Police Academy

Note: PRIMARILY for Law Enforcement Department Hired Cadets, BUT Independent Cadets are also accepted, with priority being granted to the sponsored agency cadets.

Department representative contacts the Academy Training Coordinator to reserve a spot in the academy.

Point of Contact: Louis Lufkin, Director – [email protected]

A law enforcement agency MUST provide proof the hired cadet meets the “Minimum Enrollment Requirements for training as a Texas Peace Officer,” which are established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). All academy applicants must meet all minimum enrollment requirements; (RULE §217.1).

Full-time classes are approximately 23-25 weeks in length, dependent on the time of year, holidays, weather, etc.

• Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.,
• IF Saturday times are required, there is typically a day off during the week, so as to keep a 40-hour work week for agency cadets.
  • EXAMPLE
  • M-T-W-Th-F
  • M-T-W-Th-F
  • M-T-W-Th-(Off)-Sat

The tuition is $2,750.00 and pays for the following:

• Instruction,
• Law book,
• Handgun ammo, Rifle ammo, Shotgun ammo, Simunition ammo.

Additional costs that are either covered by the agency or the cadet are as follows:

• Application requirements, i.e. Fingerprint check, Medical Exam/Drug Screening, Driver's License Status Record, Psychological Exam
• University parking pass
• Laptop or tablet pc
• Uniforms/Accessories
• Classroom supplies
• Meals
• TCOLE Exam fee

For agency-sponsored cadets, the tuition must be paid in-full, prior to a seat being reserved in the class.

For Independent cadets, once the application requirements have been met in-full, the tuition must be paid in-full or the down payment must be made in the amount of $1,500.00. If a down payment is made, there will be two remaining installment payments of $625.00 each, the first will be one-month from the first class day and the second will be one-month later.

Seat reservation is first-come, first-served.

PRIMARILY for independent (self-paying) cadets who are not hired by and sponsored by a law enforcement agency and who meet the “Minimum Enrollment Requirements for training as a Texas Peace Officer,” which are established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). All academy applicants must meet all minimum enrollment requirements (RULE §217.1).

Part-time classes are approximately 10-11 months in length, dependent on the time of year, holidays, weather, etc.

• Monday-Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday times are typically every other Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • EXAMPLE
  • M-T-W-Th
  • M-T-W-Th-Sa
  • M-T-W-Th
  • M-T-W-Th-Sa

The tuition is $2,750.00 and pays for the following:

• Instruction,
• Law book,
• Handgun ammo, Rifle ammo, Shotgun ammo, Simunition ammo.

Additional costs that are either covered by the agency or cadet are as follows:

• Application requirements, i.e. Fingerprint check, Medical Exam/Drug Screening, Driver's License Status Record, Psychological Exam
• University parking pass
• Laptop or tablet pc
• Uniforms/Accessories
• Classroom supplies
• Meals
• TCOLE Exam fee

Once the application requirements have been met in-full, the tuition must be paid in-full or the down payment must be made in the amount of $1,500.00. If a down payment is made, there will be two remaining installment payments of $625.00 each, the first will be one-month from the first class day and the second will be one-month later.

Seat reservation is first-come, first-served.

Applicants will complete a pre-screening eligibility questionnaire, consisting of thirteen (13) questions designed to filter those applicants who meet the minimum requirements for licensure, as set forth by the Texas Occupations Code and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Rule 217.1.

The questions ascertain the applicant meets the following criteria:

• US Citizenship
• Has a High School Diploma; a High School Equivalency Certificate; or for the Basic Peace Officer Training Course, an Honorable Discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24-months of active-duty service.
• Meets the age requirement as follows: for peace officers and public security officers, is 21 years of age; or 18 years of age if the applicant has received: (i) an Associate's Degree; or 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university; or (ii) has received an Honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least two years of active-duty service.
• Has never been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order.
• Is not currently charged with any criminal offense for which conviction would be a bar to licensure.
• Has never been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years.
• Has never been convicted or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family violence as defined under Chapter 71, Texas Family Code.
• Is not prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle.
• Is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
• Has never received a dishonorable or other discharge based on misconduct which bars future military service.
• Has not had a commission license denied by final order or revoked.
• Is not currently on suspension, or does not have a surrender of license currently in effect.

Upon successful completion of the eligibility Questionnaire, the applicant is directed to contact the academy for scheduling of his/her Academy Entrance Test date, which are scheduled twice monthly. The applicant then proceeds to the next step in the application process, the Entrance Exam.

Complete the Basic Peace Officer Course Eligibility Questionnaire

The Eligibility Questionnaire pre-screens BPOC applicants according to the requirements specified by TCOLE Rule 217.1 in the areas of citizenship, education, age and criminal history.

The entrance exam tests the following four skill sets, directly correlated to essential daily duties:

Mathematics (20-questions, Multiple-choice format)

• Calculating speed and distance for accident reconstruction reports; determining blood-alcohol content (BAC) levels; calculating fines or seizure values; quickly estimating resources needed for a large-scale incident.

Reading Comprehension (25-questions, Multiple-choice format)

• Interpreting complex state and local laws, ordinances, and penal codes; understanding detailed medical reports or legal documents like search warrants; quickly grasping the nuances of a suspect’s handwritten note or a witness statement.

Grammar (20-questions, Multiple-choice format)

• Writing professional and credible emails to prosecutors, judges, or other agencies; maintaining proper tense and structure in affidavits; ensuring official communications are clear, professional, and free of ambiguity.

Incident Report Writing (10-questions, Multiple-choice format)

• Creating accurate and detailed narrative reports that withstand judicial scrutiny; logging chain-of-custody for evidence; describing a crime scene and events clearly and logically so an outside investigator can understand what happened.

The Standard

The applicant must achieve a score of 80% on each of the four sections of the entrance exam in order to proceed to the next step in the application process, the Firearms hand-strength and dexterity exam.

NOTE: The applicant will need to bring an up-to-date laptop or tablet, capable of accessing the university's WIFI-connection in order to take the entrance exam. The academy will not accommodate the need for charging chords or outlets for charging, so make sure your equipment is fully charged.

The Entrance Exam is a timed exam (1 hr 30 min.)

Prepare for the Entrance Exam

Any practice exam for a police civil service test will be an adequate representation of the Academy Entrance exam. Practice exams can be found online or at bookstores.

The firearms hand-strength and dexterity exam is designed to evaluate the physical abilities essential for safe and effective weapon handling, including:

• Holding the weapon unsupported in the dominant hand, while maintaining the weapon’s barrel within a target ring continuously for 30-seconds, is used to measure the ability to hold a sustained grip.
• Engaging the slide requires pulling the slide back to simulate chambering a round, often paired with the trigger pull test. This task may also be performed using the targeting ring. This measures the finger and forearm strength needed to manipulate the weapon’s slide (Rack the slide) to chamber a round or start the action.
• Dry firing the weapon requires the applicant to pull the trigger a specific number of times using their dominant hand while maintaining the weapon’s barrel within a target ring.

The Standard

The applicant MUST pass all 12 tasks (Handgun, Shotgun, and Patrol Rifle) on the first attempt in order to proceed to the next step in the application process, the Benchmark Occupational Readiness Exam.

Prepare for the firearms hand-strength and dexterity exams.

The Benchmark Occupational Readiness Exam is designed to evaluate the foundational movement skills necessary for the demands of law enforcement:

• Repetitive Chair Squat to Stand
• Bilateral Heal Drop and Stabilize
• Alternating Step Ups
• Deep Squat to Prone Plank
• Wall Push/Isometric Lean
• Single Leg Stance with Directional Touch
• Kettlebell/Dumbbell Farmer's Carry
• Forwards and Backwards Crawling

The Standard

The applicant MUST pass all elements associated with the 8 tasks on the first attempt in order to proceed to the next step in the application process, the 500-meter ROW Test.

NOTE: These standards will also be assessed during the L-2 Medical Exam, if the applicant makes it to that stage of the process.

Prepare for the benchmark occupational readiness exam.

To successfully complete this test, you MUST achieve the 55^th percentile or higher, according to the age, sex, and body weight threshold below.

Times are displayed in “#m:#s” format, e.g. 1m:10s.

MALES

FEMALES

The Standard

The applicant MUST achieve the 55^th percentile or higher, according to their age, sex, and body weight threshold, in order to proceed to the next steps in the application process:

• FAST Fingerprint check
• Personal History Statement (PHS)
• Driver's License Status Record check
• Medical Exam & Drug Screening (L-2)
• Psychological Exam (L-3)
• Submission of Vital Statistics documents

NOTE: The 55^th percentile is also required to be maintained for successful completion of the BPOC.

Prepare for the 500-meter row test with thresholds.

To successfully complete this step, the applicant must successfully pass/complete the following:

• Driver License Status Record check (approximately $5)
• Fingerprint Criminal History check (approximately $40)
• L-2 Medical Exam and Drug Screening (approximately $125)
• L-3 Psychological Evaluation (approximately $250)

NOTE: The applicant is responsible for the cost of the above requirements. Explanation of the above requirements is provided when the application packets are distributed after successful completion of Steps 1-5.

To successful complete this step, the applicant must also have on-file with the academy, prior to the start date, the following items that apply to the applicant:

• (Original) AMLETA Personal History Statement (PHS)
• (Original) Authority to Release Information Form
• (Original) C-1 PID Assignment Form
• (Original) Social Security Card
• (Original) Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
• (Original) Valid Texas driver license or a copy of another State's driver license [applicant must possess a valid Texas driver license prior to being offered employment]
• (Original) High School diploma or GED certificate or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least twenty-four months of active service
• (Original) Sealed original certified copy of your college transcript {if applicable}
• (Original) College diploma {if applicable}
• Copy of your DD-214 and/or other military discharge documents {if applicable}
• All TCOLE Training Certificates previously received {if applicable}
• (Original) Certified copy of your Naturalization papers {if applicable}
• Copy of current proof of automobile liability insurance
• Copy of TCOLE Firearms Qualifications within the last 12 months {if applicable}

NOTE: Any items with ‘(Original)', mean that the academy has to lay hands on said originals and make the copies for the file. The originals will be given back to the applicant.