Lubbock has an unfortunate reputation for being listed among the most dangerous cities, not only in Texas, but also the entire United States. Forbes Magazine named Lubbock the sixth-most dangerous city in the country, coming in just behind such notoriously dangerous cities as Detroit, Michigan.
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Lubbock, a city of approximately 236,000 people, has a violent crime rate of 808 per 100,000 residents, according to FBI statistics published in 2012.
Detectives with the Lubbock Police Department serve in the Investigations Division to investigate crimes, identify suspects and secure convictions.
Steps to Become a Detective with the City of Lubbock Police Department
The first step to becoming a detective with the City of Lubbock Police Department is to join the law enforcement agency as a police officer.
Performing first-rate work, consistently participating in applicable training opportunities, and earning at least an associate’s degree in a field related to law enforcement or criminal investigations are crucial steps to being seriously considered for detective jobs. Bachelor’s degrees are strongly favored.
The City of Lubbock Police Department requires the following from police officer applicants:
- At least 20.5 years old when they send their initial application, and not older than 45 years of age on the day of taking the required entrance examination.
- Valid driver’s license with no more than two moving violations in the last year and no more than five moving violations in the last 24 months.
- Have 20/100 uncorrected visual acuity and be able to distinguish differences between the basic color groups.
- Have a criminal record free of felony or Class A misdemeanor convictions. In some cases, applicants with Class B misdemeanor convictions that are more than 10 years old may still be declared eligible for the police academy. Any crime related to domestic violence or a less-than-honorable discharge from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is an automatic disqualifying factor.
- Pass a background check that includes a review of the applicant’s consumer credit reports and a polygraph examination.
- Pass a physical exam and complete any required physical fitness conditioning.
- No history of using illegal drugs or abusing prescription medications. Marijuana experimentation may not be an automatically disqualifying factor, but each case will be reviewed on an individual basis.
All new police officers must complete at least 20 weeks of training. After graduating from the police academy, officers go through another 17 weeks of on-the-job field training.
Sections in the City of Lubbock Police Department Investigations Division
Depending on staffing needs and experience, detectives with the Lubbock Police Department Investigations Division are assigned to these specialized sections:
- Juvenile Crimes Section
- Person Crimes Section
- Identification Section
- Property Crimes Section
- Special Operations Section
- Narcotics Unit
- Gang Unit
- Vice