Minimum Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET

The police service of the City of San Angelo is under the State's Civil Service Statutes for Municipal Government (Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143). Each applicant must meet certain requirements to become a police officer. The City of San Angelo has a non-discriminatory policy which states:

The City will not discriminate in its Human Resources selection, or hiring, training, or promotions with regards to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin as defined in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

DO YOU MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED BELOW?

AGE: Generally, twenty-one (21) is the minimum age and forty-five (45) is the maximum age for applicants. However, state and federal law provide an exception to the minimum age. A person who is 45 years of age or older may not be certified for a beginning position in a police department. An applicant younger than twenty-one should contact the Human Resources Department at (325) 657-4221 for more information regarding age limits.

EDUCATION: All applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Applicants must be able to intelligently read and write the English language. This requirement must be met before the applicant can take the exam.

CHARACTER & BACKGROUND: All applicants must be of good moral character with temperate habits. Applicants with a felony conviction will not be accepted under the state laws nor will applicants who were former civil service employees dismissed for misconduct or disciplinary reasons.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: The city's Human Resources Department will make appointments for physical examinations of the candidates beginning at the top of the roster. A candidate who does not pass the physical examination will be dropped from the roster.

PHYSICAL CONDITION: All applicants must pass a rigid physical examination before employment. The candidate must have adequate strength for rescue drag and demonstrate good cardiovascular endurance. The candidate must be able to lift 93 lbs.

EYESIGHT: Eyesight must be correctable to 20/30 in each eye binocularly. The maximum uncorrected visual acuity is 20/200. Must be able to successfully pass the Ishihara color-blind test.

HEIGHT: There is no height requirement; however, there is a maximum and minimum weight to height ratio based upon insurance actuarial tables since obese applicants could be rejected under the physical exam.

WITH MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS MET, WHAT DO YOU DO TO APPLY?

APPLICATION: Complete the online application. If you make an application before an examination is announced, the Human Resources Department will notify you by mail and email to the contact information on the application, where the examination will be held.

In addition to your online application, you will need:

1. The online application form must be completed and submitted prior to exam dates announced, in order to be scheduled for the exam.
2. Your high school diploma or GED
3. Your high school transcript or GED
4. Your college degree(s).
5. Your college transcript(s).
6. Your technical school certificate(s).
7. A certified copy of your birth certificate or naturalization certificate. Birth certificate must have a seal from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. NOTE: The copy from the hospital with footprints on the back WILL NOT
8. MILITARY SERVICE DD FORM 214 A copy of honorable discharge papers. Applicants currently in the reserves are to attach a letter from their commanding officer indicating good standing. This information will determine if you are eligible for veterans' points.
9. Your driver's license
   
10. Your social security

Incomplete applications will not satisfy eligibility requirements.

* * NOTICE * *

WRITTEN EXAMINATION: The written examination tests applicants in reading comprehension and writing skills related to police work. Each applicant's grade on the written examination is to be based on a maximum grade of 100% determined entirely by the correctness of answers to the questions. Minimum passing grade is 70% and each applicant must pass the examination in order to be placed on the eligibility list. The grade that goes on the eligibility list is computed by the applicant's written examination grade being added to any veterans' preference points earned. Your exam will be graded within a week of the exam and you will be notified by mail.

CREDIT CHECK: Each applicant will have his/her credit checked by a background investigator. If you have any problems with your credit, it is suggested that you talk with the credit bureau and try to correct the problem.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Each candidate will have a complete background check by the police department's background investigators. Your background will include a driver's license check, criminal history, and inquiries to people who know you and your character, such as references, neighbors, etc.

CRIMINAL RECORD: Candidate must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor offense above the grade of a Class C Misdemeanor within the last ten years.

DRIVING RECORD: During the last three years, an individual must not have: 1) a DWI conviction; 2) more than three moving violations; or 3) more than two moving violations and one chargeable accident.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION: A polygraph examination will be administered to all police recruit finalists to verify application and background information.

ORAL INTERVIEW: After successfully passing the written examination, credit check, background investigation, and polygraph, an oral interview will be held before a board consisting of the police chief, police department officers, and the civil service director.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION: All applicants for beginning positions who have successfully passed all phases will undergo a psychological and an emotional health examination.

HIRING PROCEDURES

ELIGIBILITY ROSTER: After successfully completing the written examination, you become a candidate and your name is placed on the Police Officer Recruit Eligibility Roster. The candidate's placement on this roster is determined by the total points accumulated from the written examination and veteran's preference points. Five (5) extra points are given to veterans of the armed forces with an HONORABLE discharge; or active reserves indicating good standing from their commanding officer. The candidate with most points is listed first on the eligibility roster and so-forth in descending order of total points. This eligibility roster is good for one (1) year unless all the candidates are hired before the end of the year. If at any point you fail the credit check, background investigation, or oral examination, you will be dropped from the roster and notified.

HIRE DATE: As hiring needs are determined, Police Chief selects the candidate to be hired from the eligibility roster. Normally, the individual with the highest score is selected first. A candidate may be "bypassed" by the chief. If a candidate is "bypassed" three times, he/she will be dropped from the roster. When a candidate is selected he/she will be notified by the Civil Service Director to report for duty on a specified date.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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ANYONE WHO DOES NOT PASS PART OF THIS ENTRY PROCESS MAY APPLY AGAIN WHEN THE NEXT EXAMINATION IS ANNOUNCED. HOWEVER, THOSE WHO WISH TO TRY AGAIN MUST BEGIN WITH FILING ANOTHER APPLICATION.