If someone graduated 10th out of 510 seniors in high school, would you think it'd be a waste to be a LAPD cop? I wouldn't think so, although I'd prefer that that person work for FBI or CIA or DHS.
2007-12-23 06:33:06 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
by the way, "that person" is thinking of joining SWAT after he meets all the requirements.
2007-12-23 06:35:21 · update #1
FBI and DHS are Federal organizations that are filled with a higher than normal number of back biters and career ladder climbers. To enforce the law they are wrought with red tape like every other organization or entity that is Federal. Its is a pain.
I worked with several Federal agencies when I was in the military and heard it from everyone of them.
My department has had several officers that leave the PD to go Federal and are back with us after a couple years. They were completely disenchanted with the "big boys" that are more political than law enforcement.
Don't get me wrong, someone has to do it, but being a police officer "on the front lines" is a different job. Its fun and rewarding with a great level of a self thinking and freedom to act.
2007-12-23 11:00:42 · answer #1 · answered by California Street Cop 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DRT, I can tell you care about this person and want what is best for them -- which I assume is their happiness. Perhaps you think that there will not be enough mental challenges as an LAPD officer but nothing could be further from the truth. There is always a great need for officers from a multitude of backgrounds.
Being a cop is not just about pulling people over and writing them tickets. There is a lot to think about when performing such a task, and to be honest just because someone is book smart, that, in and of itself, does not qualify them (or over-qualify) them for a career as a cop.
The simple answer is: No. It would not be waste. But I would have this person investigate further and see what interests them. Have them go on ride-alongs and meet people from the various professions -- perhaps you could do the same. You might learn that being a police officer is indeed a challenge that would baffle many a college valedictorian. ;-)
2007-12-23 19:25:01 · answer #2 · answered by Exilio 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A federal court has determined that in New London, Connecticut, the police were justified in denying employment to an applicant who was too smart to be a policeman.
Yep, he was too smart for the New London police force.
The Atlanta Mobile Register writes "Police throughout the country should be enraged, because the policy at issue in this case feeds the unfortunate stereotype of the "dumb cop." For that matter, the citizens of New London, Conn., should be enraged, too, because it is their police department that is ensuring that the officers who serve the public are of only average intelligence. The policy is inane.
"The case began when Robert Jordan, a 49-year-old college graduate, applied for the New London police force. When he took the entrance exam, he scored 33 points - which indicates an IQ of about 125. But the department only considers candidates who score between 20 and 27, with 20 representing an IQ of about 100, which is supposed to be average.
"The department's theory is that those who score too high could get bored with police work and leave soon after receiving costly training.
http://www.adversity.net/policefire_1_connecticut.htm
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2007-12-23 16:02:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
High school grades mean very little in this question. College grades are going to be what counts more. And for FBI or CIA it has to be at least a bachelors with good grades to even be considered. But if the person completes enough college, then no its not a waste of time.
2007-12-23 14:40:44 · answer #4 · answered by zebj25 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love how people point to one news story from years ago about a smallish department that denied a person for scoring too high on a test. I find it funny that minimum requirement is for the officer to score "average" among the US population. Which would throw out most of the people that find the article funny.
As for the orginal question. I think it is a waste if someone does a job they hate just because they feel they have to. I know a lot of extremely intelligent police officers that love their jobs and excel at being a police officer because they are smart.
2007-12-23 17:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A good mind is an assest no matter what field of endeavor it's owner takes up. Any profession is improved by the quality of it's participants. The only caveat is that there must also br common sense. I know some Phd.s that I would never trust with a loaded gun. Also, this is an age when one isn't stuck with one career for life, and a single individual may have two or three or more careers in a lifetime.
2007-12-23 15:02:17 · answer #6 · answered by slvrfox14 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. I find being a Law Enforcement Officer a very rewarding career. Investigations can be very intellectually challenging, but you'll need a degree for advancement in the LAPD or to go federal.
Good Luck!
2007-12-23 14:38:35 · answer #7 · answered by Citicop 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What makes anyone think you don't need intelligence to be a cop? Try understanding search and seizure. Lawyers and judges get hours sometimes weeks to make decisions, cops get seconds, minutes at the most on many occasions
2007-12-26 07:11:38 · answer #8 · answered by joseph b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a police officer of any kind is a mentally challenging job, there are many disciplines one needs to have mastered, including first responder/paramedic, federal, state and local law, psychology, sociology, as well as the obvious physical recquirements. Stop looking down on police officers.
2007-12-23 15:41:55 · answer #9 · answered by ncaachamp 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋