City of Big Spring to hold certified, non-certified Police officer testing on Sept. 14

The Big Spring Police Department will have it's Entry Level Police Officer testing Sept. 14 for certified and non-certified applicants. The deadline for applicants is Sept. 10, 2020 at 5 p.m. Testing for non-certified officers take place twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

“A certified police officer has a Peace Officer Certification issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. They have also met all requirements for that certification. For BSPD, a non-certified police officer is a cadet that has been hired to be sent to the Police Academy,” Stacie King, City of Big Spring Benefits Coordinator/Human Resources, said. “On the final day of the 16-week Academy, cadets take the state Peace Officer exam. If you pass, you are then classified as a Certified police officer.”

According to King, the minimum requirement/qualifications are that applicants need to 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, have the ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations at a level commonly associated with the completion of high school or equivalent. Applicants must have possession of a valid driver's license issued by the state of Texas for the type of vehicle or equipment operate and no illegal drug use in the last two years, along with no arrest record with higher than a Class C misdemeanor.

When submitting an application for Police Officer a preliminary application should be completed online and after review the applicant must take a written examination and a physical agility test.

“The written examination consists of four sections: arithmetic, reading comprehension, grammar/spelling, and report writing skills. You have to pass all four sections of the written exam with a score of 70 or above,” King said. “The Physical Agility Test consists of a 200-yard run, a 165 pound dummy drag, and an obstacle course that has to be completed in 80 seconds or less.”

Once an applicant has completed the entry level testing, they must complete the following phases: Personal History Questionnaire, Signature Pages, and Required Documents, followed by an Oral Board Interview and undergo a background investigation. Once those stages are complete, applicants will undergo a polygraph examination and a medical/ physiological examination. The conclusion of the application process is a final review and Chief of Police approval.

“Each stage must be successfully completed before proceeding to the