Eligibility Requirements

Background Questionnaire

Must submit required documents (see How to Apply page to view required documents), complete a background questionnaire (Personal Information Form (PIF)) and pass a comprehensive background investigation.

Previous Background Investigations

Must not have been rejected for failing any portion of the Friendswood Police Department background process within the 12 month period previous to the written test.

Credit/Financial History

Applicants must demonstrate fiscal responsibility and judgment in the management of their personal affairs.

Poor or Bad Credit

Applicant’s poor or bad credit history, failure to pay just debts, delinquency on outstanding loans, or bankruptcies, repossessions, and foreclosures will be considered on a case-by-case basis due to the number of variables involved.

Must have a stable credit history and not be delinquent in any final obligations. Income to debt ratio must be sufficient to meet financial obligations.

Support Payments

Applicants obligated to child and/or spousal support payments must be current on all payments.

Factors Considered

Factors considered include the:

• Type and number of debts
• Reasons for credit problems
• Extenuating circumstances
• Potential for financial-related problems to have an impact on the applicant’s judgment and integrity

Moral Character

• Must be of good moral character and be considered a person of good character and good standing in the community
• Must not be addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating beverages; Must not currently use illegal drugs
• Must not have previously used illegal drugs or committed theft in violation of the Friendswood Police Department guidelines
• Must not make a false statement, whether written or oral, of a material fact, cheat or practice any deception or fraud in connection with any portion of the testing, application, background investigation, hiring or appointment process

False Statements of Material Fact

Applicants must be truthful and honest in their responses to all inquiries relative to their suitability for employment.

Applicants found to have withheld material information, and/or practiced or attempted to practice any deception or fraud in their application, examination or appointment are deemed unsuitable.

Use of Illicit Substances

In order to be deemed suitable, applicants must show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use after a physical examination, urine test, blood test, or other medical test designed to detect the presence of controlled substances.

See "Guidelines for Rejection" for details on the:

• Conviction, admission, or discovery of commission of any felony grade offense
• Admission or discovery of current substance abuse;
• Admission or discovery of the manufacture, delivery sale, possession with intent to sell or deliver any controlled substance
• Admission or discovery of the manufacture, delivery sale, possession with intent to sell or deliver any controlled substance

Membership in Prohibited Organizations

Applicants are deemed unsuitable if they currently are, have belonged to, or been closely associated with:

• Any organization which advocates the overthrow of any level of government in the United States including, but not limited to, Federal, State or local, by force or violence.
• Any organization which advocates or engages in unlawful conduct, or conduct otherwise commonly known as "Hate Crimes", directed at individuals or groups based upon the individual’s or group’s:
  • Race
  • Sex
  • Religion
  • National origin
  • Age
  • Skin color
  • Sexual preference
  • Disability

Temperate Habits

• Applicants must demonstrate moderation and self-restraint in their personal, social, and public affairs reflecting the high standards required of a professional police officer
• Applicants must demonstrate temperance in the use of alcohol and display emotional self-control while portraying respect for others’ dignity, privacy, and property
• Similarly, applicants must exhibit the absence and avoidance of extravagance, violent outburst, and extreme partisanship
• Applicants must not have anything in their personal history that would create undue liability for the City of Friendswood or the Friendswood Police Department, as determined by the Department
• Applicants may also be deemed unsuitable if their suitability is marginal in three or more "cause" categories
  
  This is applicable when such marginal suitability suggests the following on the part of the applicant:
  • Instability
  • Poor decision-making
  • Immaturity
  • Lack of dependability
  • Disregard for rules, regulations or laws

Traffic Convictions

• Must not have two or more moving violations within the 24 months preceding application
• Must not have two or more "at fault" accidents within the past two years preceding application
• Must not be currently under driver license suspension
• Applicants must not be wanted on outstanding traffic warrants. Must not be on probation for any traffic offenses
• Applicants’ driving record must reflect driving habits that are compatible with the safe operation of emergency vehicles
• Overall driving record must be indicative of safe driving habits

Criminal Warrants/Acts/Convictions

• Not currently under indictment for any criminal offense
• Have not ever been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor
• Have not been on court-ordered community supervision of probation for a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order
• Have not been convicted of an offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years
• Have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude
• Have not been convicted of any family violence offense
• Not prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle
• Not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition
• Applicant must not have an outstanding warrant for their arrest for any criminal offense
• Applicant must not have any criminal charge pending against them
• Applicant must not be under investigation for, or considered a suspect in, any criminal offense
• Applicant must not be on probation or parole for a criminal offense
• Applicant must not be associated with anyone who is a convicted felon or considered an ill repute
• Applicant is considered unsuitable if it is discovered or the applicant admits to the commission of a felony
• Applicant is considered unsuitable if it is discovered or the applicant admits to the commission of a Class A misdemeanor
• Applicant is considered unsuitable if it is discovered or the applicant admits to the commission of a Class B misdemeanor which occurred within the last ten years
• Applicant is considered unsuitable if it is discovered or the applicant admits to have permitted, condoned, or assisted in the commission of a felony offense by another

Military Service

If applicant has prior military service, must have not been dishonorably discharged. Must have proof of an Honorable Discharge. If the applicant has not been discharged at the time of the application the applicant must present a letter from the Commanding Officer showing honorable service.

TCOLE Licensure (Peace Officer Applicants)

• Not have had a commission license denied by final order or revoked
• Not currently on suspension, and do not have a voluntary surrender of license currently in effect
• Not have had or in the process of having a license or certificate from a Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) surrendered, suspended, or revoked
• Not have violated any commission rule or provision of the Occupations Code

A candidate shall be rejected for employment if the candidate would not qualify for licensing under current TCOLE minimum eligibility standards.

Employment History

• Applicants must demonstrate to their past and present employers:
  • Maturity
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Good work ethic
  • Loyalty
• The applicant’s employment history from age 17 must not indicate instability in the applicant’s employment history:
  • Excessive tardiness or absenteeism
  • Inefficiency
  • Failure to follow directions, policies, and procedures, and rules and regulations
  • Poor working relationships
  • Negligent work habits
• Applicants must not have been terminated, asked to resign, or resigned from any previous employment for engaging in inappropriate or unlawful behavior
• Applicants must not have been employed or engaged in an illegal occupation
• Applicants must not have been involuntarily terminated or asked to resign from any law enforcement agency or public safety agency for cause ("for cause" means affirmed termination due to an action, or failure to act, by the applicant)
• Applicants must not have been involuntary terminated for cause from two jobs within a five year period ("for cause" means affirmed termination due to an action, or failure to act, by the applicant)

Previous Public Service

Must not have been dismissed from public service for good cause.

Physical Ability

Must pass a comprehensive medical exam and drug test.

Weight

Applicant’s weight must be proportional to height. Must not have any defects or any physical condition that would interfere with the duties and performance of a peace officer Applicants must possess the physical ability necessary to perform the rigorous physical demands of the Training Academy and to professionally accomplish the assignments of a police officer without undue risk of injury or fatigue.

Vision

Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, fields of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal Meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize the colors of traffic devices showing the standard red, green and yellow.

Hearing

First perceived a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than 5 feet with or without the use of a hearing aid or, if tested by use of an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500 hertz (Hz), 1, 000 Hz and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid when audiometric device is calibrated to American National Standard Z24.5 - 1951.

Psychological Health

Must be examined by a licensed psychologist, selected by the Friendswood Police Department, and declared in writing to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as a peace officer.

Compliance with Processing Requirements

Applicants are required to complete and satisfactorily meet the employment process requirements. This includes:

• Submitting paperwork such as the personal history questionnaire (PIF) and other documents
• Reporting to appointments and examinations on the scheduled dates and times
• Proper notification of address and/or telephone number changes and other changes in the applicant’s background that would be material to the investigation
• Complying with the directions and instructions of the Office of Professional Standards and Training

Oral Interview Board & Command Panel Interview

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate in a structured interview process which requires the applicant to respond to common police scenarios. The applicants are rated on the following dimensions:

• Endurance and moral courage
• Professional appearance and bearing
• Communication skills
• Attention to duty/trustworthiness
• Human relations/Interpersonal skills
• Initiative/Innovation/Creativity
• Judgment/Values
• Team Building/Leadership
• Growth potential/Career goals/Law Enforcement interest
• Knowledge of City and Department
• Situational reasoning/Problem analysis

Applicants who fail to satisfactorily demonstrate these dimensions are deemed unsuitable and will be rejected for a period of one year from the test date.

Withdrawals

Applicants desiring to withdraw from consideration must submit a signed written statement indicating this desire to the Office of Professional Standards and Training.

In the event no written statement is presented, the applicant will continue in the process subject to the conditions specified in these rules.

Applicants withdrawing their applications are eligible to reapply for subsequent entrance examinations.

The Friendswood Police Department is a values based organization as opposed to a rules based organization so the rejection criteria is used only as a guide and not a rule book so to speak. We look at each possible rejection with an open mind and decide on a case by case basis.

There are certain rejections that are based on Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) rules which are absolute.

Permanent Rejections

Any of the following items will result in the permanent rejection of an applicant for police officer:

• Knowingly omit or falsify any information on the application or on the personal history statement.
• Conviction, admission, or discovery of commission of any felony grade offense.
• Conviction, admission or discovery of a commission of a Class A misdemeanor.
• Admission or discovery of current substance abuse.
• Admission or discovery of the manufacture, delivery sale, possession with intent to sell or deliver any controlled substance.
• Involuntary termination from any law enforcement agency for cause ("for cause" means affirmed termination due to an action, or failure to act, by the applicant).
• Conviction in military court, which resulted in discharge from military service under less than honorable condition.
• Conviction on two or more Class B misdemeanors.
• False Statement to Interview Board: any applicant who knowingly gives false information during the oral interview will be disqualified from future selection processes.

Rejections for Specified Periods

Any of the following items will result in the rejection of an applicant for police officer for the period specified for each item:

• Conviction of a Class B misdemeanor: 10 years from the date of conviction.
• Admission or discovery of a commission of a Class B misdemeanor: 10 years from the date of the act.
• Conviction of a Class C misdemeanor other than traffic violation: 1 year from the date of conviction.
• Conviction of two or more Class C misdemeanors other than traffic violations: 2 years from the date of the last conviction.
• Admission or discovery of valid warrant(s) of arrest: 1 year from date of application and proof warrant(s) have been cleared or otherwise adjudicated.
• Involuntary termination for cause from two jobs within a five year period ("for cause" means affirmed termination due to an action or failure to act on the part of the applicant): 5 years from the date of the last termination.
• Involuntary termination for cause from one job, not law enforcement ("for cause" means affirmed termination due to an action or failure to act on the part of the applicant): 2 years form the date of termination.
• Documented instances of unstable job history or unstable job performance, such as:
  • An excessive number of jobs of short duration; 4 or more jobs within a 5 year period
  • Poor performance
  • Poor attendance
  • Poor relations with the public
  • Inability to be trained
  • Irresponsibility
  • Dishonesty
• Driving Record:
  • Conviction on 2 or more moving violations within the 24 months preceding application: 2 years from date of last violation.
  • 2 or more "at-fault" accidents within the past two years preceding application: 2 years from date of last accident.
  • Applicants must possess a valid Texas Driver License.
• Financial problems such as an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) lien or garnishment, judgments for non-payment or admission of non-payment of child support. A sustained disqualification will be for a period of 2 years.
• Conduct contrary to the standards of the police service, such as association with person(s) known to have criminal records, involved in criminal activity, or association with any group or organization involved in criminal activity, when such conduct is outside the necessity of such association required by the duties of a police officer.
  
  Rejection will be determined upon a case-by case review by the Department. Proven discontinuation of the activity, association, or membership will be considered. A sustained disqualification will be for a period of 2 years.
  
  It will be presumed that the applicant is aware of the records of activities of those whom he/she associates unless the applicant can provide information or evidence to the contrary.
  
  It will be presumed that the applicant is aware of the activities of any group or organization of which he/she is a member unless the applicant can provide information or evidence to the contrary.
• Fail Applicant Interview Board: any applicant who receives a failing score from the Interview Board will be disqualified from future selection processes for a period of 1 year from the date of the interview.