What are my chances?

[nauzerlvr]

Ok, here's my deal. I was recently laid off my job I've had for the past 14 years (thanks Gannett) and I've always wanted to be a cop. I don't know why. My background is graphic design, marketing and photography. I'm 57 years old and have turned in my application to the police department. They seem interested in putting me on and have asked me several times about my military background. I was in the Air National Guard for 7 years. All my paperwork was turned in. I have a clean background and have nothing to hide. I really want to do this.

What are my chances? I'm not in terrible shape but I'm no spring chicken either.

[Laww]

I'm not that old (only 37), but I salute the fact you want to follow your dream. I am going after my dream as well.....almost there. :p

[manahmanah]

I am not going to say you are too old. I will say however, the process of becoming a police officer is far more expensive and extensive than people realize. They are going to want some sort of a return on their investment. Medical conditions as well as other things in your background will have a lot to do with whether or not you get hired.

If you are capable of doing the job, are not lazy, and not a coward, I am all for it and wish you the best. God knows we have enough younger guys that get one year on and think they're too good to do certain things, then have to be "taken down a notch." As long as you are going to be a hard working and qualified partner out there on my beat, I don't care.

[retdetsgt]

My dept has hired people around your age. Here it's not expensive, we pay for everything and pay you while you go to the academy. We have a few guys still working the street at 60+ and are good cops. Thankfully, I'm not one of them.

Some depts have upper age limits, but mine and a number of others don't. The problem is you have to work at least 5 years here to get any retirement benefits.

[nauzerlvr]

I had a heart attack 5 years ago, but I completely gave up smoking and haven't even so much as had a chest pain since. My doctor recently gave me a nuclear stress test and I passed it with flying colors.

I really want this to happen. I'm willing to take the chance.

I can assure you, I'm certainly not lazy or a coward and I can definitely pull my own weight. If I were any of those things I wouldn't even be contemplating this career change. I'm tired of corporate America. I''ve worked for a corporation for years and it got me nowhere. Now it's my turn to choose what I want to do. Yeah, I know the money isn't as good - so what! there's more to life than big paycheck. I can "trim the fat" easily. My car is paid off. My home is almost paid off. My wife died 11 years ago and I never remarried. My daughter is married to a doctor. Getting laid off was probably one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I've learned that life is just adapting to one change after another and how you adapt is what makes your life good or bad. Choices are important and this is a choice I fully intend to make. If by some grace of God I can make it I will give it all I can give!

My friends all say "you're too old" or "it's too dangerous" or "it's not enough money" and I just say, "it's my life and my choice to make to join this brotherhood. Some things aren't for everyone. Coming from a 7 year military background I know what it's like to be a part of a team that is expected to go into harm's way if necessary and what it feels like to trust your team members with your life. Not everyone has had that experience.

Some of you have. It's unforgettable. they are the best people in the world.

Coward? Lazy? Not hardly!

[retdetsgt]

Whoops. That would DQ you with my dept. A heart attack after you are hired would be considered on the job, no matter when or where you have it. Therefore they won't take anyone with the slightest history of heart problems.

[TXCharlie]

If your application is rejected, don't give up there - Definitely inquire at multiple departments about their physical requirements. Some departments are very strict, while others may not even have any physical requirements above the state minimum. You might even investigate getting your foot in the door by putting yourself through a college academy and Reserving for a couple of years. Sometimes Reserve physical requirements are lower than a full-time paid cop, but sometimes they're the same.

In Texas, the decision is left up to the departments and the medical doctor that they use for the physical. One agency's doctor may consider a physical defect like that to be a permanent DQ, while the next town's doctor may pass you based on a letter from your cardiologist detailing your limits, test results, and recovery success. Have that letter in your back pocket in case you need it. It may not do you any good, but it might.

Whether it's worth gambling your own money and time putting yourself through Academy and risking getting DQ'd everywhere you apply is something that only you can decide.

[manahmanah]

I think with your heart ailment it will be a major uphill battle. As was said by retdetsgt, out here in CA, if you are a cop and have a heart attack, it is automatically considered a workman's comp issue because of the very high stress level we go through on the job.

When I was working at our county jail one of our non sworn civilian support staff members was in his mid 50's, had previously had a heart attack, but was in otherwise great shape. He did not get hired as a Deputy Sheriff because of his health. He did however get hired at the probation department and is working at juvenile hall as a juvenile probation officer. This may be an option for you. It is still a LEO position, but you are not exposed to the same amount of on the job stress as street cops are. Look into it, talk to probation officers and see what your options are.

[seeking]

I commend you that you are willing to put forth whatever you need to in order to realize your dream. As others have pointed out, the heart attack could be a problem, but it's still worth trying. And each department is different. If you don't meet the standards for this one, try at another. Or, as grussum suggested, you might want to look into alternate positions that are still within law enforcement but not the same stress as patrol. Good luck to you in either case

[mcsap]

I do not wish to rain on your parade but when was the last time you worked a midnight shift ? or a whole bunch of them and rotated in and out of night shift ?

THAT can be very , very hard to adjust to. Please dont think that you will be put on daywork.

I work a month of nights and than 2 weeks of days. Then repeat.

[TXCharlie]

Ugg - Yeah I'm working a 6pm-6am shift every Saturday night, then having to go back to my 8am-5pm "day job" Mon-Fri. That part sucks, but it comes with the package.

I actually enjoy Saturday night more than my day job, but I sure will be glad when my FTO goes back to the day shift!

[nauzerlvr]

I do not wish to rain on your parade but when was the last time you worked a midnight shift ? or a whole bunch of them and rotated in and out of night shift ?

THAT can be very , very hard to adjust to. Please dont think that you will be put on daywork.

I work a month of nights and than 2 weeks of days. Then repeat.

Oh you're not "raining on my parade at all." And I appreciate all the input from everyone. The thing is. I'm not afraid to work nights. I was in the USAF so I know all about night work. Also I was laid off my job and I worked for a daily newspaper. I was called in all hours of the night and was on call 24/7. the night hours don't scare me at all.

I expect nothing nor do I hold any delusions of special treatment due to my age. While I've never been a police officer, I do realize what the sacrifices are and I stand ready to take them on. You see, I'm coming from the corporate world of cubicles and bosses that know less than you do about your job yet they're re in charge. I've had it with corporate greed and trying to climb the ladder to nowhere and working a dead end job that gives you no sense of accomplishment except to see someone else reap the benefits of your hard work.

I would welcome a change - a BIG change. It would be so nice to work a job where something you did might actually make a difference.

[seeking]

I know where you're coming from on the corporate life. I've only had a small taste of it and if I had to spend my life there, well, I will make sure that does not happen lol.

As for the midnights, I actually thought for awhile that I wanted a 9 to 5 job because working 2nd and 3rd shift I was up when no one else was, wasn't off when anyone else was, etc. Well, my current job's training was 9 to 5, and by the end of of it I was eager to get my old schedule back. Fortunately those hours line up pretty well with law enforcement (except that right now I'm getting weekends off and I'm sure I'll have to give that up).

[DeltaV]

Your prior heart problems would disqualify you medically here. An agency doesn't want you to have a heart attack on-duty and then have to pay you disability for the rest of your life because of something that could have been due to a preexisting condition. Florida also has a "Heart/Lung Bill" that states any LEO suffering from heart or lung problems is assumed to have gotten that condition from work. That's good for us but bad for the departments who have to pay the disability, so it makes any department extremely wary to hire someone with any type of cardiovascular problems in the past.

That said, even if you do get hired you will have to pass the same physical standards as 21 year old recruits in the academy. This includes miles and miles of running, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Your age itself won't disqualify you, but your age could also prevent you from being able to pass the physical standards unless you're in good shape.

If I were you, the first thing that I would do when talking to a department about putting in an application is to tell them about your prior heart problems and ask them point-blank if they would disqualify you medically. Federal labor laws require a conditional job offer be given before anyone can be subjected to a medical exam, so it would be unfortunate if you went through the entire application process only to be disqualified at the last step when you could have found out from the beginning.

Good luck to you.

[nauzerlvr]

[/QUOTE]If I were you, the first thing that I would do when talking to a department about putting in an application is to tell them about your prior heart problems and ask them point-blank if they would disqualify you medically. Federal labor laws require a conditional job offer be given before anyone can be subjected to a medical exam, so it would be unfortunate if you went through the entire application process only to be disqualified at the last step when you could have found out from the beginning.

Good luck to you.[/QUOTE]

You're exactly right. On the packet it states the following verbatim:

"The Madison Police Department is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, the presence of a non-job-related medical condition or handicap, or any other legally protected status."

I intend to hide nothing. If I pass the background check and am granted an interview, I will explain my medical status to them. My doctor has cleared me for pretty much anything including cycling, running and paintball.

The physical requirements are determined by age (my group is the 40+) according to the packet.

For Pre-entrance:
1.5 mile run - 50% - 20.10
Agility run - 50% - 21.85
Trunk flex inches - 60% - 1
Push ups - 50% - 12

To Graduate:
1.5 mile run - 70% - 16.30
Agility run - 570% - 20.05
Trunk flex inches - 70% - 9
Push ups - 70% - 26