The City may reject an applicant for one or more of the following reasons listed below. Time calculations for an action that constitutes rejection for a specified period of time shall be calculated from the date the application for employment is submitted by an applicant

(1) Failure of the applicant to pass any part of the entrance examinations;

(2) Conviction of or has received deferred adjudication or pre-trial diversion for a Class A or Class B Misdemeanor under the State Law or equivalent under federal law, to include the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), within the past ten (10) years. Conviction of a Class A or Class B Misdemeanor may result in a temporary rejection.  Crimes involving moral turpitude may result in permanent disqualification and shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with appropriate consideration of circumstances and recency.

Applicant has been convicted of or has received deferred adjudication or pre-trial diversion for a felony under state or federal law, to include the UCMJ.  Conviction of a felony may result in permanent disqualification.

Admission to any conduct that could be considered criminal shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with appropriate consideration of circumstances and recency.

An applicant shall not be considered for employment while charges are pending for any criminal offense or while he/she is currently on probation or deferred adjudication for any offense;

(3) Making or knowingly attempting to make a false statement in any material fact in the application, examination, or appointment;

(4) Failure to make application in the manner prescribed in the notice of examination, and/or failure to file the application with the Director within the time limits prescribed in the notice of examination;

(5) If employment of the candidate would result in a violation of the City’s Personnel Policy on Employment of Relatives;

(6) Applicant is not a citizen of the United States of America by birth or naturalization.  The applicant will be disqualified until citizenship is obtained in compliance with federal laws;

(7) Applicant fails to demonstrate his/her ability to read, write, and fluently speak the English language.  The applicant will be disqualified until the deficiency is corrected;

(8) Applicant is unable to perform the essential functions of the position to which he/she seeks appointment, with or without reasonable accommodation;

(9) Failure to complete or satisfactorily meet the employment process requirement of the respective Department, including missed appointments, failure to return necessary paperwork, failure to notify Department of changes in address or telephone numbers, failure to properly complete any or all application materials, or who otherwise fails to complete application process;

(10) Failure to meet Minimum Standards for Initial Licensure as set forth by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education for peace officer candidates or fails to meet any of the minimum requirements expressed in the rules of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State Health Services for fire fighter candidates;

(11) Applicant has been dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal from any employment for inefficiency, delinquency, or misconduct.  Said dismissal or termination shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Rejection under this provision shall be considered permanent;

(12) Applicant has a history of unstable work, i.e., including short terms of employment over his/her employment history; difficulty receiving orders or working with coworkers, etc.  Due to the variables involved, each situation shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Rejection under this provision shall be temporary in nature and an applicant shall be eligible for reapplication after a five (5) year period;

(13) Applicant has a history of employment in an illegal occupation.  Due to the variables involved, each situation shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Rejection for employment in an illegal occupation shall be permanent in nature;

(14) Applicant has exercised poor judgment skills within the past ten (10) years.  The applicant has demonstrated either immaturity or poor judgment in the applicant’s decision-making process.  Examples of such conduct would include, but is not limited to: attendance at a party or social function at which controlled substances or dangerous drugs are consumed, and such activity is known or should have been known by the applicant; silent acceptance of known illegal conduct by others in his/her presence; workplace behavior/decisions that adversely affect the business or associates, with little or no objectively justifiable need for such behavior.  Rejection for this cause shall be temporary until the applicant can demonstrate that his/her judgment skills have developed;

(15) Applicant has demonstrated a failure to pay just debts. Due to the variables involved, each situation shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Factors which shall be considered include, but are not limited to: type and number of debts, reasons for the bad credit, extenuating circumstances, and the potential for the credit-related problems impacting the applicant’s judgment and integrity.  Resolution of bad credit may result in re-qualification;

(16) Applicant has been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions, including specifically:
(a)        Under other than honorable conditions;
(b)        Bad conduct;
(c)        Dishonorable; or
Any other characterization of service indicating bad character;

(17) Dismissal from public service for delinquency, misconduct, or inefficiency;

(18) Applicant has used illicit substances as indicated by the following guidelines:

An applicant may be temporarily or permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that he/she has admitted to conduct which constitutes excessive and/or recent use of illicit substance(s) or excessive use of intoxicants. Conduct involving excessive and/or recent use of illicit substance or excessive use of intoxicants shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency.

An applicant may be temporarily or permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that or he/she has admitted to conduct which constitutes abuse of legally, obtained prescription medication(s), or illegal use of the prescription medication(s) of another person.  Conduct involving the abuse and/or misuse of prescription medication(s) shall be considered on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to circumstances and recency.

An applicant may be permanently disqualified if it has been determined by the City that he/she has admitted to conduct which constitutes illegal use of felony grade substances as defined in the Texas Penal Code; or

(19) Applicant has received deferred adjudication or pre-trial diversion for, or has been convicted of Driving while intoxicated, Boating while intoxicated, Flying while intoxicated or Driving under the influence (DWI/BWI/FWI/DUI) within the past five (5) years or more than two (2) moving violations within the past one (1) year period or more than three (3) moving violations within the past two (2) years.  An applicant will be temporarily disqualified until he/she can meet the above standards.

Lesser, but more severe, violations which tend to indicate driving habits that are not compatible with the operation of emergency vehicles and present potential liabilities to the City will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Rejection under this provision will be considered permanent.