Still Serving: Army Veteran Vicente Gallegos Finds Purpose in Police Recruitment

Investigator Vicente Gallegos’s path to law enforcement began with a commitment to serve his country. After high school, the Missouri City-native enlisted in the U.S. Army.

“I served as a Signal Support Systems Specialist and was promoted to Sergeant during my eight years in the Army,” Gallegos said. “I completed one deployment to Iraq and two to Afghanistan.”

After he left the military, he wanted to still be in a career in which there was structure and teamwork, he said.

“I ended up going to the HCC Police Academy and became a police officer.” 

After working for the METRO Police Department, he was drawn to UT Police in 2024 after observing the division’s unique approach to serving.

“This division is a great place to work because it’s a positive, professional environment with ample opportunities for promotion and growth,” he said.

By 2025, he had been promoted to Investigator and assigned to the Recruitment and Retention Unit where he is now responsible for identifying and guiding new candidates through the hiring process. His duties include making contact with potential applicants, administering entrance exams, and conducting thorough background investigations. 

Before his promotion, Gallegos served on day shift patrol. His time in the field gave him valuable experience and insight that he now applies to his recruitment role.

“The most rewarding part of my role is being able to bring people on board and see them become part of the team,” Gallegos said.

When asked what motivates him each day, Gallegos said it comes down to purpose and family. “I enjoy my current assignment and, of course, providing for my family.” 

For those interested in joining UT Police, Gallegos encourages taking the first step.

“Don’t think about it—just do it,” he said. “There are many opportunities and career routes available here at UT Police. You just have to want it, stay positive, and stay motivated.” 

Becoming a Police Officer

U.S. Veterans and civilians seeking to become commissioned officers, the path starts with becoming a police cadet. UT Police recruits begin by submitting an online application, undergoing a polygraph examination, and completing a physical agility test. What follows is a full police application packet, an oral interview, a psychiatric evaluation, background investigation, and drug screening.

Successful applicants train through the UT System Police Academy or the Houston Community College’s Police Academy, as current cadets are doing now and as Gallegos once did.

Serving in a Security Role

For Public Safety Officer positions, UT Police applies it’s Hire-In-A-Day process designed to streamline the process for the division’s largest employee group. The collaborative program between UT Police, Human Resources and Employee Health allows qualified candidates to complete assessments, interviews and, in many cases, receive provisional job offers all in a single day—helping the division efficiently welcome new team members while maintaining its high recruitment standards. 

Civilian Roles

The hiring process for civilian positions begins with an online application, followed by a review to ensure candidates meet minimum qualifications. If necessary, a pre-screening test may be administered. Qualified applicants proceed to a first interview, after which a comprehensive background investigation is conducted, including criminal history, records, and employment verification. Once cleared by human resources, a job offer can be formally extended to successful candidates.

All new hires complete a medical evaluation that includes a TB skin test, tobacco testing, and drug screening before officially joining the division.

Questions?

If you have questions about job vacancies and hiring, contact the Recruiting team at [email protected] or visit www.utph.org/careers.