How do i become a policemen??

[rpm]

So is their cost of living.

[eagl]

rpm,

My dad did fine as a CHP officer, and my brother is doing fine as a CHP officer with 5 kids.

If you are reasonably smart with your money (ie. save and pay down debt before buying expensive luxuries, etc) living in Calif isn't really any that much tougher than anywhere else.

[x0847Marine]

Originally posted by Tarmac
It depends on what state you're in, too.  Here in MI, few departments will sponsor you through an academy so you're responsible for making that up-front investment ($3-5k)and hoping you get a job once you're done.  In other states more hard-up for cops, they probably still sponsor.  I know places like Nevada and Wyoming are always recruiting around here.  Michigan isn't exactly a great place for public sector employment anymore.  

In Michigan, you need to have at least 60 college credits I believe.  Talk to some cops in your area about it (or do some googling) and find out what your target state's criteria are.  

Wtf is that supposed to mean, Thrawn?    I was top of my class in both academics and marksmanship coming out of the academy.  

This is also true in Cali, at Rio Hondo Academy anyone can enroll and pay their way through, while earning mad college credits. Smaller Depts send recruiters to interview there.   They still run you through all the testing, much of it is required by state law.

Some guys get hired on while in the academy and start getting paid, otherwise they pay their way through the entire class and hope to get a job afterwards. It get expensive too, drivers training alone is $500-600 not to mention the long hours make it impossible to have a paying job.

Big Depts like the LA Sheriffs or LAPD run their own academies and don't bother recruiting there... even if you graduate Rio Hondo, these bigger depts may not accept it and make you go through their academy.

BTW your race / sex can be a deal breakers in applying for some agencies, LAPD requires an oral score of 70% to pass, unless you're a white male, then you need 95%+. LA Sheriffs Dept tho, being white is ok, if you have a vagina.

No vagina, no job.

[texasmom]

http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/misc/recruiting.htm

here's the link to the orlando police dept. recruiting page. it spells out the requirements, benefits, all that jazz.

[EagleEyes]

Thanks for all the info guys.  I knew i could get the low down on here!  The reason i want to become a cop is simple.  Protecting people!!  I enjoy helping people who are in need.  I love standing up for the little people.  And i love defending this country of ours!  Couldn't think of any other job that could do all of these.  2 of my best friends joined the Marines as MPs and are planning on being policemen after their 4 years are up.  So its definitely something I've kept in the back of my mind!! Again, thank you to everyone who answered my questions!

<>

[Obie303]

Read your PM.

Obie

[Hornet33]

Just so everyone knows....I'm not a recruiter.

EagleEyes, you said you want to defend this country, help people in need and practice law enforcement. Those are the 3 primary missions of the Coast Guard and we do it everyday. Seriously, you sound like the kind of person who would do very well in the Guard. Yes we are a branch of the military, but we are under the Department of Homeland Security...NOT DOD. That makes a huge differance as to how and where we can operate.

I'm getting ready to retire from the Guard and I can honestly tell you that enlisting was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I've gotten to travel all over the world and do some pretty neat things. I was a boarding team member for 5 years and it was pretty exciting stuff. I have been very lucky to work at a bunch of different units and have seen just about every aspect and mission the Guard performs. I've made drug bust, conducted routine searches and inspections, participated in a bunch of SAR cases where we saved lives and property. Despite some bad times, the good far outweighs the bad and I have had no regrets. I will miss it when I'm done.

Talk to a recruiter, tell them you want to do law enforcement and then let me know what they tell you. I'll let you know if they are giving you the straight scoop or not.

[Gunthr]

check out state, county, and municiple PD websites, start filling out applications to every agency you might be interested in.  You will learn a lot about minimum requirements.

WARNING.  make and keep copies of every ap you fill out.  Make absolutely certain that every application or confidential questionnaire that you fill out has the same information as all the others.  and make sure you are truthful in your answers.  

(some applicants try to get cute and modify thier background info if they are initially unsuccessful.  they don't realise that there are background investigator associations in every county - and the investigators all stay in touch with each other and compare notes.  If are not truthful, word will quickly spread and you will be blackballed in the entire state of Florida unless your issue is a very minor one and you are applying to a small agency that is desperate for police officers because they can't pay competitively, and you don't want to work there anyway.)  additionally, later in the hiring process you will have to answer the polygraph or CVSA question: "Have you been truthfull about all the information and documentation that you have submitted in your application?"

also, a good thing to do is ask to do a "ride-a-long" at any PD you are interested in - you will learn a lot talking to the cops.   another thing that occurs to me is that often there are jobs available that are called CSA's or Community Service Aides, or auxillary police officers, who work under the direction of cops.  this is a good way for an agency to get comfortable with you, giving you a huge advantage over others who just walk in off the street.

G'luck

[Maverick]

Eagle Eyes,

Having done more than a few background investigations I have to say that being truthfull will make or break you faster than anything else in the investigation. If you lie and are caught, you can pretty much hang it up. One of the most crucial aspects of the investiogation was to determine life habits like honesty. Just because someone smoked weed didn't eliminate them, unless they lied about it. If they lied their credibility is toast and you are held to a far higher standard for veracity than most if not almost all career choices. That's one of the reasons on your application there is a bl;urb about your responses being the equivalent to sworn statement.

If you get to the background investigation point you can expect to be interviewed by the investigator over anything in your application and anything uncovered by the investigator. They likely already know the answers to the questions they will ask you so if you lie, you are likely to be history and a note will be placed in your file for later use if you should decide to try to apply again.

Some investigations are pretty short and simple. Others take time depending on how often you moved, previous jobs and where you lived. Expect every Police Dept. in the areas where you lived to be contacted. Not everything gets put into NCIC (national crime info center) so the local Departments will be contacted for any contact you may have had with them. Misdemeanor arrests and driving records will be pulled. Any mention of you in a case or contact report as well especially if you are a suspect for anything.

If the investigator is any good they will learn what your childhood was like and even how you got along with your siblings. I had one where i was able to find out the applicant had a history of theft. His little brother snitched him off for constantly stealing his GI Joe toys when they were under 12 years old. It surprised the heck out of the applicant when I asked him about it.

I looked at the background check as a critical last look of someone who could possibly be my back up in a very bad situation. If there was a doubt about them and their character I wanted it known before they had a lot of $ invested in them for training and or a good Officer got hurt by the rookies actions. I was very tough and thorough because of that and was the only investigator to have a felony arrest of an applicant up until I retired. That guy had a severe memory problem and a lack of ability to tell the truth.

Education is critical for many agencies. In my old Department you only needed high school when I applied. When I retired they wouldn't even look at your application unless you had at least 2 full years of college (48 plus credits) and they wanted the official transcripts. If you applied and only had high school you wouldn't even be considered even if you were a Military Vet.

Keep in mind the requirements of each Department and make sure you qualify before applying. Also figure that you will need to shotgun the application process to multiple Departments. Do not expect to get hired the first time you apply either. I knew several Officers who only got hired after they applied for the third time. Competition was and is tough. The year I was hired there were 850 applicants and only 28 were hired. My particular class only had 13 in it. One was fired at the accademy because they caught her in a lie. Even though she was female and black she got no slack for not admitting she had a ticket before the academy started. By the end of the first year only 15 of us were left. Probation lasts an entire year at some places and you can be fired without cause during that time. The academy is also not the end of training for a rookie.

[Tac]

Eagle,

I live in Orlando.


You can go to Valencia community college and take their law enforcement course.


Of course, for 100% accurate information, just call the local sherriff office and ask them.

[festus]

Originally posted by eagl
I wouldn't join the military in any capacity right now unless you're cool with repeated 365 day rotations through Iraq.  Don't join the military unless you want to be IN the military.

It used to be different, but not now.  I can't possibly recommend to anyone that they join the military unless they actually want to perform military service, because the odds of those repeated year-long activations and deployments are very high.

If you're cool with that, go ahead and sign up, active or reserves.  But if that sort of thing would derail your plans, stay away from the military.

IMHO.

So true, I know guys in the Air National Guard security forces that signed up for the educational benies but was deployed so much they didn't get to use them. Military police of all branches and AD/reserve types are in high demand in the deployed areas.

[Gunthr]

Maverick, you will appreciate this.  a few years back I came very, very close to ruining my credibility by recommending an accessory to a murder for the position of police officer.  

the applicant was a black kid, no identifiable record in NCIC/FCIC, no record of any contact with any agency I could find, he had a bachelor's degree, impecible references - including a circuit court judge, whom i contacted,  the kid passed the poly, drug screen and psych, but something bugged me about him.

he had a branding on his r. arm.  it was the greek alphabet symbol for his college fraternity.  you know how blacks get those nice thick ropy keloid scars from burns... well.  this struck me as a bit over the top, even though he passed the psych.  it was nothing i could disqualify him for, and i had pressure to hire.

anyway, the morning i submitted my compleated background report - i put it into the Captains in-basket and went back to my office.  i had come in early to work, so i kicked back with my feet on the desk with a cup o joe and the newspaper.  There on the front page was my applicant, in cuffs, arrested as an accesory to murder.  his college fraternaty buddy had a domestic and shot his wife in the head with a .45  -  then he drives in a panic over to my applicant's house and askes him to bury the gun in his yard, which my guy does.

when i read that, i set my coffee and paper down, went back to the captain's office and snatched back my recommendation for hire.  oopsy  

[wes34th]

How to become a police officer:

note-I have served 20+ years in the private sector/law enforcement communtiy.I am a lieutenant now...Also, I am a marine veteran.

Becoming a good cop starts when you are born.Yep, who you are and what you do in your family and communtiy means a great deal.In short,
not everyone can wear the badge.The men and women who are blessed with the privilege to become officers are special people.I suggest you visit the police officers memorial in Washington D.C. and you will understand.
Also, try reflection and prayer at the memorial for the fallen officers.I think then you will begin to understand the meaning of the title "police officer".

In closing, hope this advise helps.I will pray for you and god speed.

[culero]

I used to have several friends in local law enforcement. Most of them at one time or another tried to persuade me to join their outfits. The common theme was "Hey, man, its great - when you run into *******s you can kick the crap out of them!"

I knew that was the exact reason I (for that matter, they) should not be a cop (I would enjoy it too much )

[wes34th]

lol, that's why we have our little friends in internal affairs and the department of justice;)