what steps need to be taken to become a police officer ? how far do they actuly chk your background?

Question

40 years old and my credit is ok but not great. Its something I have wanted for a long time. I need advice

if something was expunged will it show up with a police background ck.

Answer 1

Personal Requirement Experience (NY State):
-County Wide Civil Service Exam (in my dept, you need at least 90-100% to make it in)
-Must have 60 credit hrs. college at time of appointment
-Must be 21yo at time of appointment
-Resident of Town
-Physical Fitness Screening (PT test with mininum standard cutoff)
-Reading/Writing comp. test by dept.
-Drug Test
-Interview by dept.
-Fingerprints
-Physical Exam including EKG
-Polygraph Examination
-Psychological Examination
-Full background investigation. With all references, employers, relatives etc. spoken to and frequently actually physically visited and interviewed.
-Credit check
-Ridealong with officer (see what youre like to ride with for a shift)
-Personal Record Check at county office (verify all educational,birth,military, etc. records)
-Board Interview by Chief, Captian of Patrol, Patrol Sgt., Training Lt.
-Appointment by Town Board
-Academy (6 months)
-Field Training (FTO) Program (6months)

Answer 2

Well one of the best colleges in the country for criminal justice is in Huntsville Texas. Sam Houston State University. A good thing for a person who wants to go into law enforcement to learn is observation skills and memory games. An observant person with a good memory is going to do well in law enforcement. Typing is a good skill to have and being good with computers is also a help. Most any knowledge you can aquire will be helpful to you in some way in policing. A good background in psychology would be beneficial as would a healthy dose of patience and understanding. You have to be drug free and stay out of trouble. Most agencies, at least here in TX require you to have a high school diploma and the larger agencies want you to have college. The larger agencies pay better also.
Good credit is not required but it is recommended, keep on working on cleaning this up.
As for your record you need to be honest when you fill out your application, they will ask about any arrests you have had and so forth and it will be found out that you were arrested. If you can have/have had your record expunged then you will probably be okay, just talk with the local police department and see what they say. Everyone makes a mistake now and then, depending on what your charges were will depend on what they say. The last perfect person walked on water about 2000 years ago. The rest of us just do out best to get along...
Good luck. Feel free to send me a reply if you have more questions...

Answer 3

All of the entrance steps are pretty much the same here in Texas as described above so I won't rehash everything. They checked everyone of the references I listed. They interviewed all of my past employers, my family, my neighbors and personal references. They called my high school and Baylor University. They checked my credit, and also called the USMC to check and make sure my military transcript / DD214 was correct. They made sure that my security clearance had never been compromised while I was in the Corps. They were VERY thorough. If there are any skeletons they will find them. Just be up front from the start. There are some things that can be waivered if you do well in other more critical areas, but not if you aren't truthful at the start. Good luck !

Answer 4

They check ALL of your background. However, they also know that things you have done five or ten years ago may no longer represent the person you are now. Especially if you have received and education since those (mischievous) days.

Education is very important nowadays, most forces require a college degree, but check with your local division.

You cannot have a criminal record or be involved with persons who do. (ie If your brother is a known drug dealer and you live in the same household you cannot become a police officer)

They also check your credit rating and ensure that you don't owe so much money as to comprise your integrity.

You never know until you apply. So the best advise is APPLY!

Answer 5

I'm not an expert, but have done some reading on the subject. I think that if they check your background at all, a credit check wouldn't be included. I believe that as far as education goes, to be a street cop (a rookie - I guess), no High School Diploma is needed. I think that in order to be a sherrif, a High Shcool Diploma is needed.

Various department to various tests to determine eligibility, such as some may do physcological testing, although results vary greatly, it is not widely done anymore.

Reading and writing is probably required, limited knowledge of the law, which is learned in a course lasting approximately 6 weeks (police academy).

I really don't think you need to worry much about background checks. Especially not for your credit history.

Answer 6

First it will totally depend on the department you go to work for.

When I worked for the Feds, they even sent investigators in person to interview my high school and college teachers and all my frineds and neighbors for the past 10 years.

They knew more about me than I did. ( really) they had down lines I had used to pick up girls in bars, ,, some I had to explain in writing to clear background check

They went though every debt I ever had, there could be no, not one single outstanding late debt.

Now when I went to work for the State, they were not as complete, but yes, even explunged records show up on police background checks. And normally they do lie dector tests.

There are alot of small departments that most people never think of ( in GA, even the Farmers Market outside of Atlanta) have thier own police department, so if you look at the smaller lower paying departments you may find lower standards at times.

Answer 7

If you are interested in becoming a state highway patrolman, contact the state highway patrol department of the state you want to serve. You will receive an application to submit. Complete this application truthfully. Most states do put a maximum age limit on applicants, which will be stated in the literature you receive.

Contact county,municipal/city law enforcement agencies if you are interested in serving that sector of law enforcement.

A background check will be made of you, your parents, siblings, and possibly other realtives. Your background, which includes financial information, doesn't need to be spotless; but, felonies, excessive misdemeanors, and consistant financial problems, may set up a "red flag".

Most law enforcement agencies require some college, preferably in the areas of Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Science. Some require that you have CLEET (Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training) certification. Larger cities have classes leading to this certification. Certification usually requires 150 to 160 hours of specified classes.

Check your local library for the book, Occupational Outlook Handbook, to research expected wages, projected future for the law enforcement occupation, and other resources that will help you determine if law enforcement is something you really want to do.

Answer 8

My background check took a little more than three months. The investigator took the references I gave and asked each of them for three more people that he did not have on the list.
I know for a fact that they talked to my High School teachers, people I used to work with, and family members, friends that I hadn't seen in years etc. During my follow up interview, he was asking me about a really wild party that I was at one night years before; that one of my long lost friends chose to tell him about.
A credit check is done, and more than likely you will need to give current banking statements and debt information.
Most investigators will take everything into consideration before making a recommendation for hire or not.

Answer 9

That kid you beat up when you were in high school....they will find out. Most agencies are that vigilant when doing background checks.

Answer 10

If you did anything wrong in your life they will find-out. Then you have to pass a physiological test too, in order to be a cop. good luck.