cop

[AnachitlPut]

hey i want to be a cop but i want to know how to go about it.

 

[Holz Mechaniker]

College, Major in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Wood Working. OR join one of the Military branches go from there.

 

[maxman400]

You can start out in Corrections, Get your post Cat 3 then move up through the ranks and out on to the streets.

 

[Frank Nemke sr]

Go to your local PD and ask them for the address of the police acadame. Its like boot camp. My grandson just graduated from the one in Santa Maria calif.

 

[nativewooder]

As was said, stay in school at least through college. And many law enforcement professionals are offended by the slang term "cop".:wink:

 

[Jarod888]

I would check with the local community colleges in the area. One here in the Denver area offers a part time and full time program which will give you the P.O.S.T. (Peace Office Standards and Training) certification. This is the minimum requirement for getting into the police academy which most departments require. Completing the Comm. College program here gives you approx. 30 credit hours towards an associates in criminal justice. Most departments want you to have at minimum a bachelors degree.

I am considering this myself. I already have an associates in art as well as a bachelors, so I don't know whether I want another associates or I would just get my Masters. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

[OLDMAN5050]

Get a degree in criminal justice to start......... then go from there

 

[beck3906]

Talk to the police department you may want to join about their preferred employment requirements. Many PD's desire officers with a bachelors degree. Plan accordingly from there.

 

[WWAtty]

More and more places are requiring a degree now. Some states even specify minimum educational requirements for licensure of peace officers. For example, Minnesota requires at least an associate degree from an accredited school. Law enforcement work is becoming too sophisticated for candidates to learn what they need in just a few months of academy alone. A degree in crim justice, with some psych courses (or better yet, a minor).

Good luck!

 

[firewhatfire]

go see which agencies have a reserve program. It will help you decide if thats really what you wanna do.

 

[Joe Burns]

Go talk to the chief or one of the liaison officers of your local department and see if you can get a ride along. This way you can get a feel for the job. Ask different officers on how they started.

Someone mentioned a reserved program. This is a good avenue. I worked as a reserve back in the 1980s for a few years. When I was there the training and testing was provided to me. I had to pay for my own uniforms and equipment. We had to work a minimum of 16 hours a month to keep our active status. The department normally hired from their reserves first. I loved the work, but didn't go full time as I couldn't afford to take the cut in pay.

If you are planning on a career get a bachelors in the field and work towards a masters.

Joe

 

[Buzzzz4]

Our kids just toured the PD, the detective there said to get a bachelors degree in anything. It doesn't have to be just Criminal Justice. Then apply for the police academy.

 

[Don Wade]

Join the armed forces and go from there

 

[sumterdad]

If you do become one stay humble.

 

[KenV]

Do your research -- there are a wide range of law enforcement agencies with a wide range of missions ranging from fish and game enforcement to police work.

The levels of government are different too -- from City Police to County Sheriff to State Patrol/Fish and Wildlife Protection to Federal Agencies ranging from Fish and Wildlife Service to Marshall Service to FBI to Forest Service.

They are all looking for a Bachelors or more - Some like law degrees too.

 

[AnachitlPut]

a friend of mine just got out of the academy and went through their cop tp be program thing. i been talkin to him. i have also have a friend who is retired form the force and i talkin to him.