Dallas Police Department Policy Manual

The Dallas Police Department (DPD) publishes its General Orders online, organizing core policies into numbered sections that describe the department's authority, structure, use of force standards, pursuit guidelines, complaint procedures, and internal investigations. The General Orders function as the backbone of DPD operations, giving officers and supervisors a detailed framework for how the department expects them to act, document, and make decisions in a large and complex metropolitan environment.

For Dallas PD promotion prep, start by understanding the structure of the General Orders: how sections are numbered, what each group covers, and where the highest-risk topics sit. Build a written or digital index that lists each major section, then mark:

- Sections that carry **high liability** (use of force, pursuits, internal investigations, complaints).
- Sections that are **supervisor-heavy** (span of control, discipline, evaluations, critical incident command).

As you work through each chapter, write a short “supervisor summary” that answers three questions: (1) What does this policy require me to do as a sergeant/lieutenant? (2) What must I approve, document, or report? (3) What are the consequences if I fail to do it? This turns the manual into a practical decision-making tool instead of a stack of text.

Key DPD policy areas to focus on for promotion study include:

- **Use of force and response to resistance** – definitions, reporting requirements, review processes, and supervisor responsibilities after a force incident.
- **Vehicle pursuits and emergency driving** – initiation thresholds, risk evaluation, multi-unit coordination, and termination expectations.
- **Internal investigations and discipline** – complaint intake, investigation steps, officer rights, and potential outcomes.
- **Professional conduct and ethics** – rules governing honesty, off-duty conduct, secondary employment, and social media.
- **Arrest, search, and detention** – legal thresholds, prisoner handling, and special populations.
- **Documentation and notifications** – when supervisors must respond in person, create written reports, or notify command staff.

Promotion candidates should aim to link each of these topics to realistic Dallas-style scenarios, rather than memorizing wording in isolation.

For Dallas PD promotional testing:

1. **Expect scenario-heavy questions.** Many exam items are framed as calls for service, use of force incidents, or complaint situations where you must choose the most policy-compliant response.
2. **Highlight mandatory language.** As you read, mark every “shall” or “must” and pay attention to who is responsible for the action (officer, supervisor, or command-level).
3. **Create comparison charts.** Build quick tables comparing force options, pursuit conditions, and complaint dispositions so you can quickly recall patterns.
4. **Practice verbal explanations.** Even if the written test is multiple choice, practice explaining your decisions out loud as if you were in an oral board or debriefing a critical incident under DPD policy.