Requirements

Police Recruit Requirements

An individual who is an applicant for employment as a Police Recruit with the Odessa Police Department shall:

1. Be a citizen of the United States
2. Be at least 20 years of age
3. Not be currently on court-ordered community service or probation for any criminal offense
4. Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor of the classification "Class B", or its equivalent, within the last 10 years
5. Not have been convicted at any time of misdemeanor of the classification "Class A", or its equivalent
6. Not have been convicted at any time of an offense of family violence
7. Not have been convicted at any time of a felony offense, or its equivalent
8. Not have any criminal charges pending
9. Not have excessive traffic tickets or accidents
10. Be of good moral character and not have excessive or vulgar tattoos
11. Has not been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including, specifically:
    1. Under other than honorable conditions
    2. Bad conduct
    3. Dishonorable
    4. Any other characterization of service indicating bad character
12. Be a high school graduate or have passed a General Educational Development test indicating high school equivalency or have completed 12 hours of college credit at an accredited college or university
13. Successfully complete a 1/2 mile run (5 minutes or less), pass an Occupational Physical Therapy Test and pass a Reading Comprehension test
14. Not have had a license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) revoked
15. Able to successfully complete the following application process:
              a. Oral Board Interview
              b. Attempt 0.5 mile run in less than 5 minutes – Used as a baseline for the applicant’s fitness
              c. Attempt 25 push-ups in 1 minute
              d. Attempt 25 situps in 1 minute
              e. Entry level test / TABE9 Reading Comprehension Test
              g. Background Investigation
              h. Polygraph
              i. Medical Physical
              j. Drug Screen
              k. Vision Exam
              l. Psychological Examination
            M. Conditional Job Offer

Police Officer Requirements

An individual who is an applicant for employment, as a Police Officer with the Odessa Police Department shall:

1. Be a citizen of the United States or have a current Texas Peace Officer's License
2. Must possess a current Texas Peace Officer's License or have passed the Basic Peace Officer Exam by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and be eligible to be appointed as a Police Officer by their rules
3. Not be currently on court-ordered community service or probation for any criminal offense
4. Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor of the classification "Class B", or its equivalent, within the last 10 years
5. Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor of the classification "Class A", or its equivalent, a felony offense, or its equivalent at any time
6. Not have been convicted at any time of an offense of family violence
7. Not have any criminal charges pending
8. Not have excessive traffic tickets or accidents
9. Be of good moral character and not have excessive or vulgar tattoos
10. Has not been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including, specifically:
    1. Under other than honorable conditions
    2. Bad conduct
    3. Dishonorable
    4. Any other characterization of service indicating bad character
11. Be a high school graduate or have passed a General Educational Development test indicating high school equivalency or have completed 12 hours of college credit at an accredited college or university.
12. Not have had a license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) revoked
13. Able to successfully complete the following application process:
              a. Oral Board Interview
              b. Attempt 0.5 mile run in less than 5 minutes – Used as a baseline for the applicant’s fitness
              c. Attempt 25 push-ups in 1 minute
              d. Attempt 25 situps in 1 minute
              e. Entry level test / TABE9 Reading Comprehension Test
              g. Background Investigation
              h. Polygraph
              i. Medical Physical
              j. Drug Screen
              k. Vision Exam
              l. Psychological Examination
            M. Conditional Job Offer

Certified Applicants

Applicants who have had a license issued by TCOLE or any other state law enforcement licensing agency suspended, must furnish the Department a complete written report from the licensing agency regarding the suspension.

Additional Requirements

Applicants who meet minimum standards and requirements must also meet the following additional requirements:

1. Satisfactorily meet the requirements of a thorough background investigation conducted by the Odessa Police Department
2. Successfully complete an oral interview board
3. Successfully complete a polygraph examination
4. Successfully pass a drug screening test
5. Successfully complete a Department approved employment physical and be declared in writing by health care providers to be physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the applicant's performance of duty as a peace officer
6. Be examined by a Department approved licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and be declared in writing by the psychiatrist or psychologist to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to be a peace officer
7. Honesty and integrity are integral to the character of all Odessa Police Department employees, therefore, any willful omission, misrepresentation, falsification or other action by the applicant that is determined to obscure factual information or mislead investigators shall be cause for immediate termination of the applicant from further consideration