To ensure that our members’ rights and interests are protected by providing exceptional legal representation, legislative and political power, assistance in labor negotiations, and leadership or association development.
Why was CLEAT founded?
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, or CLEAT, was born during the mid-1970s by innovative police officers seeking to enhance the law enforcement profession.
CLEAT’s rich history begins with rank-and-file officers not being represented. The organization began by separating itself from a do-nothing, pro-management organization that refused to represent its members.
Many of the founders were returning veterans of the Vietnam War era and were unhappy with the way their statewide police association (TMPA) refused to hire attorneys or represent members when they were disciplined, demoted, or terminated. Like our nation’s founders, these officers met with the leaders of TMPA and attempted to change the organization from within.
The officers aired their grievances about how things were being handled, and after seeing zero change year after year, these officers began asking one another why they couldn’t just form their own union that would actually represent street cops and get things done in a state that no longer fit the mold of the largely rural, good ole boy, pro-management state-wide association that had failed them badly.
After a dramatic walkout of the annual convention, the officers banded together, created a real union for working officers, and never looked back. At every milestone, the naysayers predicted CLEAT and its leaders would fail. But CLEAT leaders and members forged ahead, lending of themselves, their lives, and their futures in order to build an organization that worked for all officers.
As a law enforcement professional, your job is difficult, dangerous, and often violent. You need someone in your corner standing up for you and fighting to protect you, your job, and your family’s income. CLEAT is the best, largest, and most respected organization fighting for Texas’ finest.
Now, over 47 years later, CLEAT is the largest police labor organization in the state and stronger than ever. With more than 110 local affiliates and over 50 world-class professional staff located in every area of Texas, CLEAT is continually growing, continually seeking to live up to our motto: Strength, Justice, and Unity.
The Original CLEAT Logo designed by Ludwig Bruno (CLEAT Founder)
The CLEAT Mission
Our mission is to ensure that you, as a CLEAT member and Texas Peace Officer, receive the professional respect, employment rights, and legal protections you deserve.
After all, your role in enforcing the laws and protecting the lives and property of citizens is the most important, fundamental job in Texas.
CLEAT has a rich history of relentlessly fighting to ensure that all Texas law enforcement professionals:
- Realize the full extent of your legal, political, and employment rights,
- Work under conditions that permit the job to be done safely and effectively, and
- Earn fair compensation for the critically important work that you do and the sacrifices made daily by your family
CLEAT provides legal representation, lobbying, and legislative representation, local political action, collective bargaining and negotiations support, and a range of field-related services. With more than 28,000 members across the state, CLEAT is the largest police officers’ union in Texas, the largest legal services provider in Texas specializing in representing law enforcement officers, and the largest alliance of local police officers’ associations in Texas.
More importantly, we possess the world-class experience, resources, and will to bring STRENGTH, JUSTICE, & UNITY to everything from local contract negotiations to critical incidents.
At CLEAT, you get nothing less than exceptional service.
We are here to protect you, our member.
Click the link below to join the greatest police association in Texas.
