SAN ANGELO, Texas — San Angelo Police Department is accepting applications for police officers. Community Services Supervisor Sgt Tim Coffman said that while SAPD is not in desperate need for officers, they prefer to keep the force full to overcome any loses due to retirement and resignations.
The requirements to apply are that applicants must be between 21 and 45 years of age, however, in the state of Texas, 18-20-year-olds can apply if they have either served 2 years in the military or have taken at least 60 hours of college credit. Coffman says that when a candidate applies, SAPD investigates their financial responsibility, employment history, driving record, criminal record, history of drug use.
For those that get hired, they will go through a written exam, physical agility test, in-depth background check, and, lastly, the interview board. The training takes 6 to 7 months followed by a few months of shadowing, resulting in an entire year before the officer is given a shift on their own. The officer will then have two years of working patrol before being allowed to apply for special duty assignments, such as narcotics, anti-crime, and gang.
Coffman says that many other police departments will pay a stipend depending on the degree the officer has, but SAPD is unique in that they will pay for college an officer took even if they didn’t get a degree from it. Candidates can apply at http://www.sanangelopolice.org/become-an-officer.