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City Council Meeting Minutes July 7, 2020 applicants whether already certified or not. Applicants must comply with all applicable Civil Service requirements and regulations. Additionally, The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has clear rules on eligibility and licensing for individuals to be Peace Officers. Chief Klett explained the hiring process: • Written exam that includes cognitive skills, reading comprehension and memory skills. • Candidate Fitness: the department has adopted one of the methods used by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to assess officer and candidate fitness and readiness * Extensive background process that includes a polygraph test. The process is done in person and we invest time in the background process to remove candidates that do not meet the department's high standards. • The candidates who pass the background process goes before an oral interview board of police staff to determine communication skills, qualifications and character and final interview will be with Chief of Police. • Psychological examination is a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirement and we use an independent psychologist • a pre-employment physical and drug screen is required for officers. Random drug screens are done for all staff throughout their career. • Training is conducted in local basic police officer academies. Following each candidate; attends an in house mini academy that teaches our standards and our expectations above TCOLE requirements, field training rotating with different specifically trained officers before released to solo patrol. Officers who are released to solo patrol are on probation for one year of the release date. Community standards are emphasize. Choke and Strangle Holds Initiative: SMPD Policy Reference under 6.1 Response to Resistance and Aggression V. Limitations on Force: The department does not allow any of its employees to use choke holds or carotid artery neck restraints; the only exception shall be when the officer involved is justified in the use of deadly force. Any employee using such force will cease immediately upon control of the subject (normally when the person has been handcuffed or no longer actively resisting) and begin the application of an appropriate medical response, if needed. This is a recent policy change due to a change in the standards at the TPCA. Additionally, we have distributed reminder emails from the training cadre that City of San Marcos Page 4