The Right Direction?

[Bc6]

Hello all!

I have a few questions, of course if you all have time to answer! I would gladly appreciate your time. First off, I'm going to be a senior in high school this upcoming year. I'm very interested in becoming a law enforcement officer, and possibly moving on to the K9 unit after I get experience. I am planning to attend IUPUI for a degree in criminal justice. I also plan to participate in the cadet officer program they offer. My major will obviously be in Criminal Justice, but I'm still undecided on my minor. I have also planned to participate in a ride around program with an officer that is a friend of my families, to really get a feel for the job and to make sure this is what I want to do. Now with my background story out of the way, here come the questions!

1. Am I headed in the right direction?

2. What is a good minor to combine with a Criminal Justice major?

3. Does anyone have any special information regarding the K9 unit?

4. Do K9 officers keep their dog at home? Do they keep it after retiring?

5. What are things I can be doing now to help prepare myself for the future?

6. What are normal shift hours for Law Enforcement Officers?

Thanks if advance for any help you can give me, even if you don't answer these questions. I'm happy to hear anything you can tell me, whether it be on topic or not!

[Citicop]

Welcome to the forum!

I'll answer what I can for you.

1.) Sounds like you're doing fine. Stay in school, out of trouble, and maybe start learning a foreign language.

2.) Remember that police departments don't care what your major is. Biology is just as good as criminal justice or Art History or Communications. Any degree from an accredited university will work fine.

3. and 4.) Can't help, not a K9 officer.

5.) As previously discussed, make good decisions. Keep your goal in mind as you are heading out to college. No DWI's, no MIP's, etc. Stay out of trouble.

6.) There is no such thing as "regular hours" in Law Enforcement. You will work all three shifts, weekends, holidays, year round. My department works 28 day cycles of each shift, Days, Afternoons, and Midnights. Days off rotate each time. Sunday, Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday; Thursday Friday; Saturday, Sunday.

[Switchback]

Citicop covered it nicely.
...coming from a bio guy.

Even us feds, who may have banker's hours scheduled (for the most part) work some crazy hours. Last Fridday, I worked 26 hrs straight., came home to sleep for a few hours on Sat and was right back at it ... sleeping most of my Father's Day. The kicker is for us is that we are salaied, so I get no extra money for it for motivation.

[Roger Dat]

Our K-9 Officers work either 9am to 5pm or 7pm-3am and are on call 24-7. you must be a cop in my town for 5 years before applying, must be in excellent physical condition and have a fenced in area of your yard for the dog. You get a take home car and upon retirement of the dog you get to keep it.

[Bc6]

Thank you all for your answers and comments. I appreciate them! Some of your guys hours sound crazy!

[PJMurphy]

1. Am I headed in the right direction?
In general yes. If you want to really stand out get involved in volunteer activities that serve the community.
2. What is a good minor to combine with a Criminal Justice major?
Don't limit yourself with a CJ major. Do Public Administration, Business Management, or even Education then minor in CJ. With a CJ Degree you can be a cop or corrections and that's about it. Broaden yourself as you may not like it or "it" may not like you.
3. Does anyone have any special information regarding the K9 unit?
The dogs smell bad and you have to live/work with them.
4. Do K9 officers keep their dog at home? Do they keep it after retiring?
The city pays for the dog but the officer owns and cares for it like a child, forever (in my agency anyway). But they don't have to pay for college or girlfriends.
5. What are things I can be doing now to help prepare myself for the future?
What ever you can that shows you are a "people" person. Tune-up the social/communication skills, watch-out for "behavior" land mines and don't screw-up (and get caught at it).
6. What are normal shift hours for Law Enforcement Officers?
8,10 or 12 hour shifts varies by department and some really treat their cops poorly (share the misery mentality). I like the12s cuz I like "happy cops." They make my life easier.

[mcsap]

Hello all!

I have a few questions, of course if you all have time to answer! I would gladly appreciate your time. First off, I'm going to be a senior in high school this upcoming year. I'm very interested in becoming a law enforcement officer, and possibly moving on to the K9 unit after I get experience. I am planning to attend IUPUI for a degree in criminal justice. I also plan to participate in the cadet officer program they offer. My major will obviously be in Criminal Justice, but I'm still undecided on my minor. I have also planned to participate in a ride around program with an officer that is a friend of my families, to really get a feel for the job and to make sure this is what I want to do. Now with my background story out of the way, here come the questions!

1. Am I headed in the right direction? Yes but dont let a low life - loser " friend " screw it up by doing something stupid.

2. What is a good minor to combine with a Criminal Justice major? Computer Science. We NEED someone who is GOOD and TRAINED in computer forensics.

3. Does anyone have any special information regarding the K9 unit? They have dogs

4. Do K9 officers keep their dog at home? Do they keep it after retiring? Yes at home and yes after retirement if they are too old or are getting close to being too old.

5. What are things I can be doing now to help prepare myself for the future? STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND AWAY FROM THOSE THAT FIND IT !!!!!!!!!

6. What are normal shift hours for Law Enforcement Officers? HA HA HA HA HA .....surely you jest ??? 4 weeks of nights 6p-6a followed by 2 weeks of days 6a-6p. 60 hrs one week and 20 the next. Normal enough ??

Thanks if advance for any help you can give me, even if you don't answer these questions. I'm happy to hear anything you can tell me, whether it be on topic or not!

And unlike the feds....I am salaried WITH overtime