questions

[phatbill54]

I am new to the forum. I have many questions about being a police officer. I'm sure they are ones that you have answered many times before. For one I would like to know just general knowledge about being a police officer. Whats the minimum requirements, what does it take to be one and so on??? I have been doing research for months now, but can't seem to find what I'm looking for exactly. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[retdetsgt]

Every department and agency is different. My dept clearly posts the minimum requirements on it's website. I would suspect others do too.

I guess one requirement might be having enough investigative skills to either check websites or call the agency you are interested in.

[ChevySSP]

Dude I checked almost every single major PD within Texas for application process requirements and apps. I managed to get hired just being annoyingly persistent.

[Silver Fox]

[QUOTE=phatbill54;1084755]I am new to the forum. I have many questions about being a police officer. I'm sure they are ones that you have answered many times before. For one I would like to know just general knowledge about being a police officer. Whats the minimum requirements, what does it take to be one and so on??? I have been doing research for months now, but can't seem to find what I'm looking for exactly. Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Basically you must be of good moral character, be in good physical health, have at least a HS education, be able to pass polygraph and psychological testing. Then, as Chevy said, don't sit on your duff but get get out there and knock on every LE door in the area to get a job. After frinding some department that will take you on, you must then go to and successfully pass a regimen of LE related courses in a 6 month police academy.
Training is a never ending process in LE and you will learn new methods and techniques on a daily basis. Yes, you'll make mistakes, but you will learn from those mistakes. This ongoing learning process will continue every day, week month and year that you remain in the LE profession.

[Samuel]

I am new to the forum. I have many questions about being a police officer. I'm sure they are ones that you have answered many times before. For one I would like to know just general knowledge about being a police officer. Whats the minimum requirements, what does it take to be one and so on??? I have been doing research for months now, but can't seem to find what I'm looking for exactly. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

To be blunt, if you have been doing "research for months now" and you still don't have the answers to your basic questions, you should choose another line of work.

[Kimble]

I am new to the forum. I have many questions about being a police officer. I'm sure they are ones that you have answered many times before.

Because of individuals like you, the following thread was created: So You Want to become a cop.......

Enjoy.

[Adrenolize]

Before we get the 'You guys are mean and I need a hug' response... I will add that you need to develop a dry sense of humor and not take criticism personally. If you ask a painfully obvious question, fully expect a painful broadside by some of the grumpy old salts!

[retdetsgt]

Before we get the 'You guys are mean and I need a hug' response... I will add that you need to develop a dry sense of humor and not take criticism personally. If you ask a painfully obvious question, fully expect a painful broadside by some of the grumpy old salts!

Frankly, I don't care if he thinks we're mean or not nor am I trying to be humorous when I say that it takes a minimum about of common sense to contact agencies to see what their requirements are. And common sense would also dictate that not all are the same.

Some young folks might want to sit down when you read this because it may be a shock to you. But a hell of a lot of us were able to find jobs in LE long, long before there was an Internet where you could ask dumb questions. I actually (heaven forbid) left my house and went down to the civil service office and got a copy of the hiring requirements for my future department. Putting out some true effort may seem a bit archaic, but damned if it doesn't work.

I've no doubt the OP at least has a cell phone that will do Lord only knows what. Why doesn't he actually use it to make some phone calls and ask some departments for hiring info? Someone with this little ingenuity has no business in the profession.

[Adrenolize]

Frankly, I don't care if he thinks we're mean or not nor am I trying to be humorous when I say that it takes a minimum about of common sense to contact agencies to see what their requirements are. And common sense would also dictate that not all are the same.

Some young folks might want to sit down when you read this because it may be a shock to you. But a hell of a lot of us were able to find jobs in LE long, long before there was an Internet where you could ask dumb questions. I actually (heaven forbid) left my house and went down to the civil service office and got a copy of the hiring requirements for my future department. Putting out some true effort may seem a bit archaic, but damned if it doesn't work.

I've no doubt the OP at least has a cell phone that will do Lord only knows what. Why doesn't he actually use it to make some phone calls and ask some departments for hiring info? Someone with this little ingenuity has no business in the profession.

I've no doubt and agree with what you said. My military and subsequent LEO jobs were found by pounding the pavement. Some of us young whipper snappers do things old fashioned. In fact, I beat feet down to Texas to hand deliver my application down there. I like things face to face. Emails are well and good, but nothing beats a good look in the eye and shake of the hand.

I have noticed the 20 somethings that pass through here that have apparently had helicopter parents or never had a harsh word uttered to them. You know that in sports everyone gets trophies and ribbons. They are even doing away with the Honor Roll in some areas to protect the delicate self worth of the children. Come to think about it, my parents gave me power tools in the bathtub...maybe I need therapy too!

I'm not suggesting this is the OP, but he does need to be prepared to handle criticism if he keeps asking questions in the above manner!

[retdetsgt]

Some of us young whipper snappers do things old fashioned. In fact, I beat feet down to Texas to hand deliver my application down there. I like things face to face. Emails are well and good, but nothing beats a good look in the eye and shake of the hand.

Yeah, I know and I'm sorry if I put everyone in the same basket. People like you are the ones who actually contribute to society as opposed to those who hang out in their Mom's basement and live on their computers...

Unfortunately, even by the time I retired in 1998, I was seeing people coming on with that sense of entitlement and need to have everyone spoon feed them. That's one of the reasons I'm biased towards people with previous military experience. They do know how to accomplish tasks on their own as opposed to the college kids who come here and ask us to write their essays for them.

[Kimble]

People like you are the ones who actually contribute to society as opposed to those who hang out in their Mom's basement and live on their computers...

But with health insurance coverage until your 26 now, why would you not sponge off your folks? You say it like that's wasting away one's life. Hell, that's management material!

[retdetsgt]

But with health insurance coverage until your 26 now, why would you not sponge off your folks? You say it like that's wasting away one's life. Hell, that's management material!

To wander off topic a bit, I wonder if the kid has to be in school to get that or can they be laying on the sofa? My insurance with the city covered my daughter until she was 22, but I had to show proof each term that she had registered for school.

[Adrenolize]

To wander off topic a bit, I wonder if the kid has to be in school to get that or can they be laying on the sofa? My insurance with the city covered my daughter until she was 22, but I had to show proof each term that she had registered for school.

There was approximately zero common scence going into that Health Care Bill. I think they were too busy tacking all kinds of stuff onto it to really give much thought to anything resembling logic. If anything, it seems that more and more is being done to make sure that you don't HAVE to be responsible.

My grandparents were expected to be self sufficient by 13-15, my genereation by 18 and now it is floating to 26. They even took the worry out of student loans! All we have to do is sit back, pay our taxes and let Big Brother tell us what is best for us and where to go.

[ChevySSP]

Well before we start a young'un bashing I would like to point out that I'm 21 and managed to pass my TCLEOSE certifications and fully enjoy having my own bills to pay, my OWN health insurance, and not to mention the difficulty in finding housing in a town that has more cows than people in it.

I think it was my parents though. When I was little I got beaten when I was bad, was actually held accountable for my actions and have to work for the nice things I had...and even then if I was a delinquent those nice things I had magically ended up in File 13.

Yup, people just have it easy.

[PapaBear]

Gee, I have really never thought about this type of question so I went to GOOGLE and viola, looky what I found:

Difficulty: EasyInstructions
Step 1 - Take high school and/or continuing education courses in business math/accounting, computer applications and behavioral sciences.

Step 2 - Maintain your level of physical fitness. Participation in high school sports will contribute to both your athletic development and your application for appointment to the police department.

Step 3 - Consider a period of military service. Two years in the armed forces is excellent mental and physical conditioning for police work.

Step 4 - Use common sense. There will be a background check, and a career in law enforcement can quickly be short-circuited by "youthful indiscretions."

Step 5 - Take the written civil service exam for police officers. You can obtain information about the exam through your local police department.

Step 6 - Pass the physical exam, which typically includes tests of vision, hearing, strength and agility.

Step 7 - Pass the lie detector test.

Step 8 - Pass the drug test. In addition, should you become a police officer, you may be subject to continued random drug testing during your employment.

Step 9 - Have an interview with a senior officer and/or take a personality test to assess your personal characteristics, such as judgment, integrity and

My gracious, who'da thunk it?