Former Wanna-Be

[duck99655]

Tallon

KaiGywer had a great point. Have you considered Reserves.

My situation was very similer to yours. ( Good job and enjoy doing it, kids,etc) but the fire still burns. I guess that once its in you blood you can't shake it.

At 35 y/o and after 15 years for trying to keep the "fire" under control, I start my training in Feb for State Constable in South Carolina (a fully sworn officer with statewide jurisdiction).

Anyway, Best of luck and keep up the great attitude.

[Granite]

Tallon,
Valor touched on it but unless someone has lived up there they dont know how tough it really is to get on. I went through the same BS that you went through. Even though I grew up in MA, the way they pick their LEO's (civil service) makes me sick to my stomach!!! It is the most arse backwards thing there is. The test and how they establish a list is sooo stupid. And then even when they do have the list, you will see dept's pick #300 on the list over #1 because of connections. Soo the test is dumb for both the selection process and the way they think they are picking the best potential officers from the dumb test to begin with.
I made the decision to never take the test. NH is the complete oppiste, each dept no matter how big or how small does there own hiring. I moved to NH and started my search for LEO job there. It lasted 2 years of wasting my money on tests, taking all sorts of tests. Only to see the chiefs Grandson get on. If you dont have LE experiance or you dont know someone it is tough as hell to get hired or you have to wait a long long time. I remember one town that there was 30 people going for a part time job in this small piss ant town. The chief comes out during the test and acts like its the best place to work in the world and we should be honored to even take the test. What a joke!! I have done more in the last 2 years on the street than that guy has done his whole LE career, I guarantee it!
That small town was one of many jobs I didnt get but in a good way it pissed me off soo much that I said I didnt care if I had to move to Alaska to be a cop, I was going to do what I wanted to do. Soo I applied with a big city down south and got hired. I had to leave my home and all my friends and move far away but it was worth it. I have the experiance now that I can probably get any job in NewEngland that I want. What's funny is now I think I am too qualified for those small cities and towns. I would get bored to death in no time at all. In 2 years I went from not being able to get a job, to if I move back up it will only be for NH State Troopers.
If you decide you want a LE job, move down south and put in a few years. It will change everything on your resume. Also I dont know where you are in NewEngland but NH is 20 and out. You could be 40 and still retire at 60. Im 29 soo when I move back up I will be all set but im just saying, your really not too old. And your never too old to start doing what you love.