161st Police Academy - Lateral Officer Program - April 2027

Austin Police Department; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 97,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Police Department seeks lateral officers for its Lateral Officer Program. Responsibilities include responding to calls, enforcing traffic laws, investigations, and testifying in court. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a valid Texas drivers license, and a high school diploma or GED.

The department emphasizes equal opportunity employment and offers a structured pay progression after academy graduation, with initial pay around $97,385 per year and potential higher steps.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Read and write English.
• 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/without warrant when authorized by law; Investigate motor vehicle crashes; Prepare written reports; Give testimony in court.
• Confer with local law enforcement, criminal justice, and emergency response agencies on mutual matters.

Skills

English literacy

Strong communication

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Integrity

Physical fitness

Courage and initiative

Reaction and decision making

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Position: Austin Police Lateral Officer Program

Job Duties

• 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.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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.

Experience Requirements

• 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.

Compensation and Benefits

• $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.

• 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.
• 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.

The Austin Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.