Sworn Careers

Join us and make your career Temple Texas Strong.

Why Join Temple PD? Well...

We could tell you all about the competitive pay, industry-leading benefit package, and a retirement plan you won’t easily replicate in the private sector. We could talk about the career advancement opportunities a department of this size offers over most agencies and the vast expanse of special assignments available to fast-track your training and career development. Sure, we could tell you all of that, but it’s way more fun to find out on your first day! 

UP TO $15,000 SIGN-ON BONUS

See below for sign-on bonus and relocation incentive information.

As an Officer at Temple PD

As a proud member of the Temple Police Department, you have an opportunity to protect and serve a community made up of diverse, hardworking, creative, and passionate people.
  • Protect life and property by performing patrol duties in an assigned district 
  • Respond to calls from dispatch regarding the investigation of all criminal offenses, domestic violence and all other calls 
  • Make physical arrests, recover stolen property, collect evidence, protect and/or process crime scenes and participate in the seizure of narcotics 
  • Patrol streets, check buildings and homes, issue traffic citations, investigate traffic accidents, direct crime scenes 
  • Write police reports detailing facts and information 
  • Compile reports and maintain logs 
  • Communicate with other officers and/or agencies to obtain information and work cases 
  • Appear in court to give testimony 
  • Participate in classroom, individual, and live evolution training to maintain knowledge and keep current on all aspects of police work 
Sign-on Incentive
Starting salary: $70,500
 
Sign-On Bonus
No law enforcement experience: $5,500
3+ years of law enforcement experience: $7,500
In-state TCOLE certified officer: $15,000
 
Relocation Incentives
Relocation incentive for in-state: $3,000
Relocation incentive for out-of-state: $5,000
Who Can Be A Police Officer?

Any person desiring to become a city of temple police officer must meet these basic requirements: 

  • Must be a citizen of the united states of america 
  • Pass a civil service written entrance test 
  • Be at least 21 years of age at the time the applicant presents themselves to the texas commission on law enforcement but not have attained 56 years of age at the time of the written entrance test 
  • Be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an equivalency certificate issued by the texas education agency (or the equivalent agency in another state or district of columbia) along with 12 hours of college credit 
  • If a veteran of the united states armed forces, must possess an honorable discharge after a minimum of 24 months of active duty and be eligible for re-enlistment 
  • Must meet all requirements of the texas commission on law enforcement for licensing of peace officers 

Eligibility requirements/disqualifiers 

**an applicant younger than 21 years of age may apply if the applicant is at least 18 years of age and meets the educational qualifications as set forth in section 23(viii) of the rules and regulations of the temple fire fighter’s and police officer’s civil service commission; OR will turn 21 years of age by academy graduation date, successfully completes all phases of the selection process, and obtains the approval of the chief of police. 

Candidate Requirements

Applicants who pass the civil service examination and who are considered for appointment as a probationary officer are required to pass each phase of the following selection process: 

Candidates are required to complete a: 

Applicants who do not pass the written examination or fail to complete the selection process will not be considered for appointment as a police officer for the duration of that current eligibility list. These applicants may reapply and retest for the next posted civil service examination.   

Conditions of employment: 

  • Must be able to respond to a civil emergency within a 45-minute travel response time 
  • Must agree to take and pass an annual physical row test 
Temple Police Officer Compensation
  • PROBATIONARY OFFICER $70,500
  • POLICE OFFICER $72,093
    • 1 Year $73,535
    • 2 Years $75,005
    • 3 Years $76,505
    • 4 Years $78,036
    • 5 Years $79,596
    • 6 Years $81,188
    • 7 Years $82,812
    • 8 Years $84,468
    • 9 Years $86,158
    • 10 Years $87,881
  • CORPORAL Promotion $89,639
  • SERGEANT Promotion $91,431
    • 1 Year after Promotion $93,260
    • 2 Years after Promotion $95,125
    • 3 Years after Promotion $97,027
  • LIEUTENANT Promotion $106,344
    • 1 Year after Promotion $108,471
    • 2 Years after Promotion $110,640
    • 3 Years after Promotion $112,853
  • DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF Promotion $137,177
    • 1 Year after Promotion $139,920
    • 2 Years after Promotion $142,719
    • 3 Years after Promotion $145,573
Employment Benefits

Retirement program 

City of temple police officers are required to participate in the texas municipal retirement system.  This plan takes the place of social security withholding.  A police officer may retire with 5 years of service at age 60, or with at least 20 years of credited service. 

  • Employee contributes 7.00% of gross earnings on a tax deferred basis 
  • City of temple matches 2 to 1 (14.00%) upon retirement 

ICMA 457 
employees may elect to participate in the supplemental 457 retirement program in addition to their texas municipal retirement system. Contributions to the 457 are tax deferred and are not to exceed the annual maximum rate. 

 

Insurance 

Insurance elections are effective 30 days from the date of hire for all benefits with the exception of life insurance.  Life insurance is effective 30 days from date of hire, to the first of the next month. 

Medical insurance 
the city of temple offers a fully insured medical plan offering employee and dependent coverage.  The plan year runs october 1 – september 30.  Elections are made annually during open enrollment and may be made throughout the plan year with a qualifying event.   
  
If you decline the medical insurance and show proof of current coverage in another plan, the city of temple offers an insurance credit option. 

$100 per month included in the paycheck 

$125 per month deposited into the 457 plan 

Dental insurance 
the city of temple offers a fully insured dental plan offering employee and dependent coverage.  The plan year runs october 1 – september 30.  Elections are made annually during open enrollment and may be made throughout the plan year with a qualifying event. 
  
Supplemental worksite benefits 
the city offers supplemental worksite benefits through a contracted vendor.  The plans include but are not limited to: 
 

  • Accident 
  • Hospitalization 
  • Critical illness 
  • Cancer 
  • Short term disability 
  • Vision 

Long term disability 
the city of temple provides long term disability to the employee at no cost.  The benefit is paid at 60% of the monthly salary after 180 consecutive days. 
  
Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment 
the city of temple provides a life insurance policy and an AD&D policy to the employee at no cost of 1x their annual salary.  Supplemental life and AD&D policies may be purchased by the employee for themselves and their dependents. 
      
Flexible spending accounts 
the city of temple offers flexible spending accounts for eligible expenses and dependent care expenses. 

 

Holidays 

The city of temple offers 14 paid holidays in the year: 
 

  • New year’s day 
  • Martin luther king day 
  • President’s day 
  • Good friday 
  • Memorial day 
  • Independence day 
  • Labor day 
  • Veteran’s day 
  • Columbus day 
  • Thanksgiving day 
  • Day after thanksgiving 
  • Christmas day 
  • Christmas eve 
  • 1 personal day to be taken at the employee’s discretion 

 

Types of leave 

The city of temple personnel policies and procedures manual provides for military, jury/court, funeral, and injury leave. 
     
Vacation 
 

Less than 10 year of service accrue 5 hours, 24 times per year 

10-14 years of service accrue 6 hours, 24 times per year 

15 and more years of service accrue 6.67 hours, 24 times per year 

    Maximum accrual of vacation is 2 years. 
  
Sick leave 
police officers accrue 5 hours of sick leave, 24 times per year, regardless of the number of years employed with the city of temple.  There is no maximum accrual amount and sick leave will be paid out, not to exceed 720 hours, upon separation from service. 
  
Longevity pay 
as an added benefit, all full-time employees hired on or after september 12, 2014, are eligible to receive longevity pay for each consecutive year of active service from their date of employment, after they have been employed for five consecutive years.  The maximum amount an employee may receive is $225 per month. 

 

Pay incentives 

Education incentive pay 
police officers are eligible to receive education incentive pay for associates, bachelors and masters degrees and for semester hours earned with a grade of C or above. 

Certification pay 
police officers are eligible to receive certification pay for intermediate, advanced and masters peace officer certifications and CPR certification. 

Field training instructor pay 
veteran officers may be appointed by the chief of police to serve as field training instructors to the newly appointed officers.  Appointed officers are allotted monthly field training instructor pay. 

Shift differential pay 
uniformed officers working the night watch patrol (1730 to 0530 and 1830 to 0630 hours) are allotted $100 per month shift differential pay. 

Uniforms & cleaning allowance 
all uniforms are furnished by the police department and certified personnel are allotted a monthly uniform cleaning allowance.  Plain-clothes officers are allotted a monthly clothing allowance.  
 

Individual vehicle assignment program (ivap) 
the city of temple police department has an individual vehicle assignment program.  Based on availability, all uniformed officers who have graduated from field training will be assigned their own patrol vehicle. 

Officers living within 3.5 miles of the city of temple ETJ (extended territorial jurisdiction) are allowed to take the vehicle to their residence for storage when off duty.  Officers living outside the 3.5 mile ETJ will be required to park their vehicle at one of the designated locations within the city for storage when off duty. 

Disclaimer:  this summary is provided for your convenience, but is not to be considered substitution for existing polices or regulations governing the city of temples’ practices.  Where there is a discrepancy between this summary and the city of temples’ policies, ordinances, or resolutions, the applicable policy or resolution shall prevail. 

Lateral Entry Program

To be eligible for hiring under this article, an applicant must: 

  • Have a current TCOLE peace officer license or challenge the TCOLE exam and complete the required training within 6 months from the date of hire; 
  • Be no more than 56 years of age on the date they apply for employment with the department; 
  • Be currently employed with a law enforcement agency or have been substantially engaged in law enforcement duties within the twenty-four (24) months immediately prior to application with the department; 
  • Have an honorable standing within their previous department; 
  • Not be under any type of investigation with their previous department; 
  • Have two (2) or more years of work experience as a sworn state or federal law enforcement officer; 
  • Take and pass a civil service entrance examination; 
  • Complete an pass a background investigation, and the city of temple and temple police department hiring process; 
  • Successfully complete a field training program of not less than eight (8) weeks at the discretion fo the department head, and 
  • Successfully complete a twelve (12) month probationary period. 
Re-hire Program:

To be eligible for re-hire under this article, an applicant must: 

  • Have a current TCOLE license; 
  • Be no more than 56 years of age on the day they apply to be re-hired; 
  • Be in good standing with their current employer; 
  • Have been previously employed with the temple police officer for at least two (2) years; 
  • Have been in good standing with the temple police department at the time of separation; 
  • Apply for re-hire no more than; 
  • Six (6) months after the applicant’s date of separation from the temple police department, or 
  • Twelve (12) months after the applicant’s date of separation from the temple police department on the condition that the officer has maintained their TCOLE license, or 
  • Twenty-four (24) months after the applicant’s date of separation from the temple police department on the condition that the applicant was employed by another law enforcement agency in texas during the entire 24-month period. 
  • Have separated from the department no more than once during their law enforcement career at the time of application, 
  • Complete and pass a background investigation and the city of temple and temple police department hiring process, and 
  • Successfully complete a twelve (12) month probationary period. 
How To Apply

The city of temple police department is subject to civil service as defined in local government code chapter 143. The first step to becoming a temple police officer is passing the civil service exam.  Exams are given on an as-needed basis, no less than once per year.  
 

The registration packet will contain the qualifications and requirements necessary for the position of police officer.  All questions regarding qualifications or requirements may be directed to the city of temple human resources office at 254-298-5650, or the city of temple police department at 254-298-5538 or email 

The city of temple is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). 

Online Study Guide Resources

The Temple Police Department has no affiliation with nor benefit from these sites and only offers these as suggestions to aid in the location of similar study materials for testing. Applicants should make every effort to use diverse study materials to prepare themselves for testing.

Eligibility List

The eligibility list is established as a result of the final examination scores, (passing is 70), and is valid for one (1) year, unless otherwise exhausted.  An additional five (5) points shall be added to the passing examination grade for an applicant who served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces for not less than one (1) year and received an honorable discharge. A DD214 member 4 form must be submitted with the registration form or prior to the start of the exam to be considered. 

Complete Personal History Statement
Civil Service Exam Announcement
Civil Service Local Rules
Meet And Confer Agreement
Eligibility – Requirements/Disqualifiers