TLEA Mission statement &Political Priorities

TLEA Mission Statement

The Texas Law Enforcement Association (TLEA) advocates for the integrity, authority, and equality of all Texas Peace Officers. We defend the Texas Peace Officer License as the single standard of professional qualification and oppose legislative carve-outs that divide officers by agency or classification. Our mission is to ensure every licensed peace officer is treated with:

 Equal Standards. Equal Service. Equal Respect.

The Texas Law Enforcement Association was founded to defend the integrity, authority, and equality of the Texas Peace Officer License. Our platform is built on a simple belief: one license should mean one standard of authority for all who serve. Across Texas, peace officers share the same training, licensing, and professional responsibilities yet new legislation has begun to divide officers by agency type, classification, or employment status. TLEA exists to ensure that every licensed peace officer receives equal recognition, authority, and respect under the law.

Defend the Texas Peace Officer License

The Texas Peace Officer License represents the highest professional standard in our state’s public safety system. TLEA advocates for laws that preserve the authority and credibility of that license and opposes any measure that restricts or redefines a peace officer’s powers after licensure. We believe that once an officer has met the training and certification requirements of Chapter 1701, Texas Occupations Code, they should be recognized as a peace officer in full standing, regardless of agency or assignment.

End Legislative Carve-Outs

Recent legislation has begun to narrow or redefine peace-officer authority based on agency classification creating different levels of enforcement power among equally licensed officers. TLEA opposes all statutory carve-outs that undermine equality within the profession. We work to repeal or amend laws that divide peace officers by employment status or jurisdictional restrictions, which limit or redefine peace-officer authority for non-full-time and specialized officers.

Promote Professional Growth and Training Access

TLEA supports expanded access to affordable, high-quality training and continuing education. We believe officers and agencies should be empowered to conduct more in-house instruction, strengthen interagency partnerships, and share training resources statewide. Our goal is to build professional capacity while reducing financial and administrative burdens for small and rural departments.

Protecting Local Control of Law Enforcement

Local communities should have the right to shape their law enforcement priorities and maintain operational independence. TLEA supports policies that keep decision-making authority within local governments and opposes unnecessary state overreach or unfunded mandates that strain smaller agencies. We advocate for balanced reform that strengthens accountability while respecting local autonomy.

Ensure Fair Representation for Small and Rural Agencies

State policy discussions often favor large departments and urban interests, leaving rural and small-town officers unheard. TLEA exists to give those officers a seat at the table. We engage directly with legislators, TCOLE, and state leaders to ensure that the realities of small-agency policing are considered in every reform.

Support Common-Sense Legislative Reform

Through the TLEA Political Action Committee (PAC), we support candidates from any political party who stand for fairness, equal authority, and professional respect for all Texas Peace Officers. We will continue to oppose legislation that divides the profession and to advance reforms that strengthen public safety, professionalism, and officer well-being.

Our Commitment

TLEA’s mission is to protect the equality and professionalism of Texas law enforcement.
We advocate for legislation that:

• Recognizes all TCOLE-licensed peace officers as equal under the law.
• Preserves the integrity and authority of the Texas Peace Officer License.
• Ensure every officer, regardless of assignment, can serve their community with equal respect and recognition.

Because in Texas, there should only be one profession, one standard, and one license.