PA Trooper Questions~~~PLEASE HELP

[jar81993]

ok ive got a few questions,
Are PA State troopers able to carry there glock off-duty? If so are there limitations to where?

Can a PA Trooper make arrests off-duty or at least detain?

I am really busy, and on friday and saturday nights i wouldnt have time to change out of my uniform, can PA troopers get in trouble for wearing their uniform off-duty?

Also Does anybody know how to become a K-9 unit for PSP? like what needs done or whatever?

If you could please get back to me, this will clear up ALOT!!!

Thanks,
Justin

[Citicop]

Justin-

Welcome to the forum. We ask that new members introduce themselves in the appropriate area before they start asking questions.

To answer your questions:

1.) Yes, state troopers can carry their weapons off duty. Where and what restrictions will be covered in the Academy.

2.) Yes, you would have authority to make arrests off duty. It will happen rarely, and it is usually a "last resort" for emergency situations for a variety of reasons.

3.) Don't take this the wrong way, but how old are you?

That question sounds VERY immature for several reasons. First, you as a new trooper may well be working Friday and Saturday nights. You will get the last pick of days off and shift assignments. Police work is not a 9-5 job where you get to run out and party at night and on the weekends. Second, yes, you are not authorized to run around in your uniform off duty. It takes 5-10 minutes for me to change at work in the locker room after work. You cannot possibly be so busy that you could not do that.

4.) To become a canine officer, you spend 3-5 years on patrol, and then put in for a spot when it comes open (just like almost everywhere else).

Someone once told me that people who are looking into a career and are focused on the fringe benefits and not on the actual job itself are not destined to last long in it. Worry less about what you can get to do off duty and more about what you'll be doing ON DUTY and you'll be much better off.

-Citicop.

[greg72982]

I'm with Citicop. Your question about Friday and Saturday nights worries me. What are you so busy doing??

I can tell you for a fact that PSP will not put up with your crap. They run a tight ship and aren't going to bend that for your "busy" life.

[jar81993]

OK,

My "Friday & Sat nights" are nothing to worry about, if you really want to know, I am a Vol. Firefighter and EMT with many certs, I'm Currently taking my medic class. Also the big thing is that I race and all the money goes to various charities. The reason I want to become a trooper is to HELP PEOPLE, Ive devoted my WHOLE LIFE to helping people, so i decided I'm going to become a trooper. I could really care less about all but one of the questions i asked. And if you want to call me immature maybe you should look at the Police officers and troopers that drink with underage kids...when they know there underage...

[Citicop]

OK,

My "Friday & Sat nights" are nothing to worry about, if you really want to know, I am a Vol. Firefighter and EMT with many certs, I'm Currently taking my medic class. Also the big thing is that I race and all the money goes to various charities. The reason I want to become a trooper is to HELP PEOPLE, Ive devoted my WHOLE LIFE to helping people, so i decided I'm going to become a trooper. I could really care less about all but one of the questions i asked. And if you want to call me immature maybe you should look at the Police officers and troopers that drink with underage kids...when they know there underage...

If cops are drinking with kids who are underage, then they are also immature as well as breaking the law. I would tell them so if I was aware of any cops who did that.

But maturity does not base itself on what others are doing, as I'm sure you are aware.

I also didn't say you were immature, I said your question sounded immature.

Being a VFF, a medic, and racing in your off time will have to take a back seat to your job as a trooper when you get hired. You may be stuck working Friday and Saturday nights (like I already told you) as a new trooper. My agency rotates days off and shifts every month. That means that for almost half the year, I am working either afternoons or midnights on Friday and Saturday. That will make any kind of a regular commitment hard to keep up with if it is done on those nights (or a regular commitment on ANY night for that matter).

It is laudable to want to help people. Being a Trooper is a good way to do that. But you need to go into it with your eyes open as to what you are going to get out of it, and being able to tell your FTO "Sorry, I can't work Saturday night, I have a big race" is not going to cut it.

I hope that I was able to help you answer the one question you asked that you really cared about. I don't know which one it was (because you never said).

If I made poor assumptions about you or your age, please forgive me. I know almost nothing about you because you still have not had the common courtesy to introduce yourself here as we ask and you were reminded in my last post. All we know about you is that you showed up and asked a bunch of questions about what you get to do off duty if you get hired by a police agency.

Those questions give us a certain perception of you; if it's not accurate, maybe you can stick around and show us that it's not who you are.

-Citicop.

[basher52]

Justin, become a Priest or Rabbi, then you only have to work several hours one day on a weekend. You get to help people and can continue being a Volly & EMT. I have a Priest in our parish who is an EMT/Paramedic and vollies with the local firehouse. I think the trooper thing will cramp your style. Oh and the Priest is very cool, his family has money and he drives a Z06 Vette. Let us know what you decide to do...

[jar81993]

Justin, become a Priest or Rabbi, then you only have to work several hours one day on a weekend. You get to help people and can continue being a Volly & EMT. I have a Priest in our parish who is an EMT/Paramedic and vollies with the local firehouse. I think the trooper thing will cramp your style. Oh and the Priest is very cool, his family has money and he drives a Z06 Vette. Let us know what you decide to do...

Ha ha, no thanks lol, i know i would deff not like doing that. I wanted to be some sort of police officer since i was a little kid, and i decided i wanna be a trooper.

[jar81993]

OK, Time to clear stuff up, i know i sounded basically like a **** but I'm gonna set everything right now.

I'm 17, yes i know you can't become a trooper till you turn 21, i got that. But I am an EMT-B, I am Currently working on my EMT-P, Me and my "friend" race. I run with a fire company. But anyways yes im sure the questions i asked sounded the way they did, and im sorry for that. It may seem like im in it for the money or just to carry a gun or something (i could work for a security company if that's all i wanted) (no offense) but i wanna do it because its my goal, I have the utmost respect for all the men and women that put their lives on the line. Ive wanted to do this for the longest time now and its time i started thinking about how i want to approach this. Anyways i dont wanna do it because of the money or anything...I've got that covered, We are waiting on the loan to go through then i will be part owner of a ALS ambulance company...but yea its not about the money or anything just wanna earn my title as a trooper and then just help people, prove to people were not just out to get them were here to make a difference. But anyways sorry bout the questions did not mean to sound like they did... i just ask ALOT of questions b4 i do stuff, that was just the first round lol.

Yes i know i gotta make time to be a trooper, Ive already talked about it with my friend and stuff and with the other partners at the ems co. i know they run a strict department, I'm quite mature than what i appear lol.

But anyways,
You all Keep safe and if you don't mind if i ask more questions when I'm wondering,
Justin Reeder

[greg72982]

It's good you have a goal but just some advice, don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Test for PSP but if being a cop is what you want to do, consider going to an academy and getting your act 120. It can only help.

If you get your act 120 you'll most likely start out part-time anyway with a local dept. and you can remain active as an EMT and in the fire dept. You'll still work weekends most likely because that's what part time cops do. Weekends, holidays, and shifts no one else wants are the part timers main reason for existence (that and towns being too cheap/poor to pay bennies for full time).

[jar81993]

yea, i mean I'm not gonna only try for PSP. ill take what i can get and maybe someday become a trooper...i mean in a way id like becoming a part-time cop or even full time for a municipality. It will give me some experience under the belt. i have one question about that though. I understand that PSP decides where i go, but being a municipal cop would i have to live in their borough? Because i know Altoona PD requires you to live in the city limits. but if anyone could help with that, it would be great!

[jar81993]

Also, Do i have to already be employed by a PD to take my act 120? or can i just take it once i turn of age?

[jar81993]

ok i answered my question about being employed, but now i have another one now lol, Ok to be a municipal cop do you have to be 21? Because if i read right you can get Act 120 Training at age 18, also pitt age requires you to be only 18.

But isn't the age to carry a firearm 21?
im so lost lol, im glad there are people on here that can answer my questions.

[greg72982]

yea, i mean I'm not gonna only try for PSP. ill take what i can get and maybe someday become a trooper...i mean in a way id like becoming a part-time cop or even full time for a municipality. It will give me some experience under the belt. i have one question about that though. I understand that PSP decides where i go, but being a municipal cop would i have to live in their borough? Because i know Altoona PD requires you to live in the city limits. but if anyone could help with that, it would be great!

In vast majority of the cases there is no residency requirement for part time police, mostly because you can't expect an employee getting 10 bucks an hour to pick up and move for a job where they may only get 2 shifts a week. I work two jobs and maintain at least 40 hours a week, alot of times more. (three shifts at one and three at the other).

Full time is a different story and they will generally require you either live in the city limits or within a certain range (i.e. 10 miles). I have one job that is about 25 miles away and in the past I had one that was 30 miles away.

Also, Do i have to already be employed by a PD to take my act 120? or can i just take it once i turn of age?

Nope, in fact most places won't even look at you until you have your act 120. There are some that will hire your first, but that is definitely the exception. You mentioned Altoona P.D. They are a decent sized department I would imagine and may do that for you, but you'd have to check with them...

ok i answered my question about being employed, but now i have another one now lol, Ok to be a municipal cop do you have to be 21? Because if i read right you can get Act 120 Training at age 18, also pitt age requires you to be only 18.

But isn't the age to carry a firearm 21?
im so lost lol, im glad there are people on here that can answer my questions.

You can work as a police officer before you are 21 however you cannot take your weapon home with you. Typically it is given to you at the start of your shift and then you return it at the end so off duty carry wouldnt be possible until you reach age 21.

[jar81993]

Thats really cool, Now do most depts require you to be 21 or how does that work?
And does act 120 include your wepons training?

[Joeyd6]

But I am an EMT-B, I am Currently working on my EMT-P

Not trying to be a jerk, but you have stop trying to fluff your feathers on here. That is what is causing you problems. You are fluffing your feathers with the aforementioned statement. To be a paramedic in PA, they follow the NREMT protocols and the paramedic program is not offered by the state, but by training programs. And the requirements include:
a) Having a high school diploma or GED to start the program
b) Have to be 18 to start the program.

Nice try. I know as I am a instructor in NY/NJ/PA and a NREMT-I

...waiting on the loan to go through then i will be part owner of a ALS ambulance company...

No bank is giving a 17 year old kid a a loan on a multi-million dollar investment. A two rig private company with 12 eployees, all insurance costs, employee costs, and PA required supplies and equipment has a value of $1.6 million in obligations and equipment value, assuming no business. Thus with a profit margin that goes up. What bank is giving a 17 year old, a minor, a loan for a contract to buy into a business they legally cannot consent to, especially in this economy?

You would get a lot more respect and help if the little fibs would stop.