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What I need to get a job in Law Enforcement
#police #law-enforcement
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Harold’s Answer
You need to have a good education, a clean record, good physical ability, and most of all the drive and determination to become a police officer.
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Hilary’s Answer
Becoming a police officer requires a foundation of being a good citizen and having compassion for all people. While in high school, you could work with your local police department and ask about volunteering. Achieve the highest grade standard so that you can get into a college and work towards a four-year degree. There are two-year programs at community colleges also. Find a law enforcement officer even a retired officer that might mentor you for success! Mentors are important because they will give you realistic expectations of what police officers do on a daily basis.
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Zahid’s Answer
Having a high school degree and a clean criminal record is the bare minimum. According to Michael Parker of The Parker Group, a consulting agency devoted to communications recruitment and management, more training sets an applicant apart from the pack. He states, "An associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree is desirable because it tells us that you had to apply yourself in a learning environment beyond high school," he says. "You had to be self-motivated and do more than the minimum."
Life experiences also count for a lot, adds Parker, especially work experience.
"If you've never had a job, and the first job you are applying for is to become a peace officer, most agencies will not look favorably upon that," he says. "Work experience is a very big deal because it tells us that you were in an environment where people told you 'no,' told you what to do, and whether you liked it or not, you had to do it to keep your job."
You will also need to be fit and in good health. He recommends getting fit before entering the police academy. "You'd be surprised how many people think they'll get into shape in the academy," he says. "That's a big mistake. You will need to be in good physical condition when you arrive because if you cannot fulfill the physical mandates of that state while you are there, you are done."
There are some things that will eliminate your consideration entirely, and Parker says it's important that potential applicants know what they are to save themselves headaches down the road.
- Register for selective service. Almost all males living in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 25, are required to register with the Selective Service System. Failure to register will eliminate a candidate from consideration
- Do not use marijuana. In some states, such as Colorado, marijuana use has been legalized. However, if you want to be a police officer, Parker cautions against its use, even in those states.
- Have good credit. "Credit is a huge issue, much bigger than it was 30 years ago," he says.
When I was in HS, our city had a Police Explorer/Cadet program as well as a Fire Explorer/Cadet program for those interested in those respective fields. I was part of the police cadet program in my junior and senior year. We learned police procedures, how to arrest people, self-defense, went to shooting range and did some shooting (even as a minor) and lastly, we had the opportunity to ride along with an officer. We also helped in community events and festivals, doing things like help with traffic control, crowd control, help lost children and man our cadet booth to share information with the public. Those who wanted to pursue law enforcement went on to join police academy afterwards.
Having such an experience will not only help you get any kind of job at that age but it also shows you are trustworthy and responsible, and it helps put you in good light with future employers as well as everyone in general.
There are a lot of cities that have such programs these days. Check with your local police department if they have such a program that you can join. You could also interview view them on how they got into law enforcement for more personal insights.
Life experiences also count for a lot, adds Parker, especially work experience.
"If you've never had a job, and the first job you are applying for is to become a peace officer, most agencies will not look favorably upon that," he says. "Work experience is a very big deal because it tells us that you were in an environment where people told you 'no,' told you what to do, and whether you liked it or not, you had to do it to keep your job."
You will also need to be fit and in good health. He recommends getting fit before entering the police academy. "You'd be surprised how many people think they'll get into shape in the academy," he says. "That's a big mistake. You will need to be in good physical condition when you arrive because if you cannot fulfill the physical mandates of that state while you are there, you are done."
There are some things that will eliminate your consideration entirely, and Parker says it's important that potential applicants know what they are to save themselves headaches down the road.
- Register for selective service. Almost all males living in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 25, are required to register with the Selective Service System. Failure to register will eliminate a candidate from consideration
- Do not use marijuana. In some states, such as Colorado, marijuana use has been legalized. However, if you want to be a police officer, Parker cautions against its use, even in those states.
- Have good credit. "Credit is a huge issue, much bigger than it was 30 years ago," he says.
When I was in HS, our city had a Police Explorer/Cadet program as well as a Fire Explorer/Cadet program for those interested in those respective fields. I was part of the police cadet program in my junior and senior year. We learned police procedures, how to arrest people, self-defense, went to shooting range and did some shooting (even as a minor) and lastly, we had the opportunity to ride along with an officer. We also helped in community events and festivals, doing things like help with traffic control, crowd control, help lost children and man our cadet booth to share information with the public. Those who wanted to pursue law enforcement went on to join police academy afterwards.
Having such an experience will not only help you get any kind of job at that age but it also shows you are trustworthy and responsible, and it helps put you in good light with future employers as well as everyone in general.
There are a lot of cities that have such programs these days. Check with your local police department if they have such a program that you can join. You could also interview view them on how they got into law enforcement for more personal insights.
Updated
Aaron’s Answer
I would start making connections with law enforcement. Lots of law enforcement will let you do ride alongs if you reach out and this is where you can get to know the officers and ask questions/understand the job. Sometimes police departments are also looking for volunteers for various events such as police auctions, creating care packages for domestic violence victims, etc. This is a great way to surround yourself with mentors.
Law enforcement can be lots of things though. Here are some jobs you can look at:
911 operator
Police officer
Detective or Private Investigator (most states require a minumum amount of years as a police officer first)
GIS analyst (GIS analysts can help police departments identify high criminal zones so they can make their driving routes accordingly, etc)
Internships (you can often reach out to see if they need an in office staff intern so you can better understand the field)
There's also FBI, CIA, etc. So it depends what level you're talking about. For FBI I would focus on logic problems, etc to pass their entrance exam.
Law enforcement can be lots of things though. Here are some jobs you can look at:
911 operator
Police officer
Detective or Private Investigator (most states require a minumum amount of years as a police officer first)
GIS analyst (GIS analysts can help police departments identify high criminal zones so they can make their driving routes accordingly, etc)
Internships (you can often reach out to see if they need an in office staff intern so you can better understand the field)
There's also FBI, CIA, etc. So it depends what level you're talking about. For FBI I would focus on logic problems, etc to pass their entrance exam.