Questions about people on the board

[dercoderco]

People on here were sayin that you can not be a cop until you are 21 my dad is a cop and he told me that I can try to be a cop there when I am 18 and that if I work there for a while I can go to college and they might even pay for me. Im seventeen right now and I am thinking about applying when I graduate highschool next year. Do any of you think I have a chance to be in the academy by the time that I am 19??????

[Jynkxxie]

Age restrictions vary everywhere.

[ngcsubutterbar]

in ga you can go through the GAPOST academy at 18, but most places here only hire at 21, even jails now. Some places will hire at 18, but not many. The reason why I believe is the extra liability with someone not 21 carrying a weapon.

[99TAC]

Many academies start at age 18, but good luck getting a job as a cop that young. It doesn't matter if the minimum age is 12, anyone under 21 is still a liability because of maturity. Try all you want, it's just difficult.

[dercoderco]

Sorry i didnt know ow to edid my last post but if Im 18 I know it would be difficult but what would you say my chances are of getting hired within 6 months to a year of applying. Also will it help my dad being an officer there. I also think that I am mature eno9ugh to handle it and I am not the kind of person to act stupid or imature about thinkgs. I am eager to learn from the veteren officers and do whatever im told to . I also want to know if there are any other good sies for learning things. I am attending a trooper camp over the summer for high school juniors. Does anyone know anything about those camps. I really want to be a cop my whole life well at least since I was 2 or 3 before that all I really thought about was my next bottle.

So be honest what do you think my chances are and what is everything I should do to prepare?

Thanx in advance for any responses ;)

[metallicat]

What is the rush? Why not go to college or the military?

[Group9]

What is the rush? Why not go to college or the military?

That's good advice. Either one will get you a better LEO job later than the experience you would probably get as an 18 -20 year old police officer.

[dercoderco]

Because this is my dream job and its right there in fornt of me and I want ot do it. Should I try or not is what Im asking. The military just isnt what I want to do . Also what if I find out that Law Enforcement isnt for me . Even though I highly doubt that but I would still be able to try something else and then major in that you know.

The bottom line is am i being stupid by making the decision to hold off on college and trying to become a leo

[greenlead]

yes.

[metallicat]

Well go to college and take a program or whatever that is not criminal justice...take something you are interested in, and then not only do you have an education that you could get a job with if law enforcement doesn't pan out, but you won't be stuck with a degree that you might not use.

[ngcsubutterbar]

if you're interested in CJ take some of the courses as electives while you're still undeclared. Then declare FIDO hehe. personally I do believe that if you want anything higher than local work you will need some sort of schooling, getting a BS and having your agency pay for your masters is always a good way to go.

[dercoderco]

Ya but i fully plan on going to college while i am working. Whether they are paying for it or not . I want to one day down the road be a detective.

[99TAC]

I don't think you understand how hard juggling work and school will be. Go to school now, work later

[Dan]

What is the rush? Why not go to college or the military?

agreed, i plan to go in the military, great work experience and you can get great training. But if you go to college, get a degree in something usefull out of LE

[AnthonyM83]

The bottom line is am i being stupid by making the decision to hold off on college and trying to become a leo

You got THAT right. Every single officer I've talked to about my possible future as a cop has told me to finish college first. Sometimes it's the first thing out of their mouths when I say I'm interested. I've had maybe a dozen tell me this, from a variety of police departments, online and in real life.

It's good to have you degree in case you realize police work isn't for you or you have some kind of on the job injury that doesn't allow you to continue working. Having a degree as well as more life experience can help you get hired at a better place.