I'm having trouble...

I am on track to become a professional student. I have 100+ credits in numerous topics.

I've really given it some thought, and I think I want to go into police work. Are there any JC'er's who are currently doing this, or who are officers and can help me decide on a path?

 

I graduated with over 160 credits and changed my major about a billion times, then I moved to lake tahoe
and became a snowboarder. And I've never been happier!
My advice would be just getting a degree in ANYTHING, then moving somewhere totally new and fresh. Have fun and good luck.

life is gooood!

 

What kind of police work?

Like do you want to be a police officer? Or a cop? Or more like a detective or something?

I wonder if at police academies they watch old shows of Nash Bridges.

 

I'm pretty sure JediRaanic went into a police field. I'll see if I can get him to stop by this thread.

 

In order to become a cop one must be first and foremost a total egomaniac. I'm pretty sure it's written in the rule book.

 

Hello,

I am a senior criminal justice student at Westfield State College in Massachusetts and I hope to be a police officer by next year. How can I help you?

 

Fite2Unite

That wasn't very nice, and just after JMO said he was going to seek one out. Yer in big trouble, buddy (lol, just kidding).

 

What sort of classes should I take? Should I try to get in a reserve program at the same time as I am taking classes?

 

Grilled-Sarlacc is in the Marines, maybe his help will suffice.

 

1. Are you going to school?

2. Don't go into reserves....You won't be around to be a cop.

 

no, no, not the ARMY reserves, the POLICE ACADEMY reserves...or do you still mean no.

and yes, i am at school

 

Maybe you could move overseas?

 

Oh, well reserves isn't bad at all then. Where do you go to school? Do they have a CJ department?

 

Excellent, he got my message.

 

i go to Central Washington University.

There is a Law and Justice Section with a category of Law Enforcement Specialization

Page 60 of 65

 

Get your degree and apply for the FBI. I had a friend in college who got his Materials Engineering degree passed up high paying jobs and took a job as a policeman for a few years after graudating to gain experience to do forensics for the FBI.
YOu might be able to go directly depending on your degree. Might also try the CIA. I almost got a job there.

 

"In order to become a cop one must be first and foremost a total egomaniac. I'm pretty sure it's written in the rule book. "

Wrong. Try again.

 

If you wanna be a cop, you have to take a civil service exam.

You have either the state CSE to be a trooper,

The county CSE to be a sheriff deputy,

or a town or local exam. Call your nearest state police barracks and sheriff's offices to inquire.

You'll want to @ least get your Associate's degree, I'm sure, but depending on where you are the requirements will likely be a little different.

I'm going into the NYS troopers, myself.

Can't wait.

Good luck.

 

Not exactly. Civil Service is not always needed. If you want to work locally, then a lot of towns don't need an exam. Also, in Vermont where I am looking, the State Police don't require a CSE. I have an interview next month.

 

wouldn't it be easier to find a good policing job with a reliable department with a greater degree than an AA?

i work from time to time at a PD and one of the captains has a bachelors...i havent had a chance to talk to him, because i have recently found out that i would really enjoy doing this in the past month

 

Raanic,

VSP still requires a written test, as part of the competitive process.

I don't know of any departments that don't require a test, except for maybe some of the smallest.

The requirements for law enforcement officers are set by each state's merit board (or training and standards board for some)

 

Yes, the VSP require a test, but not a civil service exam. It's similar, but I've taken both and they do vary.

 

Well, as I said, the requirements do vary.

Either way, you're gonna have to take an exam of some kind, whether it's Civil Service or not.

You're not just gonna interview and get the job as you would at McDonald's. It's very competetive with the exam, background check, polygraph test, (in NY anyway) and agility test. (1.5 mile run in 10 min, 40 push-ups, 45 sit-ups in a minute, etc)

Then you start training.

Can't wait.

Good luck.