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10 Tricks For Picking the Right Department
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Dr. Richard Weinblatt
Dr. Richard B. Weinblatt, Ed.D., M.P.A., is the former Director of the Institute for Public Safety for Central Ohio Technical College and an ex Police Chief. He previously served as a professor and program manager for the Criminal Justice Institute at Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL. He holds the Certified Law Enforcement Trainer (CLET) designation from the American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET). He has appeared on local and national television news programs and written extensively on law enforcement topics since 1990.
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Dr. Richard Weinblatt
9) Figure out the type of policing you want to do. Different types of law enforcement agencies represent divergent categories of police work. If your bag is traffic enforcement and crash investigation, than a state police/highway patrol/state patrol type of agency may be the ticket for you. If you like to have a little more independence and little backup, than a county sheriff in a geographically far flung county may be good for you. If you want a slower pace with a community feel, then a small town with low call volume may be right.
But don’t forget the many other types of law enforcement out there. Community policing has traditionally had a strong presence in campus law enforcement. Railroad aficionados may think that railroad police is the track for them. And outdoor buffs may find being a wildlife enforcement officer is the branch for them.
MattX014
over 3 years ago
2 Comments
Thank your for your article.
entrep1
over 3 years ago
8 Comments
This is an excellent article and is so on point. It's furher to be undrstood that many departments are going through some major changes i.e. personnel and politics. Many agencies are more into public oppinion and political views than they are about public safety, officer safety and moral.
There's also a phenomena sweeping law enforcement agencies across the country where policing has become a double edged sword. Not only do you have to be concerned about dealing with the criminals on a daily basis in terms of lawsuits and being criminalized yourself but you have to be concerned about your department throwing you under the bus for discharging your duties as a police officer in the name of politics and promotional gains.