4 answers
Chase
Student
Chandler, Arizona
8
Questions
Asked
3425 views
How hard is it to be a police officer and how hard is it to pass the police academy?
I might want to be a police officer.
4 answers
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1750
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Chase,
Being a police officer is exciting, it's fun, and it's unlike any other job.
But. . . the role of the police academy is to give you the knowledge and skills you need to do your job, to stay alive, and to avoid being sued. There is a lot of reading, memorizing, writing, and studying. You need to have your personal life in order prior to starting the academy, as it pretty much gets put on hold while you are in school. Then there's all the physical conditioning. There's role playing, teamwork, etc. By the time you graduate, you will have the most self-confidence you've ever had in your life. If you really want to be a police officer, you commit to it, you can do it. If you just sort of maybe want to do it, it is much more difficult. It's sort of like military basic training.
It's great that you are exploring this fully before making a decision. Best of luck to you!
Kim
Being a police officer is exciting, it's fun, and it's unlike any other job.
But. . . the role of the police academy is to give you the knowledge and skills you need to do your job, to stay alive, and to avoid being sued. There is a lot of reading, memorizing, writing, and studying. You need to have your personal life in order prior to starting the academy, as it pretty much gets put on hold while you are in school. Then there's all the physical conditioning. There's role playing, teamwork, etc. By the time you graduate, you will have the most self-confidence you've ever had in your life. If you really want to be a police officer, you commit to it, you can do it. If you just sort of maybe want to do it, it is much more difficult. It's sort of like military basic training.
It's great that you are exploring this fully before making a decision. Best of luck to you!
Kim
Tamara Svoboda
Customer Service Representative
1
Answer
Houston, Texas
Updated
Tamara’s Answer
Serving as a Police Officer is indeed a challenging role, yet it's filled with rewarding experiences amidst the hurdles. As you step into the police academy, remember to nourish your body well. The physical training can be demanding, but with enough rest and a strong bond with your academy peers, you'll find it manageable. These relationships not only foster study groups but also boost morale, playing a crucial role in your academy journey.
The sense of unity and family you cultivate within the academy is what truly sets this experience apart. Moreover, it's essential to take every lesson to heart. Each piece of information serves as a vital stepping stone in your law enforcement career.
Upon joining an agency, you'll engage in plenty of hands-on learning. However, the foundation you establish at the academy is key to your success, particularly when it comes to the Penal Code. You'll encounter high-pressure situations designed to equip you for your real-world role in a department. It's crucial to discover healthy coping mechanisms to manage this stress.
Once you're part of the law enforcement community, a multitude of pathways open up to you. There's always the opportunity to explore various sectors within law enforcement. So, stay motivated and remember, every step you take is a stride towards a fulfilling career.
The sense of unity and family you cultivate within the academy is what truly sets this experience apart. Moreover, it's essential to take every lesson to heart. Each piece of information serves as a vital stepping stone in your law enforcement career.
Upon joining an agency, you'll engage in plenty of hands-on learning. However, the foundation you establish at the academy is key to your success, particularly when it comes to the Penal Code. You'll encounter high-pressure situations designed to equip you for your real-world role in a department. It's crucial to discover healthy coping mechanisms to manage this stress.
Once you're part of the law enforcement community, a multitude of pathways open up to you. There's always the opportunity to explore various sectors within law enforcement. So, stay motivated and remember, every step you take is a stride towards a fulfilling career.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1913
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Chase !
In order to measure the level of how "hard" it would be to become a police officer, you will have to become aware of what is taught in the Police Academy and what your job would be as a police officer. Some people are meant to do this work and others aren't.
Training at a Police Academy consists of running, weight training, calisthenics, obstacle courses, sit ups and push ups, self defense, non-lethal tools training, firearms training, marksmanship and emergency vehicles operations courses. Classroom courses will consist of law and law enforcement, criminology, your role as a police officer. the relationship between law and the media, use of force, ethics and decision making and how to control it. You will be expected to be punctual, rise early and follow orders.
Once you become a police officer you will be involved in intervening in crime either while it's happening or after and sometimes beforehand, too. Every time you get a call, you will have to expect that it may not be pleasant, the person you need to arrest may put up a fight either physically or verbally, but you will need to know what to do. You have to be able to stay composed and know what questions to ask the people involved. Yes, it involves high stress and unpleasant visuals at times, so you will have to be able to have a high threshold for this. You will have to realize that you are protecting the community and participating in justice. You may sometimes be called into court as a witness, also. Unfortunately, this is work that has a person in constant danger, with long work shifts and sometimes social scrutiny or isolation.
On the other hand, the people in this field of work are very supportive of one another, you will be active and protecting the community, and the last thing it is would be boring. Every day is different.
With this brief explanation, you can ask yourself how well you fit into what is required and you can decide first hand about how difficult it would be for you. I would also advise looking on the internet, doing searches for videos and articles that talk about what it is like being a police officer. It will vary from town to city, how large of a population you will work with, so try to find media that addresses your state and town to begin with.
I wish you all the best and I hope that this was a basic help !
In order to measure the level of how "hard" it would be to become a police officer, you will have to become aware of what is taught in the Police Academy and what your job would be as a police officer. Some people are meant to do this work and others aren't.
Training at a Police Academy consists of running, weight training, calisthenics, obstacle courses, sit ups and push ups, self defense, non-lethal tools training, firearms training, marksmanship and emergency vehicles operations courses. Classroom courses will consist of law and law enforcement, criminology, your role as a police officer. the relationship between law and the media, use of force, ethics and decision making and how to control it. You will be expected to be punctual, rise early and follow orders.
Once you become a police officer you will be involved in intervening in crime either while it's happening or after and sometimes beforehand, too. Every time you get a call, you will have to expect that it may not be pleasant, the person you need to arrest may put up a fight either physically or verbally, but you will need to know what to do. You have to be able to stay composed and know what questions to ask the people involved. Yes, it involves high stress and unpleasant visuals at times, so you will have to be able to have a high threshold for this. You will have to realize that you are protecting the community and participating in justice. You may sometimes be called into court as a witness, also. Unfortunately, this is work that has a person in constant danger, with long work shifts and sometimes social scrutiny or isolation.
On the other hand, the people in this field of work are very supportive of one another, you will be active and protecting the community, and the last thing it is would be boring. Every day is different.
With this brief explanation, you can ask yourself how well you fit into what is required and you can decide first hand about how difficult it would be for you. I would also advise looking on the internet, doing searches for videos and articles that talk about what it is like being a police officer. It will vary from town to city, how large of a population you will work with, so try to find media that addresses your state and town to begin with.
I wish you all the best and I hope that this was a basic help !
Michael Nicoletti
Order Entry
7
Answers
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Updated
Michael’s Answer
I've heard it's not difficult but the position at times stressful.
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