A Career in Law Enforcement - Please Evaluate.

[AdrianS]

To begin, to all the men and women on this forum who are officers of the peace, thank you for your hard work and dedication. We all appreciate you.

For the sake of everyone’s time, I’ll get to the personal information. I’m currently living in L.A. county. At the age of 31, I’ve made a career with NASA, in the realm of policy compliance since earning my degree in Journalism in 2002. In those six years, I’ve received seven awards for performance (including team based awards) as well as a promotion to a leadership role. While in college, I was an At-Risk youth counselor in the San Fernando Valley, where I encouraged young men and women to focus on education and avoid the streets.

I have no criminal record; in fact, I managed my first traffic violation about a month ago. This will be cleared in the next 60 days. Unfortunately, a friend of mine is on probation for grand theft; a crime I wasn’t aware of until well after his arrest. I’m unsure how that will impact the review of my background.

Over the past several months, the idea of a career in law enforcement has been in the forefront of my thoughts. My neighborhood was secured one night, by LAPD, due to a U.S. Marshal shooting a robbery suspect. I was not permitted to go home as it was within the perimeter. I spent nearly four hours with two motor officers (at the end of an 11 hour day) from two very different backgrounds, expressing our mutual respect for our careers.

It donned on me, after our animated and involved conversation that I’m not close enough to the community aspect of my career. NASA does incredible acts for our nation, and the world, but I’m too far removed. I feel as though I’d rather have my “boots on the ground.”

I’m confident that I have the appropriate support system in place – my girlfriend is very supportive of the idea of becoming a police officer. Ultimately, I seek the position of detective (and will seek an additional career in Criminal Justice after hiring).

I’ve composed a basic plan/methodology to prepare for my potential hiring –

• I’m joining an indoor firing range, where I will take a basic fire arm safety course. I will then log in several hours of practice time before I am hired in. I have never fired a firearm.
  
• I will be once again, working out to improve my conditioning and strength.
  
• Changes in lifestyle will occur to account for change in pay (I will take a pay cut - the money will come, but it's time for me to give back).

Currently, I’m in the information collecting phase, seeking input/feedback. So I’ll humbly pose the following questions:

1. Does my current career background appear suitable for a career in law enforcement?
   
2. Am I too old? Is it too late for me to become a detective?
   
3. Will my friend's conviction hurt my chances?

I’m attempting to schedule a meeting (and a ride-along) with a current officer serving with the South Gate Police Department, as well as a former Sheriff’s deputy.

Any feedback, comments, criticism, follow up questions, mentoring will be appreciated.

Respectfully,
Adrian.

[Kimble]

I managed my first traffic violation about a month ago. This will be cleared in the next 60 days.

You've chosen a very "odd" way of simply stating you got a traffic citation, and that you will either pay the ticket or contest it in court. Not to be harsh, but don't try to "wow" us with your elite vocabulary. Just talk like a normal guy. Your work with NASA and education is somewhat impressive, but if you want to be a cop, you need to be able to communicate with all segments of society, not just the most-educated.

Unfortunately, a friend of mine is on probation for grand theft; a crime I wasn’t aware of until well after his arrest. I’m unsure how that will impact the review of my background.

Unless your friend is applying for the job, it's a non-issue. Your criminal record will be evaluated, but unless you're hanging out with drug peddlers or career criminals, it's likely a non-issue.

[*]I’m joining an indoor firing range, where I will take a basic fire arm safety course. I will then log in several hours of practice time before I am hired in. I have never fired a firearm.

Unless you've had law enforcement training in firearms, this is a BAD idea. If you go out there to "get used to shooting", you may easily develop bad habits and reinforce them. Resist the temptation to teach yourself to shoot, as I assure you, it will not help you. In a police academy, you will be taught the proper way to shoot, and then you can practice those good habits once they become muscle memory. Again, BAD idea to take this into your own hands without proper training beforehand.

[*]I will be once again, working out to improve my conditioning and strength.

Nothing wrong with this, so long as you can pass or exceed any pre-employment physical fitness tests a department or police academy will require.

[*]Changes in lifestyle will occur to account for change in pay (I will take a pay cut - the money will come, but it's time for me to give back).

Nothing wrong with that.

[*]Does my current career background appear suitable for a career in law enforcement?

Sure.

[*]Am I too old? Is it too late for me to become a detective?

Nope. The feds seem to be the most restrictive for age requirements, and even they allow entry until age 37 yoa.

[*]Will my friend's conviction hurt my chances?

Again, unless it's your friend who is applying, or you're in cahoots with his/her criminal activity, it's likely a non-issue.

[AdrianS]

ROS,

Thank you for your feedback. I'll take the criticism regarding my vocabulary as constructive - I am able to speak to anyone, on any level. When I discuss careers, I try to be as professional as possible.

Thank you for pointing out that possible weakness.

The traffic violation was a failure to completely stop, while making a right hand turn on a red light. The famous "California Roll." I have paid the fine and will be attending traffic school to clear up the point on my driving record.

As far as the shooting range goes, would it be at least beneficial to learn the operating parts of a firearm? I'm guessing I can do this with some real quick Google work.

I don't hang out with criminals and my time spent with this particular friend is very limited since he moved several towns away. Thank you for clearing this up.

Thanks again for your honesty and help!

-Adrian

[Kimble]

I'll take the criticism regarding my vocabulary as constructive

That's exactly how it was intended. ;)

As far as the shooting range goes, would it be at least beneficial to learn the operating parts of a firearm? I'm guessing I can do this with some real quick Google work.

Again, it's your money, but I'd STRONGLY recommend against this. Now, if you want to find a NRA-certified instructor, that MAY help, however, the NRA seems to teach modified isosceles stance, which many departments/agencies use today, but you never know. If the department who hires and trains you doesn't teach this, you will be at a substantial disadvantage, and you'll have wasted however much you paid for the training. But again, it's your money.

[AdrianS]

That's exactly how it was intended. ;)



Again, it's your money, but I'd STRONGLY recommend against this. Now, if you want to find a NRA-certified instructor, that MAY help, however, the NRA seems to teach modified isosceles stance, which many departments/agencies use today, but you never know. If the department who hires and trains you doesn't teach this, you will be at a substantial disadvantage, and you'll have wasted however much you paid for the training. But again, it's your money.

Understood. What I was thinking was a basic familiarity course - having never fired a firearm before, I'm not sure what to expect (beyond the obvious). I do see your point about being a piece of clay going into the academy, when it comes to firearms. I'm just looking for anything I can do to be as prepared as possible.

If you have any ideas, I'm all eyes/ears.

Thanks again.

[Kimble]

Just realize that when it comes to firearms - as well as pretty much all training in the basic police academy training you'll receive if hired - they are going to teach it to the lowest denominator level. They will teach firearms to everyone, from those who served in infantry units in the armed services to recent college grads and others who've never handled a firearm, as if you have no knowledge of how to use and fire a weapon.

[jsk02a]

ROS,

As far as the shooting range goes, would it be at least beneficial to learn the operating parts of a firearm? I'm guessing I can do this with some real quick Google work.

It's really simple to use a firearm, and I think you are thinking far too hard about it.

[DeltaV]

I see nothing wrong with learning the nomenclature and operation of various firearms (semi-autos, revolvers, shotguns, rifles, etc.) if you really are that interested, however I echo ROS's suggestion of not going out and getting any firearms training until the academy. If you are dead-set on shooting a gun before the academy, go to a range, rent one, and shoot 50-100 rounds. Considering you'll probably shoot several thousand rounds in the academy, you won't really pick up any bad habits running through one box of ammo. Still, this is completely unnecessary as the firearms instructors at the academy realize that there are recruits who have never shot a gun before.

If any agencies in your area allow ride-alongs, I would suggest doing that as well. I'm not saying that you have a misconstrued notion of what law enforcement is, however it is VERY different from your current job. In order to become a detective, you have to first be a good street cop. This means conducting thorough investigations, making good arrests, and being able to effectively communicate with everyone. Some people think that just because they have a good deal of formal education they would make a good detective, which honestly means absolutely nothing. I work with a guy who has a master's degree who couldn't investigate his way out of a wet paper bag, and several of our best homicide detectives only have a high school diploma. I'm not knocking education in any way (I'm pursuing a graduate degree), however this is not a job where formal education is a good indicator of competence.

[noelchabanel]

There probably aren't too many English or Humanities majors working at NASA, but as has ROS has pointed out directly, and DeltaV has pointed out indirectly, good writers use SAT words sparingly. ;)

[AdrianS]

Thank you for the feedback.

I never assumed that because I have a degree, I would be good at anything. The world is filled with poor writers who have degrees in journalism.

Thanks again.