Regional Counsel - TMPA

Attorney John A. Peralta is Regional Counsel for the Texas Municipal Police Association. TMPA is the premier law enforcment association in the State of Texas. One of the benefits of TMPA membership is no-cost legal representation for covered matters.

Mr. Peralta is a former state and federal prosecutor with the knowledge and experience needed to successfuly represent peace officers in a variety of matters - from minor complaints to major internal affairs investigations and officer-involved shootings. 

TMPA Coverage

TMPA members in good standing are entitled to legal representation for Covered Matters. This means that you must be a TMPA with dues paid to date, and the matter smust be one covered in the certificate provided to you when you became a member.

TMPA’s plan includes:

• Guaranteed on-scene response by an attorney to all critical incidents, 24-hours a day/seven days a week.
• Legal representation for any administrative action that results in suspension, demotion, termination or promotional pass over, even if the incident is not duty-related.
• Complete legal coverage for all criminal prosecutions that arise out of the course and scope of your duties (on or off-duty).
• An attorney to defend or monitor all civil suits that arise out of the course and scope of your duties (on or off-duty).
• Coverage of all expenses necessary to properly defend you including polygraphs, private investigator expenses, expert witnesses and other professional services.
• Coverage of all arbitration or related judicial fees.
• Access to an attorney for consultation before disciplinary, civil or criminal action is taken against you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who has access to the TMPA Legal Defense Plan?
A: Any full-time TMPA member has access to all of TMPA’s legal defense services. Part-time, reserve, and retired members have access to the same criminal and civil coverage with no administrative coverage at a reduced rate. For questions about your coverage, please call TMPA at (512) 454-8900 or (800) 848-2088.

Q: Who can become a TMPA member?
A: Any Texas peace officer can join. In addition, anyone who works in a law enforcement agency in Texas or is under the direction of a chief administrator or elected official who holds a TCOLE peace officer’s license can join.

Q: How long does it take for TMPA’s Legal Defense plan to kick-in once I am a member?
A: After you apply and make your first dues payment, you have coverage for civil, criminal and administrative claims for incidents that occur after joining. There is no administrative coverage when there is a no-cause termination within 60 days of joining.

Q: What if I need immediate legal assistance?                                                                                                     A: If you are involved in a critical incident (shooting, in-custody death, major accident, etc.) call TMPA at 1-800-848-2088 and an attorney will will be immediately sent to the scene any time, day or night. If you are in need of an attorney to consult with you prior to giving a statement about an internal affairs issue or a criminal investigation that is not the result of a critical incident, TMPA will get you in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. In the meantime, if it is a criminal investigation, you are advised to not to waive your rights and insist that you get to speak with an attorney prior to providing your statement.

Your Garrity Rights

You have the following rights under the legal doctrines announced in Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967), Spevack v. Klein, 385 U.S. 511 (1967), and Gardner v. Broderick, 392 U.S. 273 (1968):

• It is impermissible to make a citizen pay a price for invoking his or her Constitutional right to remain silent. Therefore, you may not be subjected to disciplinary action for invoking your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent in a criminal investigation or proceeding.
• However, you may be subject to disciplinary action if you refuse to answer questions in an internal administrative investigation or proceeding relating to the performance of your official duties or fitness for duty.
• Statements provided under the threat of disciplinary action have been found by the courts to be coerced and therefore involuntary. If you provide information in an internal administrative investigation or proceeding, and properly invoke your Garrity rights, any statements you make cannot be used against you in any subsequent criminal investigation or proceeding.

You may contact TMPA at 1-800-848-2088

or contact Mr. Peralta at (936) 272-0777.