About Arlington Police Department

Arlington Police Department (APD) is responsible for law enforcement in Arlington, Texas; the 48^th largest city in the United States.  APD is also one of only 22 agencies approved by CALEA, that has “Tri-Arc” recognition – which is considered to be awarded only to the top 2% of law enforcement agencies nationally. Arlington Police Department was also selected by The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to be the recipient of the prestigious Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award during its 126th Annual Conference and Exposition. Due to the dedicated service of over 1,000 full-time sworn officers, Arlington recorded a 0.3% decrease in overall crime, over the last year alone. Below, you can learn more about the agency, the Arlington police department test, and more about how you can join the police academy.

Motto: “Integrity, Compassion, Fairness”

History: APD was established in 1876. The department’s first officers carried out night patrols, under the command of a marshal appointed by the municipal council. Since its founding, 8 officers have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Size: Arlington Police department covers an area of just under 100 square miles, in which a population of 386,000 people resides. The city is divided into 4 patrol districts, each of which has its own substation.

Headquarters: 620 W. Division Street, Arlington, Texas

Divisions: The department is divided into 3 major bureaus: field operations bureau – which is responsible for patrolling the 4 districts of the city and answering calls for service; management services bureau – which overlooks matters like internal affairs, research and development, administrative services, grants, and policy decisions; support operations department – which enforces traffic laws, is responsible for the operation of specialized units and homeland security.

How to become a deputy: Currently, candidates need to take the APD test which is composed of a preliminary interview, a physical agility test, a polygraph examination, a medical and psychological examination, and an oral interview. Candidates must write a short essay and fill up a questionnaire, based on which they will be interviewed by a panel of APD officers. Candidates who pass this test, are asked to take up the physical agility test (PAT). This test is designed to simulate the day-to-day duty requirements of an APD officer.

Average salary: $64,842- 68,095 annually, rising with position and experience.

Police academy: Candidates who pass the Arlington Police department test are enlisted to the Arlington Police Basic Academy. Here, candidates are expected to attend a 32-week training program, where they are equipped with core competencies required for the job like firearms training, operation of patrol vehicles, self-defense tactics, simulated training, and leadership skills. Candidates must attend a minimum of 643 hours, as directed by Texas Commission for Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Registration: Further information on Arlington Police exam, visit their website today. As of 2020, competition for places within the academy is very high.