Thinking about becoming an officer in texas

[jwmaddo]

Ok so as of right now I live in houston, texas and have been thinking about becoming a cop.

As far as my back ground goes I have a General Under Honorable conditions discharge from the army (long story about what happened) But I also was arrested back in december if I remeber correctly for assualt but was found not guilty. Do I even have a chance? Or would I just be wasting their time as well as my own?

Thanks
-Jason

[Emax503]

TCLEOSE if I remember correct require nothing below an Honorable Dishcharge as the minimum standard.

[jwmaddo]

Originally Posted by Emax503

TCLEOSE if I remember correct require nothing below an Honorable Dishcharge as the minimum standard.

So basicly there is no way I could become a cop?

Ok thanks for the info I'll still check into it just to make sure though.

-Jason

[jwmaddo]

From what I have gathered by looking at different websites and what other people have said. I think I can still make it with a general under honorable. The only ones obviously that can't are oth and dd.

[txinvestigator1]

Texas Administrative Code


TITLE 37 PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS
PART 7 TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS AND EDUCATION
CHAPTER 217 LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
RULE §217.1 Minimum Standards for Initial Licensure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) The commission shall issue a peace officer, jailer, temporary jailer, or public security officer license to an applicant who meets the following standards:

(1) minimum educational requirements:

(A) has passed a general educational development (GED) test indicating high school graduation level;

(B) is a high school graduate; or

(C) has 12 semester hours credit from an accredited college or university.

(2) for peace officers and public security officers, is 21 years of age, 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 the armed forces of the United States after at least two years of active service; for jailers is 18 years of age;

(3) is fingerprinted and is subjected to a search of local, state and U.S. national records and fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record;

(4) community supervision history:

(A) has not ever have been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order; but

(B) the commission may approve the application of a person who received probation or court-ordered community supervision for a Class B misdemeanor at least five (5) years prior to application if an agency administrator sufficiently demonstrates in writing with supporting documentation that mitigating circumstances exist with the case and with the individual applying for licensure, and that the public interest would be served by reducing the waiting period;

(5) is not currently charged with any criminal offense for which conviction would be a bar to licensure;

(6) conviction history:

(A) has not ever been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years; but

(B) the commission may approve the application of a person who was convicted for a Class B misdemeanor at least five (5) years prior to application if an agency administrator sufficiently demonstrates in writing with supporting documentation that mitigating circumstances exist with the case and with the individual applying for licensure, and that the public interest would be served by reducing the waiting period;

(7) has never been convicted of any family violence offense;

(8) is not prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;

(9) is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;

(10) has been subjected to a background investigation and has been interviewed prior to appointment by representatives of the appointing authority;

(11) has been examined by a physician, selected by the appointing or employing agency, who is licensed by the Texas Medical Board. The physician must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought and appointment to be made. The appointee must be declared in writing by that professional within 180 days before the date of appointment by the agency to be:

(A) physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the performance of duty appropriate to the type of license sought;

(B) show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use after a physical examination, blood test, or other medical test; and

(C) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for initial licensure, an individual's satisfactory medical exam that is conducted as a requirement of a basic licensing course may remain valid for 180 days from the individual's date of graduation from that academy, if accepted by the appointing agency;

(12) has been examined by a psychologist, selected by the appointing or employing agency, who is licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The psychologist must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought and appointment to be made. This examination may also be conducted by a psychiatrist. The appointee must be declared in writing by that professional to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as the type of officer for which the license is sought within 180 days before the date of appointment by the agency. The examination must be conducted pursuant to professionally recognized standards and methods:

(A) the commission may allow for exceptional circumstances where a licensed physician performs the evaluation of psychological and emotional health. This requires the appointing agency to request in writing and receive approval from the commission, prior to the evaluation being completed;

(B) the examination may be conducted by qualified persons identified by §501.004, of the Texas Occupations Code. This requires the appointing agency to request in writing and receive approval from the commission, prior to the evaluation being completed; and

(C) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for initial licensure, an individual's satisfactory psychological exam that is conducted as a requirement of a basic licensing course may remain valid for 180 days from the individual's date of graduation from that academy, if accepted by the appointing agency;

(13) has not been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions including, specifically;

(A) under other than honorable conditions;

(B) bad conduct;

(C) dishonorable;

(D) any other characterization of service indicating bad character;

(14) has not had a commission license denied by final order or revoked;

(15) is not currently on suspension, or does not have a voluntary surrender of license currently in effect;

(16) meets the minimum training standards and passes the commission licensing examination for each license sought;

(17) has not violated any commission rule or provision of the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1701; and

(18) is a U.S. citizen.

(b) For the purposes of this section, the commission will construe any court-ordered community supervision, probation or conviction for a criminal offense to be its closest equivalent under the Texas Penal Code classification of offenses if the offense arose from:

(1) another penal provision of Texas law; or

(2) a penal provision of any other state, federal, military or foreign jurisdiction.

(c) A classification of an offense as a felony at the time of conviction will never be changed because Texas law has changed or because the offense would not be a felony under current Texas laws.

(d) In evaluating whether mitigating circumstances exist, the commission will consider the following factors:

(1) the applicant's history of compliance with the terms of community supervision;

(2) the applicant's continuing rehabilitative efforts not required by the terms of community supervision;

(3) the applicant's employment record;

(4) whether the disposition offense contains an element of actual or threatened bodily injury or coercion against another person under the Texas Penal Code or the law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred;

(5) the required mental state of the disposition offense;

(6) whether the conduct resulting in the arrest resulted in the loss of or damage to property or bodily injury;

(7) the type and amount of restitution made by the applicant;

(8) the applicant's prior community service;

(9) the applicant's present value to the community;

(10) the applicant's post-arrest accomplishments;

(11) the applicant's age at the time of arrest; and

(12) the applicant's prior military history.

[Emax503]

Originally Posted by jwmaddo

From what I have gathered by looking at different websites and what other people have said. I think I can still make it with a general under honorable. The only ones obviously that can't are oth and dd.

Yeah, #13 and then you were arrested for assault (no guilty or not). You state application alone is likely not to be approved let alone all these high standard PDs. Good luck!

[ROS]

Originally Posted by jwmaddo

Ok so as of right now I live in houston, texas and have been thinking about becoming a cop.

As far as my back ground goes I have a General Under Honorable conditions discharge from the army (long story about what happened) But I also was arrested back in december if I remeber correctly for assualt but was found not guilty. Do I even have a chance? Or would I just be wasting their time as well as my own?

Thanks
-Jason

Saying "long story about what happened" for your discharge won't cut it, Jason. There are numerous reasons why you could have gotten a Gen discharge, I've seen sailors and marines who got that same discharge after being implicated in criminal activity. Don't expect a police agency to just accept "long story," you'll have to explain that story in detail.

[txinvestigator1]

Originally Posted by Emax503

Yeah, #13 and then you were arrested for assault (no guilty or not). You state application alone is likely not to be approved !

Re-read the law. Good Grief.

He is eligible under state licensing.

[bell4fan]

Your elgible, but dont sound competitive.