I want to be a Police Officer and I was wondering if there is any edvice for me?

Answer 1

learn to spell.

Answer 2

My advice would be to learn how to use a spellchecker and take a class in English.

Another poster stated "no drug use ever". If are a child of the 60's and 70's like myself, that is highly unlikely. I was a cop for 3 years and I have only met a handful of officers born in the 1960's and early 1970's who have never used illegal drugs. Most departments look at what used and whether or not you were a dealer (which is a definite no-no).

My advice:

1. Go with the larger metropolitan department. In California, these would be Oakland, LAPD, SFPD, San Jose, etc. These departments have more opportunities for advancement and training. If you start with a medium or small department such as Fremont, Brisbane, or others, you will essentially be a community service/traffic officer and there is little chance for substantial training or advancement. (You can also lateral out of the larger departments once you are fully trained).

2. Get a college degree. An AJ degree may sound nice, but it won't help you should you not like the job as a career. My advice is to get a technical or psychology degree. This will not only help you on the job, but give you alternatives should you wish to do something else (most cops I know who quit or fired ended up being security guards).

3. Discover what it is you really wish to do in LE. If you go with the CHP, then you will be a traffic cop (period). If you go with a large metropolitan Sheriff's Office, count on 80% of your job being custodial in nature (county jail, courts, transportation of prisoners, etc). If you choose a small to medium sized department, count on being a community service officer. If you really want to know the full range of LE, go with the larger metro departments. Unless you really like investigations (which are a lot more tedious than what you see on TV), stay away from the FBI. They are more like the professors of LE - doing a lot of the legwork but they don't make too many arrests.

4. Study the department before interviewing. Know the chain of command. Remember the interviewer’s names and look them in the eye. Firmly shake their hand and be 100% honest.

5. Don't be intimidated by the interviewer or the background officer (or the clown performing the useless polygraph). If this intimidates you, then this is not the job for you.

6. Never lie. Once you do, your credibility shrinks to zero.

7. Always remember your loyalty is to the citizens who employ you, not the Sheriff, Chief of Police, or any other civil servant.

Answer 3

You made a spelling error it happens. Join the Coast gaurd. They are the front line defenders and it will really help you getting a job. Just apply to many cities and take all the test you can. You must also get, in the state of Ohio, OPTA certification. Everystate has a different test, so find out what it is and take the certification. Big city academys pay for it but the smaller ones want you to pay for it yourself. ITs called Tax write off.

Answer 4

Experience helps, a lot! Join the national guard reserve MP unit, sign up for the reserve police, go to school. All of the above will help when you go to apply for a posiotion. Also, keep up your PT--- that is a BIG part of the test for the cop shop.

Answer 5

I hope the,"want to be" is coming from your heart.But please remember to check out the pay rate there.It is at a poverty level where I life.There is a constant turnover and our cop's are real *** holes.If you want,truth and justice,this is the wrong town.What I'm trying to say is,relay check out where you go to work,after you become a cop.I think most cops relay do want to"Serve and Protect".Just be careful.Police relay need to make more money.That's the way I feel.

Answer 6

Yes, if you are serious about becoming a police officer do it in a smaller city 50,000 to 100,000 in population.

Answer 7

Go to college, ( while Criminal Justice is ok I recommend a managment degree).

And of course see if your local police has any type of ride along program, often it is not what you think it is.

Answer 8

clean record.
using spell check.
high school diploma.
born in the u.s.a. or got here legally.
NO DRUG USE. EVER.
Positive attitude.
Moral and ethically sound.
desire to serve and protect the public.

Answer 9

finish middle school, then high school. go to college for criminal justice or police science, depends what the school offers. then apply for departments

Answer 10

Finish high school