Federal Agent Question?

[BoxingBoy]

Is it rare for local police officer with only patrol experience to get hired as a Federal Agent, or does it happen quiet often, thank you.

[madchiken]

Depends on the agency and position. "Federal Agent" is a pretty broad term.

[Kimble]

Is it rare for local police officer with only patrol experience to get hired as a Federal Agent, or does it happen quiet often, thank you.

I worked patrol prior to becoming a federal agent (1811). I had an advanced degree, and worked a few years in management in the private sector prior to becoming a cop, all which I was told gave me a competitive edge. A few other agents in my basic class were patrol officers, though all the ones I can think of were prior military officers before becoming cops (and everyone had at least a bachelor's degree). All other former local/state law enforcement officers in my basic class were investigators/detectives.

It's possible - I'm proof of that - but you may want to seek investigative experience with your department first to help make you more competitive.

[Sierra]

I know of several former police officers in ICE as IEAs. I don't really talk to the 1811s much.

[Switchback]

In terms of 1811s, each agency has its own "flavor". Some focus more on LE-experience than others. The DEA and USMS tend to like LE experience. ICE is a little more diversified. It seems like LE is not emphasized very much for FBI. To each their own, really.

[Wolfman]

I was a patrol officer, but I was also a Naval Officer for about 5 years active duty and a little reserve.

It's probably possible to come in with just patrol work though - a fellow SA was a patrolman for about 10 years, but he was also a traffic investigator. I think in about 99% of the police agencies, patrolmen still do enough investigative activities over time to help them on the resume for a federal agency.

In most Fed Agency resumes, it is good to sell your investigative activities which you have done while on patrol; and if you need to build the investigative end of your resume up - see if your department is good with the idea of you possibly picking up some "low hanging fruit" or shadow a detective doing an investigation duringn your lower call volume time.

[Kimble]

see if your department is good with the idea of you possibly picking up some "low hanging fruit" or shadow a detective doing an investigation duringn your lower call volume time.

BoxingBoy has to get hired first, he's currently a college student. ;)

[Nole795]

One of the things I did when I was a patrol officer was to follow up on the cases that were "grounders". Which were cases that the officer would work, gathering evidence, and obtaining a warrant, as opposed to sending the case up to Investigations. I did this so I could mark off "investigation experience" on my application to the feds.

Personally, if you can get a guy to confess to a crime in the backseat of a patrol car, you can darn well do it in a controlled interview room.

Good luck to you.

[schoromanski]

BoxingBoy

The people I have met at Customs, and ATF are diverse. Some of them were local police prior to getting hired on. If it is true that you are a college student, seek out federal internships, or even some with the local PD they will be an eye opener for you, it has been for me. The one link I was going to give you has expired that talks more about this, but anything is possible.

[1depd]

I worked at a small local PD in the middle of a large metropolitan area. We had one "detective" so most of the investigations were done by patrol officers. The only time the detective would get involved was if follow up was required at a time when the patrol officer was off duty. Add to this the one good SGT we had, insisted that we conduct as much of the investigations as possible, to increase our skills. It made for good experience and allowed us to work rather complex cases as well as taking care of minor issues.

[USSSMatt]

The USSS has a diversified former-job workforce. I was a police officer (non-detective) for three years before I was hired as an 1811, but I've met former flight attendants, former military guys, former bankers, former teachers, former landscapers, etc.