The primary functions of this section is to coordinate the recruitment, selection, and training of all departmental employees. The Recruiting and Training Section is responsible for the hiring and training of all sworn and civilian employees within the Police Department. The College Station Police Department is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age or communicable disease.
Processing Information
The Police Department will normally initiate its police officer testing process two times per year. The following are the general steps in the process:
Application for employment. Applications are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Human Resources Office at City Hall. Initial application may be made by mail or via the Internet.
Written examination. Following submission of an employment application, applicants must take a written exam. Applicants will be notified of the time, date and location of the examination. Applicants who are already licensed Peace Officers for the State of Texas will still have to participate in the written examination process. The examination used is the Law Enforcement Validated Entry Level Test (LEVEL). The exam was developed and validated by Bannon & Associates. Applicants who achieve a passing score on the entry-level examination are then eligible to continue to the next step of the hiring process.
Physical Fitness Test. Those applicants that pass the written exam will be required to participate in a Physical Fitness Test. This test involves only a 1 1/2 mile run. Applicants must be able to complete the run in 15 minutes or less in order to proceed in the process. The physical test will be administered immediately after the written test. Please plan on bringing appropriate clothing to change into.
Personal History Statement (PHS). Those applicants (candidates) who pass the written exam and the physical fitness test will then be given a Personal History Statement that they must complete and return in order to be considered further. Upon receipt of the completed personal history statement applicants will be screened to insure that they meet the minimum requirements for the College Station Police Department. If all of the minimum requirements are met then they may be scheduled for an interview with an oral board.
Oral Interview Board. This board consists of at least three sworn members of the Department. The candidate will be assessed based on a structured interview process.
Polygraph Examination. If the applicant passes the interview then a polygraph examination and a thorough background investigation may be conducted. The Personal History Statement is subject to verification through the polygraph examination and is administered by a licensed polygraph examiner. The candidates will be asked questions in the areas of falsifying information on their applications, whether they have used or sold illegal drugs, whether they have been involved in any type of criminal activity, why they are applying for the job, their work history-including employment and unemployment history, resignations and terminations, criminal history and driving record. A credit check is also done on all applicants that appear before the oral interview board.
Background investigation. This phase includes a check of criminal history, driving record, employment history, interviews with personal references and others who can give specific information about the candidate’s suitability for a position as a police officer.
Final interview. Applicants whose background investigation results are found favorable may then be scheduled for an interview with the Chief of Police. The Chief will then decide to hire, reject or hold the application for later consideration. lf the candidate is given a conditional offer of employment that offer will be contingent on the successful outcome of a psychological and medical examination. All candidates whom are given a conditional offer of employment are also subject to a drug screen.
The entire hiring process may take from 60 to 90 days to complete. Those qualified applicants who are not appointed will then be placed into a pool of applicants and will remain in that pool and eligible for consideration for employment for a period of up to six months. Those applicants that are eliminated from the process, for any reason, are not eligible to re-apply for a period of at least six months. Licensed candidates that are hired will be placed into a eighteen-week Field Training Officer Program. Those hired that are not already licensed Texas peace officers, will be sent to the Texas Engineering Extension Service's Central Texas Police Academy. This academy is located just outside of Bryan. Following successful completion of this training, and the passing of the TCLEOSE licensing examination, those employees will then participate in the eighteen-week Field Training Officer Program.
Requirements
(1) Be at least 21 years of age by the start date of the police academy and a U.S. citizen at time of application.
(2) Be free from deformities, mental or physical defects, or conditions of disease that would interfere with the safe performance of required tasks for a police officer.
(3) Uncorrected vision must not exceed 20/100 in either eye and the best eye must be at least 20/40 and wearing eye glasses must have a corrected vision to 20/20 with both eyes. Must not be color blind.
(4) Be able to pass a medical/physical examination by a licensed physician to determine if they are physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the performance of duty appropriate to the position.
(5) Be a high school graduate, or a GED with 12 hours of college with a 2.0 grade point on a 4 point scale, or a GED with an honorable discharge from the U.S. military with 24 months of active duty service or a GED and be a licensed Texas Peace Officer. Sixty hours of college credit is preferred.
(6) Have a good driving record according to current Department of Public Safety files and policy standards of the City of College Station.
(7) Be of good moral character.
(8) Meet the minimum licensing requirements established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
Disqualifiers:
(1) Conviction of an offense above the grade of Class B or a Class B within the last 10 years.
(2) Placement on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of class B misdemeanor or on court-ordered community supervision or probation for a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order.
(4) Conviction of any offense involving Family Violence as defined by the Texas Penal Code.
(5) Discharged from the military under less than honorable conditions or r resigned to avoid such.
(6) Alcohol and Drug Use Criteria:
Circumstances surrounding the usage of alcohol, controlled substances, illegal use of prescription medication, or marijuana will be evaluated by the department on a case by case basis. Factors to be considered when determining eligibility include the type of substance used, frequency of use, if the use was experimental, and how recent was the usage. Experimental use is considered usage to determine the effects of a drug.
1) Applicants who have used illegal drugs beyond an experimental level are not acceptable.
2) Applicants who have used any felony grade controlled substance within the last five years are not acceptable unless the drug was prescribed by a licensed physician.
3) Abuse of any prescription medication within the last three years is not acceptable.
4) Candidates having used or consumed marijuana within the last three years are not acceptable.
5) Involvement in the illegal delivery or furnishing of any controlled substance or drug to another with the expectation that a personal benefit would be received as a result of the actions. This will result in permanent disqualification.
6) Making false statements of fact, being deceptive by statement or omission on the written application, personal history statement, or by any means during any part of the selection process.
7) If circumstances or facts exist which indicate that the applicant is clearly unsuited for a position with the College Station Police Department, the application may be rejected.