Apply Now

Want to Become a Police Officer in Dallas, TX? Consider the Fort Worth Police Department

Your Police Officer Career in Dallas, TX, Can Start With FWPD

If you want to become a police officer in Dallas, TX, the Fort Worth Police Department would like to talk with you. We recruit candidates from Dallas and communities across the Metroplex, and Fort Worth sits about 30 miles west of downtown Dallas along I-30, close enough to keep your ties to family, friends, and the neighborhoods you know. Our department has served Fort Worth for more than 150 years and now includes over 1,700 sworn officers. New recruits attend a paid, full-time academy that follows Texas Commission on Law Enforcement standards, and graduates start at an entry salary of about $80,000. For anyone planning a police officer career in Dallas, TX, or anywhere in North Texas, our recruiters can explain every step, from your first application to your academy start date.

  • More than 150 years serving Fort Worth with 1,700+ sworn officers
  • Paid, full-time academy with no experience required
  • About $80,000 entry salary after graduation
  • Lateral entry for licensed officers, with no Civil Service test
  • 60+ specialized units, including SWAT, K-9, and Mounted Patrol
  • About 30 miles from downtown Dallas via I-30

Why Do Dallas Residents Choose Fort Worth?

If you’ve been following police department hiring in Dallas, TX, you already know the Metroplex offers plenty of options. Many candidates choose Fort Worth because our department pairs big-city opportunity with strong community support. Officers can pursue more than 60 specialized units, including SWAT, K-9, Homicide, Mounted Patrol, and Air Support, and promotion milestones start early, with the Corporal exam available after three years of service. Fort Worth also offers a lower cost of living than many major U.S. cities, which helps your salary go further. Most of all, our officers serve a city that stands behind them, from neighborhood meetings to community programs like Coffee with a Cop.

Two Paths Into Our Department

Residents who want to become a police officer in Dallas, TX and serve Fort Worth can start through either path below:

  • Police Trainee: For candidates with no law enforcement experience. Recruits complete a paid 34-week academy at $5,460 per month, then move into field training alongside experienced officers.
  • Lateral Officer: For licensed peace officers with at least two years of experience at an agency with 30 or more sworn officers. Laterals skip the Civil Service test, start at Step 3 or Step 4 on our pay scale, and become eligible for the Corporal exam after two years.

Either path can turn a police officer career in Dallas, TX into a long-term future with one of the largest police departments in Texas.

How the Hiring Process Works for Dallas Candidates

If you’re exploring police department hiring in Dallas, TX, here’s exactly what our process looks like, so you know what to expect before you apply. Entry-level candidates typically move through:         

  • Online application through the City of Fort Worth
  • Civil Service written exam
  • Personal history book and background investigation
  • Physical Resiliency Assessment
  • Polygraph exam and oral board interview
  • Medical and psychological exams

 

Lateral candidates skip the Civil Service test and complete the Physical Assessment Test instead of the PRA. Our recruiters can help you plan around your current work schedule as you move through each stage.

Don't Wait for the Next Testing Cycle

We hold Civil Service testing twice a year to fill upcoming academy classes, and each application window closes on a set date. Missing a window can delay your start by several months. If you’re keeping an eye on police department hiring in Dallas, TX and across the Metroplex, check our current police officer jobs regularly and apply as soon as the posting that fits you opens. Starting early also gives you more time to train for the physical assessment and gather documents for your background investigation.

Inside the Fort Worth Police Academy

Our academy is a full-time, structured program, and recruits are city employees from day one. Training takes place at our public safety training facility, which includes 12 classrooms, a concrete driving track, an indoor firearms training facility, and outdoor ranges at 25, 50, and 100 yards equipped for low-light training. A tactical village gives recruits a realistic setting for scenario-based exercises. Coursework covers the Texas Penal Code, criminal procedure, defensive tactics, ethical policing, and cultural awareness, with daily physical training throughout. By graduation, you’ll be prepared for the state licensing exam and ready for field training.

What Your First Years Look Like

After the academy, new officers complete field training alongside experienced partners before patrolling on their own. You’ll be assigned to one of our six patrol divisions (Central, East, North, Northwest, South, or West), where you’ll respond to calls, build relationships with residents, and sharpen the judgment every assignment requires. Officers also earn a 6% shift differential for hours worked between 6 PM and 6 AM, plus longevity pay as their years of service grow. For Dallas residents ready to become a police officer in Dallas, TX and serve Fort Worth, these first years build the foundation for everything that follows.

Connect With a Fort Worth Recruiter

Our recruiting team is ready to answer your questions about eligibility, testing, timelines, and what daily life looks like for a Fort Worth officer. If you’re ready to become a police officer in Dallas, TX and build your career with our department, call 817-392-5573, send us an email, or fill out the recruiter contact form below. We look forward to meeting you.

FAQs

Can I become a police officer in Dallas, TX and work for the Fort Worth Police Department?

Dallas residents are welcome to apply, and you’ll meet the same requirements and hiring steps as every other candidate. Fort Worth sits about 30 miles west of downtown Dallas, and our recruiters can answer questions about commuting, scheduling, and residency before you apply. You can begin the application process while still living and working in Dallas.

We can only speak for our own department, but candidates comparing police department hiring in Dallas, TX often look closely at our paid 34-week academy, 60+ specialized units, and Corporal eligibility after three years. Lateral officers can skip the Civil Service test entirely, and our recruiters will walk you through every detail.

Licensed officers qualify if they have at least two years of full-time experience handling all types of calls at an agency with 30 or more sworn officers. Officers from smaller agencies are reviewed case by case. Lateral officers with two to five years of experience start at Step 3 on our pay scale, and those with six or more start at Step 4.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 21 years old by the date of academy entrance, and hold a high school diploma or GED along with a valid driver’s license. You’ll also need to pass a background investigation, a polygraph, and medical and psychological exams. Felony convictions and certain misdemeanors are disqualifying.

Starting your police officer career in Dallas, TX with FWPD opens a path from patrol into specialized assignments like SWAT, K-9, Cyber Crimes, and Homicide. Officers can take the Corporal exam after three years, or after two years for laterals, and incentive pay rewards college degrees and advanced TCOLE certifications.Our recruiters are available to answer questions before you ever submit an application. You can call the recruiting line at 817-392-5573, send an email, or reach out to our recruiting team online for help with qualifications, timelines, and physical test preparation.