5 answers
Nevaeh
Student
Brazil, Indiana
3
Questions
Asked
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I want to be a police officer, I live in a small town called Brazil in Indiana but I would like to move to Florida when I become an adult and get the money. Should I go to college and possibly start in Indiana or start out in Florida?
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5 answers
Kevin Czora
Law enforcement
25
Answers
Amherst, New York
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Nevaeh,
It's really important you first decide the true reason(s) why you want to go into law enforcement. Is it for money, upward mobility, serving a community, something else?
When I started, I was hired by a smaller department 45 minutes from my home. It was a lower paying agency, a long drive, and I new little about the community. I had an opportunity to transfer to my hometown agency, make alot more money, and have more opportunities for promotion. I never left my original department.
I loved working for a smaller community. I was able to really get to know the residents and the businesses. I know I made a difference there throughout my career, more so than I would have at a larger department. The intimacy of a smaller community helped me feel like I was making a greater impact.
I was able to be promoted throughout my career. I made ok money. I never regretted not transferring out. It became my second home.
That is my perspective, and your goals may be different. If its money you're more interested in, police work may not be the best choice for you. Your heart needs to be fully into the job. If not, burn out and a lack of empathy may affect your career.
Lastly, a college degree is always helpful. You learn reasoning, writing, comprehension skills, and other potential facets that can apply to law enforcement. As far as where you attend college, that is completely up to you. Look at various institutions, and choose what you believe is the best setting for your education.
Best of luck!
It's really important you first decide the true reason(s) why you want to go into law enforcement. Is it for money, upward mobility, serving a community, something else?
When I started, I was hired by a smaller department 45 minutes from my home. It was a lower paying agency, a long drive, and I new little about the community. I had an opportunity to transfer to my hometown agency, make alot more money, and have more opportunities for promotion. I never left my original department.
I loved working for a smaller community. I was able to really get to know the residents and the businesses. I know I made a difference there throughout my career, more so than I would have at a larger department. The intimacy of a smaller community helped me feel like I was making a greater impact.
I was able to be promoted throughout my career. I made ok money. I never regretted not transferring out. It became my second home.
That is my perspective, and your goals may be different. If its money you're more interested in, police work may not be the best choice for you. Your heart needs to be fully into the job. If not, burn out and a lack of empathy may affect your career.
Lastly, a college degree is always helpful. You learn reasoning, writing, comprehension skills, and other potential facets that can apply to law enforcement. As far as where you attend college, that is completely up to you. Look at various institutions, and choose what you believe is the best setting for your education.
Best of luck!
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1738
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Nevaeh,
Dreams are great! Turning them into reality takes planning and preparation.
So, I want to encourage you to think about why you're picking Florida. Do you have friends and family there? Have you ever been there?
Saving up enough money as a young person to be able to make this move will take a lot of self-discipline, and perhaps living at home as an adult so you can save up more. The police applicant processing process is lengthy. It could easily be six months, or longer, from the time you apply to the time you start the academy.
Life happens. Stay focused on your goals! If you fall in love and get married while still in Indiana, be sure this person is excited about the thought of moving to Florida, away from their family in Indiana.
One possibility, if you are not opposed to it, would be to join the military, with hopes of being able to get a Florida assignment. That would help you sort of look around - there are many different areas in Florida! Also, if you are military police, that is looked upon favorably in the hiring process, and some departments award Veteran's Preference points to the applicant's evaluation score.
Staying in Indiana is okay. Get you Associates Degree in a Criminal Justice area. I would recommend NOT going into law enforcement in Indiana. While the Legal Codes are similar, they differ. I think it would be harder to un-learn something so you could learn something similar. Just my opinion!
Also, don't acquire a whole lot of "stuff." It will be easier to move if you don't have a heavy sofa and mattress, etc. (Another reason to stay home if you can!) You can always acquire stuff once you get to Florida!
You should get odd jobs and work on having something you can fall back on while looking for work in Florida. Perhaps customer service. Actually, it wouldn't be a bad idea to become a police dispatcher while in Indiana! You could probably get hired pretty quickly in Florida in that position, and then apply for the academy. Just a thought.
Keep asking questions! You get lots of different perspectives from us - lots of things to think about. Don't let it overwhelm you - we are here to bounce ideas around!
Kim
Dreams are great! Turning them into reality takes planning and preparation.
So, I want to encourage you to think about why you're picking Florida. Do you have friends and family there? Have you ever been there?
Saving up enough money as a young person to be able to make this move will take a lot of self-discipline, and perhaps living at home as an adult so you can save up more. The police applicant processing process is lengthy. It could easily be six months, or longer, from the time you apply to the time you start the academy.
Life happens. Stay focused on your goals! If you fall in love and get married while still in Indiana, be sure this person is excited about the thought of moving to Florida, away from their family in Indiana.
One possibility, if you are not opposed to it, would be to join the military, with hopes of being able to get a Florida assignment. That would help you sort of look around - there are many different areas in Florida! Also, if you are military police, that is looked upon favorably in the hiring process, and some departments award Veteran's Preference points to the applicant's evaluation score.
Staying in Indiana is okay. Get you Associates Degree in a Criminal Justice area. I would recommend NOT going into law enforcement in Indiana. While the Legal Codes are similar, they differ. I think it would be harder to un-learn something so you could learn something similar. Just my opinion!
Also, don't acquire a whole lot of "stuff." It will be easier to move if you don't have a heavy sofa and mattress, etc. (Another reason to stay home if you can!) You can always acquire stuff once you get to Florida!
You should get odd jobs and work on having something you can fall back on while looking for work in Florida. Perhaps customer service. Actually, it wouldn't be a bad idea to become a police dispatcher while in Indiana! You could probably get hired pretty quickly in Florida in that position, and then apply for the academy. Just a thought.
Keep asking questions! You get lots of different perspectives from us - lots of things to think about. Don't let it overwhelm you - we are here to bounce ideas around!
Kim
David Deshaies
Police Officer
17
Answers
Sanford, North Carolina
Updated
David’s Answer
If you have the means and ability to go directly to Florida and establish residency there, you'll get a much better idea of what law enforcement in Florida is like. However, it might make more economical sense to do a two year transfer program from a local community college (anywhere from 1/5th to 1/10th the cost of a university, but you get the same credit) to a four year school later. It would be a good idea to find a school in Florida you'd like to go to and make sure they accept credits from your local community college first.
If you are getting into law enforcement for the money, I'd strongly recommend another career path. There are other jobs that pay more and take a far less emotional toll on a person. If you want to get into law enforcement but specifically want to do Florida for the pay there, I can say it will probably be more rewarding to be in law enforcement near where you live or want to live.
If you are getting into law enforcement for the money, I'd strongly recommend another career path. There are other jobs that pay more and take a far less emotional toll on a person. If you want to get into law enforcement but specifically want to do Florida for the pay there, I can say it will probably be more rewarding to be in law enforcement near where you live or want to live.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Nevaeh !
Thank you for your exciting question about your future aspirations of becoming a Police Officer. I think that you have mapped out a good plan and I would be happy to respond to your inquiry. Careers in the Police field are very transferrable for work in any state.
My advice would be, especially not knowing your current age, to do exactly what you plan to do. It's reasonable and doable. Yes, I believe that if you go to college for an Associates Degree or better yet a Bachelors Degree, you will set a strong foundation for eventually relocating to Florida and continue your work as a Police Officer. Going to college in Indiana will be a very direct and smooth path and by the time you're ready to move to Florida, you will have accrued work experience in your field.
There are some colleges in Indiana that have an Administration of Justice major for you. I have left a link below for information about this. The top ranked two are Indiana University, Bloomington and Purdue University. An academic route for police science will benefit you in the long run. College will give you the opportunity to have special lectures from off campus people, develop a deep understanding of the work and meet contacts for future assistance with possible career moves. A degree would also be great at anytime during your career if you wanted to go for an administrative position. In some regions, if you have a college degree, you can have some requirements waived during your police training. So it will be worth it to do the academic path for this career and get experience so that when you do move to Florida, employers will see that you are accomplished in your field.
In the meantime, you can contact your local police department and ask if you can do a Ride Along. This is an experience in which you sit with the police officers in their car and go on calls with them. I understand that you may live in a small town and that is perfectly fine. You can still have a valuable experience with a Ride Along and learn a lot while observing police officers engage in the interventions that they do.
The Police Academy that you will attend is Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and located 25 miles from you in Plainfield. After you start working as a police officer in Indiana, you may want to take some vacations or trips into Florida to see what the area is like and if you can stay with friends or family on these trips, that would be helpful, too. Think about what city in Florida you may want to move to.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best with your academic and professional plans !
INDIANA COLLEGES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE DEGREES https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/degree-by-state/indiana/
Thank you for your exciting question about your future aspirations of becoming a Police Officer. I think that you have mapped out a good plan and I would be happy to respond to your inquiry. Careers in the Police field are very transferrable for work in any state.
My advice would be, especially not knowing your current age, to do exactly what you plan to do. It's reasonable and doable. Yes, I believe that if you go to college for an Associates Degree or better yet a Bachelors Degree, you will set a strong foundation for eventually relocating to Florida and continue your work as a Police Officer. Going to college in Indiana will be a very direct and smooth path and by the time you're ready to move to Florida, you will have accrued work experience in your field.
There are some colleges in Indiana that have an Administration of Justice major for you. I have left a link below for information about this. The top ranked two are Indiana University, Bloomington and Purdue University. An academic route for police science will benefit you in the long run. College will give you the opportunity to have special lectures from off campus people, develop a deep understanding of the work and meet contacts for future assistance with possible career moves. A degree would also be great at anytime during your career if you wanted to go for an administrative position. In some regions, if you have a college degree, you can have some requirements waived during your police training. So it will be worth it to do the academic path for this career and get experience so that when you do move to Florida, employers will see that you are accomplished in your field.
In the meantime, you can contact your local police department and ask if you can do a Ride Along. This is an experience in which you sit with the police officers in their car and go on calls with them. I understand that you may live in a small town and that is perfectly fine. You can still have a valuable experience with a Ride Along and learn a lot while observing police officers engage in the interventions that they do.
The Police Academy that you will attend is Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and located 25 miles from you in Plainfield. After you start working as a police officer in Indiana, you may want to take some vacations or trips into Florida to see what the area is like and if you can stay with friends or family on these trips, that would be helpful, too. Think about what city in Florida you may want to move to.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you all the best with your academic and professional plans !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Debbie Fasenmyer
Artist
23
Answers
Cape Coral, Florida
Updated
Debbie’s Answer
Hi great question. It’s awesome that you want a career in public service. My dad is retired from a 51 year career in law enforcement. It can be very rewarding. Our family lived in the Midwest just outside of Chicago. My dad held every position in his department in Illinois. He retired and then spent another two decades in SW Florida in law enforcement. I think it would be helpful to consider what area of law enforcement you are interested in. There’s a variety of options. Do you want to work as an officer in a department or possibly military police. Maybe as a private investigator, detective or for the FBI. I think that will be helpful in deciding whether or not you want to pursue college or go straight into a police academy. When you envision yourself as a police officer what part of that career lights you up the most. Is it being of service, helping others, solving crimes, public education such as a DARE officer or being a school resource officer. I’d suggest speaking with an officer in your local department. See if you can get a tour of the department. Maybe you could volunteer to help with security at a local event. Possibly go on a ride along. Get a feel for it. Higher education can definitely be beneficial. I’d suggest making a list of the reasons you want to move to Florida. Research the state and the various police departments. Look at their websites and maybe see if you can speak with someone within the department who does recruitment. Florida has perks. Theme parks need security as do resorts. If the weather and the atmosphere is attractive to you it could be the best of both worlds. Doing what you’re passionate about in your dream destination. Best of luck in your endeavors.