Basic Law Enforcement Officer Academy???

[volrock]

Hello

I am thinking about going to the Basic Law Enforcement Officer Academy at Walters State in Morristown Tn its an 8 week course

My ?s are

I am 45, am I to old to be hired as a police man? I dont feel old...I am 6 foot 1 195. Always wanted to be a police man.. And I just got laid off, and thinking its now or never.

In other words I dont want to go to an 8 week course and spend 2000.00 to have the door shut on me over age.

Also how is the boot camp part...I can run, just dont know if I can run as far or as long as a 20 year old..LOL

[Kimble]

Without knowing you personally (and knowing your physical fitness level), I can't answer the question of whether or not you're too old to become a cop, but you should be able to. In the POST academy I attended, a 50-something year old recruit died of heart complications while doing the run. He wasn't in my class, but from my understanding, he was fit and had no prior signs of heart disease.

People in their 40's and 50's do and can get hired (I had one who was a former paramedic in my class), but you may have to work harder to keep up with the pack of 20's and 30's. I'd also recommend inquiring with agencies you're interested in, as some agencies have age cut offs (I know of some that won't hire new hires after age 37), but this doesn't apply for every department in the U.S.

[Roger Dat]

I'm not sure what the standards are but 8 weeks seems like only part of an academy, Ive never heard of an academy that short. Do some research before you jump right in.

[volrock]

I know of some that won't hire new hires after age 37

I know in Morristown(City) Tn they have a cut off at 35...its in their job ad in the paper.

Whats funny is at the bottom it states...We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, AGE. etc

Sounds to me as they do discriminate on the basis of age, they will turn down a 38 year old but not a 34 year old.

And the ONLY reason for the turn down is AGE and AGE alone!

[Switchback]

As far as I know, most agencies that have a hiring age cut-off do so because fo mandatory retirement ages. Why would they hire you if they cannot get the retirement requirement out of you (whether it is 20 or 25 years). For example, I am with one of those agencies that has a 37 year old cut-off. We have mandatory retirement at 57, so hiring you before you turn 37 is the only way to get 20 years out of us.

...also, while you are in fine shape now, I have not seen many 65 year olds that I want backing me up in a brawl after running 300 yards on a chase!

[volrock]

Then don't say you don't discriminate on the basis of age...when in fact you do!

[Kimble]

Then don't say you don't discriminate on the basis of age...when in fact you do!

You need to back off the aggressive tone now, volrock. Switchback gave you the answer to a question, but we don't make the rules, the administrators who run the agencies we work for do. We can't change it for you, and bitching to us (and even casting your frustration on us) is not going to be tolerated.

Chill out now or you'll be shown the door.