How old were you when you became a police officer?

**greg72982** · 09-08-09 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by cntryboy0531

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.

I consider that an ongoing weakness of mine, that being relationship and parenting advice.

If people ask me what to do with their kids I can only tell them what they can do legally. I am not a parent, nor have I ever been, and am definitely not qualified to tell them how to raise their kids. I think that is only fair to them, and I am straight up and tell them that "Listen I don't have kids so I 'm probably not the best to give you parenting advice, but here is what the law says..."

Same with marriage. People aren't likely to ask you for marriage advice but I try to avoid going any further than giving my opinion about their significant other and what my experience has taught me on their future behavior. I will tell them if I think they need to move on to greener pastures. If I wanted to be a marriage counselor I would have pursued it, so I just try to act as a friend.

**retdetsgt** · 09-09-09 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by cntryboy0531

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.

Shoot, asking me for marital advice is like asking someone who's been bankrupt for financial guidance.....

**Buzliteyear** · 09-11-09 09:53 PM

23 years old at time of hire

**Sierra** · 09-13-09 05:40 PM

37.

**mrbelvetron** · 09-13-09 06:15 PM

Hired on my 22nd birthday, finished the academy and in-service 5 months later and was sworn in.

**Brendon** · 09-13-09 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by retdetsgt

Shoot, asking me for marital advice is like asking someone who's been bankrupt for financial guidance.....

You know.... you might make it on Wall Street. :cool:

**allipanda** · 09-13-09 08:18 PM

Truth - I have been wanting to go through the Academy forever but haven't had a chance to follow through with it. Is it too late?

It's perfectly o.k. to be honest!

Also, I am female, honestly, in the real world won't that make my chances even slimmer?

**Switchback** · 09-13-09 09:37 PM

You should not be too old in most jurisdicitons. You even have 2 years left to go into 6C positions in the federal realm.

BTW, do a search. This has been covered many times.

**Brendon** · 09-14-09 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by allipanda

Truth - I have been wanting to go through the Academy forever but haven't had a chance to follow through with it. Is it too late?

It's perfectly o.k. to be honest!

Also, I am female, honestly, in the real world won't that make my chances even slimmer?

Make a welcome post too! Welcome to RP.

**Sgt. Slaughter** · 09-14-09 10:00 AM

Back on topic.

25

**retdetsgt** · 09-14-09 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by allipanda

Also, I am female, honestly, in the real world won't that make my chances even slimmer?

No. A lot of larger depts are under the gun to diversify and women are more than welcome.

**JR180** · 09-14-09 03:02 PM

Still working on it...

I am 22 now but since I started applying at 19 I have received 3 "we are looking for someone more matured", 4 "we decided to go with someone who already has LE experience" 2 "thank you for applying but..." and once I was flat out told: "you are too young come back in a few years." I also flat out failed one test right in the middle of all of them. That was pretty frustrating.

I also have a buddy that I went to school with who got hired by a department looking for a single officer. He was 21.

**janego10** · 09-14-09 04:33 PM

I was 26 at time of hire and already a disabled veteran ( so I was already officially "retired").

**allipanda** · 09-16-09 02:50 AM

Thanks for the advice. I am 35 and have decided after doing the children and family thing it is time for me to do what I have always wanted to do. I am a Special Education Teacher right now and really enjoy working with kids, especially high school age. Being a cop is something I have wanted to do ever since I called in a burglary at my own house at the age of 16 and watched as 4 Houston Police Officers literally descended on my front LAWN lights and sirens going and guns drawn. By the way ya'll are extremely entertaining as well, I have had a lot of fun just reading through all of the posts.

**Roger Dat** · 09-16-09 12:51 PM

Best of luck.

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Thread: How old were you when you became a police officer?

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I'm 35?

Thanks for the advice!

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