How old were you when you became a police officer?

[retdetsgt]

Wait a minute...Cincy's name is Collin?? :eek:

Oh Geez! Now he's gonna have to kill you!

[danninator]

Hired at 20, graduated the academy at 21.

I work with a few guys that are 18-19 years old. One would have been in violation of our juvenile curfew ordinance if he were out last year during the hours that he works now. :confused:

[retdetsgt]

Hired at 20, graduated the academy at 21.

I work with a few guys that are 18-19 years old. One would have been in violation of our juvenile curfew ordinance if he were out last year during the hours that he works now. :confused:

I dunno, but I don't think I've ever met a teenager who was ready to be a cop. It's not like the military where they're armed, but they usually have close supervision. Putting a kid out on the street by himself troubles me.

[Roger Dat]

I agree honestly I think maturity levels on the average a cop should be 25 before hitting the road. I thought I was ready at 21 glad I didnt get hired till 25. I saw the difference in myself and I think I was better for it.

[cruzmisl]

I was 34. I sent out one application, got the call and was hired. I agree life experience makes a huge difference.

[freezn]

finally matured at 32.. thats when i sworn in. :D

[Lawson]

I was first sworn in at 19-years old for a Boating Enforcement Officer position then sworn into being a regular reserve police officer when I was 21.

[Brendon]

Hired at 20, graduated the academy at 21.

I work with a few guys that are 18-19 years old. One would have been in violation of our juvenile curfew ordinance if he were out last year during the hours that he works now. :confused:

That reminds me of an Officer (from another site) telling me about when he was hired at a State that allowed 18 year olds. His dad brought his bullets for range, and he could legally go into bars on 'official business', but couldn't go in afterwards. I actually think he posts here.

[retdetsgt]

That reminds me of an Officer (from another site) telling me about when he was hired at a State that allowed 18 year olds. His dad brought his bullets for range, and he could legally go into bars on 'official business', but couldn't go in afterwards. I actually think he posts here.

Notice a trend here where all the people that came on when older say it was better that they didn't come on at a young age?

[CCBlueMan]

I was 24 when I started working in our jail. 25 when I became an LEO

[greg72982]

I was 22 going on 23.

The only people that think 18 year olds are old enough to be cops are the 18 year old cops.

[Brendon]

I was 22 going on 23.

The only people that think 18 year olds are old enough to be cops are the 18 year old cops.

Even I don't think 18 year olds should be cops. I don't have that level of maturity yet, and most of the population at that age doesn't either. I'm still continuing on my education, which is important in any career.

[retdetsgt]

I was 22 going on 23.

The only people that think 18 year olds are old enough to be cops are the 18 year old cops.

I probably would have been okay at 21, but I'm glad I didn't come on then. At 18, I'm sure I thought I would have been old enough, but in fact I probably shouldn't have been allowed behind the wheel of a car......

[Lawson]

I think I was probably mature enough when I was 16 or so. If I would have been hired at 16 to early 17, all crime would be solved.

[cntryboy0531]

Notice a trend here where all the people that came on when older say it was better that they didn't come on at a young age?

After coming on at a young age (19 academy, 20 on the road) I also agree. I considered myself a bit ahead of the curve maturity wise. But life experiance wise, I was way behind the curve than my older counterparts. At 24, and now have almost four years on, I still have lots to learn, but I am leaps and bounds ahead of where I was. Not only was learning to be a cop difficult, but throwing in the fact I had to "counsel" people twice my age on adult problems I've never really faced (other than petty crap I experianced through people I knew of at around my age). Learning to be a cop is one thing, gaining life experiance is a completely different one.

It's hard to look someone in the eye and tell them how to fix their marriage for example, when you've got really no idea what it's like to be married. I knew how to talk to people on a down to earth level (thank god for my family) and even had "some" street smarts. But, hands down, my older counterparts that were just as new, had a lot better handle on dealing with certain situations that I did.

Life experiance wise, I'm leaps and bounds ahead of my peers for the most part. Some are just getting out on their own and experiancing the world. But, thats now.

Having said that, I don't "regret" getting hired at the age I did. However, I definately see the wisdom with what a lot of these folks are saying.