Lateral Entry Program

The Grand Prairie Police Department offers a lateral entry program for experienced officers and a take-home car program for patrol officers.

Requirements

Be eligible for certification from TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) AND

By the time of hire as a Police Officer, have two (2) years experience as a regular full-time peace officer with arrest powers for a law enforcement agency

Military police experience does not count as regular full-time peace officer experience.

Lateral applicants must successfully complete each step in the Civil Service hiring process in the same manner as any other applicant. Lateral police officers who are TCOLE certified will be eligible for an abbreviated training program. This consists of 10 weeks of updates on policies and procedures.

The probationary period for lateral officers shall be 12 months, except that it shall be 18 months if they are required to attend the Basic Police Academy.