How to Become a Criminal Investigator in Texas

According to the Texas Commission On Law Enforcement, there were 75,587 active peace officers serving the state as of 2014. The most experienced of these law enforcement professionals served as criminal investigators within the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, as well as the many county and municipal law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Texas has one of the highest crime rates in the country. Only California has a higher incidence of violent crimes, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI.)

Texas reported 97,633 violent crimes committed in 2012, which were classified as follows:

Many of the crimes reported in Texas happen in the major cities of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo, and Lubbock. With 1,200 cities and towns including 25 major metropolitan areas, and a total state population of approximately 26 million, the criminal investigators here work diligently to manage tens of thousands of cases.

The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (CID) employs 640 peace officers and 146 civilians who work in administrative support capacities. Personnel, including detectives, may work at the CID headquarters in Austin or in one of six regional offices. CID posts are located in El Paso, Garland, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, or San Antonio.

The Texas CID has five divisions in which detectives, other peace officers, and support personnel may work:

Individuals who wish to become a detective with the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (CID) generally must have at least some college education along with law enforcement or military experience. It is next to impossible to become a detective without first being a state trooper with the Texas Highway Patrol; the Texas Highway Patrol is a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Candidates must meet one of the following requirements to be considered for a state trooper position with the Texas Highway Patrol:

Other qualifications to become a Texas Highway Patrol trooper include:

Earning a college degree in one of these fields will help candidates for detective jobs prepare for a career in criminal investigations:

Most of the municipalities in Texas have police departments with criminal investigations divisions. Generally, holding a bachelor’s degree and spending at least three years as a police officer is required before being promoted to a detective position.

Specialized investigations usually relate to homicides, gang activity, major drug trafficking, large-scale marijuana grow operations, offenses of a sexual nature, and crimes against children.

Here are some of the major criminal investigations divisions in Texas:

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