Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

[DltUNH]

I like many other people want a career in law enforcement. I have always been fascinated with the D.C. area and am almost certain on relocating to that area once I complete my undergraduate studies next spring. My only problem is, this is all I have. I don't have any work experience with any police forces around here. I am going to have two internships in my senior year and that is it. I really do not want to work in the local level due to the high amount of politics that is involved. The police force in my town is not corrupt but I know of alot of "you rub my back I'll rub yours" mentality. I really would like to know more about the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division more than any other, but info on other agencies such as Capitol Police, Pentagon Police, and Park Police would be appreciated. I will be graduating in June 05 with a dual major, Sociology and Justice Studies. I am projecting my GPA to be in the 3.4 area. Is it reasonable to think that I could get a job with the Uniformed Division with just a college career, or should I look into getting a job for a year as a part-time police officer (really do not want to do this). To be forewarned, I will probably have follow up questions to this one. This is something that I have been pursuing and I know pretty much anything that is on the Dept of the Treasury's website. So, if you have any inside info, I would really appreciate it if you have gone through the application process already.

Thanks for any replies I receive,
DLT

[gijoeyl33]

what exactly makes you think there wont be any political BS on a federal level. in all honesty there will be more

I like many other people want a career in law enforcement. I have always been fascinated with the D.C. area and am almost certain on relocating to that area once I complete my undergraduate studies next spring. My only problem is, this is all I have. I don't have any work experience with any police forces around here. I am going to have two internships in my senior year and that is it. I really do not want to work in the local level due to the high amount of politics that is involved. The police force in my town is not corrupt but I know of alot of "you rub my back I'll rub yours" mentality. I really would like to know more about the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division more than any other, but info on other agencies such as Capitol Police, Pentagon Police, and Park Police would be appreciated. I will be graduating in June 05 with a dual major, Sociology and Justice Studies. I am projecting my GPA to be in the 3.4 area. Is it reasonable to think that I could get a job with the Uniformed Division with just a college career, or should I look into getting a job for a year as a part-time police officer (really do not want to do this). To be forewarned, I will probably have follow up questions to this one. This is something that I have been pursuing and I know pretty much anything that is on the Dept of the Treasury's website. So, if you have any inside info, I would really appreciate it if you have gone through the application process already.

Thanks for any replies I receive,
DLT

[Switchback]

I hardly think there would be more ( we do not have to worry about getting midnight booking duty when there is a new Chief/Sheriff). There is plenty of politics in the fed arena, but I think most agree that it is less than the local level.

[tunlrat]

Having worked for both levels of govt. (local & Fed) I saw more politics at the Fed level, but maybe that's just me. It depends what local PD you work for; the smaller the more "political." As far as I've seen, yes one can apply for Secret Service UD with "only" a college degree (don't sell yourself short!). However, any meaningful work experience can certainly be helpful in your quest. They just want to see that you're responsible enough to hold down a job. I wouldn't necessarily count out being a local cop first too. Depending on your dept., you'll get invaluable training & experience that you can use in your potential future Fed career. In fact, word on the grapevine is that if you apply for the USCP, they'll highly consider & push former police & military folks through the app process. But don't take my word for it...

BTW, "part-time" police officer? Never heard of it, you must mean volunteer reserve cop. Some advice, future employers prefer PAID work experience. Still good though, all the fun of police work w/o all the hassles (but no $$ of course). Good luck & welcome to the "criminal justice major wanting Fed employment" club! :-)

[DltUNH]

BTW, "part-time" police officer? Never heard of it, you must mean volunteer reserve cop. Some advice, future employers prefer PAID work experience. Still good though, all the fun of police work w/o all the hassles (but no $$ of course). Good luck & welcome to the "criminal justice major wanting Fed employment" club!

Thanks for the initiation of the club. From what I hear there is quite a membership nationwide. About the part-time police thing, in New Hampshire there is a program called Special Police Officer. You have to apply for a department and then that department pays for your time at the police academy. The training is abbreviated and you have to back to the academy to become recertified as a full time officer should you choose to do so. You are stuck to their dept as part time mind you for an undetermined amt of time. This is a way for them to save money cause i'd make about 10 bucks an hr with no benefits and whatnot. The departments get their full time police officers from the pool of anxious and willing twenty year old cops who are willing to strap on a kevlar vest for 10 an hr. (Bitterness is due to the fact that cops are highly underpaid for putting their lives on the line everyday, but that's just an opinion). But anyways its a great way to get the foot in the door, but you need to know people and it's very political. I know many people and could take it, but I don't want to get caught in the bureaucracy and politics of my town. For all of you who said that the federal level has plenty of politics, I am well aware of this, but I would like to leave my family out of it since every one in my town knows eachother. Thanks for reading my post, and hopefully I can help some people with information I've heard.

DLT

[FPS207]

I like many other people want a career in law enforcement. I have always been fascinated with the D.C. area and am almost certain on relocating to that area once I complete my undergraduate studies next spring. My only problem is, this is all I have. I don't have any work experience with any police forces around here. I am going to have two internships in my senior year and that is it. I really do not want to work in the local level due to the high amount of politics that is involved. The police force in my town is not corrupt but I know of alot of "you rub my back I'll rub yours" mentality. I really would like to know more about the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division more than any other, but info on other agencies such as Capitol Police, Pentagon Police, and Park Police would be appreciated. I will be graduating in June 05 with a dual major, Sociology and Justice Studies. I am projecting my GPA to be in the 3.4 area. Is it reasonable to think that I could get a job with the Uniformed Division with just a college career, or should I look into getting a job for a year as a part-time police officer (really do not want to do this). To be forewarned, I will probably have follow up questions to this one. This is something that I have been pursuing and I know pretty much anything that is on the Dept of the Treasury's website. So, if you have any inside info, I would really appreciate it if you have gone through the application process already.

Thanks for any replies I receive,
DLT

Politics is a fact of life especially in law enforcement. When ever you deal with the public, it becomes political. I have been a police officer for ten years and politics has never been a big issue and I have worked for a Sheriff, who is an elected official. So choosing federal or local will not diminish the "political" aspect one bit. Choose the side you really have a desire to work for.

[DltUNH]

For everyone who has responded thanks very much. If everyone could ignore the comment I said about politics that would be great. I know politics is a fact of life. I just would prefer to not deal with being a local cop. There are many reasons for not wanting to be a local cop, and politics is just one of them. I didn't know so many people would respond to politics but at least you guys are reading it. And, just to add, I don't think that being a local cop is a bad thing, it's just that I would prefer not to be one for my own personal reasons. The point of my e-mail was simply if you could help me with information about the federal level of law enforcement that would be great. On a side note, I posted that thread about 6 last night and I have received a lot of replies, this is great. For all of you have gone through the application process as well as the training, it is appreciated very much that you spend your time responding to people's emails. I am taking every comment to heart, and I think I am a lot more educated as a result of looking at all the other great posts on this site. I have so many questions to ask, and I will wait but thanks for reading and responding.

DLT

[cecilVA]

Luckily the DC area has TONS of law enforcement opportunities that you can research, at all levels (local up to Federal). DC Law summed it up pretty good on those departments. You drive by the White House or the Capitol you will be seeing uniformed officers standing a post or sitting in a car. Sure some of them can do some cool stuff but ALL local cops get plenty of action in this area. All of the local departments around here have pretty good reputations. My point is this, don't lock yourself into the Federal level. I think a lot of people get drawn in by the mystique of being Federal and then end up being disappointed when they are standing by a metal detector for eight hours in the capitol. Keep this mind, I've read about lots of people leaving USSS UD, USCP, or Pentagon Police to go over to Park Police or DC Police (MPDC) because of the lack of actual police work. Don't hear much about people going the other way.

As far as hiring, USCP isn't hiring the numbers they used to be. I'm not sure about USSS UD or Pentagon Police. Your bachelors will be pretty good when applying to them b/c they only require a HS diploma.

[mcsap]

I would want to do some serious checking into what the job ACTUALLY entails. Just because the patch says police on it does not mean that you will be doing police type work. It seems that some of the Fed police are barely above a security guard.

After seeing DC Law's posts, if I was going to move to the DC area and wanted to become an officer, I would want HIS job. Not babysitting the Washington Monument.

[k9girl]

If you are trying to get into UD - just make sure you are completely honest on your background forms and on your poly - the GPA won't really matter with them, so don't sweat it! Try to get some type of exp- maybe if you live in DC area, get a special police job or something so you can get a little time under your belt. Also, be ready for a long process - the test is super easy, just be honest in the interview and poly

[FEDCOP1]

If you think we stand around well in some cases you might be right but just to let you know we do quite a bit there. We do get our share of drug arrests and DUI's.

UD...Stand around the White House all day
Capitol Police...Stand around the Capitol complex all day
Pentagon Police...Stand around the Pentagon all day.
Park Police...All the police work you can handle...unless you get assigned to stand around the monuments all day.


Yes, each of the above agencies DO have specialized jobs that do not entail standing at a door or gate checking ID's, but you'll have to pay your dues on the door posts for a while before you get to the better slots. USCP and Pentagon pay a little bit more than the others though.

[FEDCOP1]

Use it for a stepping stone but do not stay there. You either get treated bad by the agents or the staff. Clinton's staff from what I hear were the worst.

If you are trying to get into UD - just make sure you are completely honest on your background forms and on your poly - the GPA won't really matter with them, so don't sweat it! Try to get some type of exp- maybe if you live in DC area, get a special police job or something so you can get a little time under your belt. Also, be ready for a long process - the test is super easy, just be honest in the interview and poly

[superc]

[QUOTE=tunlrat BTW, "part-time" police officer? Never heard of it, you must mean volunteer reserve cop. Some advice, future employers prefer PAID work experience. Still good though, all the fun of police work w/o all the hassles (but no $$ of course). Good luck & welcome to the "criminal justice major wanting Fed employment" club! :-)[/QUOTE]

US Zoological Police (part of the Smithsonian) are considered part time, Temporary NTE one year appointments. Likewise many cities and towns, i.e., Ocean City, MD and Hunter, NY have seasonal positions that follow the swells and dips of tourist traffic. Ocean City for summer beach traffic and Hunter for winter ski traffic.

[gijoeyl33]

just for common info there are many "part time" officers in New Jersey shore towns due to the huge influx of populations. some entire departments are only part time. memorial day through labor day.[QUOTE=superc]

US Zoological Police (part of the Smithsonian) are considered part time, Temporary NTE one year appointments. Likewise many cities and towns, i.e., Ocean City, MD and Hunter, NY have seasonal positions that follow the swells and dips of tourist traffic. Ocean City for summer beach traffic and Hunter for winter ski traffic.

[Island_Girl]

I HAVE to input something about the politics because it's been my only other source of chaos/stress, next to the multiple moves.
Local politics is (IMO) about who knows who and who's in whose pocket? That's your domestic-brand of politics.

Federal? They have a lot more money, so they have a lot more politics, but it's a different kind of politics. You know, the kind you can't get off your shoes when you walk through it!!!?!?!?!