Are You a "Ponch" or a "John"?
The Austin Police Deparment is having trouble filling its cadet class for the summer session. They are still seeking another 50-70 good folks to join the legion of those who protect & serve, and sometimes illegally mace and shoot. The summer class usually reaches enrollment capacity by mid-February, but they have extended this year's deadline to mid-April.
News 8 Austin reports that theligibility requirements are as follows: men and women must be at least 20-and-a-half but not yet 41, be a U.S. citizen and have a valid driver’s license. They must have at least 30 hours of college credit with at least a 2.0 GPA, or two years active military service or two years prior law enforcement experience in the United States.
People with a felony conviction, a DWI conviction less than 10 years ago, a family violence conviction, a bad driving record or any misdemeanor offense “involving moral turpitude” need not apply.
Moral turpitude? Scratch us off the list, but the benefits do look pretty good. A police cadet earns $32,0001 a year, a rookie starts at $44,570 and after two years, an officer can earn $55,204.
