Questions about hiring

[wayne242]

Hello,

I start collage this spring (MA in criminology) and hoping to get some guidance on steps i need to take to get my foot in the door. I turn 25 next month, currently a certified firefighter through a volunteer fire department. As well as rappelling, high angle etc training under my belt. I also have some collage credits already through the fire service training and hope that will be beneficent to me in the hiring process.

Any suggestion in what steps i should take to better my chances at landing a job in law enforcement in the state of Kentucky would greatly be appreciated. Should i try a cadet program while in collage or is there some kind of internship for collage students enrolled in criminology?

Thanks for any advice, I'm open to answer any questions you might have for me as well.

[L-1]

Based on what you've [posted it sounds like you have a solid foot in the door if you want to go into the fire service. However, your background so far won't be of much help if you want to go into law enforcement.

Most police hiring is done by civil service exam. During that process you will take written and oral examinations that measure your ability to perform the duties of the position you are seeking. The more correct answers you give to the test questions, the higher your score. Hiring is usually based on your test score. Highest score gets picked first, next highest gets picked second, etc.

Testing usually focuses on things like criminal investigative techniques; Interview and interrogation processes and procedures; Various provisions of criminal law; Criminal procedures; Methods used in securing and preserving of evidence; Laws of arrest; Search and seizure; Developing techniques, methods and skills required in the conducting of criminal investigations; Applying laws and rules of evidence to specific situations; Gathering and analyzing facts and evidence and presenting such evidence as required; Analyzing situations accurately and taking effective action; Patrol procedures; etc., just to name a few. None of those things are covered by your prior experience.

A degree in Criminal Justice is meaningless. You will learn what you need to know during the academy and from in-service training. Should you ever become injured on the job and have to take a disability retirement (something that is fairly common) a CJ degree will be worthless to you when you seek new employment in private industry. If you intend to make a career in law enforcement and go up the ranks, consider a degree in business. Once you reach the rank of Lieutenant, your time will be occupied with budgets, labor relations, public affairs, communications and media, business plans, marketing, etc. - all the things a business degree was made for. You can fill your electives with CJ classes that will prepare you for the civil service exams and meet both your goals.

[Samuel]

psst, it's collEge... ;)

If you have a particular agency in mind, call their pre-employment/background people up and ask them...

[wayne242]

psst, it's collEge... ;)

If you have a particular agency in mind, call their pre-employment/background people up and ask them...

I have a problem with putting A in college for some reason, it happens. The agency in mind doesn't seem to want to answer questions since they have no positions open. I called yesterday and was rudely told "call back when we have a position open". I just considered it to be a busy day. They will have 4 new positions open in Jan.

@ L 1- Thanks, some very helpful info. I have been toying with taking recreational administration as my major and then criminology as a minor. As for a career in the fire service I'm not that interested in. I enjoy helping people and is why i volunteer, i really don't see my self at the local paid department around here. I have trained with the paid department and told i should apply, however they have such a low run volume and small size area of coverage. The LE side around here as a large coverage area and mid to high run volume.

I wanted to be in LE for quit a long time and probably why i have such a clean record(1 speeding ticket that was put on the self at age 16).

[DeltaV]

The college should have an internship program that will place interns with departments. I went to EKU and did an internship with Lexington PD when I was up there. That's a good way to at least get yourself known to the department and make some contacts that may help you when the hiring process starts.

I'm a little confused when you say that you're starting your MA in criminology, yet you already have "some college credits through the fire service." If you're starting on your master's degree you should already have a bachelor's, no?