The Fort Worth Police Department is pleased and excited to announce that the department was recently recognized as a recipient of the Texas Police Chief's Association Recognition Program. The program is a voluntary process where police agencies in Texas prove their compliance with 168 Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices. Being 'recognized' means that an agency has proven it meets all of the identified Best Practices for Texas Law Enforcement. The practices cover various aspects of law enforcement: use of force, protection of citizen rights, pursuits, property and evidence management, and patrol and investigative operations. A committee of police chiefs and command level officers assisted in the development of standards deemed to be necessary for proper functioning of Texas law enforcement agencies. The committee reviewed Texas law and other state accreditation program standards to determine which standards were most appropriate for the program.
The Recognition Program assures citizens that their police department is operating in a manner that reflects the current practices of law enforcement. The recognized status is for a four year period; the Fort Worth Police Department must submit an annual report and show continued compliance within several performance related standards.