Requirements to be a police officer
I was curious of the requirements to be a police officer. Do you need a 4 year degree in Law Enforcement, or does it vary by city? Or do you need the 4 year degree only if you want to make detective?
A NYC officer posted that their training program is 5 weeks long. Is that after your college degree? Or do they just pull people off the street, and give them 5 weeks training, and then give them a gun?
Beowolf? What's it like in Cinci?
I think in NYC they actually give you the 5 weeks training if you already have a gun.......couldn't resist, anybody have a serious response for bulrush now?
some fella confronted me the other day and asked "What's your problem?" So I told him, "I don't have a problem I am a problem"
Here it is for where I live. http://www.officer.com/jobs/detail.j...null&pageNum=1
Here's something a little closer to where you live. http://www.michigan.gov/mcoles/0,160...2397--,00.html
must love doughnuts
always be prepared-prepare all ways
http://wareaglesurvival.blogspot.com
Different types will have different requirements, a state police officer will generally have higher requirements than say a local city cop in a small town, and then to be a sheriff deputy in a rural county the requirements tend to be very low.
If I were to go this route, and I had considered it as a career choice, I would go major in criminal justice, maybe psychology as well, and also learn a foreign language, then try to work for the FBI, or one of the other federal agencies. Perhaps pad the resume by joining the reserves in the meantime.
For North Carolina, all you technically need is Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), and a high school degree. BLET is generally offered as a course through area community colleges. It's what we have for police academies. Sometimes candidates can be pre-hired and put through by their departments, but often times applicants have to put themselves through BLET, then try to get a job afterwards. Once you pass BLET and pass the state exam, you get a provisional state law enforcement certification which lasts one year. You have that amount of time to become hired by an agency and sworn in as a law enforcement officer. If you don't get a job by that time, you'll have to go through BLET again.
Of course, BLET just makes you eligible. You will still have to meet whatever other minimum requirements used by the departments you apply to, pass a background investigation and a psychological, and of course appear to be a better candidate than other people applying for the same job.
Often state agencies will have their own special BLET program, or have some sort of training program to supplement regular BLET.
Each state is different, as far as standards go.
"How do you know that my dimwitted inexperience isn't merely a subtle form of manipulation used to lower people's expectations thereby enhancing my ability to effectively maneuver within any given situation?" -Deputy Dewey Riley, Scream 2
Interesting, the Michigan MCOLES Physical Fitness test requires men to wear an athletic supporter. I have to wonder why this is a requirement, as I don't have a tendency to have my junk flying in all directions, nor do I expect the Physical Fitness test to involve a trainer kicking me in the nads.
All different even in the same state. Around here, sheriff is elected, no experience only based on who you know. County officers on how you voted and who you are related too. Last name counts a lot. City writes a few tickets, primary job is to drive the Mayor around. My cuz(black sheep of the family) is a KY state trooper/detective. Military record counted more than anything. Lady probation officer friend of wife's had 8 weeks intensive training at State Police academy just to carry a handgun, I fired a couple of dozen rounds and didn't hit the instructor 40 some years ago for my CCW. State is more of a boot camp.
Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he's too old
to fight... he'll just kill you.
there goes my job........or maybe......... i know that you can be 17 to join the us coast guard i only know this because i have a friend that is already in it and one trying to get in
i am the one who stole the frigg'n cookie from the cookie jar. Now shutup!
Just trying to make sure you can "fill" the job. BTW there is a difference between athletic supporter and cup.Originally Posted by bulrush
Sarge - Move to General Chat
Minnesota requires a AA or BA degree in Criminal Justice, skills training, and testing by the Police Officer Standards and Training dept. This is required for all peace officers in the state. Officers from other states can transfer to Minnesota after two years on the job if they can pass the POST test.
Raised By Bears
Bear Clan
I am an EMT in detroilet considering public safety. I know for a fact in MI you need your MCOLES to say you are certifiable. This means you have taken both the physical and written test. The way it works from there is up to you. You can take a police academy on your own dime. But beware you must be on a PD within 1 year of passing or it will expire. Or you can apply at a PD and have them put you thru it. Or you can go like I am considering. I get my paramedic and I apply with genesse county sheriffs as a paramedic officer. The only place in the state that doesn't do the mcoles is the beautiful city of detroit.
"A hero never lives forever, but a coward never lives"
EMT Instructor
Most of what i have read is spot on. It varies by region.
One favorite question I just loved asking during interview boards
"Have you ever been in a fist fight, win loose or draw, with some one?"
I always wanted to hire the person who knew a sock in the jaw was life threatening and they could still function without loosing their temper.
Hell, we are getting kids now who have never in their whole lives even touched a weapon, let alone shot one.............
Most states require that you are a Highschool graduate with no criminal record in your adult life. You must be 21 by the date you graduate the police academy, and must not have done any drugs in your life, or marijuana in the past 3-4 years.
Most placed will prefer and will only hire those with a BA, BS or above even though the standard is lower. And yes a degree will help to make other divisions or rank. Not necessarily because it means you know more, but that you have the initiative to pursue and complete a 4 year degree.
After you go through the ringer and they decide they will hire you, you will attend a police academy. Either put on by your department, region or state. Once you have completed this academy you are officially a LEO in that state. Each department will have additional training that they will put on/ put you through before they cut you loose to the streets. This 5-16 week period may be what you have heard about.
Some departments make you put yourself through academy first and then they will hire you and give you 5-16 more weeks of training before you are on your own. This is not the norm though.
Most of the training really is common sense and just having your wits about you at all times.
SS
Last edited by SS Freak; 01-06-2009 at 09:04 AM.
...
Damn, I never realized how many cops or wanna-be's were on this forum! In Michigan, I know you have to take the MOCOLES standards stuff but aside from that I still insist you have to be a low IQ retard that has ill regard for other people and be an arrogant a-hole to qualify. Especially Here in WEST MICHIGAN bulrush. You know, Ottawa county! Yeah, as you can plainly see I have a dislike for most police.....especially the ones that I've described above. It' s funny though, I have friends that are cops. Half are peckerheads and know it, the other half knows the other half are peckerheads and can't stand the way they do their job. Also, I hear Genessee county is one of those "I'm the LAW, you better abide" counties that likes to think everyone is a criminal that just hasn't been caught yet. Detroit.........(laughable) what can I say. I can't say much for Detroit PD but I know they'll take retards because a friend (or shall I say "former friend") is going through their "academy" right now and this person is of very low moral character as well as having a nice criminal history. Besides that, he likes to talk about blowing up stuff and that Obama is the anti-Christ.....so you tell me, would you like a cop who is sworn to protect and serve your community patrolling your streets? Maybe once upon becoming an officer he'll start believing in all that reptoid conspiracy crap!
Can't speak for Detroit, but as for here it really doesn't take all that much to be able to attend the academy. That doesn't mean they'll ever be a cop, though. They will let people attend who would never ever have a reasonable shot at getting certified by the state or hired by an agency. That's a shame really, because it wastes time and resources, including the time and resources of the guy attending the academy. I wish they would try harder to weed unsuitable applicants out at the front of the process.
"How do you know that my dimwitted inexperience isn't merely a subtle form of manipulation used to lower people's expectations thereby enhancing my ability to effectively maneuver within any given situation?" -Deputy Dewey Riley, Scream 2
Sounds like somebody may have had a bad experience with the law?
To become an Indiana State Trooper you need an Associates Degree, and they have a 13 week Academy. For Sherriffs Departments, at least in Dubois County IN. High School Graduate and a 5 week Academy. For the city of Jasper IN. High School and OJT is all that is required. For Federal Acencies, CIA, FBI, U.S Marshalls a B.A is required and the Academies vary plus there is an age limit of 28-35. But as many have said State and Local agencies vary.
Alaska to Florida, for how long, who knows...
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks