FAQ
Have questions about the job? Here is everything you need to know about starting and building your future with Irving PD.
ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
Are you ready to pursue a career in law enforcement? Check out the basic requirements below to see if you are eligible!
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Must be a U.S. citizen.
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Must be 20 years 6 months old when you apply to take the civil service test, and you must be 21 years old when you graduate from police academy.
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Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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Must have an associate’s degree or 60 college hours from a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)-approved / accredited school with at least a 2.0 GPA unless:
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You have 3+ years of active military service and a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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You have been employed as a full-time certified peace officer for 3+ years within a 180-day period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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You have been employed by the City of Irving as a Detention Officer for 3+ years during the period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or GED.
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Must possess a valid driver’s license.
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Must intelligently read and write the English language.
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Must pass a written test.
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Must pass a physical agility (row) test.
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Applicants are required to have an associate's degree OR 60 college credit hours from a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)-approved/accredited school with at least a 2.0 GPA. There are 3 exemptions for this education requirement:
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You have 3+ years of active military service and a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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You have been employed as a full-time certified peace officer for 3+ years within a 180-day period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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You have been employed by the city of Irving as a detention officer for 3+ years during the period immediately preceding the submission of your application and have a high school diploma or G.E.D.
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Applicants must meet the following criminal history qualifications:
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No convictions above Class B misdemeanor.
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No Class B misdemeanor convictions within the last 10 years.
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No court-ordered supervision / probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or any Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years from the date of the court order.
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Expungements are not excepted on convictions, even if the sentence was probation. Expungements from another state must meet the same standards as Texas law.
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The following driving history standards must be met before an applicant is eligible to move forward:
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No more than two moving violations, two preventable accidents, or any combination of the two in the past 18 months.
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No more than four moving violations, accidents or any combination of the two within the past 36 months.
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Any illegal drugs including but not limited to marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, ecstasy, fentanyl, steroids, and prescriptions not prescribed to you will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
THE HIRING PROCESS
See what to expect at each step of our hiring process, from testing through final review.
The Irving Police Department hiring process includes a written exam, physical agility exam, pre-polygraph interview, polygraph examination, background investigation, oral review board, psychological examination, drug screen, and medical examination. Applicants who successfully complete these steps may then be submitted to the Chief of Police for final disposition.
The written exam is a 100-question multiple-choice civil service test developed by a third-party vendor. It is designed to evaluate skills that are important to success in law enforcement, including:
Observation and Memory
Your ability to notice details, retain information, and accurately recall facts such as faces, vehicles, numbers, locations, maps, and patterns.
Written Communication
Your ability to communicate clearly and write concise, accurate reports.
Reading Comprehension
Your ability to read information, understand it correctly, and apply it to questions or situations.
Analytical Ability
Your ability to recognize patterns, interpret information, and draw logical conclusions.
Use the resources below to review each test area and see sample questions before exam day.
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Observation and Memory: Overview & Sample Questions
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Written Communication: Overview & Sample Questions
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Reading Comprehension: Overview & Sample Questions
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Analytical Ability: Overview & Sample Questions
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The fitness test consists of a 2,000-meter row completed indoors on a Concept2 rowing machine with the damper set at 5. Required passing times are based on your age, weight, and gender, and applicants must achieve a minimum score of 54.7% to remain eligible.
Applicants can use the Irving Row Time Calculator to find their required target time before test day. We also provide the official row test protocol and additional training resources below to help you understand the test and prepare with confidence.
Once an applicant’s name is reached on the eligibility list, the process typically takes about 30 to 45 days to complete. Timelines can vary depending on factors such as out-of-town travel, appointment availability for polygraph and psychological testing, and how quickly references and prior employers respond during the background investigation.
Out-of-state applicants usually make three trips during the hiring process. The first trip is for the written and physical fitness tests. The second trip is for the pre-polygraph interview and polygraph examination. The third trip is for the oral board, which is usually a two-day trip. If the applicant passes the oral board, the psychological evaluation, drug screen, medical evaluation, and FBI fingerprint check are also completed in connection with that final stage.
TRAINING & FIELD PREP
See what training looks like after hire, from the academy to field training and your first day working patrol on your own.
After being hired, new officers complete three main phases of training: the basic police academy, Irving in-service training, and field training. Each phase is designed to build on the one before it, helping new officers learn the profession, understand how Irving PD operates, and prepare to work independently in the field.
For entry-level officers with no prior police experience, the basic regional police academy lasts approximately 6 months. After the academy, officers attend about 2 months of Irving in-service training, where they learn department-specific systems and procedures such as report writing, policies, and property handling. From there, officers enter approximately 4 months of field training before being released to work on their own.
Out-of-state lateral officers attend an Irving lateral academy that lasts approximately 4 months and is conducted at our training academy. The first two months focus on preparing officers to challenge the TCOLE entrance exam and cover topics such as the Texas Penal Code, Traffic Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Family Code. The final two months focus on learning the “Irving Way,” including practical topics such as building searches, traffic stops, property booking, and Irving’s report-writing systems. After that, officers move into modified field training, which varies based on prior experience and how quickly they adapt.
In-state lateral officers attend approximately 2 months of Irving in-service training, where they learn how Irving PD operates, including report writing systems, policies, and property handling procedures. After in-service training, they move into modified field training, which can vary in length based on prior experience and how quickly they acclimate to Irving PD’s expectations and systems.
PAY, BENEFITS, & GROWTH
Explore the pay, benefits, equipment, and career opportunities that come with your career here at Irving PD.
Irving PD offers a competitive pay scale with one of the fastest top-out schedules in the DFW area. Entry-level officers currently start at $83,808, with scheduled increases that top out at $112,272 after 5.5 years of service. Lateral officers may qualify for higher starting pay based on prior full years of police experience, subject to Irving PD’s lateral pay rules. A salary calculator is also available below for applicants who want to estimate pay more closely.
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Starting: $83,808
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6 months: $87,996
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1.5 years: $92,388
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2.5 years: $96,996
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3.5 years: $101,844
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4.5 years: $106,932
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5.5 years: $112,272
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Irving officers may qualify for additional monthly compensation through education, certification, specialty assignments, and other incentives. Irving PD also offers tuition reimbursement of up to $1,500 per semester. Current additional pay opportunities include:
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Master Peace Officer certification: $160 monthly
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Advanced Peace Officer certification: $110 monthly
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Intermediate Peace Officer certification: $60 monthly
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60 college hours: $70 monthly
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75 college hours: $90 monthly
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Associate's degree: $100 monthly
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90 college hours: $125 monthly
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Bachelor's degree: $150 monthly
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Master's Degree: $200 monthly
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Field Training Officer: 3% of pay
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Military leave: full salary, 15 days annually
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Fitness incentive: up to $150 monthly
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Bilingual pay: up to $250 monthly
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Irving officers receive a strong benefits package that includes participation in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Irving offers the following benefits:
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Employees contribute 7 percent of salary
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City of Irving matches 2 to 1
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Vested after five years of service.
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Eligibility at 20 years of service at any age, or 60 years of age with at least five years of service.
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Supplemental Benefit Plan: 2.5% employee contribution for supplemental retirement annuity.
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Deferred Compensation Plan, 457(b)
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TMRS Death Benefit for beneficiary
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Irving officers receive vacation and sick leave based on years of service.
Vacation:
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After 6 months: 60 hours annually
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0–8 years: 120 hours annually
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9–13 years: 136 hours annually
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14–18 years: 144 hours annually
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19–23 years: 160 hours annually
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24 years+: 176 hours annually
Holidays:
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9 holidays annually
Sick Leave:
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120 hours annually
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Irving officers work six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift during each two-week period.
Irving PD provides officers with modern equipment, strong training resources, and support designed to help them succeed on the job. Officers have access to an excellent pistol range and training academy, new Chevrolet Tahoes, an indoor gymnasium, and fitness equipment in all police buildings. The department supplies all required equipment to officers except boots.
Irving PD allows facial hair, visible tattoos, and load-bearing vests in accordance with department policy. Applicants and officers should review each policy for specific standards, appearance requirements, and approval guidelines. Any tattoo that does not comply with policy must be removed before starting field training, and load-bearing vests are permitted at the individual officer’s expense.
Irving PD offers officers meaningful opportunities to grow through both specialized assignments and promotion. To be considered for promotional exams or transfers to specialized sections, an officer must have two years of experience as an Irving Police Officer immediately prior to submitting the request or exam.
Officers may take promotional exams that consist of 100–150 multiple-choice questions. One seniority point is awarded for each full year of service completed, and all study materials for promotional exams are provided by the department.
Supervisor pay includes:
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Police Sergeant: max salary $133,752
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Police Lieutenant: max salary $146,664
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Deputy Police Chief: max salary $169,752
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Assistant Police Chief: max salary $206,088
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