Questions

[95 Droptop]

I am currently 17 and a senior in high school. I have been interested in police work for a while now. I have resently joined a explorer program in my home town. I am currently planning on going to Wyotech which is a vo-tech in wyoming, but the more I hang around the local cops, the more I want to become one. So here a few quick questions. Should I try to get a CJ degree at a Community college or a University? Would it be worth it to Major in it or just get my accociates? Do you guys prefer working in a small town, big city, or do highway patrol, and why? And could you guys give me some links on some info on things like Average salary, Degrees needed, special training, or any other info I could show my parents about taking this as a career? Thanks for all the help.

[phantasm]

I'd recommend getting a degree, but not neccesarily in CJ. I have a BA in history. It's something to fall back on. What do you have to fall back on with a CJ degree? Psych might give you a benefit with police work, but also something to fall back on, as would social work, or other social sciences. And as for hte degree it depends on the dept and your aspirations. NYPD requires 2 years military or 60 credits (associates) to get hired, associates to make sgt, BA to make Lt (or is it capt). If you just want to be a cop for your whole life, do what you need to do, if you have higher expectations, aim higher. Most dept you have to be 21, so you might as well go towards your BA anyway.

[Kimble]

I am currently 17 and a senior in high school. I have been interested in police work for a while now. I have resently joined a explorer program in my home town. I am currently planning on going to Wyotech which is a vo-tech in wyoming, but the more I hang around the local cops, the more I want to become one. So here a few quick questions. Should I try to get a CJ degree at a Community college or a University? Would it be worth it to Major in it or just get my accociates? Do you guys prefer working in a small town, big city, or do highway patrol, and why? And could you guys give me some links on some info on things like Average salary, Degrees needed, special training, or any other info I could show my parents about taking this as a career? Thanks for all the help.

All good questions, but all of them have been answered before many, many times. Do a search of this forum for the answers you seak, and then let us know if you need further clarification.

[qpd158]

Easiest way to find out about salaries etc, is to look at the individual departments you would like or think you would like to work at. Depending on where you want to work depends on the amount of money you can make. My dept starts around 32,000 but 15 miles away across the river, an officer may make 24,000 if they are LUCKY.

As for the college, if you like Auto mechanics, body work, etc, get your degree in that, then get on with the PD of your choice, some may not accept you because of your college, but work at a smaller department get experience then move up to the bigger depts. I have a coworker that left a mechanics job at a local GM dealer, and loves being a Cop more, and still gets a few side jobs as a mechanic.

Good Luck

[95 Droptop]

I think what i have desided to do is finish becoming a certified mech. at the community college im currently attending and find out if being a mech is truly what I want to do. While im doing that im going to take all my basic required courses at a local community college. If i deside i want to be a mech. then i will go to Wyotech and continue on that path. This may seem like a stupid question but should i get my associates in CJ and then major in somthing else. I dont know much about all of the different degrees. So does this seem like a good plan?

[phantasm]

a CJ degree will not benefit you any more than a math degree or a biology degree, but a psych or social science degree may benefit you, not neccesarily for the actual courses, but for putting what you learned into practice. Kind of like I answered in my first post in this thread.

[scott715us]

As ROS advised, do a search on the forum and you will find many threads discussing your question.

My honest opinion, get, at minimum a bachelor's degree. The field of law enforcement has started to become competitive. Although an associates will help, if you want to move up the chain of command, you need to go further.

My dept requires a bachelor's for any position over Sgt.

[95 Droptop]

I am actually thinking about majoring in psycology, because for a back up plan i would like to go into counseling for kids. and while im taking my basic classes at a community college get my associates in CJ, one of the local cops suggested i do this while i am there. is psycology a good major if i want to also be a SRO later on, or would there be a better major for me.