Connections/Contacts?

[ASUsundevil5]

"It's not what you know, it's who you know" --Does this really apply in the law enforcement area, i.e. applying for a position in an agency where you know people, whether it's friends, family etc..

Just curious what others have experienced or have as opinions?

[retdetsgt]

Not in mine. It's strictly civil service. I've known sons and daughters of current police officers who failed the test and didn't get hired. That's true in many small agencies though, I suspect.

[Kimble]

"It's not what you know, it's who you know" --Does this really apply in the law enforcement area, i.e. applying for a position in an agency where you know people, whether it's friends, family etc..

Just curious what others have experienced or have as opinions?

I would say it depends. Many larger agencies have centralized hiring processes, so if you know Officer Such-and-such, it likely won't matter (if you know the chief, that may be a different matter). Alternatively, very small departments may still operate on the good-ole-boy system (I know of two such departments, but they are less than 10-sworn in size). Suffice to say that generally speaking, while networking is good in all professions, one should not bet on who they know in LE to land them the job.

[MagnumForce]

"It's not what you know, it's who you know" --Does this really apply in the law enforcement area

YES, that applies for any job/career. I've seen it happen where a candidate knew everyone (by name) in the LE office building when I took one of the tests. I don't know anyone on the inside. If you get the job on your own, congrats.

[Patriot08]

Alright ASUsundevil5, you got some hard choices. Take the advice of retdetsgt (verified leo) and ROS (verified leo) or...........Magnum. Tough choices. I wouldnt have gotten involved in this thread, but I know a couple of police officers and to say that it is "who you know" is an insult to everyone who earned their way on their respective dept. I believe the other 2 verifieds when they say that is true is some small towns, but to generalize Magnum? Not really fair to a lot of people.

[Legoate]

I didn't know a soul in the department when I got hired. I'd say the majority of the people in my academy didn't know anyone either. We had a couple of people who were prehire student trainees, but one of them was one of the first ones to be washed out of the academy.

I'm guessing if magnumforce didn't get a job offer it was due to reasons other than preferential hiring practices.

[TheQuietCorner]

As a non-LEO non-expert on the topic, I'd like to add a little of what I've noticed in my area. If the department has prior experience with you, at least in the mid to small sized departments in my area, and that experience was good, they are more likely to hire you. We had one guy who was a CSO for 3 years on the department and an Explorer for 7 years hired as a police officer quickly. He had to pass the test like everyone else, but once that happened (and for those who look at this negatively, this was a bright guy, so he passed the test on his own merits), he was easily selected because he had prior employment with them. We had another Explorer of 6 years a number of years ago that was hired as an Officer as well.

From what I understood, the fact that they have a greater understanding of their personality and who they are otherwise, helps quite a bit. If you've worked for that department and they've liked you there, that will often help. At least from what I've seen. On the other hand, just knowing people well will likely not help you outside the department, and it will be no guarantee inside the department. I applied for several non-sworn positions at other departments to no avail. Who I knew didn't help me at all. I just wasn't what they were looking for. I did recently, however, get hired at my department. Knowing the people there helped a little because they had a good understanding of my personality beforehand. At least that's how I see it. They didn't just magically open up a spot for me though. I've been waiting for it for 2 1/2 years. So I'd say get to know people. It can't hurt, but don't expect it to get you a job.

Is my .02 OK?

[Nole795]

I went from local, to state, to federal law enforcement and I did not know a soul who helped me get hired. I got through due to my resume and work ethics. I will tell you it does help in a way if you intern at an agency, at least the recruiter can vouch for the worker you are.

I have heard the rumors that this occurs in Sheriff's Department, but again I only hear rumors and have yet to see it proven.

[retdetsgt]

YES, that applies for any job/career. I've seen it happen where a candidate knew everyone (by name) in the LE office building when I took one of the tests. I don't know anyone on the inside. If you get the job on your own, congrats.

Baloney, for any?????. You know all about all depts and jobs in the world? :rolleyes: You haven't a clue what you're talking about. Maybe you didn't get the job because you didn't pass the test.

[ASUsundevil5]

I went from local, to state, to federal law enforcement and I did not know a soul who helped me get hired. I got through due to my resume and work ethics. I will tell you it does help in a way if you intern at an agency, at least the recruiter can vouch for the worker you are.

I have heard the rumors that this occurs in Sheriff's Department, but again I only hear rumors and have yet to see it proven.

I'm glad to see people like yourself who move up in the LE field on work ethic and your resume. As I have been trying to do the same by taking internships and volunteering in a wide range of agencies, in addition to building my resume.

The reason I brought this subject up is I have heard the stories of those getting positions in federal agencies based on family or knowing individuals who can make the process a little bit easier. I just wanted to see if it was really that important, but from the LEO's who have posted so far, I see it is not a big issue, which is a good thing!

Thanks everyone for the comments

[Mr.Melon]

I made it into my academy on my own, but I don't know why people are attacking magnum for him saying that he feels that there is some preferential hiring. Especially since he DIDN'T say that it's in EVERY department, he said it's in every profession. And to some degree, that's true; you can't possibly argue that. Also, New York PD is notorious for being very connection-based; at least, that's what I've read in some books written by NY cops.


Obviously, knowing people can't hurt, but if you're qualified, and there's a place for you, you should get on. Fair enough?

[Patriot08]

I made it into my academy on my own, but I don't know why people are attacking magnum for him saying that he feels that there is some preferential hiring. Especially since he DIDN'T say that it's in EVERY department, he said it's in every profession. And to some degree, that's true; you can't possibly argue that. Also, New York PD is notorious for being very connection-based; at least, that's what I've read in some books written by NY cops.


Obviously, knowing people can't hurt, but if you're qualified, and there's a place for you, you should get on. Fair enough?

ASUsundevil5 asked if "its not what you know, its who you know." Magnum said yes. Period. He generalized. Retdetsgt and ROS both agreed that in some cases this is true and in others it is not. That is fine because they didnt generalize. I read Magnum's post to imply that all police officer are hired because of who they know, not their qualifications. Obviously others agreed with me. If that was not Magnum's intentions then he should come back here and clarify.

[Bearcat06]

If that was not Magnum's intentions then he should come back here and clarify.

Magnum is no longer an active member of this board......

[fedhopeful]

Alright ASUsundevil5, you got some hard choices. Take the advice of retdetsgt (verified leo) and ROS (verified leo) or...........Magnum. Tough choices. I wouldnt have gotten involved in this thread, but I know a couple of police officers and to say that it is "who you know" is an insult to everyone who earned their way on their respective dept. I believe the other 2 verifieds when they say that is true is some small towns, but to generalize Magnum? Not really fair to a lot of people.

Well at risk of being a -stick whatever you wish here- you're not being "really fair to a lot of people" who might have something to offer on this topic or others like it by saying "tough choices" solely on the basis of the glorious verified tag. This isn't a topic that only a LEO would know the answer to. Maybe somebody here works for the civil service agency who provides testing for these jobs, maybe somebody here is a civilian at a LE agency and have garnered a complete understanding how hiring at their agency is done. Etc.

Now I agree that Magnum generalized with his statements, but well, your statements can be read as saying every non-verified with an opinion is rather worthless and should not contribute. Before someone points it out, yes, I see he's a non-verified as well. Doesn't matter. Maybe I've gone too deep. Maybe there's simply something against Magnum who I see is banned and not the rest of the non-verified wannabes, gonnabes, trollabes, xxxxabes. Good night.

[Rad Diver]

Everyone knows me in my agency and we are rather a large one.

I'm the guy who finds all the dead people, "I see dead people". But, that could be a bad thing too! Why am I always the one who finds dead people, am I a suspect?

Things that make you go hummmmmm!!!!!