About the City:

Why Work for the City of Balch Springs?

The City of Balch Springs is a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community that thrives on its rich history, commitment to progress, and dedication to fostering a positive work environment. As a city, we focus on enhancing the quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors.

We are a forward-thinking organization that embraces innovation and strives for excellence in every department. With our clear vision to inspire growth and community pride, the City of Balch Springs is an excellent place to build a rewarding career. Whether you’re passionate about public safety, economic development, or community engagement, we offer diverse opportunities that allow you to make a meaningful impact.

As an employee of the City of Balch Springs, you’ll be part of a supportive team where professional development is encouraged, and collaboration is valued. We believe in providing employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed, ensuring a positive work-life balance and fostering a culture of respect, integrity, and open communication.

Employee Benefits & Compensation:

• Competitive Salary: We offer competitive pay based on qualifications and experience.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Includes medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
• Retirement Plans: Access to a retirement savings plan to help you plan for the future. TMRS with a 2:1 match.
• Paid Leave: Generous paid time off policies. 
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and career advancement within the city.
• Employee Recognition: We value and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our employees.

Our core values of integrity, respect, and transparency guide our everyday work, and we actively support our employees’ professional growth. Join our team and help shape the future of a city that’s committed to creating a thriving environment for all.

About the Role Description:

• Afford all citizens highly efficient and professional protection and services
• Accept responsibility for crime prevention/awareness, recognizing that it is more desirable to deter crime rather than to react to it
• Investigate crime and incidents impartially using every legal means and make the truth known
• Strive for voluntary compliance to laws and ordinances through the use of enforcement, public education and role modeling
• Promote an attitude of friendliness, helpfulness, tact, understanding and caring in the performance of assigned duties
• Communicate cooperatively and openly with the community
• Communicate openly within the organization; be a team player and offer mutual support to facilitate the accomplishment of higher goals of community protection and service over individual accomplishments.
• This same spirit of inter-organizational cooperation is carried further to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies and other governmental units.
• Identify problems, develop solutions, and implement strategies that attain desired results to crime, disordered and incidents of concern brought to the attention of police.

PAY INFORMATION

The City of Balch Springs utilizes a step based compensation plan for sworn Police personnel in accordance with the current Police Meet and Confer Agreement.

Initial placement will be determined by the applicant's peace officer licensing status and verified qualifying law enforcement experience as follows:

• Police Cadet (P1-A): Applicants who do not possess the required peace officer license at the time of hire.

• Probationary Police Officer (P1-B): Applicants who possess the required peace officer license but have less than 18 months of qualifying law enforcement experience.

• Police Officer (P2-A): Applicants with at least 18 months but less than 3 years of verified qualifying law enforcement experience.

• Police Officer (P2-B): Applicants with at least 3 years but less than 5 years of verified qualifying law enforcement experience.

• Police Officer (P2-C): Applicants with at least 5 years but less than 7 years of verified qualifying law enforcement experience.

• Police Officer (P2-D): Applicants with 7 or more years of verified qualifying law enforcement experience.

Initial placement is subject to verification of qualifying experience and the provisions of the applicable Meet and Confer Agreement. The maximum initial lateral entry placement is Police Officer (P2-D).

POSITION POSTED AT THE APPLICABLE ENTRY LEVEL PAY RATE. ACTUAL STARTING PAY WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON LICENSING STATUS, VERIFIED QUALIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND THE CURRENT POLICE COMPENSATION PLAN.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE OFFICER :

An applicant for police officer shall meet the following criteria in order to be considered for an entry-level position:

• Achieve a minimum passing score of seventy (70) percent on the written examination;
• Pass a physical agility test;
• Pass oral interviews;
• Pass a background investigation;
• Successfully complete a post-job offer psychological examination and medical examination that includes passing a visual acuity test, and physician certification that the applicant is not dependent on and does not use illegal drugs;
• Have a valid Texas driver's license at the date of hire;
• Be a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization;
• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language;
• Be of good moral character;
• Shall not be prohibited from carrying a firearm or possessing ammunition; and
• Be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an equivalency certificate AND Licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement at the time of examination OR
• Possess a high school diploma. No college credit hours are required if you possess a high school diploma OR
• If you do not have a high school diploma, you must have a GED along with 12 hours of college credit from an accredited university with a minimum of 2.00 grade point average OR you must have 2 years’ full time military experience.

THINGS TO KNOW:

An extensive background investigation, and post-offer/pre-employment physical exam including supervised drug screen will be conducted.

DRIVER'S LICENSE HISTORY AND CRIMINAL HISTORY MUST NOT CONTAIN:

TCOLE rules:

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=7&ch=217&rl=1

APPLICANTS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED ON THE FOLLOWING:

• Untruthfulness or the omission of information throughout the application process
• Anything other than an Honorable Discharge from Armed Forces
• Membership or association with any hate or terrorist group
• Unsatisfactory work history within the past three years
• Unsatisfactory information derived from extensive background investigation
• Possession or sale of a controlled substance
• Marijuana use within the past two (2) years

Period of Eligibility: 06/03/2026 - 06/02/2027

POLICE OFFICER

THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BALCH SPRINGS WILL BE HOSTING AN ENTRY-LEVEL CIVIL SERVICE EXAM FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER FOR QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

DATE: Tuesday October 27, 2026                                                                                                      

TIME: 6:00PM

LOCATION: CITY HALL, 13503 Alexander Rd, Balch Springs, TX 75180

REGISTRATION: 5:20PM -5:50PM

DOORS WILL BE LOCKED AT 5:50PM

TO QUALIFY FOR TESTING CANDIDATES MUST SUBMIT AN ONLINE APPLICATION WITH THE CITY OF BALCH SPRINGS HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT / CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION NO LATER THAN MONDAY OCTOBER 19, 2026, by 11:59PM. 

ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS MUST BRING A VALID GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION TO THE TEST DATE. (Driver’s license or State Issued ID card) and passed the minimum qualifications for entry-level police officer position. 

ANY APPLICANT WITH PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE MUST PRESENT A COPY OF THEIR DD214 SHOWING DISCHARGE STATUS INDICATING HONORABLE DISCHARGE TO RECEIVE 5 MILITARY BONUS POINTS. Please UPLOAD with your application.

ONLY APPLICANTS WITH THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE TESTING AREA.

If you received a score of less than 70%, you are NOT ELIGIBLE to take the 

Job Related Physical Assessment.

Denys Pratt

Civil Service Director  

JOB-RELATED PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION

Immediately following the Entry Level Civil Service Exam, The Balch Springs Police Department will conduct a Job-Related Physical Assessment for those applicants who have successfully passed the Civil Service Exam.

Applicants eligible to take the Job-Related Physical Assessment should wear or bring proper clothing suitable for such activity. The Job-Related Physical Assessment will be conducted regardless of the weather conditions.

All eligible applicants ***WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN A WAIVER OF LIABILITY*** prior to taking the Job-Related Physical Assessment.

We will be going to a new physical testing system which will consist solely of a rowing test on a Concept2 Rower. This test will replace our current physical agility test, an obstacle course.

All applicants must pass this test in order to proceed with the hiring process. Applicants who do not meet the minimum standard will be disqualified and not allowed to continue with the hiring process.

The minimum standard for all applicants is completing a 500-meter row at the 40th percentile or above according to their gender.

The damper setting must be set to 5 for this test. Once you start the rowing test you will not be allowed to stop until you have completed the 500-meter distance.

You should remain in constant motion. If you stop, the test is over.

Refer to the chart below to determine the maximum amount of time you have to complete the test.

Location for Physical Assessment:

• AT TESTING SITE
  • CITY HALL
  • 13503 ALEXANDER RD
  • BALCH SPRINGS, TX 75180

THIS IS A PASS OR FAIL TEST. NO PRACTICING IS PERMITTED.