The basic peace officer training course must be at least 720 hours and must cover a ban on certain neck restraints, an officer’s duty to intervene, and an officer’s duty to get medical help and provide first aid for injured people.
Sec. 1701.2551. BASIC PEACE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE. (a) The basic peace officer training course required as part of a peace officer training program under Section 1701.251(a) may be no less than 720 hours. (b) The basic peace officer training course must include training on: (1) the prohibition against the intentional use of a choke hold, carotid artery hold, or similar neck restraint by a peace officer in searching or arresting a person, unless the officer reasonably believes the restraint is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to or the death of the peace officer or another person; (2) the duty of a peace officer to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using force against a person suspected of committing an offense if: (A) the amount of force exceeds that which is reasonable under the circumstances; and (B) the officer knows or should know that the other officer's use of force: (i) violates state or federal law; (ii) puts a person at risk of bodily injury, as that term is defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, and is not immediately necessary to avoid imminent bodily injury to a peace officer or other person; and (iii) is not required to apprehend the person suspected of committing an offense; and (3) the duty of a peace officer who encounters an injured person while discharging the officer's official duties to immediately and as necessary request emergency medical services personnel to provide the person with emergency medical services and, while waiting for emergency medical services personnel to arrive, provide first aid or treatment to the person to the extent of the officer's skills and training, unless the request for emergency medical services personnel or the provision of first aid or treatment would expose the officer or another person to a risk of bodily injury or the officer is injured and physically unable to make the request or provide the treatment. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 722 (H.B. 3712), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2021.