How to get accept to a police force?

Question

I am still a teenager in highschool, but I am almost 100% definite that I want to become a police officer after college. I plan on taking criminal justice in college, but people tell me that a degree will not be enough to get accepted. Can anyone help me with this and please tell me any ways for a better chance to get accpeted?

Any suggestions not involving the military?

Answer 1

ok, while CJ degrees are still ok, they are about a dime a dozen and really do little expect teach alot of history of prisons, law enforcement and police officers in American and Europe. They follow up with some constitutional law and areas like that, They really do little to help with the real job of being a police officer.

Next if you are in good physcial shape, score well on the police exam and have a college degree you will get on to a police department, but you will have to apply to 10 to 20 to get into a couple offers most likely, there are just that many people trying to get into departments, normally you get hired into a small department at low wages work a few years and move on to a larger department.

A business degree is good, they look for people who can be promoted, next computer science degrees are getting more important.

And if you ware looking at the FBI or a federal force, the accounting or computer degree is almost required.

Answer 2

Many larger Police Departments (the ones that pay better) now require a Bachelor's Degree. So get a 4-year degree majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in something like Computer Forensics, Sociology, Anthropology, or even English (useful for all those police reports you'll be writing.) Once you get your education, join the academy that coincides with where ever you plan on working. You must pass a physical fitness, psychological, and polygraph test, as well as pass a background check. Once you complete your hours at the academy, you can start the long hiring process usually involved with becoming a Police Officer. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Hmmmm..you folks all make it seem so difficult. All you have to do is score well on the exam. There is a huge shortage of Officers and Deputies and unless you live in the boonies starting salary even as a trainee is $4,000+ a month. You are almost certainly going to get an offer if you score well on the exam and pass the polygraph,background check and physical agility tests. This is of course assuming you live in or near a fairly large city and not a small town.
Best thing to do is get the degree(contrary to what some folks are saying..it does help..the dropout rate for college is 50% so not everyone has a degree) score well on the exam,get fit and go do a ride-along with your local Police Dept to get a real life look at what cops do.

Answer 4

Ask your doctor, if running raises your blood pressure then no,you cannot join the police force as this will stop you from performing your duty. Also,on the topic of life experience, most states and countries have the requirements for joining on their website (eg, 5 years full time work or a recognised diploma). I joined the police force when I was 19 after doing a Justice Administration course. I had also done 100 hours with the Salvation Army and the SES (this is in Australia but it's pretty similar in most states in america)

Answer 5

You have a better chance of getting accepted if you have military experience, so you may want to be in a National Guard unit while in college, or ROTC. Also, you will have to pass a physical, and some police training courses if you want to go to a good paying department. If you start with a small town police department, you may not get the best training, but it's easier to get hired on. FYI, if you want to be a federal agent, definitely get the military experience and the college degree.

Answer 6

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 luck. Feel free to send me a reply if you have more questions...

Answer 7

If you are planning to get a degree in CJ--then that will most definitely add to your chances of being an officer and plus it will help you to move through the police ranks quicker---Even with a degree--there will be other training courses that you will have to take---BUT, most precincts are looking for educated men and women to run there organizations...

Do not let anyone stop you from fulfilling your dream--you are on the right track...

Answer 8

Perhaps what they mean is that each department has it's own academy and regardless of what degree you have, you will still have to attend their academy. Much like boot camp, at least L. A. County Sheriff's is (26 weeks) as well as LAPD

Decide what department you want to join, go and talk to their recruiter and get the details of what they need and want. Be sure your background is exemplary. They won't hire you if you have a record of any kind.

Also look into the military police.

Answer 9

Not to discourage you or anything but are you sure? Little pay and no respect, everyone will hate you for "harrassing" them but will want you there the second they need help....I love my job but its not the same anymore....Good luck with all you do.Read this!



The Cop!!!

Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I
fit neatly into the category where you've placed me.
I'm stereotyped, standardized, characterized,
classified, grouped, and always typical.
Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure
you out.

From birth, you teach your children that I'm the
bogeyman, the you're shocked when they
identify/associate with my traditional enemy... the
criminal! You accuse me of coddling criminals..until I
catch your kids doing wrong.

You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee
breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for
having one cup. You pride yourself on you manners, but
think nothing of disrupting my meals with your
troubles.
You raise Cain with the guy who cuts you off in
traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and
I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic
laws...but you've never gotten a single ticket you
deserve.
You shout "FOUL" if you observe me driving fast to a
call, but raise the roof if I take more than ten
seconds to respond to your complaint.

You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but
call it police brutality if I strike back. You
wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a
tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet
you are always willing to give me pointers on the law.
You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody
nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it
without batting an eye.

You yell that something's got to be done to fight
crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved. You
have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I
change a flat for your wife, deliver your child in the
back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's
life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours
overtime looking for your lost daughter.

So Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox
and rant and rave about the way I do my work,calling
me every name in the book, but never stop to think
that your property, family, or maybe even your life
depends on me or one of my buddies. Yes, Mr. Citizen,
it's me the cop!