Current Police Officers ADVICE?

Question

I earned my associates in law enforcement last year. And this year i applied to join the cadet program it took the dept of chicago 8 months after i put the application in. Now every 6 weeks I get called in for an interview or refrences put all this is so spread apart it's like a months wait for the next processing i'm getting a bit frustrated becuase it been almost a year since i apllied and i'm still in the processing. I know this is a long process but do any police officers have any advice who have gone through this?

Answer 1

Mine took eight months and was spread out all over the place like yours. This is mainly to ensure that they aren't hiring the far flung cousin of a mafia wise guy to infiltrate the department. Chicago got enough of that with Al Capone and the Tammany Hall politicians and all of their suck ups. They eventually learn from their mistakes and this is the end result.

Be patient. I always tell prospective recruits if you haven't gotten the letter saying you aren't qualified then you are still in the running. Also remember that Chicago has their own academy and probably only two classes per year. You may have already been chosen and they are waiting to fill a class roster before sending out all of the letters at one time.

Good luck

Answer 2

the hiring and background process is a very long one.many agencies will even talk with your neighbors and friends.there are just a few officer that they have to do this job.they will compare your applications to what they have learned in the field.they do not always get people who qualify. they will wait until they get a certain amount before further testings.then they go over that process again. then once everything is done they have the oral board.you could have scored perfect on everything up until this time.if you fail the oral board you are out.for those whopassed the board then you have the academy. they will have to wait until they get enough for a class.once the academy starts all hell breaks loose.you will be bombarded with a tremendous amount of knowledge in a short period of time.dedicate yourself and never take a day off from the academy.you miss a day and you may never be able to catch up.study hard and pat attention. never be to proud to ask a question.form a study group with fellow cadets. one may get something the others miss.it will make your academy testing a great deal easier.the pressure does not end here. once the academy is over you have a final exam.this is where the study group becomes extremelt valuable.if you pass the final exam,CONGRATULATIONS,YOU MADE IT.then another so called testing begins. you will have to have a training officer for a certain period of time. you will have to show that you can correctly apply the teachings given to you.everyone is human so learn from the mistakes.once you make it out on your own the real testing begins.you have knowone to help you or show you the right way to do things.hopefully training will kick in or it could cost you your life.other officers will help you and guide you if you just ask.it is a profession that very few can even qualify for hiring. it takes a great deal of dedication and common sense.
i was ask what was the first thing i learned once i was outside.i learned that what was in the outside world was nothing like what i learned in the classroom.god be with you and good luck----retired texas deputy sheriff----

Answer 3

A City the size of Chicago has thousands and thousand of applications to go thru, then they have to put all the qualified ones thru testing, background checks, etc and that costs a ton of money. There are only a certain number of people assigned to the hiring process so they can only move so fast. Plus there are budget constraints to deal with, attrition, etc.

6-9 months for an average sized Department (under 1000 Officers) is the average hiring time. A larger Dept could take double, just depends how bad they need people and how fast they can get them through the process. The cadet program is low on the list of things for them to accomplish as actual police officers are more important (no offense) so that is going to add to it

Be patient, stay your course and good luck.

Answer 4

The road to law enforcement is a slow process.

Answer 5

It's the government-nuff said. It took me over a year to get on the police force-be patient.
Then you will get to enjoy the politics, the back stabbing and high suicide/divorce rate. It is a rewarding field however but watch who you trust.
There are alliances in the department you will not be aware of. capice?

Answer 6

YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE ON THE HIRE LIST AND THEY ARE INTERVIEWING YOU AND OTHERS AND PICK THE BEST ONE(S).

WHY ARE YOU NOT BEING PICKED. DO YOU DO YOUR HAIR UP IF LONG TO PRESENT A PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE OR IF SHORT IS IT NICE AND APPEARANCE WISE(NO PUNK COLORS OR WILD CUTS?)
CLOTHING--APPEARANCES-DO YOU PAUSE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ETC--
YOUR DAY WILL COME AND YOU WILL GET ON THEY MAY BE TESTING TO SEE IF YOU WILL BE STICKING AROUND OR MOVING ON TO ANOTHER JOB SITE. STAY WITH IT IT IS A GOOD CAREER FIELD-GETTING IN IS THE HARDEST PART--ONE IN AND QUALIFIED YOU CAN CALL YOUR TICKET ANYWHERE IN THE USA OR OVERSEAS WITH YOUR DEGREE MOVE ON TO A BA AND A MASTERS WHILE YOUR STILL YOUNG. MOST POLICE NOW HAVE AA'S AND BA'S SO NEXT STEP WITH COMPETITION IS MA--HANG IN THERE KITTY CAT HAHAHAHA

Answer 7

You have to learn patience. If you have a court case that goes on forever, you will have to know how to handle the stress. Most cops marriages end in divorces because of the extreme stress of the job. Make sure what you wish for before you end up paying the price. Good Luck.

Answer 8

every police department has a way of doing their process, if that's the way chicago PD does it, then stake it out. if you want, talk to any police officer from the chicago PD, and question them if that's the way the process goes.

Answer 9

government= red tape

Answer 10

just passed a sales tax increase to fund new positions
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