i want to be a police officer...what do i do?

Question

i mean, do i have to take criminal justice or can i just enroll in a police academy? i have a GED, no college..could i still become an officer, or should i take some college to "fluff up" my eligibility?
i would like to work with the canine division, or narcotics. how do i get started in a career like that? please help, i am only 21, but i feel like i'm wasting my life away by staying home! i really want to pursue a career, and i feel being in the police force would be very exciting and fulfilling for me(i have been thinking about it since early high school). thank you for your help.

ok..WHERE do i apply? the police station? i have no idea where the academy is..

for all of you who are saying being an officer is unsafe: SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT.

Answer 1

Acording to TCLEOSE (Texas Comission Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education) You can be a High school graduate with no college and apply with an agency that would take your qualifications. SInce you have only a GED and you were not specific as to where you are at (state wise) I can only tell you about Texas.
With a GED you would need additional 12 hrs of college in order for you to get accepted at a police academy, now keep in mind that these are the "Minimum requirements" in accordance with state law.
Each Dep can "beef up" these requirements as they see fit.
Or.....you can go through the college but you would need an BA in criminal Justice.

Hope this helps.

http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/

This is their website

Answer 2

Depending on what state you're in, you'll need to apply by going to your local city office and county office, and asking when they'll be accepting applications. Some of the application processes are limited, so find out beforehand.

1. Go on a ride-along by calling your local police station or sheriff's office and asking to go along. It's free, and can be an eye-opening experience!

2. Read everything you can about law enforcement. There are books at your local bookstore and library on taking the civil service exam and/or the P.O.S.T exam.

3. Find out if your local academy offers open enrollment (putting yourself through the academy). It can streamline your application process. Some academies offer an extended program for busy people; you'll attend three days a week for 10 months, and have a P.O.S.T. certificate when you're done.

4. Start putting together all of your personal information and get ready for interviews. The interview process can be quite daunting. You'll need records of everywhere you've lived for the last five years, including contact info of everyone in your life (including past roomates).

5. Get in shape.

6. Talk it over with your husband and kids. Make sure this is what you want to do. You'll be putting your life at risk and the stresses of law enforcement are very real. There is a lot of paperwork and accountability out the wazoo! You'll have to learn to testify in court, write detailed reports, and be a tough, tough, tough person. Is this something your family will be able to handle?

7. Consider taking some language classes at your local community college.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It depends on where you live or want to work. Start by talking to a Police Officer in your community. Most police departments have volunteer programs that you can become involved in that will help you understand what the career is all about. But do plan on going to college as it will help you a great deal once you are a police officer.

Answer 4

In Victoria, Australia:

a) Go to your Police Office and ask to apply, and they will give you an interview
b) If qualified, you will be invited (I think) to a test day at a police academy
c) Police academy test - Morning - Physical
d) Afternoon - Psycological - given to those who passed Physical only
e) Based on your scores, you will be placed onto a waiting list, where each quarter or 6 month, the top 28, 56, or 108 will be chosen to enter the academy
f) 5 month basic training + 19 month probation.

Answer 5

Prisoners, the picture of each and every body else, should be allowed sue if their human rights are being abused. No arguement. Prisoners are more beneficial probable to be abused merely because the position they're and how human beings imagine they should be dealt with. maximum police and reformatory officer do not yet there are continually some who will and prisoners or human beings detained must have rights to sue and get repayment. human beings keep on speaking about how smooth reformatory is and all that yet it really is depending on the stuff about open prisons. maximum individuals in reformatory are in customary prisons behind intense walls and cord and locked up in a cellular each and every evening and typically in the course of the day. that's no longer as straightforward as human beings imagine even if once you adapt that's no longer hell both. in view that i have been in worry and were given out of reformatory i'm getting hassled through teh police alot more beneficial - a number of you probable imagine they're only doing their interest yet alot of the time that's merely to wind you up and to seem complicated. I had some 'slaps' from the police too even as i change into youthful and that quite places you adversarial to them. There are some police who do an spectacular interest - I even play on a football crew with a cop - and we may be able to have a pint after training no concerns even although he knows my heritage. He sees me as only a crew mate instead of something else. My brother even ought to be a cop!! In fairness there are probable more beneficial strong ones than undesirable even if that's the undesirable ones you undergo in recommendations.

Answer 6

if you're a single mom kind hard to have quality family times, an associated would definitely improve your chances to work in narcotics you would have to be beat cop for awhile till you make detective,, canine is a part of the uniformed officers once you have decided go and have talk with the police chief in your city go for some ride along to better acquaint yourself police officer have a demanding job and many are not cut out for it good luck was one for 5 yrs on fed level

Answer 7

Maybe take a year or two at a community college to show them that your academic skills are good. The course work at the academy will be challenging. At the same time, get into the best physical shape you can. The physical training will be pretty rough too.

Answer 8

Look for a police station around your area. They should give oyu an interview.

Good luck with everything, and you are so right! Some people HAVE to do it. And you want to, so follow your gut.

Answer 9

Call 911.

Answer 10

just follow ur dreams and become a police officer serve what you want to do