Police Officer-Lateral Entry

City of Sweetwater; Sweetwater (TX); On-site; USD 56,950 - 77,050; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

$10,000 Hiring Incentive Sign-On for L

Job summary

City of Sweetwater is seeking police officer lateral entry to join the Sweetwater Police Department. A $67,000 annual salary is offered, with a full-time schedule and openings under Job Number 202400070. Opening date is 04/21/2026 and closing date 8/7/2026 5:00 PM Central.

Eligibility requires a current or recent full-time police officer background, TCOLE certification, and at least two years of active service. Lateral entrants may be considered without a written exam.

Qualifications

• Two years active law enforcement experience.
• TCOLE certified.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assigned areas to ensure law and order and investigate suspicious activity.
• Make arrests for violations of laws and ordinances.
• Subdue violent individuals.
• Enforce City, State, and Federal laws.
• Respond to calls for assistance and provide police protection.
• Issue traffic citations or warnings for traffic violations.
• Investigate traffic accidents and direct traffic.
• Conduct preliminary crime scene investigations and collect evidence.
• Conduct searches following due process.
• Interact with the community to build trust.
• Provide public safety during emergencies and testify in court as needed.
• Respond to reports of ill or distressed persons.
• Proactively patrol to deter crime.
• Investigate suspicious persons/vehicles and alarm calls.
• Prepare cases and reports for court.
• Transport prisoners as required.
• Inspect and secure buildings and vacant properties.
• Assist with school area and park patrols.
• Assist in animal control operations.
• Manage scene traffic at incidents like fires.
• Maintain department vehicles and equipment.
• Complete assignments promptly.

Skills

Two years active law enforcement

Education

TCOLE certification

Job description

Police Officer-Lateral Entry

Salary: $67,000.00 Annually

Location: Sweetwater, TX

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202400070

Department: Police Department

Opening Date: 04/21/2026

Closing Date: 8/7/2026 5:00 PM Central

Job Responsibilities

• 1. Patrol an assigned area via foot or vehicle to ensure law compliance and investigate suspicious activities, individuals, or conditions.
• Make arrests of individuals who violate the law and/or ordinances.
• Subdue violent individuals.
• Enforce City, State, and Federal Laws.
• Respond to calls for assistance and provide the necessary police protection.
• Issue traffic citations or warnings to individuals violating traffic laws.
• Investigate traffic accidents and direct traffic.
• Conduct preliminary investigation of crimes and crime scenes to uncover and collect/document relevant evidence and/or testimony.
• Conduct searches according to due process procedures.
• Interact with the community to establish a close working relationship.
• Provide general public safety services during emergency conditions such as inclement weather and traffic accidents.
• Testify in court as required.
• Respond to reports of sick, injured or demented persons.
• Conduct an aggressive, proactive police patrol in an assigned area.
• Investigate suspicious vehicles and persons.
• Respond to and investigate causes of mechanical alarms.
• Prepare cases and reports for court.
• Transport prisoners to County or local facilities.
• Check the security of business establishments and reported vacant houses in this jurisdiction.
• Conduct targeted patrols of school areas and municipal parks.
• Assist in the recovery and control of animals in this jurisdiction.
• Direct and control vehicular and pedestrian traffic at fire scenes.
• Maintain and inspect department vehicles and equipment.
• Complete assignments as directed.
• Arrive at work on time every day, in good physical and mental condition.

Lateral Entry Officer Applicants are not required to complete a written examination as part of the hiring process and may be considered for appointment provided applicants meet the following eligibility requirements:

Eligibility Requirements

• i) At time of application, each LEO applicant must be actively employed or have been employed as a full-time paid police officer, provided that:
• The applicant is certified by TCOLE;
• ii) If not currently employed, the applicant must not have a break in service as a Police Officer of more than 180 days prior to the applicants appointment date. Individuals with greater than 180 days break in service that have maintained the required TCOLE training hours, and provides a current psychological examination approved by the department and TCOLE may be considered for appointment as a LEO.
• iii) Has a total of two (2) years of active service for one or more municipal, county, state or federal law enforcement agencies and handles a full array of urban police work (i.e., respond to all types of calls for aw enforcement services).
• iv) LEO applicants may be considered for appointment, on a case-by-case basis, if in the Chiefs determination the applicant possesses the appropriate level of law enforcement skills necessary to fulfil their duties as a Sweetwater Police Officer.
• v) Be no less than 21 years old at the time they apply to be hired as a LEO.
• vi) Applicants must pass the Departments physical agility course.
• vii) Applicants must successfully pass the Departments TCOLE approved background investigation.

Benefits

• $10,000 Hiring Incentive Sign-On for Lateral Transfers

Employer Details

City of Sweetwater (TX)

PO Box 450

200 E Fourth Street

Sweetwater, Texas, 79556

325-236-6313 ext 1311

www.sweetwatertx.gov