Advice, tips, feedback and opinions welcome

[imalazypup]

I've decided to apply to the Detroit Police Department. As most of you know, they require only a higschool degree/ged.

I currently attend my local community college, and will be holding 20 credits after this semester is over.

Now to the point, I'm trying to decide whether to obtain my associates first or during my employment as a detroit officer.

I personally feel I am ready to start the application process/academy, but I'm worried that completing an associates may prove to be too difficult while working full time due to the odd schedule hours officers seem to work.

Just looking for some pros/cons from experienced officers who know about this type of stuff.

[SORMJ]

I tried to go to school and do the full time rotating shifts at the same time. It just doesnt work. A pro is that with a higher education you may have a better chance of getting in to the force and therefor not wasting your time. I'm not sure about Detroit but where I am the more education you have then the more money you get to start. It's not a whole lot of difference from the others but after you add overtime and court it adds up big time. But like I said that may not be the same in Detroit. You might want to give them a call to be sure.

[Lfpdlieu302]

if you are real close to finishing your degree, i would probably do that first. as you have already mentioned, it will be very hard to go to school and work some of the weird shifts you're gonna have as a rookie. not to mention, if detroit doesnt work out for some reason, you will still have your degree ready to go.

[gdowkpc]

You have 25 years minimum of police work ahead of you. Finish school so you can concentrate on the job. When you're new, you need as much focus as you can get until things become more automatic and routine.

[Barenaked]

If you are financially capable of completing school, then I can not think of one reason not to do so. What if you get hired but realize that the DPD is not for you. Now it's back to school.

If I were you, I would sit down and right a list of the pros and cons of each decision. Im willing to bet my next pay check that finishing school will win.

[imalazypup]

The consensus(here and another forum) seems to say that it isn't too feasible to attend school and work as a full time officer, so I will finish up first.

Going to stick with my original plan to finish up first.

Thanks for the replies,

Pup