Tell me as much details as you can. And how Long it took to complete everything. If there was something different you could have changed what would it be.
2006-08-26 06:47:42 · 10 answers · asked by MJ 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
4 year criminal justice degree, then 12 weeks in the police academy.
If I could change anything I would have gone to work for a smaller department, better chance for promotion quicker, big city departments are too competitive.
2006-08-26 06:49:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
(1) Find a dept that is hiring and has jurisdiction in an area you like
(2) Check to see if Officers/Deputies are covered by civil service or a union (this helps protect your job)
(3) Typically, a sheriff dept is more involved in politics than a police dept (this can affect hiring and promotions)
(4) Bigger depts have better chances for specialties and promotions (and benefits)
(5) If you start in a small dept (usually doesn't require a degree) plan on staying 3-5 years then move on to a larger dept
(6) The best way to start training now (prior to attending an academy) is to start running (build up to 5 mi) and some weight training
(7) Talk with your wife, family, pastor/preacher (the important people in your life) and make sure that this is the right career. If you get involved with a shooting incident (getting more likely every day), can they live with the fact that you shot someone (alleged criminal or innocent bystander). If you or any of them have any doubts, STAY AWAY FROM THIS JOB.
(8) Its not as hard as you think, and if you decide to go for it --GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS
2006-08-26 14:24:17 · answer #2 · answered by tnmack 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First off, you have to have either 2 - 4 years of military background or at least a two year college degree for most departments. You also can't have any felony convictions and you have to be free of discriminatory beliefs or prejudices. You shouldn't have any serious drug use in your past, and no marijuana use in the last three to five years.
Next you have two routes into your new career. If you are lucky you might get hired as a recruit. Your department will pay for you to go to the police academy, and swear you in upon graduation. This is how I got hired, and it was great. Police Academies all differ, but if you picture a combination of a weak boot camp and a law school for retards you are on the right track.
If you aren't lucky enough to get this route, you can pay your own way through the Academy, either full time (but you won't be able to hold down a job during this.) or in an extended academy (you'll be able to work in the day.) Fair warning, the Academy will be stressful.
In order to be hired, you will have to pass a written exam, then an oral interview. A few agencies use a test called the "B-Pad" where you have to talk to a TV screen to show how effective a communicator you are. Warning: this test is lame and very hard to pass. I failed it and then went on (at another agency) to receive multiple good reports regarding my communications skills.
If you pass these tests, you will be put in a background investigation. This is the single most invasive background check you can imagine. Background investigators can unseal sealed records from your childhood, and will talk to basically everyone you know trying to dig up dirt on you. It takes anywhere from a month to five months to pass this part of the application process.
After the background (sometimes before) you will be given a polygraph test (lie detector) to make sure you answered truthfully in all your documents.
After that you will be given a through physical and psychological examination to make sure you are fit for what can be a very stressful job.
The last step is usually an interview with the Chief of Police. If you made it this far, relax. The chief doesn't want to talk to you unless he or she is going to hire you.
After you're sworn in you will have to go through field training operations (FTO) and lord help you. There is no more miserable way to spend 16 - 20 weeks. But once you complete that, you're a cop! Congratulations. You'll complete your probationary period in twelve months to eighteen months.
The whole hiring process took me a little less than five months, but that is actually pretty fast. Most of the recruits I talked to in the Academy told me about six to ten months, with a couple taking a full year.
Good luck!
- Cai
2006-08-26 14:06:58 · answer #3 · answered by cailano 6 · 2⤊ 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.
2006-08-26 23:27:56 · answer #4 · answered by Walter J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First apply to about 20 different departments, there are about 100 applicants for any one opening, so you have to apply and apply and apply to departments all around your state and even the nation. Be willing to move to areas all around the nation.
Be willing to go to work for small low paying departments with no benifits to get a start.
Get a college degree, don't really matter what in, but a degree, computers are looking good right now.
also a tour of duty in the military looks great to them also.
2006-08-27 09:52:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Possess attitude, place chip on shoulder and rod up @ss, BAM...Your are a cop!
All these formalities that people are listing... go to a small town, if you meet the above requirements, YOU'RE HIRED!
I love the "start working out and weight training" suggestions. Brains are not a pre-requisite for the job, just bulk. How very sad.
How about, take some psychology classes, don't try to get revenge for being picked on in grammar school, and for God sake, if you are that skinny assed guy who thinks it will make him "macho" to carry a gun, please acknowledge your homosexuality and save us the expense of a future mass murder trial.
2006-08-26 15:53:26 · answer #6 · answered by st pete rn 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
2 years degree(not required her but I wanted it), about 100 ride alongs (not required), 8 pairs of tennis shoes for 1 mile a day minimum runs during college years(advisable but not required), 14 week academy, 23 applications, and 8 languages (not required)
2006-08-30 07:16:57 · answer #7 · answered by deputeesteph33 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some useful education, the Police Academy...All in all, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a cop!!!
2006-08-26 13:51:17 · answer #8 · answered by RICHY RICH 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell you exactly? Well I woke up one day, and had some Cheerios, .........f
2006-08-26 15:16:47 · answer #9 · answered by amish-robot 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
memorize all dunkin' donuts locations within a 20 mile radius.
2006-08-26 13:56:49 · answer #10 · answered by ne0aes0p 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋