Recruitment

Sworn Peace Officers

The City of Borger accepts applications from officer's already licensed as a Texas Peace Officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).  Applications are only accepted during advertised periods.  To see if a position is current open or to sign up for notifications, visit the City's employment page by clicking here.

Police Recruits

A police recruit does not have to be certified by TCOLE as a Texas Peace Officer and the City of Borger will compensate the successful candidate while he/she attends a Texas Police Academy of the City’s choosing at the City’s expense. The Borger Police Department opens up applications for police recruits once a year, usually in October. You can check current openings by visiting the City's employment page by clicking here. Successful applicants will be sent to the South Plains College Police Academy in Levelland, Texas which runs from March to August. 

The selection process will consist of the following steps:

1.    Initial Application

The City of Borger will post an opening for a Police Recruit and will establish the time frame that applications will be accepted.  All candidates will submit a basic City of Borger Application for Employment and a signed and notarized Release of Information Form.  

All applicants must meet the following basic requirements:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • No Felony or Class A convictions, probation or deferred adjudication.
  • No Class B convictions, probation or deferred adjudication in the past 10 years.
  • No family violence conviction.
  • Ability to possess a valid Texas driver’s license with a good driving record.
  • Must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 44 years of age on the first day of the academy.
  • Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language at a high school graduate level.
  • Must have normal hearing and be able to follow written and verbal instructions.
  • Must be able to work under stressful conditions and occasionally work overtime.
  • Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. 
    • If an applicant possesses a GED the applicant must also possess 12 hours from an accredited college with a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average. 
  • If you have honorable military service and provide a copy of your DD-214, you may receive a 5 point preference on Written Entrance Exam.
  • The applicant must be able to comply with the current Uniform Dress Code.  A copy will be provided to all applicants.
    • Exposed tattoos while wearing a short sleeve shirt require a waiver by the Chief of Police and may not be vulgar, offensive, provocative or excessive.
    • Exposed tattoos on the head, neck and face are prohibited. 
  • The applicant must reside within the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle.
    • Preference will be given to applicants residing within and/or have immediate family residing within 20 air miles of the Borger City Limits.
    •  Additional Preference will be given to current City of Borger Employees.

2.    Written Basic Knowledge Exam:

Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be provided with a test date and will be required to complete a written exam.

Candidates will be given the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST).  Study material is available online at www.applytoserve.com/sutdy. You may purchase the study material from the test's creator, Stanard and Associates, Inc. The study material is not required to pass the exam, however, they are available if the candidate chooses to use them.

The exam is administered to all applicants at the same time and includes sections on arithmetic, reading comprehension, grammar, and incident report writing.  Calculators or dictionaries will not be allowed.  The use of a communication device is prohibited during the exam.

A score of 70% shall be required to pass and all applicants receiving a passing score will be ranked by score and will continue in the process.  Applicants not receiving a passing score will be dismissed and required to reapply for the next posted opening to continue.

  3.    Physical Agility Test


Applicants who pass the written examination in the morning will be required to complete a physical agility test.  The physical agility test will consist of the following tasks:

  • Agility Course
    • The candidate will complete the following obstacles in under 3 minutes:
      • Serpentine Cone Run
      • Stair Climb
      • 2-foot Obstacle
      • 5-foot Wall
      • Tunnel Crawl
      • Window Opening
      • 25-yard Rescue Dummy Drag
  • 2,000 Meter Row
    • After a rest period, candidates must row 2,000 meters on a Concept 2 rowing machine in 11 minutes or less.

6.    Background Investigation

Candidates who successfully complete the Physical Agility Test, will be provided with a link to an Personal History Statement.  The statement will be completed and a comprehensive background investigation will be conducted.

7.    Interview Board

Applicants who successfully complete the written and physical agility tests will be scheduled for an interview with an interview panel.

8.    Interview with the Chief of Police

After completing the interview with the Interview Board, finalists will be selected for a one on one interview with the Chief of Police.

9.    Conditional Job Offer

Applicants will be selected based on their performance in the previous steps.   A recommendation will then be made to the Chief of Police who will make a conditional job offer to applicants based on the number of openings that are currently available. The conditional job offer includes a two-year commitment by the recruit and the employment agreement will be signed at this point.

10.   Medical Exam

Selected applicants will be required to submit to a thorough medical examination provided by the City of Borger. The examination will include testing for drug dependency or illegal drug use.

11.   Psychological Exam

If the applicant has a clean drug screening and an acceptable medical evaluation, the applicant will be given, at the City’s expense, a psychological examination.

12.   South Plains College Academy Application Process

The selected applicant(s) shall now be required to interview with the Academy Coordinator and/or the Director of Training for acceptance into the police academy.

13.   Employment during the Academy

Once the applicant has been accepted into the Law Enforcement Academy, a start date will be arranged upon which the applicant will officially become a Police Recruit for the City of Borger.

During this time, the Recruit will receive a salary from the City of Borger and the City will pay for the cost of the academy, any uniforms or other equipment required to complete the academy and will pay for on campus housing during the term of the academy. The academy will be completed on the South Plains College campus located in Levelland, Texas.

During the academy, the City of Borger will not cover transportation, meals, or any other costs not directly related to the completion of the academy.

The Recruit will be required to meet all academic and behavioral requirements of South Plains College and all relevant Borger Police Department and City of Borger policies. Dismissal from the academy or failure to complete the academy will result in termination of employment. Should the Recruit not pass the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Licensing Exam, the Recruit shall also be terminated.

14.   Employment as a Police Officer

Once the Recruit completes the academy and successfully passes the TCOLE licensing exam, the Recruit will be promoted and begin their employment with the City of Borger and the Borger Police Department as a Police Officer.