TPD Officer Qualifications

There are set minimum requirements you must meet in order to become a member of The Tucson Police Department.

They are established by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) and supplemented by additional standards of the Tucson Police Department.

They include:

• Must be 21 years of age by the completion of the basic academy
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have a High School diploma or GED
• No felony commissions/convictions or convictions of any offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination that meets AZPOST standards
• Shall not have been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces
• Shall not have been previously denied certified AZPOST status, had AZPOST status revoked or currently have certified AZPOST status under suspension.
• Shall not have had a DUI within the last three (3) years

The AZPOST also has rules including the following, which would lead to the denial of a certification in becoming a TPD officer:

• Willful falsification of information to obtain certified status
• Physical or mental disability which substantially impairs the ability to perform the duties of a peace officer and can’t be resolved through accommodation
• Addiction to or unlawful use of narcotics or drugs, specifically for marijuana use: no more than 20 times in lifetime and no more than five (5) times after the age of 21 and not within the last three (3) years. For other illegal substance use: No more than five (5) times in a lifetime and not within the last seven (7) years.
• Conviction of a felony or conviction of an act that would be a felony in Arizona; or an offense involving dishonesty, unlawful sexual conduct or physical violence

Finally, TPD also has an additional set of standards regarding the application process which would cause immediate denial of a certification in becoming a TPD officer. They include during the preceding five-year period:

• Being discharged for cause from the City of Tucson
• Been otherwise separated from the City and marked ineligible for reemployment
• Making a false statement of material fact in the employment application
• Using political pressure or bribery to secure an advantage in the examination or an appointment from an eligible list due to the examination
• Directly or indirectly obtaining information about the examinations to which they were not entitled
• Failing to submit employment application correctly or within the prescribed time limits
• Being a member of or influenced by any organization, corporation, association or society which advocates or has a purpose of overthrowing or subversion of the Government of the United States of America.

See the AZ POST website for a complete list of qualification standards and rules at Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (https://post.az.gov).