Austin Police Dept.

[RoadGiant]

Anyone on here work for APD in Texas? How are they to work for?

[MJ-1]

Roadgiant,

I have heard that the department is a good one to work for. they work 4 ( 10 hour shifts ) and have 3 days off.
I applied for the department in Oct,2001 and am still going through the process. So far, the experience has been good.
Thats about all I know of the department so hopefully, somebody else has greater info for you.

[rockyraider]

I sent my initial paperwork to APD in mid January and recieved a test date for March 7/8 about three weeks after I mailed my initial screening paperwork. The recruiter said they are shooting for an academy in June but it could be as late as August. This is the academy I am testing for. Also, as just a side note, according to the same recruiter, they are supposed to be getting some increases in pay in or around October. The specific increase I was told about was for educational incentive pay. The master's degree pay is supposed to be going from $150/month to $225/mo. I would assume other incenives would also increase. I am also applying to Arlington PD. I sent them my entire packet about three weeks ago. I called last week and they said I had passed the screeing process and had been passed on to a recruiter for further screening and testing consideration. I will have a hard time picking between these two if I were to be lucky enough to be selected by both departements. Pros for Austin: 4-10's, my hometown, friends and family there. Pros Arlington: Better pay, lower cost of living, more suburbs to live in, 401(k) plus matching, etc. Hopefully I will make it with one of these two departments!!!!

[MJ-1]

rockyraider,

Not to shoot down your hopes, but I and alot of other people tested fo Austin back in october of 2001. We took the written, PT, psychological, and 1st interview. I just got called by the BI last week and he has started my BI ivestigation. He said that they are very behind because of man power and that it is taking them longer to get to the BI's because of this.

The good news is that he said he will be done with my BI this week and I have an appointment to meet with him on this Fri to go over my BI.

Hopefully they have more man power now and what the recruiter told you about the academy date is true. I just didn't want you to get your expectations too high about the academy date and then it takes a lot longer than you had anticipated.

Good luck.

[rockyraider]

MJ-1,
Thanks for the heads up. I saw your post and wondered why it had taken so long. Do you think that it is possible that they didn't have an academy scheduled until June or so, so they have been taking their time getting backgrounds done up until now. It wouldn't suprise me if the process does in fact take this long. This is the problem I have been worried about. I just got out of school in December and my wife graduates in May. Right now we are just hanging on with my crappy job. I don't know if I should take a job and just wait out the process or keep holding on and just wait for a police job. This wouldn't be a problem if I already had a job I could simply continue with, but since I don't currently have a real job, we are sort of stuck in a hard spot. The real problem is that we would have to move to another big town for the job I have lined up if the police jobs fall through, and with my luck as soon as we moved, one of the police departments will call. Thanks again for the heads up. By the way, how was the testing? How bad was the physical agility portion? Thanks!

[MJ-1]

rockyraider,

The testing went pretty good. The written test was very easy and you should have no problems with it as long as you can read at at least a 6th grade level. The physical test was an obstacle course. I had never done an obstacle cousre before, but had no problems and as long as your in shape and can get over a 6 foot wall then there should be no problem. Actually the course was kind of fun. I think about 6-7 people didn't pass out of about 23 of us testing. Then there was the written psychological test, the one that takes 3-4 hours. Then the background packet to fill out and then the dreaded wait.

Hope this helps.

[MJ-1]

raider,

About the job thing, I personally would take a better paying job while you apply and wait for the police jobs. The reason being, is that from what I have experieced and read from other posts, waiting for a law enforcement job can take up to or more than a year to get through the process.

I don't know your financial situation, so my advice is strickly what I might do and not what you should do.

[rockyraider]

MJ-1,
I talked to Austin PD today just to reaffirm that I was going to be testing for the July academy. The recruiter I spoke with confirmed this but she wanted to give me a heads up warning that the academy may be pushed back from July to October. This really sucks. On another note, Arlington PD called me today and scheduled me for my oral panel, physical agility, and possibly a polygraph on March 22. The recruiter from Arlington stated that I would be testing for the May 20th academy. This is a big relief since I hadn't heard anything from them since I sent my application in about three weeks ago. If you don't mind me asking, where are you currently residing? I would assume Austin, but I guess you could just really like the area. If you are open to it, you might check out Arlington PD. They seem to be very highly recommended and they appear to have alot going for them (pay, top notch department, lower cost of living than Austin, etc.). Good luck to you.

[MJ-1]

raider,

I live in San Antonio. I applied to Austin because it is close and the pay is very good. I am currently a PO so I am in no real hurry to get another job. The reason I apply is the money reasons. I applied to Arlington about 3 years ago when i was finishing my Degree. I didn't make it past the first oral board. I guess they didn't like my respnoses or something.

Anyways, I have a couple different irons in the fire right now so I think I'm done applying to different places for now until some things pan out or not.

Good luck.