Arrest and Control Procedure.
This chapter covers what a Texas peace officer must know about arrest and Control Procedure, along with the statute limits that shape each element, at the level of detail the TCOLE tests.
Chapter 31 study guide.
This chapter is the hands-on side of the use of force. The first half covers strategies of defense: weaponless strategies, less-lethal weapons and the baton, weapon retention, and the line between deadly and non-deadly force. The second half covers the physical process of arrest: approaching, handcuffing, searching, escorting and transporting.
Much of the chapter is taught and tested on the mat, and your agency’s policy and defensive tactics system decide the exact techniques. For the written exam, learn the lists: the three basic concepts, the baton strike and non-strike areas, the advantages of each approach, the handcuffing rules, and the search positions. Learn the Penal Code sections named in the outline as well.
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The three basic concepts of weaponless strategies
The three basic concepts are self-control, balance and awareness.
Self-control: the police role in a physical arrest is essentially to protect the public and take the violator into custody. You maintain physical and emotional control to keep yourself, the arrestee and the public safe.
Balance is mental and physical. Mental balance means being prepared to control your own emotional and physical self, then the violator, and ultimately the situation, without letting emotion overcome your self-control. Physical balance is the position that lets you move while keeping balance, strength and advantage. Proper positioning is just outside the suspect’s reach, where you can view everything, with your gun side away from the suspect and a balanced stance. In the interview stance you blade your body at a 45-degree angle with your reaction hand closer to the subject.
Awareness: observe the entire situation. Know where the suspect’s hands are, and watch for weapons, associates or relatives of the suspect, escape routes, and your own footing.
The principles of self-defense are prevention, being aware of potential dangers, not overextending yourself, keeping the proper distance so you have adequate reaction time, and, if attacked, moving out of the line of force instead of trying to stop the force.
On the exam Expect the three concepts as a list, and positioning details such as gun side away and the 45-degree angle.
The three basic concepts of weaponless strategies are self-control, balance, and .
In proper positioning, the officer’s is kept away from the suspect.
In the interview stance the body is bladed at an angle of degrees.
If attacked, move out of the instead of trying to stop it.
Methods of weaponless defense
The outline lists the weaponless strategies: touching, striking with an open hand or closed fist, joint locking, pressure points, hand strikes and foot strikes, and blocks with the hands, arms or legs.
It also lists five ground techniques: base get up, full guard position, full mount position, trap and roll, and side mount.
These may be taught from a standing or ground position. Techniques are drilled with many repetitions, in both static and fluid mode, and follow a sequence from beginning to end.
Blocks may be made with the hands, arms, or .
The ground techniques are base get up, full guard, full mount, side mount, and trap and .
Striking may be done with an open hand or a .
Weaponless defense in a dynamic scenario
You will demonstrate the weaponless techniques taught in class in a dynamic controlled violence scenario.
Dynamic scenarios use several instructors and safety persons so the training is safe and efficient. The role player and safety person are briefed separately from the students. Appropriate safety equipment, such as a padded protective suit, is used.
Dynamic training uses appropriate safety equipment such as a padded .
Dynamic scenarios require several instructors and persons.
Questions on what you just read.
- Question 1 · LO 31.1
An officer is interviewing a nervous man on a sidewalk. Which position follows the outline’s guidance on physical balance?
- Question 2 · LO 31.1
A suspect suddenly charges at an officer. Which principle of self-defense applies?
- Question 3 · LO 31.2
Which of these is listed in the outline as a ground technique?
The rest of Chapter 31.
- LO 31.4Methods of weapons defense2 key terms · 4 statutes and cases · 4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.5Weapons defense in a dynamic scenario2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.6Basic concepts of weapons retention2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.7Weapons retention in a dynamic scenario2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.8Deadly and non-deadly force5 statutes and cases · 3 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.9Discretion in arrest and non-arrest situations1 authority · 2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.10Risk factors in an arrest2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.11Approaching, confronting and interviewing the suspect4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.12Handcuffs and other restraining devices3 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.13Applying handcuffs in practice2 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.14Physical search of suspects4 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.15Searching a suspect in practice1 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.16Escorting and transporting suspects3 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.17Escorting and transporting in practice1 fill-in-the-blank
- LO 31.18Making the arrest, start to finish2 fill-in-the-blank
A subscription opens the other 15 objectives in this chapter, with 37 more fill-in-the-blank items and 7 more practice questions, along with the study guide for every other BPOC chapter.
Unlock the full guideLast checked against the Texas statutes in September 2026. This guide is a study aid for the TCOLE licensing exam. It is not legal advice, and your academy’s instruction and your department’s policy come first.
The law that drives the questions.
What recruits ask about this chapter.
How does a Texas peace officer identify three basic concepts of weaponless strategies?
Self-control; Balance; Awareness.
How does a Texas peace officer identify methods of weaponless defense?
Weaponless Strategies; Ground techniques.
What does the TCOLE curriculum say about in a dynamic controlled violence scenario, demonstrate techniques of weaponless defense taught in class?
In a dynamic controlled violence scenario, demonstrate techniques of weaponless defense taught in class. Includes: dynamic scenarios require several instructors and safety persons to assure all training is conducted in a safe and efficient manner;
How does a Texas peace officer identify methods of weapons defense?
Penal Code Sec. 9.55 Use of Less-Lethal Force Weapon; Tactical transition; A baton is classified as a weapon capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death; however, impact weapons may be used in lawful situations requiring a degree of force greater than the use of weaponless strategies but less than the use of deadly weapons/force. [Penal Code Sec. 46.01(1) Definitions; Penal Code Sec. 46.15 Nonapplicability]; Situations which may necessitate the use of a baton or impact weapon; Justification of baton use; Guidelines for baton use.
Drill this chapter with practice questions written from the BPOC curriculum.
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