The following are some of the frequently asked questions fielded by several Schertz Police Department officers. Feel free to browse through the questions. If there is still an unanswered question, or maybe the FAQ didn't answer it completely, please feel free to contact the Schertz Police Department at its non-emergency line (210) 619-1200.

General Questions

If you suspect you have been a victim of crime or have witnessed a crime or suspicious incident, you should contact the Schertz Police Department immediately. If the incident does not appear to be serious in nature, it is recommended that you call the Schertz Police Department non-emergency line at 210-619-1200. However, when in doubt or if the situation appears to be an issue where an immediate police, fire, or EMS response is warranted, citizens should dial 911. Actual Schertz dispatchers will immediately answer and direct any necessary services to assist you.

When reporting incidents, you should obtain as much descriptive information as possible. Obviously, you should never put yourself in a position where your personal safety is in jeopardy. However any information you can obtain can be extremely helpful to law enforcement. The following information are a few items that can prove to be useful:

Personal Descriptors

  • Sex
  • Approximate age
  • Race
  • Clothing descriptions (i.e. t-shirt versus long sleeve shirts, pants versus shorts, colors, shoes, headgear, or hairstyles)

Vehicle Descriptors

  • Make
  • Model
  • Vehicle type (i.e. 4-door, 2-door, SUV, etc)
  • Color
  • Approximate year
  • Accessories (i.e. large tires, head-ache racks, oversized bumpers, exhaust tones, bumper stickers, etc.)

Other Descriptors

  • Street with block numbers or incident location
  • Direction of travel (if suspect was seen departing)
  • Number of persons involved
To obtain additional information on how to become a Texas Peace officer or obtain employment with the Schertz Police Department, visit the SZPD Employment page.

The acronym "SZPD" is short for the SchertZ Police Department. For several years now, the Schertz Police Department has partnered with the San Antonio Police Department in the use and operation of mobile data terminals that offer law enforcement only access to needed criminal, license, or registration information. These terminals are the computers or laptops you frequently see inside police vehicles. In order to differentiate the Schertz Police Department from other departments within the system that begin with "S", the Schertz Police Department was given the identifier of "SZPD". The Schertz Police Department has come to accept this moniker and believes it signifies the pride and uniqueness of the Department and its personnel.

Community Policing

Yes! The Schertz Police Department does offer a program in which every effort will be made to periodically check your residence in your absence. To request this service, download a House Check Request form (PDF). The form should be completed and submitted in person to the Schertz Police Department during normal business hours.

Yes! Schertz Citizen's Police Academy (CPA) classes are offered periodically throughout the year. The CPA is an 10-week course offered to interested residents and/or business members in the Schertz community. The program is designed to give awareness and information about the role of law enforcement and to increase the rapport between citizens and Police Officers. The Citizen's Police Academy does not give the students any Police Officer Certifications or Qualifications. The Citizen's Police Academy is for educational purposes only. View more information about the CPA, or download a class application (PDF).

Traffic Stops

It is important to understand the inherent risk posed to both officer and citizen when an officer is performing a traffic stop. Factors such as location, traffic volume, and time of day all play a significant role. If you believe that you are being signaled to stop by the police, you should immediately pull the right shoulder or as far to the right as possible and stop. Texas Transportation Code 545.156 states:

"An operator, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:

  1. Yield the right-of-way;
  2. Immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection; and;
  3. Stop and remain standing until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed."

By adhering to this law, the overall safety of the stop can be significantly increased. The Schertz Police Department recommends that you acknowledge the officer's intent to stop. This can be done by simply reducing speed, signaling your intent to pull over, or activating your emergency flashers. Next, you should calmly and safely begin changing lanes to the right until you are able to stop in a safe location. Upon stopping, it is recommended that you turn on any interior lights if applicable and wait inside the vehicle for the officer to approach you. It is not recommended that you exit the vehicle and walk back to meet the officer. This may put you a significant risk to oncoming traffic, especially on the highway.

Generally speaking, it is not recommended that you stop on the left-hand shoulder. Although it is understood that certain circumstances may leave a motorist no other option, such as an immediate break down of the vehicle to which it is unfeasible to safely pull over to the right or to avoid an imminent crash, motorist should be aware that responding emergency vehicles generally pass on the left and that during heavy traffic may use the left-hand shoulder to safely and quickly pass. 

As stated previously, state law requires you to pull to the right and stop. Pulling over to the left is considered a violation of that statute. However more importantly, traffic stops are a leading cause of officer injuries and fatalities. When you are stopped by the police and you stop on the left, this places you and the officer at a tremendous risk should another motorist crash into either one of your vehicles. Especially for the officer who may be standing outside your vehicle with no protection offered from the mass of a police vehicle or safety belt.

If you are issued a citation and you feel that the officer was incorrect in his reasoning, you should discuss your disagreement with the Schertz Municipal Court. It is not recommended that motorists argue or attempt to dissuade the officer from issuing the citation. Officers do not issue citations if they believe there is any doubt that you have committed a violation. Also, all traffic stops by the Schertz Police Department are recorded using on-board police vehicle video camera systems and may be subpoenaed by either the defense or prosecution in Court.

Employment

Law enforcement officers (i.e. Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, Constables, etc) within the State of Texas are considered "PEACE OFFICERS". All Texas Peace Officers are required to obtain and maintain a commission through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement or TCOLE, pronounced "TEE-COAL", for short. TCOLE requires individuals to complete the following to obtain a commission:

  • Successful completion of the basic licensing course
  • Passing of the State licensing examination
  • Appointment by a law enforcement agency.
If you have had or currently have a Peace Officer commission (or its equivalent) issued from another State or the Federal government, you may be eligible to attend a "Texas Supplemental Peace Officer Course" in lieu of the basic peace officer course. For further information, you should contact the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), or an area training academy for specific qualifications.

No. Currently, the Schertz Police Department provides instruction and in-service training only to persons who hold a current Peace Officer Commission.  However, we have just enacted a new program for civilians currently in the police academy.  For individuals that are in a Police Academy, they will go through the same testing process as the Certified applicants.  After passing the required steps following the written test, and physical agility test, a conditional job offer is given.  After the successful completion of the police academy, the officer will start the field training program.     

Another option for individuals seeking enrollment into a Basic Peace Officer Course are encouraged to research and attend one of several local or area training academies. A benefit to attending a regional or area training academy is that individuals attending these academies do not necessarily have to be currently employed with an agency in order to be accepted into the program. Frequently, these individuals first attend the Basic Peace Officer Course and pass the State required license examination on their own before seeking employment with any of the various law enforcement agencies within the State of Texas. The following is a list of the major local training academies in the Schertz area:

In order to become a police officer for the City of Schertz, you must meet the minimum qualifications for employment as a Texas Peace Officer. The process begins with the completion and submission of a City of Schertz employment application. From there, your application will be forwarded to the Schertz Police Department for review. When appropriate, you may be scheduled for the following:

  • Basic Police Service Examination
  • Physical Fitness and Agility Test
  • Background Investigation
  • Oral Interview
  • Medical Examination
  • Psychological Examination
  • Polygraph Examination

When applying for employment as a Schertz Police Officer, the applicant must:

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Be a U.S citizen
  • Have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 college hours from an accredited college or university
  • Be of good moral character
  • Pass a basic police service examination
  • Be in good physical condition
  • Be considered for selection by an oral interview board
  • Pass a detailed and in-depth background investigation
  • Pass a polygraph examination
  • Pass a medical and psychological examination
  • If prior military, the applicant must have an "Honorable" character of service discharge or other discharge that does not indicate any less than honorable character of service

The following items are considered disqualifications for police service within the Schertz Police Department:

  • A conviction of any family violence related offense
  • Prohibited by any state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle
  • Prohibited by any state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition
  • Any discharge from the United States Armed Forces with a less than honorable character of service including specifically: under other than honorable conditions, bad conduct, dishonorable, or any other characterization of service indicating bad character
  • Currently charged with any criminal offense for which a conviction would be a bar to TCOLE licensure
  • Have ever had court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a class 'B' misdemeanor
  • Have had court-ordered community supervision or probation for any class 'B' misdemeanor offense within the past 10 years
  • Have ever been convicted of any criminal offense above the grade of a class 'B' misdemeanor
  • Have had a conviction for any class 'B' misdemeanor offense within the past 10 years

Employment with the City of Schertz includes the following benefits:

  • Competitive pay
  • Medical, vision, and dental coverage for employee
  • Medical, vision, and dental coverage plans for spouse and children
  • Paid life insurance
  • Long term and short term disability benefits
  • Retirement benefits with a minimum 7% employee contribution with the City of Schertz matching 2-to-1 of employee contributions
  • Vacation Leave accrual
  • Sick Leave accrual
  • 10 paid holidays
  • Uniform clothing allowance
  • Certification pay
  • Paid training
  • Duty weapons and equipment provided
  • Take-home Car Program
Police Applicants must visit the City of Schertz Employment Opportunities page, locate the open job posting and click "Apply".

Hiring processes are scheduled when positions become available. When a hiring process is planned, you can check the Schertz Police Department website. 

Written Test

Our written test consists of four separate sections that are timed. The questions involve multiple-choice and True/False response formats, which include basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. The last section of the test requires an applicant to write a short incident report, answering all the questions in complete sentences. 
Although most questions on the test pertain to police work, no prior knowledge of law or law enforcement is needed to answer the questions.

After successful completion of the written test (A score of 70 or higher), applicants will move immediately to the obstacle course and PT Test.

Physical Training Test

PT Test consists of:

  • 1-mile run in 13 minutes.
  • 20 Push-ups in 1 minute
  • 20 Sit-ups in 1 minute

Applicants will have sufficient time between the written test and the PT test to change into PT clothing.

Obstacle Course

Objective 1

An applicant will negotiate various obstacles and verbal commands while attempting to detain a suspect. This course will include running, crawling, jumping and climbing. There will also be requirements of being able to safely and effectively apply restraints to a potential suspect. This is a timed event.

Objective 2

An applicant will be required to move a 165-pound training aid a specified distance. This task must be completed in the allotted time.

Please Note

  • There will be no food, drinks, cell phones, smart watches or any other hand carried items allowed into the room where testing is to take place. Any personal items must be stored in your vehicle.
  • Applicants who have separated from any branch of the United States Military will need to bring their member copy Number 4 of the DD214 to receive 5 points which will be added to their passing test score. This must be presented the day of the testing.