Houston Police Department Policy Manual

The Houston Police Department (HPD) publishes its General Orders online, providing detailed guidance on everything from use of force and vehicle pursuits to administrative duties and internal investigations. For promotion, supervisors are expected to understand not only individual procedures, but also how they connect with Texas law, case law, and departmental expectations for accountability and community-oriented policing. HPD’s size and call load mean the policy manual is written with large-city realities in mind: high-risk encounters, specialized units, and strict documentation standards.

When you study HPD policy for promotion, treat the General Orders like a roadmap for how the department expects supervisors to think. Build a primary study binder or digital notebook organized by major sections: conduct & discipline, arrest and detention, use of force, vehicle operations, critical incidents, and administrative responsibilities. For each order, write a one-paragraph plain-language summary, then list 3–5 key “decision rules” you would apply in the field. As you advance, start building scenario flashcards: short “what would you do” vignettes based on real-world situations (e.g., a questionable use of force, a pursuit that crosses jurisdictions, or a complaint about officer conduct) and practice walking through how HPD policy requires you to respond as a supervisor. Your goal is to be able to explain the policy, justify a decision, and document it correctly — not just recite paragraphs.

Focus your HPD policy study on:

- **Response to resistance / use of force** – decision thresholds, de-escalation expectations, baton/OC/Taser/firearm rules, reporting and supervisory review.
- **Vehicle pursuits & emergency driving** – initiation criteria, risk balancing, supervision during pursuits, termination requirements, and documentation.
- **Arrest, search, and detention** – probable cause vs. reasonable suspicion, prisoner handling, transport, and special populations.
- **Professional conduct & discipline** – rules of conduct, honesty, reporting obligations, social media, and off-duty behavior expectations.
- **Internal investigations & complaints** – how complaints are received, classified, investigated, and closed, and what supervisors are required to do.
- **Report writing & documentation** – expectations for clear, complete, and timely documentation in high-liability incidents.

On HPD-style promotional exams, written questions and scenarios often focus on:

- Choosing the most policy-compliant option when more than one answer looks reasonable.
- Understanding when a supervisor must respond in person, take a report, or notify a higher authority.
- Knowing the mandatory vs. recommended actions ("shall" vs. "should").

Practical tips:

1. **Highlight the “musts.”** As you read, mark every “shall,” “must,” or “required” statement. Those phrases often become exam questions.
2. **Build comparison charts.** Create quick reference tables (e.g., levels of force vs. required reporting; pursuit conditions vs. termination rules) so you can memorize patterns, not isolated sentences.
3. **Practice time-pressure recall.** Do 10–15 question sprints where you answer from memory, then immediately check the general order for accuracy. This builds exam-speed recall and deeper familiarity.