Police Entrance Exam Application

Salary: $27.40 Hourly

Location : Laredo, TX

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: POC2025-3

Department: Police (23)

Division: Patrol

Opening Date: 12/01/2025

Closing Date: 12/11/2025 11:59 PM Central

Job Description

PATROL OFFICER APPLICATION PACKAGE

Essential Functions/ Job Competencies/ Physical Requirements

PATROL OFFICER APPLICATION PACKAGE

ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE POLICE MINIMUM STANDARDS IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THE WRITTEN POLICE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION

FOR THE ONLINE POLICE APPLICATION YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE AN APPLICANT ACCOUNT AND HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS

APPLICANTS MAY NOT SHARE APPLICANT ACCOUNT OR EMAIL ADDRESS

APPLICATIONS WILL BE REJECTED IF INCOMPLETE

IF CLAIMING VETERAN'S PREFERENCE, YOU MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE (FORM DD-214), WITH APPLICATION BY THE CLOSING DATE.

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025 AT 11:59 PM (CENTRAL STANDARD TIME)

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE

AFTER APPLYING ONLINE, YOU MUST TAKE THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION WHICH WILL BE GIVEN ON:

DATE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026

REGISTRATION: 8:15 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

TEST TIME: 9:15 A.M.LOCATION: SAMES AUTO ARENA

6700 ARENA BOULEVARD

JACAMAN ROAD/BOB BULLOCK LOOP 20

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

PLEASE NOTE: VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE MUST BE PRESENTED AT THE TEST SITE. (IF PRESENTING A RENEWAL CARD YOU MUST PRESENT OTHER OFFICIAL STATE ISSUED PICTURE ID)

Minimum Qualifications

CITY OF LAREDO CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

MINIMUM STANDARDS

FOR

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The City of Laredo is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to evaluating each candidate on a non-discriminatory basis.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AND BE PLACED ON AN EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST.

A. MINIMUM SCORE

Applicants must score a minimum of 70% or higher on the written examination.

B. YOU MUST BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN AND RESIDE IN THE UNITED STATES.

C. AGE REQUIREMENT

You must be between the ages of 21 and 42 years of age.

Applicants between the ages of 18 to 20 years of age must have 60 college hours of study at an accredited college or university; or an Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university; or served two (2) years of active service in the U.S. Armed Forces with an Honorable discharge to be eligible for employment. The college hours shall be from an accredited learning institution of higher education recognized by the State Board of Education in the State in which the college resides and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or a similar regional association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Semester hours presented under this cause do not include Continuing Education Credits (CEU), Technical Training, or credit for Life Experience or any other training where college credit was given but specific letter or number grades were not assigned.

D.APPEARANCE

Applicants must demonstrate moderation and good judgment in their personal appearance and should project an appearance befitting that of a professional police officer. To that end, body art should not detract from an applicant's personal appearance.

Body art shall be defined as tattoos, piercings, branding, intentional scarring and intentional mutilation. This includes but is not limited to foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design, effect, or pattern; a pierced, split, or forked tongue; stretched-out holes in the earlobes; excessive piercings of the ear; piercings of the cheek, nose, eyebrow, or lips.

Piercings of the ear that are not excessive in size or number are acceptable.

Inappropriate body art shall be defined as:

Body art that is offensive or obscene.

Body art that depicts or advocates discrimination based on sex, age, race, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, disability, and/or sexual orientation.

Body art that depicts or advocates gang affiliation, supremacist groups, or illegal drug use. Applicants exhibiting the following shall be found unsuitable:

Inappropriate body art visible on any part of the body.

Body art on the head, face, neck, or hands.

Dental alterations that serve to exaggerate the shape or size of the teeth or mouth, that include but are not limited to alterations or mouth jewelry commonly referred to as "grillz", alterations or jewelry that resembles the teeth or mouths of animals or fictional characters. Exceptions:

Wedding band tattoo on the left ring finger which symbolizes marriage as long as it can be covered by a traditional wedding band ring

Medical alert/information tattoo with approved medical documentation which may extend past the wrist and not covered by the regulation LPD long sleeved uniform. E. ACADEMICS

A person may not enroll in a peace officer training program under Chapter 170 I, Section 170 1.251 (a), Occupations Code of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) unless the person has received:

A high school diploma; or,

A high school equivalency certificate and must have completed and at least 12 college hours at an accredited college or institution of higher education with at least 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The college hours shall be from an accredited learning institution of higher education recognized by the State Board of Education in the State in which the college resides and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or a similar regional association recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Semester hours presented under this cause do not include Continuing Education Credits (CEU), Technical Training, or credit for Life Experience or any other training where college credit was given but specific letter or number grades were not assigned; or

An Honorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active service. Any applicant who has previously attended college or university must not currently be on scholastic probation, suspension or any other scholastic status that would prevent the applicant to be admitted into an institution of higher learning.

F. LICENSE REQUIREMENT/RECORD

Applicants must have a valid driver's license at the time of the written entrance examination. Out-of-stateresidents and active duty military members may possess a valid driver's license of their home state at the time of application. All applicants are required to present a valid Texas driver's license at time of employment.

Applicant's driving record must reflect driving habits that are consistent with the safe operation of motor vehicles. You must not have an excessive record of moving traffic violations andtraffic collisions. For purposes of this section, "excessive record of moving traffic violations" is defined as any ofthe following:

During the three (3) year period preceding the civil service written examination, the applicant must not have been cited for three (3) or more moving violations with a disposition other than "not guilty" or a non-conditional dismissal.

During the five (5) year period preceding the civil service written examination, the applicant must not have ten (10) or more traffic citations with any disposition other than "not guilty" or a non-conditional dismissal. Traffic citations under this subsection shall include all moving violations as well as invalid/no driver's license, seatbelt violations and financial responsibility ("insurance") citations.

The applicant must not have a suspension or revocation of driving privileges within the preceding two (2) years of the Civil Service written examination. Applicants deemed unsuitable under this cause are eligible to reapply after this disqualifying factor no longer exists.

The applicant must not have had more than three (3) collisions during the five (5) year period, preceding the Civil Service written examination where the applicant's actions were a determining factor to the cause of the accident, regardless of whether traffic citations were issued or not.

Applicants must not have any outstanding traffic warrants/capiases on the date of the Civil Service written examination. Applicants deemed unsuitable under this cause are eligible to reapply after this disqualifying factor no longer exists. G.CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The applicant must not have ever been convicted at any time of a felony offense. For the purpose of this requirement, a person is convicted of a felony when an adjudication of guilt for a felony offense is entered against the person by a court of competent jurisdiction whether or not:

The sentence is subsequently probated, and the person is discharged from probation;

The accusation, complaint, information, or indictment against the person is dismissed and the person is released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the offense, or;

The person is pardoned for the offense, unless the pardon is expressly granted for subsequent proof of innocence.

Applicants must not be currently charged with or under indictment for any felony offense.

Applicants must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor offense of "Class A" or "Class B" within the last ten (10) years preceding the date of the civil service written examination.

Applicants must not have been charged with any misdemeanor offense greater than a "Class C", the outcome of which is still pending in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Applicants must not have been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years preceding the date of the entrance examination. This includes deferred adjudication for Class B misdemeanor or above charges.

Applicant must have never been convicted of any Family Violence offense.

Applicant must not be under investigation for, or considered a suspect in, any criminal offense.

Any applicant who makes a statement as to the involvement in a felony offense which occurred while the applicant was seventeen (17) years of age or older is deemed unsuitable for employment. H. DRUG POLICY

CRITERIA

An applicant who has used any illegal drug while employed in any law enforcement or prosecutorial position, or while employed in a position which carries a high level of responsibility or public trust, will be found unsuitable for employment.

An applicant who is discovered to have misrepresented his/her drug history in completing the application will be found unsuitable for employment.

An applicant who has sold, delivered, distributed, or possessed any illegal drug for profit or benefit at any time will be found unsuitable for employment.

An applicant who has used any illegal drug (including anabolic steroids after February 27, 1991), other than marijuana, within the last ten (l0) years, or more than five times in one's life, will be found unsuitable for employment.

An applicant, who has used marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids during the two (2) years preceding the Civil Service written examination, or more than three (3) separate occasions during the five (5) years preceding the Civil Service written examination, will be deemed unsuitable for employment.

Applicants who have used tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, or any unknown substance with a device used to vaporize substances for inhalation and intoxication, within the last five (5) years preceding the civil service examination date will be found unsuitable for employment.

An applicant who has used paint, glue or any other products or chemical, including potpourri, for the purpose of intoxication during the five (5) years preceding the Civil Service written examination, or more than three (3) separate occasions during the five (5) years preceding the Civil Service written examination, will be deemed unsuitable for employment.

Applicants who have abused or illegally used prescription medication for the purpose of intoxication or recreation, whether prescribed to them or another person or otherwise obtained, on no more than (3) independent occasions are deemed unsuitable under this cause are not eligible to reapply for a period of five (5) years from the date of last usage. If the applicant is found to have abused a substance under this sub-section on more than three (3) independent occasions, the applicant will be deemed unsuitable for employment under this cause and remain permanently unsuitable. To determine whether you qualify under the Laredo Police Department's drug policy, please answer the following questions. If you answer "YES" to any of these questions, you should NOT apply for employment with the Laredo Police Department.

1.Have you used marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids within the last two (2) years?

2.Have you used marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids more than a total of three (3) times in last five (5) years?

3.Have you used any other illegal drug (including anabolic steroids after February 27, 199I) in the past ten (l0) years?

4.Have you used any other illegal drug (including anabolic steroids after February 27, 1991) more than a total office (5) times in your life?

5.Have you ever sold, delivered, distributed, or possessed any illegal drug for profit or benefit?

6.Have you ever used an illegal drug (no matter how many times or how long ago) while in a law enforcement or prosecutorial position, or in a position, which carries with it a high level of responsibility or public trust?

I. MORAL CHARACTER

Applicants must be of good moral character and shall not habitually associate with those of questionable moral character.

Applicants must not be currently living with anyone who is a convicted felon, unless the individual is an immediate family member, or spouse, and the person is not actively engaging in criminal behavior. Applicants deemed unsuitable under this cause are eligible to reapply six (6) months from the date of disqualification. J. MILITARY

Candidates who are now discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States may be eligible to receive (5) additional points if:

Received an Honorable Discharge (General Discharge under Honorable condition, etc. are not eligible)

Submit a DD-214 with Civil Service application

DD-214 must be undeleted and must be long form containing sections 23-30 (Type of Separation, Character of service, Separation Authority, Separation Code, Re-entry Code, Narrative Reason of Separation, Dates of Time Lost During This Period and Member Request copy 4)

Made a passing grade on examination

Applicants must not have been discharged from military service under less than honorable conditions including, specifically:

under other than honorable conditions;

bad conduct;

dishonorable;

Any other characterization of service indicating bad character. Based on the Local Government Code 143.025, an additional five (5) points shall be added to the examination grade of an applicant who served in the United States Armed Forces, received an honorable discharge, and made a passing grade on the examination.

K. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Applicant must have a history of meeting financial obligations. An applicant's poor or bad credit history, failure to pay just debts, delinquency on outstanding loans, or bankruptcies, repossessions, and foreclosures will be considered. The type and number of debts, reasons for credit problems, and extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to the number of variables involved.

The applicant shall not have a history of knowingly issuing checks with insufficient funds within the last five (5) years preceding the date of the Civil Service written examination.

Applicant obligated to child and/or spousal support payments must be current on all payments.

Applicants deemed unsuitable under this cause are not eligible to reapply for one (1) year from the date deemed unsuitable under this cause.

L.