to use in high-risk situations.  We teach our recruits the proper usage of the shield and how to safely yet effectively perform comprehensive building searches.  One of the top calls for service is building alarms and we must have officers that can safely perform building searches.  The methods taught provide the maximum amount of safety for the officers so they can safely determine if a crime has been committed or if the building or houses were simply left unlocked.

• Traffic Stops (High Risk and Low Risk): Officers must know how to safely conduct both low risk and high-risk traffic stops.  We teach our recruits using both classroom and practical exercises to conduct this training.  We demand professionalism during traffic stops.  This is the number one type of contact most people have with police and often the most dangerous.  We teach the proper way to hold equipment, speak with people, and how to diffuse and de-escalate difficult encounters.  Officers are taught how to properly use the ticket writer including how to capture racial profiling data as required by state law.

• Radar/Lidar: In order to properly use the speed detection equipment officers must be properly trained. Speed is the number one cause of traffic accidents.  We expect our officers to understand the legal requirements of using the equipment, how to use the equipment, and how to testify in court relating to the use of the equipment.

• Application of Penal Code:  During the academy, recruits learn aspects of the penal code.  For example, what is a crime and what is not a crime.  We feel that the training needs to go further.  During this in-service class we provide recruits with hands-on scenarios to see how they think.  Roleplay is used to ensure that officers have the knowledge to effectively determine if a crime occurred, the type of crime that occurred, and the proper response. 

• ALERRT (Active Shooter Response): Focused active shooter response training is critical to ensuring that officers understand how to properly respond to these high-stress incidents and that they have the knowledge necessary to provide emergency trauma care including the application of tourniquets. 

• Narcan: The Carrollton Police Department established a Naloxone program in an effort to treat and reduce serious injuries or fatalities resulting from opioid/opiate overdoses. We will provide our officers access to Naloxone (also known as Narcan) in the form of a nasal spray for the purpose of treating another officer who may inadvertently be exposed to opioids, or to any person they may encounter suffering from a possible opioid drug overdose or exposure

• VirTra Training Simulations: This is an interactive video training simulator that helps us prepare recruits for real-life incidents.  The simulator has extremely real scenarios that provide us with an in-depth look into our recruits’ knowledge and performance under stress. We can set up scenarios that we control such as compliant-noncompliant individuals, people in crisis, and shoot/don't shoot situations.   Today's law enforcement officer must make critical decisions in tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving situations.  This training simulator allows us to put our officers in these situations without leaving the station. 

After In-Service Training, Recruit Officers enter Field Training.  We currently use the San Jose Model for Field Training. This program is used by police departments worldwide and is considered the standard for recruit training. 

Our program consists of four separate phases for a total of 16 weeks. Recruits begin in phase one observing a senior training officer and end in phase four doing 100% of the work while being observed.    

Typically, the recruit officers will have three different training officers during their time in Field Training.  This is typically the most strenuous part of training for the recruits.  They are expected to have the knowledge to perform the job and now must take that knowledge and apply it in real-life scenarios.  Our Field Training Officers work extremely hard to ensure the recruit officers are properly trained to do the job.  Recruits are monitored the entire time and are rated using the Standardized Evaluation Guidelines as follows.

1. Driving Skills: Normal Conditions
2. Driving Skills: Stress Conditions
3. Orientation/Response To Calls
4. Field Performance: Stress Conditions and Non-Stress Conditions
5. Self-Initiated Activity
6. Officer Safety
7. Control of Conflict: Verbal
8. Control of Conflict: Physical
9. Radio Usage
10. Routine Forms
11. Report Writing
12. Investigative Skills
13. Interview/Interrogation Skills
14. Problem Solving/Decision Making
15. Departmental Policies/Procedures
16. Knowledge of Penal Code, Criminal Procedure, City Ordinances, Transportation Code
17. Acceptance of Feedback
18. Attitude Toward Police Work
19. Relationship with Public  
20. Relationship with Minority Groups  
21. Relationships with Co-Workers  
22. General Appearance

During this time if deficiencies are identified, recruits will receive additional training to get them to the expected standards.  If needed, remedial training will be offered, but not all recruit officers complete field training.  Some decide during this time the job is not for them while others struggle to do the job and simply are not cut out for it. 

Once field training is complete, all officers are subject to a probationary period required by Texas Civil Service Law.  Officers with no prior experience must serve 18 months probation and those with prior service as a Texas Peace Officer must serve a 12-month probation.

At any time during the probationary period, an employee may be dismissed without cause or disciplined for cause without the privilege of appeal to the Carrollton Civil Service Commission.  Supervisors are required to complete monthly evaluations of probationary employees.  The evaluation must include, at a minimum, evaluation in the following areas:

1. Self-initiated Activity (traffic enforcement, on-view arrests, DWI enforcement, pedestrian traffic, field interview cards, etc.)
2. Officer Safety
3. Requisite Knowledge
4. Decision Making
5. Report Writing/Attention to Detail
6. Relationships with Peers, Supervisors, and the Public
7. Acceptance of Feedback
8. Current and Future Performance and/or Career Goals
9. Attendance
10. Vehicle Operation, Equipment Care and Maintenance

Prior to completing the report, the supervisor must ride alongside the probationary employee for a minimum of four (4) hours per reporting period.  These evaluation reports completed by the supervisor are reviewed by the entire chain of command ending with the employee’s respective bureau chief.  

Once employees complete the probationary period, training continues. The Carrollton Police Department has stringent ongoing training requirements.

TCOLE has regulatory training that it requires year to year.  TCOLE Rule 218.3 explains the specifics of the required continuing education.  At a minimum, TCOLE requires all peace officers complete at least 40 hours of continuing education. We require more. Every two years, TCOLE requires that we offer our officers a legislative update course along with others that become legislatively mandated during the training cycle.   Please see below for the current training cycle TCOLE requirements.

Texas Occupations Code § 1701.351. Continuing Education Required for Peace Officers

Texas Occupations Code § 1701.352. Continuing Education Programs

1. CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed
2. Social Media for Law Enforcement
3. Sexual Harassment
4. Legal Update
5. Police Bias
6. Defensive Tactics
7. High Risk Stops
8. Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training
9. Building Searches
10. Firearms
11. Controlled Electrical Weapons
12. Verbal De-escalation
13. Police Vehicle Operations
14. Virtra Simulator

The de-escalation training material presented to our officers was developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).  PERF was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization and a provider of management service, technical assistance and executive-level education. 

The de-escalation model we use is known as Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics.(ICAT)  This program is designed to provide officers with the tools, skills, and options they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents.  PERF received input from hundreds of police professionals to create this course.  ICAT incorporates different skill sets into a unified training approach that emphasizes scenario-based exercises, as well as lecture and case studies.

Our specialized units including Motorcycle, Bicycle Officers, SWAT, Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement, K9, Crime Scene, along with others. These require extensive ongoing training that is offered both on site and through partner agencies and external training providers. These units perform specific job functions and a one-time certification is not enough for continued success.

TCOLE licensed peace officers have several different levels of certifications.  When you are first licensed you are considered a Peace Officer.  The state has additional certificates which are:

• Basic Peace Officer
• Intermediate Peace Officer
• Advanced Peace Officer
• Master Peace Officer 

With each certificate comes many hours of additional training beyond the basic certificate.  While many departments leave these certificates up to the officer to obtain, we at the Carrollton Police Department manage these for our officers and are consistently sending officers to the training needed to obtain their next level certificate.  When you invest in your employees you tend to get much better results.  The links to see the specific certificates can be found here.

• Basic Peace Officer Proficiency Certification
• Intermediate Peace Officer Proficiency Certification
  • CPD Officers with Intermediate: 20
• Advanced Peace Officer Proficiency Certification
  • CPD Officers with Advanced:     19
• Master Peace Officer Proficiency Certification
  • CPD Officers with Master:          95

Training does not stop when you get promoted above the rank of Officer.  Chief Miller requires additional training for supervisors. Some of the programs we use are the following;

• The Center for American and International Law: Institute for Law Enforcement Administration School of Police Supervision

• Police Command Staff Training

• Managing Training Programs

• Servant Leadership

• Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute, Management/Supervision Seminar

• Command Staff Leadership Series

• FBI National Academy

• Texas Police Chiefs Association

• Police Executive Research Forum

On October 1, 1973, the citizens of the city of Carrollton voted to adopt Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code ("TLGC"), providing for both the Police and Fire Departments to operate under civil services laws. All sworn police officers are classified as civil service employees and, along with the City as an entity, must adhere to the provisions of both Chapter 143 of TLGC and the City of Carrollton Civil Service Local Rules and Regulations ("Local Rules"). Pursuant to state law, the purpose of civil service is to secure an efficient police department composed of capable personnel who are free from political influence.

The Commission meets as needed to address the following:

• Amendments to the Local Rules
• Investigation and inspections relating to the enforcement and effect of Chapter 143
• The proper conduct of Commission business
• The proper conduct, review, and approval of examinations for entry level and promotional eligibility
• The proper conduct, review, appeal, and approval of promotional examination and examination scoring
• The prescribed cause(s) for the removal, indefinite suspension (termination), or suspension of a civil service employee
• The procedures for the hearing of disciplinary appeals concerning indefinite suspension (termination), suspensions, promotional pass-over, or recommended demotions.
• Such other matters reasonably related to the selection, promotion, and discipline of civil service employees

The Compliance Manager is an independent, civilian position in the Office of the Chief of Police, completely separate from Professional Standards and Internal Affairs. The Compliance Manger has multiple duties, but primarily acts as the Internal Auditor for the department. The Compliance Manager can inspect any division, unit, or section of the department at the direction of the Chief of Police. 

Audit and inspection reports are delivered directly to the Chief of Police for his review. Reports consist of both scheduled and unscheduled audits throughout the year. Many audits include assistance from outside agencies including the Texas Department of Public Safety, TCOLE, and Texas Police Chiefs' Association.  

Policy and Procedure in the Carrollton Police Department is constantly being reviewed to ensure we meet all standards set by TPCA, the State of Texas, and the federal government.

The Compliance Manager is part of a policy group across cities of the metroplex that share ideas on how to improve our processes daily. All general orders must be reviewed every two years, and all standard operating procedures every three. Policy is reviewed so often that the PD rarely gets to those time limits. For example, the Use of Force Policy is reviewed annually with the assistance of the training unit and the Use of Force Committee to ensure subject matter experts have input at all levels. 

The Carrollton Police Department voluntarily participates in the Texas Police Chiefs Association Recognition Program. Our Department has been recognized since 2009.

Becoming and staying recognized involves annual reporting, phone interviews, and desk audits to ensure compliance with 168 standards. The original standards were developed by a task force of Texas law enforcement professionals who had extensive experience in the law enforcement accreditation process.  Input was sought from numerous other state accreditation programs as well as a detailed review of Texas statutes and rules of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. 

The best practices represent the basic practices needed to address critical issues within the law enforcement profession in Texas.