We are seeking people dedicated to serving the citizens of Terrell to join our team.

Application Procedure

Sworn

Submit all Terrell PD applications on the City of Terrell HR website. The link is posted below. Once a completed application is received, the applicant will receive a Civil Service Exam Confirmation email, if date has been scheduled, to the email listed on the application. The confirmation email will provide the Civil Service Exam test date, time, and location, along with the Physical Agility Test requirements and information about the hiring process. The hiring process consists of the following: Oral Board, Background Investigation, Polygraph, Psychological and Drug and Physical Screening.

Civilian

Submit all Terrell PD applications on the City of Terrell HR website. The link is posted below. The interviewing department will review all applications and select the qualified applicants to be interviewed and processed. The interviewing department will call candidates to schedule interviews and select the applicant(s) to be considered and hired. Because of the volume of applications and the time required to review and process each application, you will not be called or contacted unless you are selected for an interview or otherwise continue in the hiring process. The hiring process consists of: Preliminary Questionnaire, Preliminary Interview/Typing Test (35 WPM), Background Investigation, Formal Interview, Polygraph, Psychological, and Drug and Physical Screening.

Apply Here!

https://cityofterrell-human-resources-human-resources.app.transform.civicplus.com/forms/35211

New Sign-On Incentive for Certified officers who qualify for the lateral entry program! $5,000 awarded at hire and the remaining $5,000 upon completion of field training.

Salary Compensation

Police Officer:

• Step 1: $70,889.00 Annually/$34.08 Hourly (Effective April 1, 2026: Step 1: $79,100.00 Annually/$38.03 Hourly)
• Step 2: $75,496.79 Annually/$36.30 Hourly (Effective April 1, 2026: Step 2: $84,241.50 Annually/$40.50 Hourly)
• Step 3: $80,404.08 Annually/$38.66 Hourly (Effective April 1, 2026:Step 3: $89,717.20 Annually/$43.13 Hourly)
• Step 4: $85,690.34 Annually/$41.17 Hourly (Effective April 1, 2026: Step 4: $95,548.82 Annually/45.94 Hourly)
• Step 5: $91,196.31 Annually/$43.84 Hourly (Effective April 1, 2026: Step 5: $101,759.49 Annually/$48.92 Hourly)

Step 1 is awarded upon hire. Steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 are awarded annually on the anniversary of the hire date. Officers will reach Step 5 in their fourth year of employment.

FY25 Civilian Compensation Plan

Benefits

• Lateral Entry
  • An officer applicant must have at least (2) years continuous service as a paid full-time certified police or law enforcement officer with a police or law enforcement agency as approved by the Chief of Police.
  • The officer applicant may not have a break in service from the time they left a police or law enforcement agency and the time they made an application with this department.
  • Officer applicants that are eligible for the Lateral Entry Program may be considered for the Accelerated Field Training Program.  
  • The Accelerated Field Training Program involves an abbreviated training consisting of fewer weeks than the Basic Terrell Police Department Field Training Program.  The Chief of Police shall determine if an officer applicant will be placed in the Accelerated Program. 
  • Upon placement of an officer applicant into the Accelerated Field Training Program, the applicant shall understand that they may be required to complete the full Terrell Police Department Field Training Program if deemed necessary by the Chief of Police.
  •  Any extension of an officer applicant’s training curriculum will not affect their pay grade. G.O. #40.05  Re-Hire and Lateral Entry of Police Officers 
  • Starting pay for officer applicants approved for the Lateral Entry Program will correspond to the Terrell Police Department pay scale, according to that officer’s total number of years and months of qualified police or law enforcement service prior to starting the Lateral Entry Program.
  • For the first 6 months of employment, a lateral entry officer applicant will be on probationary status with the Department.
  • Terrell Civil Service Local Rules will determine seniority with the Terrell Police Department, by date of hire, as is the case with any newly hired police officer. 
• Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS – 7% City Match 2:1)
• Specialized Units (K9, Traffic, SWAT, Narcotics, CID)
• Police Academy Sponsorship
• Vested at 5 Years
• Take Home Patrol Car (Sworn)
• Health, Dental and Vision
• Vacation Pay
• Sick Pay
• Holiday Pay
• Bilingual Pay
• Degree/Certificate Pay
• College Tuition Reimbursement
• Longevity Pay

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen and/or if the person is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two years of service before discharge, proof of legal permanent residence, and proof that the person has applied for United States citizenship.
• (Sworn) - A person must be at least 21 years of age by the date of commission by TCOLE as a peace officer, or 18 years of age if the applicant has received: an associate’s degree; or 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university; or has received an honorable discharge from armed forces of the United States after at least two years of active service. There is no upper age limit for a beginning position in the police department provided the applicant meets all the other requirements.
• Education: High School Diploma or a High School Equivalency Certificate (If you have a GED, then you must have completed at least 12 hours at an institution of higher education)
• If applicable, an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces is required
• (Sworn/Communications Specialist/Detention Officer) - Must be able to work rotating shifts including weekends
• (Sworn/Communications Specialist) - Must be eligible for certification from Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
• Applicants cannot be on probation for any offense
• Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license with:
  • Candidates will be temporarily disqualified who have violations exceeding three (3) events (moving violations or preventable accidents) in the preceding thirty-six (36) months, or a reckless driving conviction in the preceding sixty (60) months.

    
    

• Applicants for Sworn Police positions and Civilian Police positions that process or have access to illegal narcotics (i.e. - Forensic Investigations, Detention Center, Police Property Room, etc.) shall not have used marijuana in the past two years from the date of application.
• Applicants for all Police Sworn positions shall not have ever used an illegal controlled substance other than marijuana.
• Applicants for Civilian Police positions that do not process or have access to illegal narcotics shall not have used marijuana in the past one year from the date of application.
• Applicants for all Police Civilian positions shall not have ever used an illegal controlled substance other than marijuana within the past 10 years.

For more information or questions contact: TPDrecruiting@terrelltx.gov