Police Officer - Certified

About the Department

The City of Sugar Land is inviting law enforcement professionals who are interested in a full-time position as a Police Officer – Certified to apply to join our amazing City! 

Why Should You Join Our Team?

The City of Sugar Land is located on the southwest side of Houston and is one of the fastest growing communities in the state.  With a population of 111,000+, Sugar Land has been repeatedly ranked as one of America’s safest cities in the past ten years.   Sugar Land boasts a diverse population, entertainment venues and a vibrant business community.  The Sugar Land Police Department is a CALEA accredited department of 180 sworn officers with opportunities for specialized assignments and training.

The City of Sugar Land, a municipality with a population of 111,026, provides the highest quality of affordable services to meet the needs of its residents. And our citizens agree—the most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey told us that 95% of our residents love calling Sugar Land home and 10% say that nothing would make their lives better than it already is, but we look to the future and work hard to make our community and the world better than we can even imagine. 

We have an informal work environment but are serious about what we do. We believe that happy, diverse and talented employees add value to the City. We do our best to hire friendly, professional people who work hard and play well with others. We also promote a healthy work-life balance and personal development.

WE ARE TRAILBLAZERS! Relentless in Our Pursuit of Good so that Our Employees, Residents, and Businesses Can Enjoy a Life Better than They Can Even Imagine.

Our trailblazing culture focuses on our employees, our citizens and the services we provide our community. We are a data driven and innovative full-service municipality located approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston that invests in our team and offers real opportunities for career growth. We pay our TCOLE Certified Police Officers a starting salary of $37.62 per hour. We also offer great benefits and perks available on your first day of employment, including: City-subsidized health benefits; life and disability insurance; a variety of voluntary benefits;  a robust pension plan with TMRS to set you up for a fulfilling retirement; and a positive team-oriented culture stemming from a long-term commitment to innovation and inclusion.  

Benefits At-A-Glance:

• City-subsidized Medical and Dental Insurance with a variety of plan options;
• City-paid Basic Life Insurance @ 1x your annual salary and Long-term Disability;
• Voluntary Vision, Supplemental Life Coverage (for you and your family), Aflac indemnity plans such as Accident,

Cancer, Hospitalization and Critical Illness, Short Term Disability and pre-paid legal benefits through Legal Shield; 

• 13 paid holidays; 
• A generous vacation package with accruals starting on day 1 (up to 160 hours annually after 11 years of service);  
• Paid sick leave accrual of 3.69 hours per pay period; 
• Paid Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks;
• A robust pension plan with TMRS includes your 7% contribution with 2:1 match by the City; 
• You won’t contribute to Social Security, but you can further your retirement income by contributing to a Deferred Compensation (457b) plan; 
• Longevity pay for each month of service after your first 13 months of employment;
• On-site Wellness facilities and programming (mind, body spirit & financial preparedness); and
• Access to multiple mental health benefits and resources, including a robust EAP… 

If we have your attention… Please continue reading!

Our City Mission: WE ARE TRAILBLAZERS! Relentless in Our Pursuit of Good so that Our Employees, Residents, and Businesses Can Enjoy a Life Better than They Can Even Imagine.

Our Employee Values: Our values ignite passion, drive, and a sense of purpose, fostering a thriving and successful organizational culture!

We are:

Bold: We encourage each other to be bold in our ideas, decisions, and actions. We embrace innovation and take risks to drive progress.

Loyal: We are loyal to each other, the City and our Mission and Vision. We support each other to foster a cohesive and collaborative work environment. We celebrate our successes and address the challenges facing us, together.

Adaptable: We are resilient because we adapt to changing landscapes and market dynamics. We are flexible and understand the need for work-life balance. We embrace new technologies and evolving trends.

Zealous: We are committed to excellence in all endeavors. We encourage each other to strive for the highest standards of public service, quality, and performance. We hold ourselves, and each other, accountable for our words and actions.

Empowered: We are empowered with the necessary resources, opportunities, and responsibilities to excel in our roles. We seek out opportunities for development and growth, and help others do the same. We are inclusive, we embrace our differences and recognize the strength that comes from different perspectives and experiences. 

We are TrailBLAZErs!

Position Duties

A Police Officer – Certified is an individual who has attended a Police Academy and is certified and licensed as a Peace Officer by TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) or who will be certified within 180 days of the submission of their application. This category also includes applicants who have, or are in the process of, challenging TCOLE as an Out of State or Federal applicant but do not have at least 3 years of service as a sworn peace officer with their most recent police agency that allows them to apply as a Police Officer- Lateral.  

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates who have applied with the expectation of academy graduation and TCOLE licensure, or TCOLE licensure through Out-of-State or Federal challenges, within the specified time frame who ultimately do not complete that requirement will be discharged from the hiring process unless they meet other requirements allowing them to continue in the hiring process.

In addition, qualified candidates must be a U.S. Citizen, have a valid driver license with a good driving record and a stable employment record with no history of any conduct which may affect suitability for law enforcement work. Candidates must pass each step of the selection process, which includes, physical fitness test, oral interview board, polygraph test, and a thorough background investigation. Candidates should be aware that sensitive or confidential aspects of their personal lives will be explored. A job description for a City of Sugar Land Certified Police Officer is posted online. Non-smokers are preferred.  

Compensation

• Starting Pay: $78,250 ($37.62 per hour) 
  1. Annual salary increases up to max ($105,685) in Step 10 (9+ years of service as a Police Officer with Sugar Land). 
  2. If applicants are extended an offer of employment and have a start date prior to their academy graduation and/or TCOLE licensure, they will be Paid as a Police Officer – Non-Certified (Recruit) ($64,314 ANNUALLY) as listed on the City website until their licensure. 
  3. Pay for Performance Awards up to $4,000 per Year
• Incentive pay for education 
  1. Associate’s Degree - $600 annually 
  2. Bachelor’s Degree - $1200 annually 
  3. Master’s Degree -  $1800 annually 
• Plus, Incentive pay for TCOLE Certificates
  1. TCOLE Intermediate Certificate - $600 annually
  2. TCOLE Advanced Certificate - $1,200 annually
  3. TCOLE Master Certificate - $1,800 annually
• Additional Incentive Pays
  1. Field Training Officer ($1,500 annually) or Field Training Coordinator ($3,000 annually)
  2. SWAT or Crisis Negotiator Assignment ($1,500 annually)
  3. Longevity Pay - $4/month up to $1,200 annually after 13 months of employment
• Member – Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) – 7% contribution with 2:1 matching funds. 
• Excellent health benefits.
• Uniforms, weapons and equipment provided.
• 13 paid holidays annually, 
• 80 hours paid vacation annually (up to 160 hours at 11 years with City), 
• Paid sick leave accrual of 3.69 hours per pay period; 
• Paid Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks;
• Fitness Incentive Program (up to 80 hours Paid Leave Annually)
• Other specialty and assignment pays are available

Recruitment/Selection Process(You must pass each step of the selection process before you go to the next step.)

Step 1: Complete an Application 

Applications will only be accepted during the specified period. Qualified candidates will be notified by e-mail that they are eligible to test and provided available testing dates to schedule. To complete an application, go to www.sugarlandtx.govclick on “Employment”, scroll to the list of open positions and select “Police Officer –Certified”. You must complete the on-line application. 

Step 2: Testing (Physical Assessment and Preliminary Interview Panel –scheduled for same day)

1. A physical assessment will be administered. Applicants will be required to pass the Texas DPS 2000 meter row standard at 50%.
2. A preliminary interview will be conducted with those applicants who have passed the physical assessment. This interview is pass or fail, and will consist of 3 parts:
3. getting to know the applicant
4. job knowledge questions
5. situational reasoning questions

Step 3: Oral Review Board   

Following the preliminary interview, applicants will be scheduled for an in depth interview with the Oral Review Board. This interview is pass or fail, and will consist of 3 parts, offering a deeper assessment compared to the prior preliminary interview. 

1.Getting to know the applicant

2.Job knowledge questions

3.Situational reasoning questions

Step 4: Background Packet Submission and Investigation

Applicants who pass the phases of testing and interview panel will submit their completed personal history statement to the Training Unit.   A background investigation will be conducted.

Step 5: Polygraph Examination

Applicants who pass the background investigation and are being considered for sworn employment will undergo a polygraph examination.

Related Time Periods and Information:

This process will remain open until positions are filled. If an applicant is rejected for any of the reasons listed in the “Rejection Criteria”, they will be required to wait the specified time to apply again. 

Final Steps: Eligibility Pool, Conditional Job Offer, Medical and Psychological Testing

Candidates who pass all of the above are placed in an eligibility (applicant) pool.  This is not a guarantee of employment; however, the City of Sugar Land does make job offers from the applicant pool. Subsequently, if a conditional job offer is made to a candidate by the Chief of Police, the candidate must successfully complete medical and psychological exams before a final job offer is made by the People & Culture Department.

Other Qualifications

Candidates should be aware that sensitive or confidential aspects of their personal lives will be explored.

Equal Opportunity Employer – Drug Free Workplace

Posted 02/13/2026

For detailed information and to apply online please visit our website at www.sugarlandtx.gov and look under "Job Opportunities".  For any other inquiries please contact the Sugar Land Police Department Training Unit at 281-275-2914.