Laredo Police Open Hiring Cycle, Raise Officer Pay

Applications for the next officer class run November 30 through December 12, alongside a new five-year union contract.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Laredo Police Open Hiring Cycle, Raise Officer Pay

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The Laredo Police Department is accepting applications for its next officer hiring cycle from November 30 through December 12, 2026. The city and the Laredo Police Officers Association have also approved a new five-year contract that significantly increases officer pay.

Why it matters

The contract was negotiated in part to address a longstanding difficulty recruiting new officers while keeping experienced ones from leaving for state and federal agencies. For Laredo residents, the changes signal the city's effort to keep its patrol ranks staffed.

Entry-level patrol officers will earn about $78,000 a year starting in January, up from about $73,500, while the academy starting salary is $56,992. The number of openings in this hiring cycle was not specified.

The players

Laredo Police Department

The municipal law enforcement agency serving Laredo, Texas, which is conducting the current officer hiring cycle and recruiting for its patrol ranks.

Laredo Police Officers Association

The union representing Laredo police officers, which negotiated the new five-year contract with the city.

The details

Applicants face a pre-agility exam on January 9-10, 2027, which includes a 1.5-mile run in 15 minutes, 20 seconds, 29 push-ups and 31 sit-ups in one minute each. A written examination follows on January 22, and candidates must also complete an obstacle course with a 6-foot wall climb and a 180-pound dummy drag. The contract adds a $1-an-hour weekend differential and a $200-a-month patrol incentive, with higher pay for evening and overnight shifts.

November 30 - December 12, 2026: Application window for the next officer hiring cycle.
January 2027: Entry-level patrol pay rises to about $78,000.
January 9-10, 2027: Pre-agility examination.
January 22, 2027: Written examination.
October 2027: Entry-level base pay rises to $82,540.

Legal Context

The new five-year agreement sets the entry-level patrol salary on a published schedule, with a rise to more than $82,500 by October 2027 and more than $94,600 by 2030. It places Laredo's recruiting pay within a multi-year framework rather than a single adjustment.

Prospective officers can review the physical and written requirements and submit applications between November 30 and December 12. Residents will see the department's patrol staffing shaped by the pay changes and the added evening, overnight and weekend incentives.

The takeaway

Candidates interested in a Laredo police career should note the application deadline of December 12 and prepare for the January physical and written tests. Current pay levels and incentives are now set for the length of the new contract.

What happens next

The pre-agility examination takes place January 9-10, 2027, followed by the written examination on January 22, 2027. Entry-level base pay is scheduled to rise to $82,540 in October 2027.