Hello, I'm interested in intelligence work in LE. My ultimate goal is to work in DC for the Federal Government. I would like to gain experience locally but don't know what types of research/intelligence jobs are available through the Police Dept/Sherriff's Office. Do I need to be a LEO to get this sort of job or can civilians get hired? Let me know if you need further information/have any questions. Thank you!!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Justice15
Hello, I'm interested in intelligence work in LE. My ultimate goal is to work in DC for the Federal Government. I would like to gain experience locally but don't know what types of research/intelligence jobs are available through the Police Dept/Sherriff's Office. Do I need to be a LEO to get this sort of job or can civilians get hired? Let me know if you need further information/have any questions. Thank you!!
If your goal is to work in intelligence, why would you look to get a likely difficult to find intel job for a PD/SO (not many local agencies have a need or budget to support an intel unit) when the best opportunity for you to gain relevant intelligence experience would be in the military? If you want to be in the Intelligence Community (CIA, DIA, etc.), I would recommend going into the military and seeking the intelligence route vice trying to work for a criminal intelligence unit with a local/state police agency.
A government strong enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat_Doc
You just gotta realize he is hard of hearing and cranky, and try to speak up more clearly next time and make it perfectly clear what you were saying so there is no misinterpretation. You gotta try not to get mad at the old guy, recognizing the issue at hand.
If your goal is to work in intelligence, why would you look to get a likely difficult to find intel job for a PD/SO (not many local agencies have a need or budget to support an intel unit) when the best opportunity for you to gain relevant intelligence experience would be in the military? If you want to be in the Intelligence Community (CIA, DIA, etc.), I would recommend going into the military and seeking the intelligence route vice trying to work for a criminal intelligence unit with a local/state police agency.
Thank you!! I really needed direction on this, obviously. I appreciate your help.
Finish your degree and then look at your options to go into the military as an Officer. Just about every intel person on a local level that I know is either heading toward retirement or they have quite a few years on. It's more of a desk job so there is not much interest to putting a younger person in that position. Either way, you'll need some kind of experience.
Finish your degree and then look at your options to go into the military as an Officer. Just about every intel person on a local level that I know is either heading toward retirement or they have quite a few years on. It's more of a desk job so there is not much interest to putting a younger person in that position. Either way, you'll need some kind of experience.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Justice15
Thanks, not looking for glamour though, just lots of experience. I don't have the education yet. Want to finish getting my Criminal Justice degree.
Heh, the vast majority of the people working for the CIA aren't doing glamourous work. In fact, you could probably substitute them for the analysts working for New York Life and no one would know the difference. It's the nature of what they're looking for that's different.
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A government strong enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. -Thomas Jefferson-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat_Doc
You just gotta realize he is hard of hearing and cranky, and try to speak up more clearly next time and make it perfectly clear what you were saying so there is no misinterpretation. You gotta try not to get mad at the old guy, recognizing the issue at hand.
Are you interested in intelligence work with a federal law enforcement agency, or are you interested in intelligence work with an intelligence agency. All federal law enforcement agencies have intelligence units. The work is dull, however. That's what I'm doing now. The work done by the CIA, NSA, etc., has nothing or little to do with law enforcement in the regular sense. Are you up to speed on what agencies do what work? You need to figure out what work you want to do, what agencies have that type of work available, and what their requirements are. I'll give you a little advice; Don't use any drugs and don't get arrested for even the smallest infraction.
Are you interested in intelligence work with a federal law enforcement agency, or are you interested in intelligence work with an intelligence agency. All federal law enforcement agencies have intelligence units. The work is dull, however. That's what I'm doing now. The work done by the CIA, NSA, etc., has nothing or little to do with law enforcement in the regular sense. Are you up to speed on what agencies do what work? You need to figure out what work you want to do, what agencies have that type of work available, and what their requirements are. I'll give you a little advice; Don't use any drugs and don't get arrested for even the smallest infraction.
Thank you for your advice!! I'm not sure where I'm going with all of this yet. I'm going to take it step by step. Right now I'm signing up to do volunteer work with the Sheriffs Office and see what's out there while finishing up my Bachelor's in C.J. All I do know for sure is that I LOVE Washington D.C. and want to live/work there some day. My current background is Office Management so even that would be fine in a LE atmosphere. I need to do something that makes a difference, helps people, keeps our cities/country safe, etc.
BTW, I've never used drugs or been arrested, never even been drunk, LOL! My only problem is I have some credit card debt that may get in the way of getting hired with the Feds. I'm working on getting that paid off. I will do more research on the different agencies and opportunities out there. Thanks again!
Last edited by Justice15; 06-11-09 at 09:42 AM.
Reason: TMI
Currently I work as an Enforcement Analyst Specialist for U.S. Border Patrol, and I can tell you that it is extremly tedious, exacting work that pays off down the road.
The local police and state agencies that I work with are officers that have extensive knowledge and years on the job. You have gotten good advice from these officers on the route to take if that is what you want to do. For me, it was a stab at some normalcy in life with no more shift work. Unfortunately, it is just not the job for me, and I am returning to the field as a uniform next month. I like this work, but I find it hard to be an office worker when I have never had a job which keeps me inside all day. My co-workers here laugh at me and nicknamed me "Pinger" since that is what I am doing inside all day. :D
Since your an office guy already, it shouldn't bother you, good luck.
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Our county actually has a prototype where each agency in the county provided an officer or detective to a unit who do field intelligenge work. The group makes sure of inter - agency communication and has been successful in taking down a large gang as well as several high profile suspects for our area. The concept is actually talked about at John Jay college in NYC. Obviously its tough to get into because there is one spot per department but its worked well so far
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Currently I work as an Enforcement Analyst Specialist for U.S. Border Patrol, and I can tell you that it is extremly tedious, exacting work that pays off down the road.
The local police and state agencies that I work with are officers that have extensive knowledge and years on the job. You have gotten good advice from these officers on the route to take if that is what you want to do. For me, it was a stab at some normalcy in life with no more shift work. Unfortunately, it is just not the job for me, and I am returning to the field as a uniform next month. I like this work, but I find it hard to be an office worker when I have never had a job which keeps me inside all day. My co-workers here laugh at me and nicknamed me "Pinger" since that is what I am doing inside all day. :D
Since your an office guy already, it shouldn't bother you, good luck.
Thank you! I'm an office girl actually:D Been doing this type of work for 14 years. I'm definitely not an outdoors person, especially here in central Florida. I like air conditioning and regular hours, LOL! Good luck getting back out there, now your friends will have to come up with another nickname for you;)
Last edited by Justice15; 06-11-09 at 02:52 PM.
Reason: Can't spell
Our county actually has a prototype where each agency in the county provided an officer or detective to a unit who do field intelligenge work. The group makes sure of inter - agency communication and has been successful in taking down a large gang as well as several high profile suspects for our area. The concept is actually talked about at John Jay college in NYC. Obviously its tough to get into because there is one spot per department but its worked well so far
That's a really cool. Glad to see more inter-agency communication going on.
Thanks for sharing
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