How old were you when you became a police officer?

[NoSlak]

Turned 40 this year and have been a contractor for 10 years.
Academy start date Oct.27 , Can't wait for the change !!!!!

[danninator]

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.

The good thing is the majority at that age here are part-timers that are put on a footbeat squad. Their Sergeant or OIC is always within a minute of walking distance.

I did work with o ne 19 y/o who went directly to patrol, I didn't realize how young he was until I invited him for a beer and wings after work one night he said he'd only be able to have the wings.

He actually ended up being one of our best "new guys" but I think a lot of his maturity came from working on his father's fishing boat and actually WORKING. Generally I do agree with the older the better. I couldn't see myself at 18 doing this job just not enough life experience.


My younger brother wants to have a career in law enforcement. I'm sure I could secure him a part-time job out of high school but after talking he decided to first join Coast Guard reserve and attend a community college. Then transfer to a 4 year school and begin applying with the ultimate goal of joining the State Police.

May be one of his best moves and look more favorably than being sworn-in at 18.

[retdetsgt]

May be one of his best moves and look more favorably than being sworn-in at 18.

I think giving an 18 year old a credit card is irresponsible. Just about every 18 year old kid I know that got a credit card went out and immediately ran up a balance and made minimum payments. That's exactly how a lot of people who are now in debt to their eyeballs got started. They were given responsibility before they were mature enough to handle it. Giving them the authority assigned a police officer is unimaginable to me.

I can remember how I thought at 18, 21 and then 25 when I came on. I could have done the job at 21 and been okay, but it scares me to think if I'd been given that responsibility at 18. I'm glad I waited until 25 even at that. I was a lot more calm, mature and grounded then that at even 21.

I'd like to see a study done of burn out as related to age people start. I noticed that people who started later in life in LE kept things in perspective much better than those who started early and had less previous life experience. It would make a great thesis.

[Brendon]

I think giving an 18 year old a credit card is irresponsible. Just about every 18 year old kid I know that got a credit card went out and immediately ran up a balance and made minimum payments. That's exactly how a lot of people who are now in debt to their eyeballs got started. They were given responsibility before they were mature enough to handle it. Giving them the authority assigned a police officer is unimaginable to me.

I have a Credit Card which I never use and is only supposed to be for real emergencies/disasters. I use debit which of course only allows me to spend what I have. A lot of people aren't taught from their parents the dangers of Credit Card usage and to properly manage finances (Look at our country for a perfect example!). Credit Cards are just too tempting for the general masses as most people have difficulty controlling themselves. It's a "Free Money" syndrome, only it isn't free and it'll come back to bite you in the ass twice as hard.

[retdetsgt]

I have a Credit Card which I never use and is only supposed to be for real emergencies/disasters. I use debit which of course only allows me to spend what I have.

Good for you and I mean it. But you are in a minority, Brendon. The current credit disaster we are in speaks to that as you pointed out. Most 18 year olds don't grasp that concept and that's started them off down that road.

Personally, I have little doubt that if I had been allowed credit at 18, I would have screwed it up.

It was really interesting when we did away with our upper age limit and started hiring retired military personnel. It was great watching these guys who only needed to learn procedures and already had excellent judgement in crisis situations. We had a retired Army CSM and a SEAL Master Chief come on in their late 30's. I wish we had a hundred of them. Oddly enough, neither wanted to get above patrol level and both retired as such. They just wanted to have fun.

[cntryboy0531]

I am now credit card free. I still have a balance on one, that I am paying down, but it's a closed out account. I refuse to have another one. I have about $1000 in a linked savings account to cover major items that HAVE to be replaced. I will not have another credit card. When I've been working on "paying off" balances since I left the academy. I'm done, and im fed up with it. No more cards. If I don't have the cash for it, then I guess I don't need it that bad.

[mpdcjock]

27.

[Fury]

19 when I was sworn as an uncertified auxiliary officer, and 21 when I was hired full time. I am 23 now.

[Spocky]

I became a policeofficer at 33 before that i was a correctionsofficer and a customsofficer

[Adrenolize]

I was 18 when the USMC gave me a badge and told to go out, fight crime and suppress evil. I was 23 when I went to work for my first city PD. I'm now turning 34 in a few days and trying to get back in after 7 long years out.

I remember my frame of mind at 18 and even 23 and wonder how I have lived as long as I have. I was in a store the other day, and watched an officer dealing with a shoplifter and the officer looked very, VERY young. Reminded me of a picture I found of me in uniform after I just got hired. I looked like I was in high school! I guess I finally understand the looks my first supervisors gave me when I was starting.

[fatboyjim154]

23 turned 24 during training.

[Cat_Doc]

I was 18 when the USMC gave me a badge and told to go out, fight crime and suppress evil.

Hee hee, I know the feeling. I was only 17 when the USAF gave me a badge, gun, cuffs and a patrol car to go out and fight crime. Was not much crime to speak of on an AF base but I got hooked.

I was 22 when hired as a civilian police officer.

I too look back and am amazed how I survived with some of the dumb things I did and chances I took.

[Adrenolize]

Hee hee, I know the feeling. I was only 17 when the USAF gave me a badge, gun, cuffs and a patrol car to go out and fight crime. Was not much crime to speak of on an AF base but I got hooked.

I was 22 when hired as a civilian police officer.

I too look back and am amazed how I survived with some of the dumb things I did and chances I took.

I started out at the main gate on MAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan where I got the best lesson ever. I was awed with my prowess and authority as I could even stop and question officers! That world came crashing down when I made demands from the wrong person who was not nearly as impressed with me as I was and wound up getting my ass kicked. Lesson learned! The shiniest badge along with the most ironclad authority in the world doesn't matter if you don't have the other parties respect. I quickly learned verbal judo, which now is better than any can of whoop ass.

[BJJVad]

22.. Turned 23 a little after graduation.

[Kimble]

I was 7, but then I was one of those baby geniuses you hear about on Oprah, graduating top of my class from my PhD program at age 6.