3 answers
chaz
Student
Brigham City, Utah
1
Question
Asked
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what does it take to become a police officer?
I would like to find out more about law enforcement and all the stuff the police do in their job.
#law enforcement
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3 answers
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1738
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Chaz,
Law enforcement jobs vary considerably. You could work in a city with a lot of calls, or, someplace where almost nothing happens. Even if there are a lot of calls, they could be relatively minor, such as somebody wanting to report that somebody damaged their car in the parking lot, or doing traffic control for special events. Police work has often been described as 99% boredom interrupted by 1% sheer terror. That's not far from the truth!
Police officers go from call to call. You aren't supposed to spend too much time on any one call, unless it truly needs it - missing child, for example. Your fellow police officers expect you to be available and handle the calls that are assigned to you. When you are not on calls, you are patrolling, or, in many cases, writing reports. There is a LOT of paperwork that goes along with police work. Let's say you arrest somebody for DWI who was involved in a traffic accident. There's an accident report, a DWI report (which is 3 or 4 reports all wrapped into one), a booking slip, and several more. While many days are "routine," you do get a chance to make a positive difference in people's lives. People will come to you for advice on just about everything - because, they look up to you!
While there are still people who look up to police officers, these are difficult times in law enforcement. Even if you are a good officer and treat everyone with respect, there are those who will judge you by the color of your uniform. You cannot allow that to pull you down.
To be a successful officer, I think the most important trait is self-confidence. You will have to be able to deal with some "high-up" people who have done wrong, who threaten to take your job away. You will also need to be decisive - that is, when faced with a situation, you will need to be able to quickly decide on a course of action, based on your training and experience. You will need to be able to follow laws and policies, even if you disagree with them.
For initial selection as a police officer, you will need to be able to pass the entrance exam -written and physical. You will need to be of good moral character - the background checks are very thorough. Treat everyone with respect - they will talk to your "ex," neighbors, teachers, employers, etc. Have a good attendance record at school and work. Pay your bills on time, and don't take on too much debt. The physical includes running, strength, endurance, and flexibility, as well as a medical physical. Many departments now require 2 years of college. You of course want to stay out of trouble. Too many traffic tickets can disqualify you.
I enjoyed my time as a police officer, and the people I worked with were great! However, that was before the days where everything was being recorded all the time. I think nowadays you would have to assume that everything you said and did was being recorded or otherwise tracked in some way (gps on police cars, for example). If you can accept that and work with it, then that is okay. And yes, even good officers may not want their every word recorded - for example, sometimes it is necessary to speak harshly to people who aren't paying attention. It accomplishes the objective, which is to get them to settle down. They might then file a complaint on you, saying you were "rude." Your supervisor would review the recording and ask you to explain your actions. I spent a fair amount of time responding to complaints. I never got in trouble for anything, but, honestly, it was annoying to have to justify my actions!
Each state has their own requirements for police officers, and then each department has additional requirements. You will want to start by researching these. Best of luck to you!
Law enforcement jobs vary considerably. You could work in a city with a lot of calls, or, someplace where almost nothing happens. Even if there are a lot of calls, they could be relatively minor, such as somebody wanting to report that somebody damaged their car in the parking lot, or doing traffic control for special events. Police work has often been described as 99% boredom interrupted by 1% sheer terror. That's not far from the truth!
Police officers go from call to call. You aren't supposed to spend too much time on any one call, unless it truly needs it - missing child, for example. Your fellow police officers expect you to be available and handle the calls that are assigned to you. When you are not on calls, you are patrolling, or, in many cases, writing reports. There is a LOT of paperwork that goes along with police work. Let's say you arrest somebody for DWI who was involved in a traffic accident. There's an accident report, a DWI report (which is 3 or 4 reports all wrapped into one), a booking slip, and several more. While many days are "routine," you do get a chance to make a positive difference in people's lives. People will come to you for advice on just about everything - because, they look up to you!
While there are still people who look up to police officers, these are difficult times in law enforcement. Even if you are a good officer and treat everyone with respect, there are those who will judge you by the color of your uniform. You cannot allow that to pull you down.
To be a successful officer, I think the most important trait is self-confidence. You will have to be able to deal with some "high-up" people who have done wrong, who threaten to take your job away. You will also need to be decisive - that is, when faced with a situation, you will need to be able to quickly decide on a course of action, based on your training and experience. You will need to be able to follow laws and policies, even if you disagree with them.
For initial selection as a police officer, you will need to be able to pass the entrance exam -written and physical. You will need to be of good moral character - the background checks are very thorough. Treat everyone with respect - they will talk to your "ex," neighbors, teachers, employers, etc. Have a good attendance record at school and work. Pay your bills on time, and don't take on too much debt. The physical includes running, strength, endurance, and flexibility, as well as a medical physical. Many departments now require 2 years of college. You of course want to stay out of trouble. Too many traffic tickets can disqualify you.
I enjoyed my time as a police officer, and the people I worked with were great! However, that was before the days where everything was being recorded all the time. I think nowadays you would have to assume that everything you said and did was being recorded or otherwise tracked in some way (gps on police cars, for example). If you can accept that and work with it, then that is okay. And yes, even good officers may not want their every word recorded - for example, sometimes it is necessary to speak harshly to people who aren't paying attention. It accomplishes the objective, which is to get them to settle down. They might then file a complaint on you, saying you were "rude." Your supervisor would review the recording and ask you to explain your actions. I spent a fair amount of time responding to complaints. I never got in trouble for anything, but, honestly, it was annoying to have to justify my actions!
Each state has their own requirements for police officers, and then each department has additional requirements. You will want to start by researching these. Best of luck to you!
Jonathan Whitcomb
Credit Analyst
63
Answers
Lakeland, Florida
Updated
Jonathan’s Answer
You need to be motivated by things other than money. You need to be motivated by getting justice. I mean justice because you have to do the right thing and that means following the law while fighting crime. There are many paths in law enforcement so you can your path there. You also need a thick skin and protect yourself. The police aren’t popular right now and some are afraid of being hurt or killed
Gerardo Avalos
Associate Attorney
1
Answer
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Updated
Gerardo’s Answer
Hi Chaz,
Consider researching the Police Explorers Program and joining the unit closest to you. This program is for young people interested in law enforcement but too young to join the force. The program allows them to immerse themselves in various activities that expose them to the activities, requirements, education, and comradery associated with police work. It also gives those who choose to continue their career in law enforcement a step up once they join because they will be more knowledgeable than the average police recruit.
Consider researching the Police Explorers Program and joining the unit closest to you. This program is for young people interested in law enforcement but too young to join the force. The program allows them to immerse themselves in various activities that expose them to the activities, requirements, education, and comradery associated with police work. It also gives those who choose to continue their career in law enforcement a step up once they join because they will be more knowledgeable than the average police recruit.