Fort Worth Police Department Policy Manual

The Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) publishes its General Orders online as the core rules and regulations that govern officer behavior, operations, supervision, and administrative practices. The General Orders describe the department's organization, authority, code of conduct, use of force standards, vehicle operations, complaint handling, and internal investigations, providing a detailed framework for daily operations in a large and rapidly growing Texas city.

For FWPD promotion prep, begin with the General Orders table of contents and identify which sections have the highest impact on liability and supervision. Structure your study into three layers:

- **Layer 1 – High-liability operations:** use of force, pursuits, arrests, searches, and detainee handling.
- **Layer 2 – Supervision & discipline:** incident command, performance management, internal investigations, and corrective action.
- **Layer 3 – Administrative duties:** documentation, training, evaluations, and personnel matters.

Within each layer, create short “policy briefs” that describe the purpose of the order, the allowed options, the prohibited actions, and the exact points where a supervisor must step in. Your goal is to be able to quickly connect a real-world situation to the right Fort Worth policy and explain how you would handle it.

Important FWPD policy areas for promotion-focused study include:

- **Use of force and weapons** – definitions, reporting requirements, review mechanisms, and expectations for de-escalation.
- **Vehicle pursuits and emergency driving** – initiation criteria, risk assessment, pursuit responsibilities, and termination requirements.
- **Arrests, searches, and detention** – legal standards, documentation, and handling of special populations.
- **Complaints, internal investigations, and discipline** – complaint intake, investigation procedures, officer rights, and possible discipline.
- **Professional conduct and ethics** – expectations for integrity, truthfulness, and appropriate conduct on and off duty.
- **Community engagement and problem-oriented policing** – long-term problem-solving expectations and documentation of efforts.

Organizing these topics and repeatedly reviewing them with Fort Worth-specific scenarios will help cement your understanding.

When preparing for FWPD promotional exams:

1. **Pay attention to graded responsibility.** Many questions will test whether you know exactly what is expected from an officer, a sergeant, a lieutenant, or higher ranks in a given situation.
2. **Use scenario drills.** Write out short Fort Worth-style call scenarios (busy highways, neighborhood disputes, nightlife districts, large events) and practice applying the relevant General Orders step by step.
3. **Highlight notification requirements.** Track which incidents require notification of internal affairs, command staff, or specialized units and within what time frames.
4. **Review recent updates.** If the department announces revisions to General Orders, give those sections extra attention before any promotional process, as updated policy is often emphasized on exams.