161st Police Academy - Lateral Officer Program - April 2027

• 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.

• 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.

• →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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.