El Paso is one of the largest cities in Texas, and among the most heavily populated in the U.S. Still, this metropolitan area has been continually lauded in national media as the safest large city in the country. With a population of approximately 673,000, El Paso has a crime rate of about 423.2 per 100,000 residents, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI.)
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The sworn peace officers and criminal investigators of the City of El Paso Police Department are credited with keeping their community’s violent crime rates as low.
Detectives with the City of El Paso Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) are responsible for providing follow-up investigations on the violent crimes and serious property crimes that occur in the city.
Becoming a Detective with the City of El Paso Police Department
In order to become a detective in the City of El Paso Police Department, eligible candidates must spend a minimum of two years serving as patrol officers.
The City of El Paso Police Department requires police officer trainee applicants to have at least 12 semester hours of college credits. College credits can be substituted for two years of military experience or one year of work experience in a job that requires consistently dealing with members of the general public.
Applicants that meet these requirements, will move on to the candidate screening and testing process, which includes:
- A passing score on a required written exam and job simulation testing
- A comprehensive background check (including a review of all criminal records, interviews with professional and personal references, and drug testing)
- A full physical exam, including a drug screening and vision testing (A rigorous physical conditioning program is required of all City of El Paso Police Department officer)
- A basic peace officer license, which is issued through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education after completion of El Paso’s police academy.
All newly hired police officers must complete 30 weeks of training.
Criminal Investigative Divisions Within the City of El Paso Police Department
The El Paso Multi-Agency Tactical Response Information eXchange (MATRIX), also known as the Fusion Center, serves as a clearinghouse for not only city police officers and detectives, but also law enforcement officials working throughout the El Paso region.
The various criminal investigative divisions in which detectives may work within the City of El Paso Police Department include the following:
- Crimes Against Children
- Crimes Against Persons
- Drive-By Shooting Response Team
- Financial Crimes