Police Officer Qualifications

Must be at least 21 years of age or older.

Applicants will undergo a background investigation.

Applicants shall not be considered for employment while charges are pending for any criminal offense, other than Class C traffic offenses.

Applicants cannot be on probation for any offense on the date of the civil service test.

No DWI/DUI convictions within the last 120 months/10 years.

No applicant may be certified as eligible for appointment to the position of police officer whose drug usage does not comply with those standards set by the City of Grand Prairie Civil Service Commission.

Must be a U.S. Citizen, or legal permanent resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two years of service before discharge and has applied for United States citizenship.

All applicants must provide the following documentation at time of application:

• Birth Certificate (original or certified copy); can be submitted at the test or within the 10 days with the PHS
• Form DD-214 - Applicants with military service will have 5 points added to their passing raw test score provided they submit a DD-214 (prior to testing) reflecting an honorable discharge.

Applicants for the position of police officer whose Department of Public Safety motor vehicle records reflect more than two (2) moving traffic violations and/or at-fault accidents within twenty-four (24) months preceding the date of application.

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

• Possess at least forty-eight (48) hours,  with at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education or Council for Higher Education by the time of their hire date with the Police Department, OR
  
  
• Possess at least two (2) years of experience as a regular full-time peace officer for a law enforcement agency prior to the date of the entrance examination, OR
  
  
• Possess at least two (2) years active-duty military experience in accordance with the definition of Military Service Credit listed in Section 2.1(e), with an Honorable Discharge, prior to the date of the entrance examination, OR
  
  
• Possess any license issued by TCOLE for a period at least two (2) years prior to the date of the examination, OR
  
  
• is currently employed as and has worked as a full-time Grand Prairie Police Department employee for the two (2) years immediately preceding the date of the entrance examination. OR
  
  
• Possesses certification issued by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection authorizing the individual to engage in fire suppression or investigate the cause of fires, or equivalent certification from another State, for a period of at least two (2) years prior to the date of examination, OR
  
  
• Possesses certification by the Texas Department of State Health Services as an Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic, or equivalent certification from another State, for a period at least two (2) years prior to the date of the examination.

All applicants must successfully complete the Grand Prairie Police Department row test.

The entry fitness exam is a 2,000-meter row on a Concept2 machine with the damper set to five.  Minimum passing times vary by age, weight, and gender, and applicants must score at least 55% to remain eligible for employment.

Police Officer Applicants

If you have any questions or need clarification please feel free to call one of our recruiters at 972-237-8690

• The applicant has failed to comply with any of the minimum requirements or qualifications for a beginning position as established by Chapter 143 or the Local Rules.
• The applicant has made a false statement in any material fact, withheld information, or practiced or attempted to practice any deception or fraud in the application process.
• The applicant is not a citizen of the United States of America.
• The applicant has failed to demonstrate an ability to read, write, and fluently speak the English Language.
• The applicant has demonstrated an Inability to perform the essential functions of a police officer with or without reasonable accommodation.
• The applicant fails to complete or satisfactorily meet the employment process requirements of the Police Department, including but not limited to: missed appointments, failure to return necessary paperwork, failure to notify the department of changes in address or telephone numbers, or who otherwise failed to complete the proper application process. Applicants may submit a new application for the next examination.
• Conviction of a Class B Misdemeanor under State or Federal Law, to include the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or equivalent UCMJ violation, shall result in 10 year disqualifier.
• Conviction of or admission to crimes involving moral turpitude shall be considered on a case by case basis with appropriate consideration of circumstances and recency.
• Conviction of a Class A Misdemeanor, at or after 17 years of age, or an admission of (other than the specific drug uses listed below under “Illicit Substances”) or conviction of a felony, at any age, under State or Federal Law, to include the Uniform code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or equivalent UCMJ violation, shall result in a permanent disqualification.
• Applicants shall not be considered for employment while charges are pending for any criminal offense, other than Class C traffic offenses.
• Applicants who fail to pass the written examination or the physical fitness exam. Applicants may submit a new application for the next scheduled examination.
• More than two (2) moving traffic violations and/or at-fault accidents within twenty­ four (24) months preceding the date of application.
• DWI conviction within ten (10) years preceding the date of application.
• Applicants who have used illicit substances shall be disqualified as indicated by the following guidelines:

• Use of any form of marijuana or synthetic marijuana within the last 2 years;
• Use of any form of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, opium, PCP, or LSD within the last 15 years;
• Use of ecstasy one time within the last 5 years
• Using ecstasy 2 or more times within the last 15 years;
• Use of any form ofmethamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, opium, PCP, or LSD on three or more occasions is a permanent disqualifier.
• Selling or distributing marijuana or any controlled substance is a permanent disqualifier
• Abuse of steroids, legally obtained prescription medications, or illegal use of prescription medication of another person. Conduct involving abuse and/or misuse of prescription medication and steroids shall be considered on a case by case basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency.

• Applicants who do not obtain satisfactory results on the following steps in the hiring process are disqualified for a period of one year from the date of notification letter that the applicant is no longer under consideration:

• background investigation
• polygraph examination
• psychological examination
• Chief Level Review process
• Oral review board

• Applicants who receive positive test results for alcohol, marijuana or any controlled substance (other than medication as prescribed by a physician) on the pre-employment drug and/or alcohol tests are permanently disqualified.
• Applicants who fail to demonstrate their ability to pay just debts may be disqualified. Applicants may be considered on a case by case basis with factors such as type and number of debts, reasons for the bad credit, extenuating circumstances and the potential for the credit related problems to impact the applicant's judgment and integrity.
• Never been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions.