How should i prepare myself to exit active duty military and become a detective with no police experience?

Question

I don't expect to start immediately as a detective but what would help to study or courses to take now before i get out of the military?

Do you get to apply for detective or do you have to go to police academy and then work your way up from the bottom?

Answer 1

Where I work you cannot apply for any specialized position until you have 4 years of street experience. This will differ by department.

Being a hardworking, effective street cop will be your best way of preparing. In any department, most of the other cops wouldn't know who you are. The folks who make the decisions on who becomes a detective will base their view of you based on your reputation. Your report writing skills, will be a major facet of your reputation, as will your attitude and arrest stats.

That said, being a detective (in my humble opinion) is pretty fricking boring. Here, the beat car that takes the call does the investigation for most felonies including sex assault, robbery, assault etc. Seldom do investigations get call out. It seems that most detectives spent 90% of their time behind a desk sorting through the paperwork generated by us grunts and our arrests. Our detectives have 72 hours to put together a "packet" for the DA after we make a felony arrest, checking details, putting it in order etc...seems to be their main job.

Obviously major case, don't wade through paperwork quite so much, but its a long road to get to be a senior detective.

When I first started the job, all I wanted to be was a detective. However, hunting dirties on the street gets into your blood.

Answer 2

No, you don't start off as a detective. Once you get hired by an agency you spend roughly 2 months, (give or take), in FTO phase. This period is spent with a experienced officer taking your training from the academy onto the streets. He or she will be your partner and mentor and will assist in your development as an LEO. To be released to work solo, your FTO (field training officer) has to sign off on you. I wouldn't worry too much about reading up on being a detective yet. You have to get hired first, and then spend a few years on patrol.

Answer 3

A detective is a seasoned police officer with examplary investigative abilities learned through years of experinence, with the street smarts to go along with it. You are in la la land, if you thing you can walk off the street and become a detective.

Answer 4

for one element, ALL militia contracts are for 8 Years, and you'd be able to wager your final greenback which you would be deploying exterior CONUS. there is purely one contract that provides a quick lively dedication, and that's 2 years lively (which does not commence until eventually in spite of each and every thing guidance), observed via 2 years interior the reserves, the relax 4 years to be served in IRR. MP isn't area of this software. even nevertheless.. MP is a minimum of four 365 days 365 days dedication, and doubtless 5 or 6. you will possibly set as much as Iraq, Afghanistan or comparable places. Your ASVAB line scores may well be certain however if or not you're even eligible for that activity. additionally, short excursions are not getting provided bonuses. they are tied to jobs decision and school credit.

Answer 5

Patrol is the backbone of any department. You should plan on starting there. The department will be looking for motivated officers who do well in their current job, so you will have to earn that spot.

As far as the classes, there should be several available to you. Considering the financial assistance the military provides, I would enroll in as many as you can handle before you separate.

I think they employer will be more interested in your work ethic once you start than they are in specific training. They can always send you to school, but they can't instil good work habits, you have to do that yourself.

Answer 6

It will never happen. You will have to start off as a patrol officer then work your was up to detective. It is extremely hard to become a detective.

Answer 7

You should apply to a police dept as a patrol officer, attend college and work your way up to detective, as you gain investigative tools and knowledge!~!

Answer 8

I would suggest trying to go CID in the military. That way, you'll have detective experience when you get out.

Answer 9

you have to start somewhere! patrol is where you learn it all. plus you will be good on the streets with military background.

Answer 10

Alex is right on... I would take Criminal Justice classes. That would help.