Patrol Officer

City of Baytown, TX; Baytown (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

$10,000 signing incentive

Job summary

City of Baytown invites applicants to take the Civil Service Patrol Officer Entrance Exam. The deadline to apply is September 23, 2026, by 5:00 P.M. The exam will be held Friday, October 2, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. at the Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market Street, Baytown, Texas 77520.

Submit your application on a laptop or desktop computer. A $10,000 signing incentive awaits successful credentialing and probationary completion. Applicants who qualify will receive exam details by email.

Qualifications

• Must be able to read and write the English language.
• Must be a United States citizen.
• Minimum age 21 at time of entrance examination.
• Must meet Texas peace officer licensing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Respond to police calls and incidents as assigned.
• Prepare and file police reports with proper procedures.
• Proactively patrol assigned areas and deter crime.
• Attend meetings, compile reports, and testify in court as needed.
• Provide support and assistance to the public and coworkers.

Skills

Strong communication skills

U.S. citizenship

English literacy

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Job Summary

Civil Service Patrol Officer Entrance Exam - Deadline to apply is September 23, 2026, by 5:00 P.M.

The Exam will be held Friday, October 2, 2026, at 9:00 A.M., at the Baytown Community Center, located at 2407 Market Street, Baytown, Texas 77520.

Please use a laptop or desktop computer to submit your application. Do not use your phone to submit the application.

Job Summary

Civil Service Patrol Officer Entrance Exam - Deadline to apply is September 23, 2026, by 5:00 P.M.

The Exam will be held Friday, October 2, 2026, at 9:00 A.M., at the Baytown Community Center, located at 2407 Market Street, Baytown, Texas 77520.

Please use a laptop or desktop computer to submit your application. Do not use your phone to submit the application.

$10,000 signing incentive (paid out over probationary period after credentialing).

Applicants who meet the requirements to test will receive an email with details for the Civil Service written Entrance Exam.

Join the City of Baytown as a dedicated Patrol Officer, where you\'ll ensure the safety and security of our community through active patrolling and crime prevention. We seek individuals with strong communication skills, a commitment to public service, and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism and integrity. Apply today to make a meaningful impact and help maintain the peace in our vibrant city!

A Patrol Officer enforces law to protect and serve the public. Provides aid to citizens while rendering police services to the public. Patrols a specified area of the City to preserve law and order, to prevent, discover, and investigate the commission of crime, and to enforce motor vehicle operations and parking regulations. Assists in personnel related issues, crime prevention tasks, training programs and other specialized assignments.

Duties

• Responds to police calls from dispatcher: house or business burglary, violent felonies, robbery, auto thefts, auto accidents, criminal mischief, alarms, domestic violence, any other reported criminal offense, assistance to elderly or disabled persons who have accidents in the home, drive to the scene; provides protection or assistance or apprehends suspects.
• Writes police reports of all calls and incidents; adheres to proper police procedures and files applicable charges.
• Proactively patrols City streets when not on an assigned call; checks buildings or homes for burglars; gives traffic citations enforcing traffic laws; assists citizens; and deters crime.
• Performs miscellaneous duties including attending meetings; obtaining assignments; compiling reports; appearing in court for testimony; communicating with other officers or detectives regarding cases; and occasionally speaking to civic groups.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Required

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of the entrance examination.
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
• The applicant must be a United States citizen.
• Must not have been convicted or has ever been on court-ordered community supervision, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense of the grade of a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years from the date of the court order.
• Must not have been convicted or has ever been on court-ordered community supervision, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor.
• Must not be currently under indictment for any criminal offense.
• Must not have ever been convicted of any offense involving family violence.
• Must not be prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle.
• Must not be prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
• Must meet all other qualifications established by Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code.
• Must not have been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions. If you have served in the military, a copy of your DD214 MUST be attached to this application before you submit it.
• Must be able to read and write the English language.
• Must meet the minimum standard for licensing of a peace officer pursuant to the provisions of Texas Occupation Code, Chapter 1701, and the rules of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Ability to work under stressful conditions and deal courteously with the public. Knowledge of civil, traffic, criminal laws, City ordinances and of City geography. Ability to organize clear, complete factual reports, enter and retrieve computer data and to drive a vehicle safely.

Here at the City of Baytown, in recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you bring. We strive to provide a workplace where differences are honored, with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people we serve.

Attendance is an essential function of this position. The City reserves the right to require an employee in this position to work overtime. This position provides services or performs duties for the benefit of the general public during emergency situations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of your job. In the event of an evacuation, the incumbent in this position may be required to remain to perform needed services.

Overall Position Strength Demands

Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Use a laptop or desktop computer to submit your application. DO NOT use your phone to submit the application.

To promote health and wellness, we provide a comprehensive benefits program (listed below) to meet the needs of you and your family. Our goal is to help you live and work well – 365 days a year.

Police Specific Benefits

• You are provided all full time employee benefits plus:
• $10,000 signing incentive (paid out over probationary period after credentialing)
• Meet & Confer
• Education pay
• Relocation expenses reimbursement (within Baytown extra-territorial jurisdiction)Speciality/skill pay
• Shift differential pay
• Paid leave
• Academy tuition reimbursement
• Uniform/equipment provided
• City vehicle program

Fire Specific Benefits

• You Are Provided All Full Time Employee Benefits Plus
• $10,000 signing incentive (paid out over probationary period after credentialing)
• $500 monthly Paramedic Certification pay after credentialing
• 48/96 schedule
• Collective bargaining
• Specialty/skill pay
• Certification pay
• Education pay
• Relocation expenses reimbursement (within Baytown extra-territorial jurisdiction)
• Housing closing costs reimbursement up to $5,000 (within Baytown city limits)

Full Time Employee Benefits

• Medical
• United Healthcare
• Effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment
• Annual Deductible (Network) $750 Indiv/$2,250 Family
• In-Network Benefit 80%/20% after plan deductible
• $50 co-pay (general visit)
• RX - $10 Generic/$40 Formulary/$75 Non-Formulary
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses
• FREE virtual visits

Dental

• Cigna Dental PPO & DHMO
• Effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment
• Preventative & diagnostic covered at 100%
• Annual Deductible: $50/Indiv (Cigna PPO) - No annual deductible for Cigna DHMO

Vision

• Superior Vision
• Effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment
• In-Network exam co-pay $10 & $25 materials co-pay
• Frames: $140 Allowance - Contact Lenses: $160 Allowance

Holistic Health & Wellness

• Employee Wellness Center offering FREE primary care medical treatment for employees & dependents on the Medical plan
• FREE access to gyms, Shipt, and Walmart+ through our employee medical insurance
• Gym partnership with Lee College Wellness Center & swimming pool for $58/year
• Employee Assistance Program providing employees and their household family members up to 8 FREE counseling sessions per issue per year, legal and financial assistance, will generator tools, and more!
• Sick Leave Pool providing participants additional paid sick time if accruals are exhausted.
• SmartDollar: free online program providing tips and tools from Dave Ramsey for getting out of debt and building good saving practices

Retirement

Texas Municipal Retirement System:

• 7% employee contribution with a 14% employer match
• 5 year vesting
• Retirement Eligibility: 20 years of service/any age - or - 5 years of service/at least age 60
• FREE Life Insurance coverage up to 1X your base annual salary

MissionSquare 457 and 457 Roth IRA plans: additional voluntary employee participation

Disability Insurance

Equitable:

• Long-term Disability: voluntary elected coverage. Pays 60% of monthly earnings up to $8,000 per month up to social security age, depending on the disability
• Short-term Disability: voluntary elected coverage. Pays 60% of weekly earnings up to $1,000 per week for up to the first 13 weeks of a disability

Training and Tuition Assistance

• The HUB Employee Training Center: we invest in you by equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to live out our Purpose and Core Values
• Access to funding up to $1,500 per semester or $3,000 per year for tuition toward courses that are job-related or will enhance your work performance

Generous Paid Sick, Vacation, & Holiday Leave

• 10 holidays per year and one personal employee day per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• Starting at 10 days of vacation per year; up to 25 days per year
• Sick and Vacation hours roll over annually up to the maximum limit
• 15 days Paid Parental Leave

To explore all of the benefits we offer, please visit: baytownlife.com

01

Have you ever been convicted of any Family Violence offense?

• No
• Yes

02

Are you a United States citizen?

• I am.
• I am not.

03

If you served in the military, please enter your dates of service.

04

If you have served in the military and have not attached your DD214 to this application, you must do so PRIOR TO SUBMITTING your application. Your application will be considered incomplete and REJECTED without a copy of your DD214 attached.

• I have attached a copy of my DD214.
• I have not served in the military. This does not apply to me.
• I am currently serving in the military and do not have a DD214.
• No, I have elected not at attach a copy of my DD214 and understand that my application will be incomplete and rejected.

05

Have you been convicted or have ever been on court ordered community suspension, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense of the grade of a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years from the date of the court order?

• No
• Yes

06

Do you possess a High School Diploma or equivalent (GED)?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record? (Must obtain TX driver's license within 90 days.)

• Yes
• No

08

Are you able to read and write the English language?

• Yes, I am able.
• No, I am not able.

09

At the time of the Entrance Exam, will you be at least 21 years of age?

• Yes
• No

10

Does your DD214 list a Honorable Discharge? (If you did not serve in the military, select "Not Applicable.")

• Yes, I have a Honorable Discharge on my DD214
• Not Applicable. I have not served in the military
• Not Applicable. I am still in the military and have not been discharged yet.
• No, I do not have a Honorable Discharge.

11

Are you currently under indictment for any criminal offense?

• No
• Yes

12

Are you prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition?

• No
• Yes

13

Have you ever been convicted or have ever been on court-ordered community supervision, probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor?

• No
• Yes

14

Are you related to a person already employed by the Police Department of the City of Baytown?

• No
• Yes

15

How did you hear about this exam?

• Required Question