looking into law enforcement

[Runs With Fire]

I've been thinking about it for years, and after a health issue and long stay in the hospital the doc told me I should look for a job outside of construction. Been installing carpet in new built homes for 13 years. Looking to get away from as ll the dust and chemical gasses. Looking into possibilities of law enforcement. It would take 2-3 years to make the switch. The MCOLES licencing requirements list an associate's degree. I could do any two year degree, or a track program combining an associate's degree and academy training in two years. The cheapest option is a two year degree at a small local school. The track program is several times the cost but includes academy.

What would be the biggest help?

 

[CB Jones]

If you don't mind me asking....how old are you?

Not familiar with Michigan....but do any of the agencies up there hire and pay for the track program?

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I've been thinking about it for years, and after a health issue and long stay in the hospital the doc told me I should look for a job outside of construction. Been installing carpet in new built homes for 13 years. Looking to get away from as ll the dust and chemical gasses. Looking into possibilities of law enforcement. It would take 2-3 years to make the switch. The MCOLES licencing requirements list an associate's degree. I could do any two year degree, or a track program combining an associate's degree and academy training in two years. The cheapest option is a two year degree at a small local school. The track program is several times the cost but includes academy.

What would be the biggest help?

That depends a lot on your particular location and situation. Many times, it is difficult to get hired at any police department when you do not have your state certification (varies by state, etc). Small departments are more likely to hire, but they often can't afford to send new officers to academy for state-mandated certification. Once you have that certification, your options open up more.

For those who want to get into police work quickly, some major departments will hire and train, but you'll be working in danger zones. In my day, Miami Dade country and Houston PD would send people to hiring events at local conferences and hire dozens on the spot, move them to wherever, and then grind them up. Up to you.

Law enforcement is a very weird career path. You essentially alienate yourself from friends and family, partially due to your working hours and partially due to objections to what you do for a living. You go through hours and days and weeks of complete inactivity, and then you sprint like an athlete, jump fences like an olympian, and wrestle like a, well, a wrassler. You write piles of reports, you get frustrated by dealing with the same 10% of the population who are absolute scum and can't stay out of trouble, you feel bad for all the women who are punching bags for their partners, you see the tragedy of all the drugs. You get sick a lot. You get exposed to all manner of filth, and you'll never feel like you're clean enough when you shower at the end of your shift. You'll toss the back seat of your cruiser and find guns and realize that somebody you transported that shift could have taken your life if he or she had decided to do it. You'll be hated on by citizens for doing your job and accused of not doing your job especially when you're doing exactly your job. Everyone is a TV lawyer and 'knows their rights' and will go on at great length about them. You'll probably retire on disability after destroying your knees or hips, assuming you don't end up sucking on the end of your duty weapon.

Other than that, it's a fun job.

 

[Tez3]

I'm not understanding how you get qualified to be a police officer, here you are interviewed and tested by the police force you want to join then they train you and employ you. There's no other way you can be a police officer, you are on probation for two years then you can specialise. It seems you can do the training in colleges/private companies then look for a job in the US?

 

[CB Jones]

I'm not understanding how you get qualified to be a police officer, here you are interviewed and tested by the police force you want to join then they train you and employ you. There's no other way you can be a police officer, you are on probation for two years then you can specialise. It seems you can do the training in colleges/private companies then look for a job in the US?

It's different from state to state. Where I live they hire and send you to Academy for all certifications

 

[Runs With Fire]

I'm not understanding how you get qualified to be a police officer, here you are interviewed and tested by the police force you want to join then they train you and employ you. There's no other way you can be a police officer, you are on probation for two years then you can specialise. It seems you can do the training in colleges/private companies then look for a job in the US?

Michigan has MCOLES which sets the licencing requirements for LEO. the only big requirements are academy and a two year college degree in any field. Then it's basically a reading and writing test, and getting employed.

 

[Runs With Fire]

Fyi, I need my two year degree.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

That depends a lot on your particular location and situation. Many times, it is difficult to get hired at any police department when you do not have your state certification (varies by state, etc). Small departments are more likely to hire, but they often can't afford to send new officers to academy for state-mandated certification. Once you have that certification, your options open up more.

For those who want to get into police work quickly, some major departments will hire and train, but you'll be working in danger zones. In my day, Miami Dade country and Houston PD would send people to hiring events at local conferences and hire dozens on the spot, move them to wherever, and then grind them up. Up to you.

Law enforcement is a very weird career path. You essentially alienate yourself from friends and family, partially due to your working hours and partially due to objections to what you do for a living. You go through hours and days and weeks of complete inactivity, and then you sprint like an athlete, jump fences like an olympian, and wrestle like a, well, a wrassler. You write piles of reports, you get frustrated by dealing with the same 10% of the population who are absolute scum and can't stay out of trouble, you feel bad for all the women who are punching bags for their partners, you see the tragedy of all the drugs. You get sick a lot. You get exposed to all manner of filth, and you'll never feel like you're clean enough when you shower at the end of your shift. You'll toss the back seat of your cruiser and find guns and realize that somebody you transported that shift could have taken your life if he or she had decided to do it. You'll be hated on by citizens for doing your job and accused of not doing your job especially when you're doing exactly your job. Everyone is a TV lawyer and 'knows their rights' and will go on at great length about them. You'll probably retire on disability after destroying your knees or hips, assuming you don't end up sucking on the end of your duty weapon.

Other than that, it's a fun job.

Is that straight from the recruiting pamphlet, Bill?

 

[jks9199]

Do some ride alongs with agencies in your area. Talk to cops. Especially with an expensive 2 or more year commitment to make the change, take the time to find out whether it's really something you want to do. Do you want to work weekends, nights, and holidays? Long hours, only to find yourself facing mandatory overtime? Have your friends treat you differently? Have your perspective of the world radically altered? Deal with a whole lot of the public hating you just for your job?

Yeah, I'm pointing out the suck parts of the job. TV shows are built around the cool stuff and the exciting stuff. I've seen too many rookies come in that never considered the reality. I know someone who was in their final year of a four year degree before they actually did an internship or spent time learning the realities of the job -- when they discovered they didn't want to be a cop. (It all worked out for them -- but you've got a wife, kids(?)...)

I love my job. The parts that I like make up for the crapfest that comes with them. As long as I can say that -- I'm winning. The day that's not true is the day I look for something else.

 

[jks9199]

I'm not understanding how you get qualified to be a police officer, here you are interviewed and tested by the police force you want to join then they train you and employ you. There's no other way you can be a police officer, you are on probation for two years then you can specialise. It seems you can do the training in colleges/private companies then look for a job in the US?

Every state, and sometimes even agencies within the state, is different. In my state, you pretty much have to be sponsored to the academy by an agency. Most academies are run by one or more local governments; there are a handful of private academies, and I believe that you can attend them on your own after a background check -- but it's not something we see often. In other states, you generally get certified through an academy and then look for work. Many of those academies are attached to a college. Even in those states, there are some agencies that run their own academy.

 

[Runs With Fire]

Do some ride alongs with agencies in your area. Talk to cops. Especially with an expensive 2 or more year commitment to make the change, take the time to find out whether it's really something you want to do. Do you want to work weekends, nights, and holidays? Long hours, only to find yourself facing mandatory overtime? Have your friends treat you differently? Have your perspective of the world radically altered? Deal with a whole lot of the public hating you just for your job?

Yeah, I'm pointing out the suck parts of the job. TV shows are built around the cool stuff and the exciting stuff. I've seen too many rookies come in that never considered the reality. I know someone who was in their final year of a four year degree before they actually did an internship or spent time learning the realities of the job -- when they discovered they didn't want to be a cop. (It all worked out for them -- but you've got a wife, kids(?)...)

I love my job. The parts that I like make up for the crapfest that comes with them. As long as I can say that -- I'm winning. The day that's not true is the day I look for something else.

That's why I am doing my research. Btw, I'm married with our first baby in a few weeks.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Is that straight from the recruiting pamphlet, Bill?

Just telling it like it is. Sometimes I miss it. Mostly I don't. Badges aren't really all that much fun in the end.

 

[hoshin1600]

Make sure, if your jurisdiction has age restrictions, you know what they are and you will qualify. I got locked out because massachusetts had a cut off at 32 years of age and I was over that.

 

[jks9199]

Something else -- you mentioned leaving your current field after a hospital stay and doctor's advice. Cops, especially at entry level, are subjected to medical exams and physical ability tests. If exposure to dust and chemicals is a problem... can you spend a couple hours in a horder's house? Spend your day breathing brake dust and exhaust fumes on the side of the highway? Be exposed to people for whom hygiene is a word somewhere towards the end of the H section of the dictionary...

If you're looking at corrections... that brings a whole different range of concerns...

Look, I'm not trying to discourage you, or disparage your previous research. Just trying to open your eyes to the realities before you commit years of effort and money to it.

 

[Xue Sheng]

I'm not understanding how you get qualified to be a police officer, here you are interviewed and tested by the police force you want to join then they train you and employ you. There's no other way you can be a police officer, you are on probation for two years then you can specialise. It seems you can do the training in colleges/private companies then look for a job in the US?

New York and New Hampshire
Take a test
Do well on the test then
Agility Test
Psych test
Get interviewed
If you get through that go to the Academy for what totals to 6 months. There are full time and part time academy
Then you are on the job with a supervising officer.

But as previously stated it carries from State to state for local Police. However it is my Understanding that state police requirements are fairly similar from state to state and much like what I listed above with the inclusion of required 2 year degree.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

As jks9199 mentioned do some thorough research as working in Law Enforcement is challenging. Do not get me wrong it is rewarding as well but.... it is challenging and certainly not for everyone!

 

[Runs With Fire]

Something else -- you mentioned leaving your current field after a hospital stay and doctor's advice. Cops, especially at entry level, are subjected to medical exams and physical ability tests. If exposure to dust and chemicals is a problem... can you spend a couple hours in a horder's house? Spend your day breathing brake dust and exhaust fumes on the side of the highway? Be exposed to people for whom hygiene is a word somewhere towards the end of the H section of the dictionary...

If you're looking at corrections... that brings a whole different range of concerns...

Look, I'm not trying to discourage you, or disparage your previous research. Just trying to open your eyes to the realities before you commit years of effort and money to it.

the hospitalization was due to a GI bleed. I'm not especially sensitive to dust and chemicals, but most people know it's not exactly good for health to be constantly exposed to such heavy amounts. And I'm really sick of drywall / concrete/ sawdust in my coffee.

 

[Runs With Fire]

Talked it over with my wife this weekend and I will be looking in to my two year degree.

 

[CB Jones]

If you really want to give yourself an advantage in L.E. make sure you take a lot of English and technical writing classes.

Writing skills are very important.

 

[oftheherd1]

Just my two cents. Pretty much everything that has been said above has correctness. But a lot depends on the individual as well. You will occasionally encounter things that will tend to make you physically sick; things you will hear and things you will see. You may be able to steel yourself to the unpleasant parts of the job, or not.

Same for the scary parts of the job. Fortunately, sick and or scary don't usually happen on an hourly basis, a daily basis, nor even a weekly basis. But for some people that is a disadvantage; they just get over something and it happens again.

Have you talked to any of the police in the local area? You will doubtless get lots of answers. Just consider them things to think about.

Also, are you locked to the geographical area you are in? Some police will take just about anything with a heartbeat and a reasonably clean record. Many police departments expect if they clear you, they will send you to an academy of their choice, at their expense.