Employment Disqualifiers

Employment in law enforcement agencies involves public trust. Only those persons whose conduct, character and behavior which does not discredit either themselves or the Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be employed. The DPS employment process will address the integrity, ethical conduct, honesty, prejudices, financial responsibility (credit), and past behavior of all applicants. 

While DPS reviews much information and considers the circumstances in many areas regarding an applicant’s background, the following standards are among those that will automatically disqualify applicants from consideration:

UPDATED Uniform & Appearance Policy

REVISIONS REGARDING TATTOOS: Read more about the requirements of the DPS Uniform and Appearance Policy.

Download this pdf file. Read all uniform & appearance policy
  1. Intentionally falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting pertinent information while completing the employment application, preliminary interview questionnaires, or any other pre-employment document(s).
  2. Deliberately making inaccurate, misleading, false, or fraudulent statements during the employment process.
  3. Poor management of personal finances (within the past five years). Debts, pending civil suits, garnishments, dispossessory warrants, bankruptcies, etc., will be investigated to determine a candidate’s suitability for employment.
  4. Personal state or federal tax liability or delinquent student or government loans unless the applicant is on an approved payment plan.
  5. Any felony conviction for P.O.S.T. Certified positions.
  6. Discovery of an applicant’s involvement in any crime of a serious or aggravated nature.
  7. Any conviction or plea of nolo contendere within three (3) years of the application date for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol (DUI) or for any serious traffic offense, including, but not limited to:  Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Vehicular Homicide, Failure to Stop, Render Aid, or Leave Information, and Racing.
  8. Current illegal drug use.
  9. Deliberate association of a personal nature within the past year with persons who use illegal drugs in the presence of the applicant.
  10. Use or possession of marijuana within two (2) years of the application date.
  11. Use of an illegal drug or combination of illegal drugs (including anabolic steroids after February 27, 1991), other than marijuana within five (5) years of the application date.
  12. Use of any prescription drug or legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within two (2) years of the application date.
  13. The DPS Uniform and Appearance policy has changed to allow applicants with some visible tattoos in a short sleeve uniform to wear a long sleeve uniform shirt. Applicants with tattoos or brands will be disqualified for either of the following: Tattoos/brands that depict or support criminal behavior, drug usage, nudity, profanity, promiscuity, subversive groups, bigotry, etc. Tattoos/brands on the neck, face, head, hands, and fingers that are visible while on duty and/or in a long sleeve uniform shirt.  Tattoos on the arm must not be below the crease of the wrist. Exceptions include tattoos/brands that are covered by one ring per hand, or by a watch band on either the left or right wrist. Uniform members with tattoos visible in a short sleeve uniform shirt (generally, below the crease of the arm and tip of the elbow) will wear the class A uniform (long sleeve shirt). DPS does not allow the use of a long sleeve cover-up to hide any visible body art, tattoos, brands, or images that are visible in the short sleeve uniform. No facial hair is permitted.
  14. Any applicant who has been disqualified based on the findings of a background investigation may not reapply for 12 months from the date of notification of disqualification.

We hope this information will assist you in determining if you are a suitable candidate for employment with the Department of Public Safety.