Code of Criminal Procedure · Art. 2.13

Duties and Powers of Peace Officers

Duties and Powers of Peace Officers is covered under Art. 2.13 and tested on the TCOLE peace officer licensing exam. Cadets typically encounter this topic under "Officer Duties" on practice exams.

To prove this offense, the State must establish each of the following elements: Preserve the peace within jurisdiction; Interfere with and prevent crime; Execute all lawful process; Give notice of every offense; Arrest offenders without warrant where authorized.

Elements you must prove

  • Preserve the peace within jurisdiction
  • Interfere with and prevent crime
  • Execute all lawful process
  • Give notice of every offense
  • Arrest offenders without warrant where authorized

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Worked examples

Worked example 1

Under CCP Art. 2.13, the primary duty of every peace officer is to:

  1. Issue as many citations as possible
  2. Preserve the peace within the officer's jurisdiction; in addition, to use all lawful means to interfere with crime, prevent it, arrest offenders, and execute lawful process Correct
  3. Investigate only felony offenses
  4. Provide community outreach
Why: Art. 2.13 lays out the foundational duties: preserve the peace, interfere with and prevent crime, arrest offenders within the officer's jurisdiction, execute lawful process, give notice of every offense, and arrest without warrant where authorized.
Statute: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 2.13