161st Police Academy - Lateral Officer Program - April 2027

Overview

This posting is for the  for the Austin Police Lateral Officer Program. Apply only if you have active law enforcement experience. Review the minimum qualifications in this posting to ensure you meet these requirements before applying. Call us at 512-974-4211 if you have questions. 

Applicants should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in a law enforcement career:

• Read and write English.
• Confidence and a responsible attitude.
• The ability to react quickly and take positive action.
• Resilience.
• The ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
• The ability to work alone and in a team.
• Strong communication skills.
• Courage and initiative.
• Integrity.
• Good physical fitness.

The Austin Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• The protection of life, liberty, and property.
• Enforcement of all laws of the State of Texas and laws and ordinances of the City of Austin.
• Perform law enforcement duties including:
  • Respond to calls for service.
  • Enforce traffic laws.
  • Conduct preliminary investigations of crimes.
  • Execute all lawful process.
  • Arrest offenders with and without warrant when authorized by law.
  • Investigate motor vehicle crashes.
  • Prepare various written reports.
  • Give testimony in court.
• Confer with local law enforcement, criminal justice, and emergency response agencies on matters of mutual interest.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Austin Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications

The minimum qualifications include:

• At least 20.5 of age at time of application.
• U.S. Citizen, born or naturalized.
• Have a valid Driver’s License.
• High School Diploma or GED.

In addition, applicants must also possess the following experience:

• Actively employed with at least three (3) years of active service as a licensed police officer for a municipal, county, and/or state law enforcement agency that handles a full array of urban police work. 
  • School/university, Federal, and Military police experience does not qualify for the Lateral Officer Program.
• Hold a current peace officer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Out of State applicants without a TCOLE license must complete required TCOLE coursework prior to the academy.

Salary

During academy

$97,385 / year rate

Immediately upon graduation

Pay matches your prior years of service, up to and capped at the 6-year pay step ($97,385 - $104,202)

Progress through the pay steps normally

• • Example: If you graduate the academy and are at the 6-year pay step, in four years, you’ll be at the 10 year pay step ($121,754/year).

Please visit www.apdrecruiting.org/pay-benefits for more information regarding our pay scales and details about our incentive pay.

Note to Applicants

• Each hire will be required to successfully complete the Lateral Training Academy.
• Hires will be placed on a fifteen (15) month probationary period, during which time they will be at-will employees. (any leave taken by a probationary police officer during the probationary time period (other than approved vacation leave) shall extend the probationary period by the length of the leave taken)   
• Applicants will be contacted via email throughout the hiring process. Please add iCIMS (@agents.icims.com) to your Approved/Safe Senders list to ensure that our email communications are received. Click here for instructions on whitelisting iCIMS.
• You should review the Additional Information Document to prepare yourself for the next steps in the hiring process.
• You can find additional information on our hiring process at www.APDRecruiting.org.