What specific skills do you need to become a police officer?

All departments establish and maintain their own police academy requirements and qualifications; so interested candidates are advised to consult department-specific resources for qualification standards and disqualifying factors. This list represents the general requirements and disqualifiers for police academy eligibility, although it is not an exhaustive list and is not representative of qualifications maintained by all police departments:

At least 21 years at the time of police academy graduation
No misdemeanor convictions within the three years prior to applying
Valid driver’s license
United States citizenship
No felony convictions
No DWI convictions in the five years prior to applying
No domestic violence convictions
High school diploma