Police Recruit

Amarillo Police Department; Amarillo (TX); On-site; USD 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Amarillo Police Department seeks recruits following the Police Academy to patrol, enforce traffic laws, investigate crimes, and complete reports. You will interview witnesses, detain suspects, and participate in court proceedings as required.

Starting salary begins at $75,762 with opportunities for education, certification, clothing, and longevity pay, with testing and application deadlines on the attached schedule.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen with good character and no felony or Class A convictions.
• Must read, write, and speak English at a high school graduate level.
• Must be able to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement practices and procedures.

Responsibilities

• After academy, patrols assigned areas and responds to calls for service.
• Enforces traffic laws, investigates traffic accidents, and prepares reports.
• Interviews victims and witnesses, makes arrests, and books prisoners as needed.
• Testifies in court and performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Instruction following

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Starting Salary: $75,762 plus education, certification, clothing, longevity pay

Job Summary

After successful completion of the Police Academy, patrols assigned areas, investigates traffic accidents, performs escort and guard duties, writes reports of activities, and responds to all calls for service.

Provides patrol services on foot and in vehicle; enforces traffic laws and investigates traffic accidents; investigates criminal offenses; interviews victims and witnesses and prepares written reports; arrests and detains criminals; searches suspects, vehicles, buildings, crime scenes, and seizes evidence; interviews and interrogates suspects and witnesses; books prisoners in jail; testifies in court; other duties as assigned.

Civil Service Test Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Deadline to apply: Sunday, December 6, 2026, 11:59 pm

Testing Start Time: 9:00 am (latecomers will not be allowed in the testing area)

Amarillo College, West Campus. Lecture Hall. 6222 SW 9th, Amarillo, Texas 79106

**All applicants who pass the written exam will take the physical readiness test after the written exam on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Please see the attached link for practice materials. There will be a cost associated to the candidate with the practice test and study guide. Shop | Industrial/Organizational Solutions (iosolutions.com)

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Must be a U.S. citizen of good character with no felony or Class A convictions.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language at a high school graduate level
• Must have normal speech and hearing
• Be able to follow written and verbal instructions
• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of statutes and ordinances.
• Ability to interact professionally with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to function professionally under extreme duress during emergency/crisis situations.
• Ability to operate computers for data entry and word processing.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to operate small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.

Possible Disqualifiers

• History of bad debt
• Illegal possession or use of marijuana or THC

Required Qualifications

Must have a high school diploma or GED. GED requires an additional 12 hours from an accredited college.

Must provide originals: valid driver's license, social security card, birth certificate, high school diploma or GED, and college transcript. Must provide DD-214 member 4 (if applicable) prior to examination.

Physical Demands

Must have uncorrected vision of at least 20/200, correctable to 20/20 in both eyes (eyesight between 20/100 and 20/200 must have a letter from their doctor stating eyesight is in a static condition). Each ear with no less than a 40db loss at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without correction.

Must pass a physical readiness test after the written exam.

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The employee must also balance, climb, crawl, crouch, walk, stand, kneel, stoop, sit, hear, feel, finger, grasp, handle, reach, pull, push, speak, see, and talk. Also requires the ability to make rational decisions and person repetitive motions.

EEO/ADA

The City of Amarillo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from eligible and qualified persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national original, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local law.

The City of Amarillo provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office at [phone].

The City of Amarillo is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages applications from eligible and qualified persons regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

The City of Amarillo provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case by case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 806-378-4294.