Agree or disagree

[wolve]

My cousin was telling me that he feels that lawenforcement agencies should not hire people about to come out of college. He feels that they are young with limited life experiences. I totally disagree. I have not have any jobs that I call real jobs. Ive had the type of jobs college students have had, does this mean agencies would not view me as a serious applicant. I would find that hard to believe. I would like any comments. I would also like to hear from officers who can tell me what kind of rookies do they get in their academy. Hopefully some officers can respond. Ive heard of some college students who have had quite alot of jobs and it never affected them in getting a police job.

[rdp]

If you "only" went to college and never did anything else, sure you may lack certain experiences.

Blanket statements are bad to say.............you can't lump everyone into the same category as being bad or good.

[metallicat]

I disagree for the most part, applicants should be looked at on a case by case basis.

[wolve]

I also worked part time jobs while in college, that still means something

[Switchback]

Most of the guys we had with college and nothing else were co-op hires. They were (are) looked at as well behind the power-curve of most others with the same amount of time on the job. There are a few exceptions... very few. Even those with reserve military shwoed a significant difference as opposed to the co-ops.

As mentioned above, I hate making blanket statements. However, the original post was obviously looking for one and, if forced, that would be mine. It should be on a case-by-case basis, but with larger agencies, that can be very difficulot (time consuming and expensive).

[Group9]

Hiring people straight out of college has its good points and bad.

They can be a little green at first, but we've hired LEO's from small bedroom community PD's with five years experience who have never made a felony arrest or conducted an investigation either. Some of them have to get a lot of on the job training, too.

Plus, one of our instructor's described our academy to me as "plumber certified" meaning that they could take a plumber and he would be a pretty decent agent after going through and graduating. I would imagine that most LE academies are set up that way.

It's nice having experienced guys from other agencies and departments come on who already know what's going on, but there is something to be said for youthful exuberance in your first law enforcement job and that is something that you can only get once.

[Jynkxxie]

Yeah I agree it should be a case by case...If I don't get hired by the time I get out of college I guess I will miss the age limitation and then throw away another degree...

[rob1982]

I definitely disagree. I feel it should be a case by case basis. I worked in a factory after school while I was in high school. Now I work full time in a factory while paying my way through school. I may not have a law enforcement background already but I have held a job a lot longer than a lot of people plus go to school the same time.
Thanks
Rob

[HamptonTravels5]

If every place thought like your cousin did, none of us would have a job until we get at least 26, assuming that we went to college for four years. If we went for a Master's, then we wouldn't get a job until we've reached 28 to 30! By then, we would be thinking about retirement

As for so-called life-experience...well, I think that definition depends on your up-bringing. Let's say you have one guy who grew up in the subbiest of the suburbs, in a very, VERY sheltered, conservative community, doesn't know what marijuana smells like, never seen poverty, never been exposed to much violence, and worked for a small corner store for five years. He has been home-schooled, never allowed to watch much t.v...you know, the whole works. Let's say you also have another guy who grew up in ''da hood'' of Los Angeles, been exposed to much violence, seen much poverty (in fact, lived in poverty), knows very well what weed smells like, seen friends get killed because of gangs, went to school with violent children throughout his 12 years of school, seen prostitution, drunkenness, rape victims, teen pregnancy, suicides, etc., etc., and seen all of this before his 15th birthday. This guy knows what it's like in the ''real world,'' something that five years on a job wouldn't give him. Who should a police department hire if they were looking for an ''experienced'' person: the suburb guy or the ''ghetto'' guy? Which one would bring more to the table at the police department? If it were up to me, I'd hire the guy from L.A., because he knows how it's like on the streets. The other guy doesn't have a clue. And police work is work on the streets.

We need to be careful when we talk about ''life experiences.'' Working as a secretary for five years just means that you have experience in getting a paycheck, dealing with an employer who has issues, and sitting in a chair for 8 hours (7 if you don't include lunch breaks) staring endlessly at a computer screen and straining your eyeballs. But in the end, it wouldn't prepare you for what you'll be dealing with as a cop.

[Stump]

Of course, LE isn't just a matter of "life experiences". The main focus is on how you HANDLE being involved in those experiences as LE.
Maturity is the issue, not life experiences.

[TALLON]

When I graduated from college I was 22 and pickled from the partying. For me, I was not ready to take on the huge responsibility of being a Police Officer...not to mention that I had almost no real-life experience(s) to draw from. Unless you consider getting up for class hung-over life experience.

But everybody is different.

[Darin]

28 to 30! By then, we would be thinking about retirement

Oh no you didnt.....Not another one thinking that 30 is middle aged! LMAO :D

[HamptonTravels5]

I thought 25 was middle-aged...that's when your car insurance goes down, right? :D

[Darin]

25 middle aged? BBWWAAHHHAAAAAAA

Wait till you get married and pass 30. ;)

[HamptonTravels5]

Marriage? No, that's okay, I think I'll stay happy instead.