Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: EagleEyes on January 20, 2007, 05:50:32 PM
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Ok, well, ill make this short and to the point!
Ill be moving to Orlando, Florida at the end of this month. I have been thinking about becoming a Police officer since i graduated high school. I turned 20 a couple months ago, and i was wondering what is the first step i need to take. I know a lot of AHers are policemen. So any and all info would be greatly appreciated!!
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Go to your local community college and inquire about their crimminal justice program. Get yourself a two year degree and go from there.
Why do you want to be a cop?
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Close your eyes, click your heals together three times and say, “I want to be a policeman”.
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Originally posted by sluggish
Why do you want to be a cop?
shoot and taser people of course
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Originally posted by Pooh21
shoot and taser people of course
He's moving to Florida, not California.
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Start doing a bit of research. Check with several of the larger departments in the state as well as the state police and find out what the minimum requirements are. Chances are you'll find that 2 years of college will be the minimum education. Definitely check into the educational oportunities in the area for both associates and bachelors programs.
Once you've done that start to find out why you want to do that kind of job. It will certainly cost you more than you think it will. Whenever I was asked about the job I always tried to talk the individual out of it. If I could then they really didn't want to do the job.
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Originally posted by sluggish
Why do you want to be a cop?
He got beat up on alot at school as a kid.
Payback time!
;)
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Originally posted by EagleEyes
Ok, well, ill make this short and to the point!
Ill be moving to Orlando, Florida at the end of this month. I have been thinking about becoming a Police officer since i graduated high school. I turned 20 a couple months ago, and i was wondering what is the first step i need to take. I know a lot of AHers are policemen. So any and all info would be greatly appreciated!!
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First off not everyone is cut out to be a cop, and competition is very tough. On average only 3% of those who apply get hired, keep in mind you'll need to be better than 97 other applicants, you gotta work / prepare harder then they do, and be better than they are. Its tough, but can be done.
If your credit is bad, or you've been fired from a job n the past 2 years or have any civil cases pending... you can apply, but don't expect to get hired. Also be sure you're in excellent physical condition at the time you apply.
Basically ask yourself if your life reflects "responsibility"; living within your means, good job history, only minor contacts with Johnny Law, your neighbors don't hate you, you haven't eaten yourself into a blob.
A 2 year CJ degree is a waste of time, the academy will give you almost all those credits anyway, that time would be better spent in the military reserve. Degrees come in handy when it comes time to promote beyond Sgt.
Tests you'll need to ace:
Written - not too hard.
Oral interview - military service usually gets you extra points here.
Physical agility test - (sometimes called 1st phase medical).. running an obstacle course for time with fences, dummy drag, arrest simulator etc
Physical evaluation - (2nd phase) finger in sphincter, heart rate, lung capacity, general stress tests... they're looking for any medical reason to DQ you from hire.
Psychological written - usually this is the MMPI, "flags" which test logic, an IQ evaluation.
Psychological interview - this is where the head Dr goes over your written results, asks you what color your crap is.. this is very subjective, if the Dr doesn't like you or sees a bump in your personality they can DQ you for just about any reason.
If you pass these, then comes a background check; this is where they find out if your neighbors hate you, you mislead them about about anything, what your x-gfs have to say about you. These take months.
Once all these are behind you, by law Depts must rank applicants by number.. some Fed ADA thing... depending on where you place on the list, how many they're hiring, room in the academy.. they might offer you a job.
Once hired, there's an academy to pass (usually 18-20 weeks), field training (eh 5-6 months) and completion of "probation" which can be a year to 18 months. During probation you can be fired at any time without cause, after probation you have rights, like in Ca where officers have AB301 rights.
If I were you: I'd see a military recruiter and see what they offer you in the RESERVES. I was stupid in turning down chopper flight training (should have taken them up on that grrrr) but if you can get a kick arse job like that jump on it, a police applicant with flight training is worth gold. After boot camp / school you can apply to police depts who will take a military guy before a 4 year degree college guy. Besides that military training will go a long way towards getting you ready for the academy / field training, and it helps the Dept during the background since the military has already looked into who you are.
I did it the reserve military way and got hired at just under 21, which at the time made me the youngest sworn on the dept..
If you get hired, you will be rewarded with the funnest job on the planet; you get paid good $$ to drive like a maniac, carry a gun, hunt criminals, fight bad guys... all that fun stuff. The best perk by far are the chicks, that uniform will get you laid 5 days a week... but don't mention this when they ask you "So why do you want to work here"..heh
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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.
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Remember, at the interview flop down on the chair...sigh...and say, "I'm too old for this ****.". You'll be in in a flash.
:aok
PS: Remember, it's always the red wire.
PPS:
" On average only 3% of those who apply get hired, keep in mind you'll need to be better than 97 other applicants, you gotta work / prepare harder then they do, and be better than they are."
Then how the hell do you explain Tarmac?
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eat donuts and scam drivers into getting tickets
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Look into the Coast Guard. Become a Bos'n Mate or a Gunners Mate and request an asignement to one of the Tactical Law Enforcement Teams. There is one in Sand Diego, Miami, and Yorktown Virginia. Of you can request to be asigned to a medium or high endurance cutter because they do a ton of Law Enforcement patrols all the time. Many of the people I've worked with over the years in the Coast Guard have gone on to jobs with the Secret Service, US Marshals, FBI, CIA, NSA, and a ton of local or state police agencies.
As a Coast Guard boarding team member or boarding officer you are a FEDERAL law enforcement officer dealing with local, state, and federal laws all at the same time. PLUS the Coast Guard will help pay for a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice while you serve and gain experiance.
Being on a Coast Guard boarding team is voluntary but we're always looking for people that are willing and want to do it. Plus the military benefits are pretty good and look good on a resume when you get out. I know plent of guys that joined figuring on doing 4 years and then get out and have turned around and made a 20 year career out of the Guard doing mostly LE type work. Cutters, small boat stations, sea marshals, MSO's, you name it.
Plenty of jobs for the Guard down in Florida too if that's where your set on living.
Give them a look. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Rule #1
Get an Education.
Mac
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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. :p
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Coast Guard would be cool.
Calif Highway Patrol pays a monthly bonus to officers with college education or other special skills. Their pay, benefits, retirement, and union are second to none.
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So is their cost of living.
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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.
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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. :p
This is also true in Cali, at Rio Hondo Academy (http://www.riohondo.edu/LEO/Police%20Academy%20Title%20page.htm) 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.
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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.
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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!
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Read your PM.
Obie
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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.
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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
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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.:D
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 :D
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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.
:aok
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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 ;))
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lol, that's why we have our little friends in internal affairs and the department of justice;)
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Originally posted by wes34th
lol, that's why we have our little friends in internal affairs and the department of justice;)
Heh...south Texas is a world of its own :)
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Originally posted by EagleEyes
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!
If ever asked by a Dept, do not give these reasons...
EVERYONE, and I mean everyone says this.. I've been on oral boards many times where literally 10 in a row will sit down and recite their little speech about wanting to 'help'. Try not to be 1 of 10, have a different answer.
Think it it as a regular job, "I'd like to work here because they pay and benefit package is excellent, this Dept has a good reputation and is known for the professionalism of the officers, there's tremendous opportunity for advancement as well as job security ..." its ok to want the job for the $$ & benefits.
One thing you absolutely MUST do is research the city / Dept you're applying for, know the demographics, crime problems, a little city history, something about the Dept, the officers and incorporate these into your answers.. you'll probably be the only one who does and you will stand out for the better.
People think they can show up to police interviews and recycle the same speeches, military guys are terrible for this... they've been told after they get discharged the police will stamp "hired" on their forehead, all they need to do is show up and let us meet them... this is a lie. I failed most military guys simply because they didn't even try, I'd ask them something like "How many officers do we have here and why does that appeal to you?.. all I got was a blank stare, they had no idea what to say because they put in zero effort to know anything about the Dept.
This is what I mean by being better than the other 97%, the wash outs dont their homework, they offer typical canned answers, and generally dont go the extra mile to show the Dept they're 100% committed to working there.
If you want to "help", try something like this:
"From what I understand this city has a 15% rise in gang violence recently, this Dept would give me the opportunity to work with these kids and hopefully make a difference"... or maybe veh theft is the biggest issue, work that into your answer. Every Dept is different, has different problems, its just common sense that recycled answers wont work.
When you're running around taking tests, you likely run into "know it alls" who are professionals at applying for, and being washed out from, Depts. They'll talk all about what you should expect, what the right answers are, how close they've come to being hired... Ignore them, or do the opposite of what they suggest.. these people are parasites, following their advice will land you in their shoes; the wash out line. Be your own man, have your own answers, do your own homework and screw everyone else there.. they are out for the same spot you are.
Anyway... good luck.
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In an oral board an acceptable answer is "I don't know". If you try to BS the board, who can be some very experianced street Cops as well as Detectives, they will spot your song and dance for the BS it is and down check you for it. If it's a question regarding something you have never heard of or even considered, say so. That's the honest answer. If later in the interview you suddenly recall the answer to the question you couldn't handle before don't be afraid to stop and let them know you recalled it. Sometimes the board members will give you additional questions that lead you to the point you couldn't think of earlier. No one comes into an oral with all the answers pat. Some questions have no right answers, just shades of grey. They expect you to be nervous. If you try to come accross as a know it all, done it all and stone cold, you blew it.
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Originally posted by Maverick
In an oral board an acceptable answer is "I don't know". If you try to BS the board, who can be some very experianced street Cops as well as Detectives, they will spot your song and dance for the BS it is and down check you for it. If it's a question regarding something you have never heard of or even considered, say so. That's the honest answer. If later in the interview you suddenly recall the answer to the question you couldn't handle before don't be afraid to stop and let them know you recalled it. Sometimes the board members will give you additional questions that lead you to the point you couldn't think of earlier. No one comes into an oral with all the answers pat. Some questions have no right answers, just shades of grey. They expect you to be nervous. If you try to come accross as a know it all, done it all and stone cold, you blew it.
My favorite question to ask:
You are a trainee here, 2 weeks on the job, your training officer is a well respected vet with 19 years, retiring soon.
You respond to a liquor store for a theft report, while talking to the clerk you see your partner take a soda & candy bar outside without paying, he instructs you to finish up the report and meet him outside when you are done.
What would you do?
--- no matter what they said, I'd try to get them to second guess themselves, "You wouldn't really do that, would ya?".. they guys who passed stuck to their answers and offered some reasonable justification.
I got asked this question, my answer was to pick up the same soda & candy bar as my T/O and offer to pay the clerk for both of us, "My partner has the same things, here is $$ for both of us"... from there I confront him about it outside, maybe he forgot, maybe he paid and I missed it.
As it turns out my T/O tells me to shut up about it, "you didn't see anything", he also threatens to have me fired for being a bad trainee, according to the scenario.
They grilled me about it, but I stuck to my answer which ultimately lead to telling a supervisor... they tried to get me to reverse myself, but I wouldn't. I made my decision, period.
They asked if I was willing to ruin a 19 year vets career, "no" I said, "I'd tell a supervisor to help save this respected vets career, if hes got a problem it can be addressed now before getting to a point it put his 19 year career at risk. I'm not trying to get him fired, but alerting his co-workers he might need some help".. sounds a bit corny, but I aced that test with a 105% (100% + 5 military points)
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I got the same question and gave the same answer. They didn't push the issue too much about afterwards but seemed to like the way I handled it. They also asked me if I would be willing to go on strike if the other Officers (FOP bargaining agents then) did. Since we had just gone through a strike situation I knew it was a hot button. I had to answer that I hadn't thought of it but would make the decision if and when that happened. The kicker about it was that I would still be on probation so could be fired without recourse.
I passed it but was sweating bullets the whole time. Of course you never know if you passed until they called you to do the next phase of selection.
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Heh with the incorrect use of the plural I'd say you're well on your way already! :aok :rolleyes:
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Originally posted by culero
Heh...south Texas is a world of its own :)
I bet, but let an FBI agent visit your area and I think he will tell you he serves the FBI and investigates DOJ complaints!But, the world will always
have a few bad apples.I guess that's where god kicks in:D
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Originally posted by wes34th
I bet, but let an FBI agent visit your area and I think he will tell you he serves the FBI and investigates DOJ complaints!But, the world will always
have a few bad apples.I guess that's where god kicks in:D
Oh we have feebs down here. Matter of fact, my neighbor is a retired feeb agent. He has as much contempt for the FBI as I do :)
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:rofl I think you just got put on some homeland security watch list;)
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Originally posted by wes34th
:rofl I think you just got put on some homeland security watch list;)
That prolly happened years ago when, summoned for Federal jury duty, I refused to swear the oath. I was asked by the Federal district court judge to explain why.
I told him that, with all due respect, since I believed the Federal law enforcement and court system to be corrupt in general, it was impossible for me to swear to be a fair and impartial juror. How could a person such as I possibly believe anything a US Attorney, Federal law enforcement officer, or Federal judge had to say?
After a short silence, the judge averred that my service would not be required. I've never been called since :)
Hell, I used to tell these guys what I thought of 'em while I was shooting at the pistol range with 'em, back when they didn't have their own range :D
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wow.....my heads starting to hurt from all this info! lol.
The more i read into this stuff, the more i like it. But the one thing im confused about, some say Military service is good, others say its not. So to you big shot policemen. Is it really better to BE in the military?? Because i really wanna be at the top of the list from the get-go.
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Not a big shot :) but I am a police officer very experienced in background investigations as well as every other aspect of the hiring process.
Besides the bonus points awarded veterans, (and even more points awarded for wartime service, and service during certain eras) military service is definately a plus.
Honorable military service tells you a lot about an applicant. They are usually more mature, more responsible, they know how to work as part of a team, they understand the chain of command, and they have experienced discipline and usually have been exposed to firearm training. An applicant with successful military experience has already proven their ability to work within a military or quasi-military organization like law enforcement agencies and are usually physically up to police work.
Successful military service will not make up for disqualifying factors in the driving record, past illegal drug use, criminal history, etc. Tolerance for these things will vary from agency to agency to a degree.
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There is alot of good advise posted EagleEyes. Hope you're taking notes!:aok
Obie
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Originally posted by sluggish
Go to your local community college and inquire about their crimminal justice program. Get yourself a two year degree and go from there.
Go to an academy first and get your peace officer certification. Then get the degree. You're young and have plenty of time for the degree, might as well be putting time in on the job and getting experience, not to mention a paycheck.
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Slash,
Not all states let you go to an academy or take courses that give you academy credit. In AZ. you have to be hired first THEN they dept either has their own academy certified by the state or you go to another agencies academy for the state Peace Officer training so you can be accredited. While there are LE related course in the state Colleges, none give you academy credit.
An LE agency will have specific education requirements. Make sure you meet them before you apply or you're just wasting your time and paper.
Military service can help you get on. Like was already posted you get a 5 point bonus in civil service situations.
Some agencies, particularly from a liberal town, do not like military folks and don't trust them to fit in. They have an expectation that you will be trigger happy, overly regimented, non thinking and too aggressive. Stupid but I've seen it. When I came in I was told that the MP training I had didn't count for anything and that the academy would train me on how the Department wanted me to work. On some evaluations years later I had a Sgt. write comments on an annual eval that I was overly militaristic in my demeanor. He never did explain what he meant by that but I got my raise anyhow and that really pissed him off. It was really funny later when he had to ask me to train an honor guard for funerals.
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Hi Eagle.. Welcome to O-Town.
Here are the requirements for the Sheriff's office. I still think they run acadmy's: http://www.ocso.com/Default.aspx?tabid=69
And here is the OPD's requirements..
http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/misc/recruiting.htm
Good luck!!
I hope that helps..
If you haven't been around Orlando much.. shoot me a PM and I can point you to most anything.
Pat
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Originally posted by x0847Marine
Physical evaluation - (2nd phase) finger in sphincter
What the hell is up with that?!?!?!!???
getting you ready for sitting with your thumb up you arse waiting at the speed trap?
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Originally posted by sNiPeR
What the hell is up with that?!?!?!!???
getting you ready for sitting with your thumb up you arse?
I'd bet you have that market cornered more than adequately.
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Originally posted by EagleEyes
wow.....my heads starting to hurt from all this info! lol.
The more i read into this stuff, the more i like it. But the one thing im confused about, some say Military service is good, others say its not. So to you big shot policemen. Is it really better to BE in the military?? Because i really wanna be at the top of the list from the get-go.
It's a complete toss up bro, esp these days, IMO the only reason to join todays military, other than the Coast Guard which is different, is if they offer you a super-duper neato-o job like chopper flight training. The military is hurting for skilled people, should you qualify for flight training it would not only help you get hired, but in the event you dont get hired... you still have flight skills to fall back on.
Other than that, I'd go see a Coast Guard recruiter.. they do lots of Federal law enforcement on the watrers, make DUI boat hooks.. they do some cool stuff... the experience would be invaluable.
Keep in mind that there are things beyond your control when applying to a PD, especially the psychological tests... these are not "pass / fail", but subjective. You can join the military, do all the right things and still not get hired.. this is a SERIOUS consideration, the military takes lots of time & effort that may not get you what you want. I joined the Marines knowing it "might" help, there are no guarantees, nobody stamped "hired" on my head.. I still had to fight off dozens of other guys, some who also had military experience.
There's no real way to prepare for the psyche tests, the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) is 1100 or so oddly worded questions, many ask the same thing in a different way... its a mind bender and there's no right or wrong way to approach it.
The dept is going to give you a firearm, the authorization to use deadly force, AND the ability to deny Americans their right to move about freely.. all based on your judgement. Not trying to make it sound all dramatic, but Depts look at it that way, if during the application process they have a problem with something about you, they'll move on to the next guy they don't have a problem with... no dept hands out that amount of responsibility lightly.
You have nothing to lose by applying before exploring military options, all you can do is go for it and see what happens. You're still a young man, if you dont get hired the 1st time maybe then look into the military, the training, experience and a few years maturity can only help when you try again.
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Good post there Marine, I agree with you. For my case the Military was no help other than the 5 civil service points. OFr other areas it might just be what they are looking for. Flip a coin.
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Originally posted by sluggish
Why do you want to be a cop?
i want to b a cop cuz u get a tazer gun and hand cuffs :D
not to mention what i could do with the zippy ties :p
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wow.....my heads starting to hurt from all this info! lol.
The more i read into this stuff, the more i like it. But the one thing im confused about, some say Military service is good, others say its not. So to you big shot policemen. Is it really better to BE in the military?? Because i really wanna be at the top of the list from the get-go. - EagleEyes
A final word on military experience that may clarify it for you, EagleEyes. If you want to be in the military, join the military. If you want to be a cop, work towards getting the minimum qualifications and apply to a police department. Military service is not required.
I don't recommend joining the military just so you can bolster your resume for when you apply to become a police officer. Take the most direct route to achieve your goal.
Honorable service in today's military is always in the applicant's favor when applying for a job with almost ANY employer today, not just police agencies.
In the past - during and after Vietnam, a lot of us older cops came out of the military to an American public who's general perception of us was that we were baby killers who burned villages and raped Vietmamese women. Our military experience didn't help us that much when applying to some departments, esp. when the powers that be were wearing long hair, and our hair was military short. Many of us were draftees. (not me)
It is truely different for todays veterans coming out of our voluntary military with honorable service. They have discipline, skills and abilities to work with diverse peoples that most x gen, y gen and z gens have never been exposed to - with little of the baggage that us older vets carried.
I know from my own personal experience of going through a stack of applications 3 weeks ago that would be 3 feet high if you could stack them that high, that applicants with recent honorable military experience met our minimum requirements quite a bit more than those with no military experience. The other thing is, almost every police agency in south Florida is really way short of cops... and we all compete for applicants. So when you get hired, we really need people to hit the ground running. My personal experience has been that the transition from civilian to law enforcement is easier for those with military experience.
But don't join the military to get into the law enforcement field. That is silly.
G'luck
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Originally posted by betty
i want to b a cop cuz u get a tazer gun and hand cuffs :D
not to mention what i could do with the zippy ties :p
Betty, i could make SO many comments about this, but im choosing to keep my mouth shut!! lol
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This information will hold true in South Florida and generally, the rest of the state. But if you apply to a police department in Massachesetts, for example, things could be a little different, I don't know. But I can assure you that Honorable military service will be a plus when applying to any Federal law enforcement agency in the country. So it makes a difference when you apply, and as Tarmac pointed out, where you apply, and it makes a difference to whom you apply, just how much of a boost you are going to get out of military experience or other factors that effect your application.
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@ the OP:
You also have to cut yourself in little pieces to become policemen. Should you decide to become a policeman, you can stay in one piece.
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Originally posted by Maverick
I'd bet you have that market cornered more than adequately.
no,Im a machinist,I dont have to sit around for long periods of time...
well....,there was this one time grabbing alt in a b-17 back in AW3
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It's really honorable that you want to be a police officer to help the little man...to help people...unfortunately as with any profession you will be faced with the bad side and you should consider this before investing all your time. I know many friends that have done this only to be so disillusioned with the profession. The end of the month the only thing that truly matters to most higher up's is how many citations and arrests you've made..not how many people you have helped. Many laws are silly and you will sometimes see that it doesn't work and you will have to see the little person suffer more due to this. You will see many old timers that have also given up and jus do thier minimum to get by...they usually park somewhere quiet and wait for calls. You will see officers take drug money from perps knowing that the perp will not complain to police. You will see some of the saddest situations you can possibly imagine and still be powerless to do anything. It's not all that it seems so please consider these things.
If you do become an officer for good, here are some things I think you might want to do to change the norm:
Roll down your windows...how can you hear someone needing help if u got the windows up A/c crankin and talk radio goin?
Think about how YOUR actions will affect someone....a tag light out is not really a big deal if it's obvious the person is poor (many police cars have burnt out taillights even though they have a huge budget and a fleet of mechanics to maintain them)
Kids may be into things you think are wrong (lowriders, loud music, chrome rims, etc), but it is better than if they spent thier money on guns and drugs to sell...and having a lowrider, rims, stereo does NOT mean they sell drugs and are criminals...which leads me to...
Don't assume what you think of someone is FACT...you could be way wrong...profiling may work in the majority of situations, but it doesnt' in ALL situations...
Just because you and your buddys have guns and badges, doesn't mean you're any better than anyone else....it jus means you have guns and badges....
I wish you luck in this venture, and hope more guys like you will become officers and change what has become status quo... to those that help those that need help!
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in some places i used the word "will" when I should have said "may"....you MAY see some crooked stuff...hopefully you won't, unless your on Internal Affairs, then I hope you do see the crooked stuff....otherwise i jus meant it's not all roses and hi-speed car chases is all...Good Luck!!