finishing the academy

[danah]

when i finish the police academy i will be about 10 months shy of my 21st birthday. the reason i am doing is so young is because it completes my aa degree, otherwise i would wait 6 months or so. anyway, if the hiring process takes a "regular" pace and i apply right after i finish the academy, i will have about 3-5 months until my 21st birthday. have you heard of or is it possible that a department, big or small, would pick me up and hold off starting field training for 3-5 months (all assuming i am a good candidate)?

thanks,
danah

[Charlie]

I am not aware of any department that does what you're asking about...but there's a possibility you might find a department willing to do this but I doubt it...
--
Charlie

[danah]

oh ok. thanks for replying. i can always wait for a couple months after i graduate to apply.

[oppie]

i would think if you were a desirable candidate (meaning ranked high in your class, physically and mentally strong, and depending your "connections" and the department needs) they would hire you and hold off the FT phase for a month, maybe two months. i would see this more likely happening in a smaller to medium size department.


oppie

[Rad Diver]

It can take any where from 1-6 months to get through a training program (FTO). By the time you completed it you would be 21 yoa.

If not, you can work booking or something related for the dept. you get hired on with. Just a suggestion.

[bucknutz30]

Some departments hire at 18.

[dizza]

Out here in California, you have to be 21 by the end of the academy or you don't graduate. Its that simple with them. All of the academies that I know about, have a rule that they won't even accept you unless you are turning 21 either half way through the academy or by the time you graduate.

Check with the academy you are planning on attending about the age thing.

David

[danah]

Originally posted by dizza
Out here in California, you have to be 21 by the end of the academy or you don't graduate. Its that simple with them. All of the academies that I know about, have a rule that they won't even accept you unless you are turning 21 either half way through the academy or by the time you graduate.

Check with the academy you are planning on attending about the age thing.

David

i have been excepted into two different academies and am 19. i will be attending one that starts in less than a month. check the lake county sheriffs dept, sacramento county sheriffs dept, national city pd, laguna beach pd, and there are a few more, but they all hire at 18 and 19.

i am not interested in any of these depts that hire at 18 so that is why i asked my question.

[dizza]

I was always told that you had to be 21 in CA to get POST certified. All the depts I've applied with said that applicants had to be 21. I just now realized that some depts hire before 21.. I was just looking them up on the web.. Interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. I'm over 21 anyhow though

David

[nealopp]

No, you can be POST certified younger than 21, you just can't be in any position that requires you to use a handgun. I honestly don't know what the benefits would be for getting certified so young though.

If you want to be a police officer, you have to be 21. Also, most departments (at least in the bay area) require at least som college. Any of those departments that are hiring you younger than the age of 21 are hiring you, most likely, as jail guards. You will be a Peace officer, but not a police officer.

(since you are 19, I'll assume that you have some college) If you go into the academy in a month, you'll be maybe 20 when you get out? Not too old, but remember that, especially if you aren't hired right out, your POST certification will only be valid for 3 years. Whatever you do, best of luck. i hope to be starting the academy in early 2005

Sorry, I forgot to mention that you should definitely have an in-depth conversation with the recruiting offficer at the departments you are interested in.

[rdp]

I disagree concerning the handgun part....you only need be 18 to own one anyways.

2 guys that just lateraled in were both hired at 19(at their old depts) and were full police officers.

[ngcsubutterbar]

GA POST you only have to be 18 to go through the academy. Most of the medium to big departments will not hire you as a deputy or police officer. Some will, but those are usually the departments with under 20 officers.

[danah]

nealopp, i do have college. i have completed all the mandatory general ed requirements for an aa degree. one reason i am doing the academy so young is that this will help me complete my degree. i am also eager to start police academy, and to be honest i am even more eager to get it finished with. and yes, i will be 20 at the time of graduation. i really hope to have a job after 3 years of my academy graduation or else i might reconsider my suitability for a LE career. i can always do the refresher coarse if necessary.
i guess i will just take it as it comes one step at a time.

thanks for the help guys.

[nealopp]

Sorry rdp, you gotta be 21, at least in CA

[danah]

Originally posted by nealopp
Sorry rdp, you gotta be 21, at least in CA

r u talking about guns? in california you have to be 21 to purchase and 18 to own/possess