Find the Blue in you. The Carrollton Police Department has opened registration for the next Civil Service exam, the first step in the time-honored process of becoming a public safety officer.

Carrollton Police Chief Derick Miller said the department is seeking exceptional officers who put others first, have a proven leadership record, and have the ability to adapt to the constantly evolving demands associated with serving a growing and diverse community.

“Very few people earn the right to wear our badge,” Miller said. “The Carrollton Police Department has rigorous hiring, training, and performance standards which ensure that we hire only the very best. We want officers who are dedicated to carrying out CPD’s mission to proactively protect our community while treating everyone we encounter with professionalism, dignity, and respect.”

The department provides extensive, paid training, state-of-the-art equipment designed to protect and serve the community, generous compensation (starting salary is $67,100), and numerous resources for its officers. For more information on serving in Carrollton, including requirements, test components, and a comprehensive list of benefits and incentives, click “Join CPD” at cityofcarrollton.com/police.

The exam will be administered at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 at R. L. Turner High School (1600 S. Josey Lane). Those taking the exam must complete the online registration form and will need to bring their driver license or a government ID for identification, a completed notarized waiver of liability emailed with registration confirmation, and their DD Form 214, if applicable.

Miller said as of June 1, the City will institute a new Lateral Entry Program for officers with previous experience. For example, if an officer has three years of experience at another agency, he or she will be hired at the same pay as a three-year veteran here in Carrollton. A new hire will still need to go through the usual hiring process but can start with a salary as high as the five-year mark at $83,242.75. This enables experienced police officers to join the Carrollton team, potentially earn more money, and benefit from career continuity.

In April, CPD was ‘Recognized’ for Best Practices for the fourth consecutive time by the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA). CPD has also been recognized and proven to be in compliance with 166 Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices as designated by the TPCA. The “Recognized” status is awarded for a period of four years to an agency that has voluntarily undertaken a careful internal review of its policies, procedures, equipment, facilities, and operations. High police visibility in the community and quick response times have contributed to Carrollton’s consistently low crime rates.

CPD became the first agency in Texas, in April 2019, to implement the cloud-based Mark43 records management system enabling unprecedented data sharing and efficiency for Carrollton public safety members by facilitating processes including writing reports, investigating cases, logging physical evidence, and managing videos, images, and audio content securely in the cloud. The application saves officers invaluable time by enabling seamless communication and report-filing out in the field.

The City of Carrollton has partnered with the surrounding jurisdictions of Addison, Coppell, and Farmers Branch in public safety dispatch and operations since March 2016 at the North Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC), creating a centralized dispatch hub. Dispatchers are able to send the closest police, fire, or medical unit to the scene of an emergency despite city affiliation to significantly decrease response times. The process on a grander scale helps eliminate duplication of services and minimizes costs.

For more information about officer qualifications, email police.development@cityofcarrollton.com, or to register for the exam, visit cityofcarrollton.com/police.