Texas launches online tool allowing citizens to look up officer licenses

By Joanna Putman
Police1

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has launched an online license lookup tool that allows the public to search and view the status of current and former licensed Texas police officers, KXAN reported.

Trending

Officer-Involved Shootings

Mass. officer shoots off-duty colleague during confrontation while trying to serve her restraining order

Three North Andover Police officers went to serve a restraining order to Kelsey Fitzsimmons, who was on administrative leave; a “confrontation” then led to one officer firing shots

July 02, 2025 10:03 AM

Artificial Intelligence

Maine PD apologizes after posting AI-edited drug bust photos on social media

Westbrook PD officials said an officer tried to add the department’s logo to the photo with an AI tool, but mistakenly edited multiple elements of the photo

July 02, 2025 10:31 AM

Officer-Involved Shootings

BWC: Suspect fires at Texas officers, wounding 1 before fatal OIS

The El Paso officers sought cover in multiple areas, but each time they did, the suspect ran to a location where he could point the gun directly at them

July 02, 2025 12:23 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Legal

CHP to pay $10M to family of suspect who was high on meth, reached for gun before OIS

The suspect was convicted of assaulting an officer and other charges after the shooting, but a jury later found the officers used unreasonable force

July 01, 2025 01:56 PM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Previously, obtaining these records required submitting an official request under the Texas Public Information Act, according to the report.

“Transparency in government is a cornerstone of public trust,” said TCOLE Executive Director Greg Stevens in a news release. “The Public License Lookup is an important way that TCOLE can support that transparency and is directly in line with our mission to ensure that Texans are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement personnel.”

The license lookup tool, which requires a simple registration, provides access to information such as records of training, license issue dates, training compliance and education, according to the report. TCOLE emphasized that no private or personally identifying information is available in the database, and measures have been taken to ensure that records of undercover officers are not displayed.