Academy

The Amarillo Police Department requires a high standard of its officers, making it a very professional department. We endeavor to hire the most qualified applicants to become recruits in our academy. A career with the Amarillo Police Department offers educational opportunities, specialization and promotion. The Amarillo Police Academy is under the direction of the Training and Personnel Division of the police department.

The academy is held at the Amarillo Police Department from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday with some evening and night training requirements. The academy consists of 27 weeks of classroom and “hands on” training. We use various training techniques, including scenario based training, to enhance the recruit’s learning experience. The academy is designed to provide each recruit with the education required to take and pass the State licensing exam which must be successfully completed in order to be licensed as a peace officer in the State of Texas. In addition to meeting educational requirements set forth by the State, recruits receive additional training specific to our department’s needs. After successful completion of the academy, the recruits are assigned to the Uniform Division where they are required to successfully complete a 16-week Field Training Program. This training program gradually introduces the new officers to patrol work. Upon successful completion of the FTO program, the new officers are assigned to a permanent shift and can function as an independent police officer.

The June 15,2013 test is for the 85th Academy. That academy will start Dec 5th, 2013.

Current Employment Opportunities

• Police Recruit and Civilian applications are processed by the City of Amarillo, Human Resources Department.All applications must be submitted electronically: Submit Application Now.

Important Recruit Information

• The entrance exam for the 85th Amarillo Police Academy will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 8:00 am will be held in the Regency Room at the Amarillo Civic Center. Applications will be accepted thru June 7, 2013, at 5:00 PM
• Salary and Benefits Brochure
• Physical Agility
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Women Recruiting

Police Academy Entrance Exam Study Guide – (contact Training and Personnel for the download code)

• Police Entrance Exam Study Guide Link

Contacts for Training and Personnel are:

Toll Free: 1-800-934-1340

QUALIFICATIONS

• Citizen of the United States
• Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License upon employment
• Age 21 and not older than 44 years of age on first day of police academy
• High School Graduate or GED and 12 hours of college with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
• All military veterans must have an HONORABLE DISCHARGE documented by a DD-214
• Applicant must have resided within Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas or Colorado for the past 5 years. Exceptions can be made for applicants who are/were in the military or full time police employment during that time but lived outside the listed states.

STEPS IN THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS

• Initial Application
• Written Examination
• Physical Agility Test
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph Examination
• Interview Board
• Medical Examination
• Psychological Examination

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS

• Felony or Class A conviction, probation, deferred adjudication or community supervision;
• Class B misdemeanor conviction; probation, deferred adjudication or community supervision within the previous 10 years;
• Three at fault traffic accidents within the previous three years;
• Eight traffic citations (not convictions) for moving violations in the previous three years, or three traffic citations (not convictions) for moving violations within the previous year;
• Driver’s license presently suspended;
• Previous conviction of domestic violence;
• Discharge from the military with other than an Honorable Discharge;
• Any illegal possession or drug usage within three years of submitting application for employment; or
• Illegally dealing in narcotics.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

• Integrity
• Interest in People
• Communication Skills
• Problem Solving Abilities
• Learning Ability
• Dependability
• Physical Ability
• Desire for Self-Improvement

If you have what it takes to become an Amarillo Police Officer, complete an application and begin the process towards a career of a lifetime. Contact Sgt. Mike Martinez at 378-4006 or Sgt. Carla Burr at 378-3084 if you would like to know more about becoming a member of the Amarillo Police Department.