PoliceLink

lena_pearl says ...

Thank you all for replying, by the way.  I appreciate the advice.  I plan to speak with some female officers if I can.  I plan to go on some ride alongs and call some places to inquire about what a supervisor/ seargent/ agency is looking for in a recruit.  As far as the question drkvamp had re: why the 7yr wait to get into the special agencies and  such, I was told by a college advisor that to be considered for FBI or SWAT for example that I might have to be a patrol officer for 6 or 7 yrs.  I should've done more research before assuming this to be correct and I wondered if it indeed were true.  I am also planning to ask about career oportunities within a specific department and pros/ cons/ drawbacks of different positions and titles so that I might better have the right expectations re: a career in LE.  There is something called the POST that I still have to look into.  I have lots of research to do.  I don't want to blindly leap in with both feet and realize I am not where I belong after getting my degree or going through training.  Is there something that I am missing at this point?  Any knowledge you can add?  

 

POST means "Peace Officer Standards and Training" (or something close to that, depending on where you are) ..  It's the board that makes sure the law enforcement officers in that state all have a similar level of training, and that no officer is put on to the street without a minimum set of skills.  Now, granted, they do MUCH more than that, but that's a general synopsis for what it is..    Specialized units come open fairly regularly, as people retire or switch positions and so on, however, most departments have a minimum of so much time in a patrol capacity before being eligible to apply for special units, ie.  SWAT, K-9, IA...etc....  FBI, I THINK*, however, I am not 100% certain so check into this on your own..  Hires people more on the basis of what services they need, (i.e.  People who've majored in Arabic or middle eastern studies are REALLY hot on the hiring list for FBI right now) as opposed to general law enforcement. 

Other than that, good on ya!  Check into all that, and ask any question that comes to mind, no matter how trivial it may seem to you.  Remember that old commercial "The More You Know"   100% Truth..

Marine42 - DEFINITELY go for it. I recently graduated from local Academy at 51. To improve my cardio prior to entering the Academy, a fireman turned me on to the "Stairmaster", Low impact on the knees and gives you that endurance you'll need for the longer runs during PT.  Good Luck!

marine42 says ...

   I am 42 and thinking of making a career change.  I have a keen interest in law enforcement at the local or deputy sheriff level.  We have a police academy very close and they offer a "part time" evening academy ( 6 to 10 mon. through thurs. and every other sat.).  This is a year long academy and the only way I could attend due to job requirements, etc...     My BIG question in everyones opinion,  is 42 too old to get into law enforcement?  I'm in decent physical shape, and have an active job.  I was in the Marines for 6 years and love tactics and related topics.  I guess you could say I have the mindset.  I've done one ride along with the local sheriff's deputies and loved it.  What's your thoughts on age?  How old is too old?  Thanks.  

Marine,

I had a guy go through the academy with me many years ago who was 55.  He had just put 22 years in in the Army and wanted something to do.  He did great at everything and is now a Deputy Sheriff in Ohio.

Bottom line:  If you feel that you can do the job, you can do it.  Age isn't a factor unless you let it be.  I hope you decide to do it.

Good luck!!!

I guess the attrition rate is a prime factor overall. The smaller departments around here tend to hang onto officers longer. I hear the sheriff's department has a higher turnover rate. I rode with those guys, they earn their pay and then some. They need a grant for 40 more officers. So I guess bottom line is its like any job, train, apply, follow up, see what happens.

Aww man, im in criminal justice 255 at John Jay college of criminal justice in NYC. I just finished my text and logged on here. This has been the most laughter I've had in day! SeanJon, you are the man! That fryfox or whatever his name is, is the person you hope never gets thru! My God how could anyones grammer be so horrible. Im in the US Coast Guard , 22 yrs-old, i have a bit of life experience and still dont  think im mature enough to be a LEO yet! I think I would make a great LEO, but I think part of being that great LEO is realizing when your ready for it. I would have liked to finish the academy yesterday, but i have alot to learn! Im still laughing though!

3L31 says ...

Aww man, im in criminal justice 255 at John Jay college of criminal justice in NYC. I just finished my text and logged on here. This has been the most laughter I've had in day! SeanJon, you are the man! That fryfox or whatever his name is, is the person you hope never gets thru! My God how could anyones grammer be so horrible. Im in the US Coast Guard , 22 yrs-old, i have a bit of life experience and still dont  think im mature enough to be a LEO yet! I think I would make a great LEO, but I think part of being that great LEO is realizing when your ready for it. I would have liked to finish the academy yesterday, but i have alot to learn! Im still laughing though!

Thanks dude. Best of luck in your studies and your LE plans. I know Oakland is no picnic. I took some courses at John Jay years back, it's an excellent school for CJ. How do you like NYC? Living on the westside? I think you have the right attitude. You think you will be well suited for the job, but realize where you are in life. That's a good way to start.

I don't know about too old, the only thing I can think of as far as a problem is concerned is the pension/retirement. Physically, if you can perform then I don't see where the problem could lie.

As far as the argument against younger people going into law enforcement, I can completely understand the points provided. However, I'm 19 and currently work as a dispatcher, so that when I turn 21 I can be in the right mindset before hitting the road. I know many people my age are no where near mature enough to consider law enforcement right now, and are instead getting in those "youthful indiscretions" that clog up background checks, but I feel that I'm mature enough to get a head start on an exciting and fulfilling lifelong career.

I am 36 year old ten year marine veteran who is actively trying to get employed in law enforcement, I have been in the NYPD application process since 2007, also took westchester county exam in Nov 2008 never received any results, just found out yesterday I got a 90% on putnam county exam. I hope somthing breaks soon for me I would love the oppurtunity to be in any of these departments.

I started this post several months ago.  Well, now I am 43!  The academy deadline is October 7th.  Not that I couldn't go the next year, but the clock is ticking.  Nothing like being under pressure!  To be continued...........................................

I am an 18 year old who wants to become a trooper when I turn 21. I don't think that I am so mature that I know everything, but maturity is not always determined by age. Life experience and the way you are raised plays a great role determining your level of maturity. I may not have a lot of life experiences but I have grew up around public safety, through my family, and I would say I am mature. I have sat and talked with many police officers and other public servants and I have learned a great deal from them. I know and understand that talking to someone about an experience and living the experience is two different things. I personally think that I could learn from there experience. I am not bashing the ones who think that the minimum age should be 25, but I think that my law enforcement future shouldnot be determined by other peoples immaturity. I think that each case should be decided individually and not have an effect on younger people because of someone that was stupid enough to act in a immatrue and unprofessional manner to make you feel the way you do.

To the original poster. I think you should go for it. If you are anything like the retired marines i know, you can handle academy.

ShockUSMC87 says ...

Reklaw says ...

There rally isn't too mny "too olds"  some states like Illinois hve  limit of I believe 36, but experience changes the age. 

I for one think under 25 is too young.

 

You think I should have to wait 3 years? .......I have led Marines in a combat zone, I have seen life and death first hand, I have had to make decisions that 99.9999 percent of americans never will...the list goes on. I think Im more mature than most 25 year olds.

Im respectfully asking if u think that EVERYONE should be 25 before entering LE?

 

I don't think there should be an age minimum on when you can become a LEO. I would think War and Local Law Enforcement are quite different I haven't done either so I can't really say, but from others writings I can gather that they are very different. I also don't think you need military service to be an LEO unless you going to be like FBI, SWAT or something.

102193 says ...

I don't think there should be an age minimum on when you can become a LEO. I would think War and Local Law Enforcement are quite different I haven't done either so I can't really say, but from others writings I can gather that they are very different. I also don't think you need military service to be an LEO unless you going to be like FBI, SWAT or something.

Scurge say...

While the jobs in either field can be very different the stresses can be very similar.  Imagine the stress of not knowing if someone was going to kill you today.  When you're are actually being shot at imagine the stress level shooting up like a rocket.  If a LEO has an if rather than a when attitude that can wear them down.  20-30+ yrs of expecting something really bad to happen just so you can be prepared when it does.  It is believed only 2% of the population is mentally capable of handling the stress of combat.  Which means a great deal of LE and the military are not capable.  Those with a when attitude rarely are.  Military does the same to help LE careers as it does SWAT,SRT, FBI etc etc. 

Yes there should be a minimum age. An 18 yoa fresh out of HS should not be LE.  Few not all, not even most HS students have matured enough to have the integrity to be LE.  Even fewer have any life experiences to prove whether or not they are a person of integrity.  Give a person without the required level of integrity that power to deprive a person of their freedom and/or their life and you'll see more much abuses of authority.  Too many slip through as is, we don't need anymore by letting teens be cops.

How do you know what is in our heads? You don't know if I have integrity or not. And just because only "2%" of the population has the "mindset" (that everyone feels the need to talk about on here) doesn't mean I don't have it. So, before you go and make assumptions, get to know the person.

Scurge says ...

102193 says ...

 

102193 says ...

I don't think there should be an age minimum on when you can become a LEO. I would think War and Local Law Enforcement are quite different I haven't done either so I can't really say, but from others writings I can gather that they are very different. I also don't think you need military service to be an LEO unless you going to be like FBI, SWAT or something.

Scurge say...

While the jobs in either field can be very different the stresses can be very similar.  Imagine the stress of not knowing if someone was going to kill you today.  When you're are actually being shot at imagine the stress level shooting up like a rocket.  If a LEO has an if rather than a when attitude that can wear them down.  20-30+ yrs of expecting something really bad to happen just so you can be prepared when it does.  It is believed only 2% of the population is mentally capable of handling the stress of combat.  Which means a great deal of LE and the military are not capable.  Those with a when attitude rarely are.  Military does the same to help LE careers as it does SWAT,SRT, FBI etc etc. 

Yes there should be a minimum age. An 18 yoa fresh out of HS should not be LE.  Few not all, not even most HS students have matured enough to have the integrity to be LE.  Even fewer have any life experiences to prove whether or not they are a person of integrity.  Give a person without the required level of integrity that power to deprive a person of their freedom and/or their life and you'll see more much abuses of authority.  Too many slip through as is, we don't need anymore by letting teens be cops.

How do you know what is in our heads? You don't know if I have integrity or not. And just because only "2%" of the population has the "mindset" (that everyone feels the need to talk about on here) doesn't mean I don't have it. So, before you go and make assumptions, get to know the person.

The fact you felt it was necessary to reply in bold text.  Often to suggest stearn or raised voice in computer land is what the FBI likes to call a clue.  A clue that you are not capable of being a quality law enforcement officer at this time.  You lack the maturity, obviously take comments personally and are easily offended.  If you don't get over those things you will never make it as a Law Enforcement Officer. 

Funny how I am condemed for making assupmtions by someone making assumptions.  No where did I suggest you lacked intergirty, you assumed I did.  No where did I say you did not have the mindset.  However since you are clueless to what it is then you likely don't have it.  If you have better reading comprehension you would have seen it was a general comment of teens maturity level.  You have shown where yours is at.  Not making you one of the few I was speaking of.

Ok I honestly don't know how it got in bold writing. Also, I am not taking and comments personally I was just asking you in general why you thought teens lacked maturity. I still think you were making assumptions on the teens of today. We are actually a lot more mature than you think. There are some teens who aren't mature, of course. Those teens are the kids with parents who neglect them and work 24/7, Luckily my parents don't so therefore I am a mature teen. Obviously,  I don't know when you were a teen, but we definately have more maturity then the past years teens. Anyway, I don't really want to fight with you on the internet, because I feel I can't fully express my thoughts. So I hope you change you minds about the teens of today. Thanks.

rickm says ...

102193

hmm, well maybe you are more mature than the average 18 yr old but I doubt it.

scurge is a well respected member of the le community. Scurge is a warrior. Scurge is a good guy, and yet you take his advice and warning and discount it for some self inflated sense of self. That equals low maturity. Several of us when we were 18 were in a place where real bullets were flying, that is maturity. Several of us didnt go on ridea longs and pretend we were in the shit, we were init. In places like vietnam and falujjah and Panama. when you quit thinking of yourself and open up your eyes to the rest of the world and achievements of others you might be mature. I agree with scruge, grow up, stop thinking in the selfish thinking of me first that characterizes most members of the 18 yr old crowd and you will begin to be mature. and take advice from those who have gone before.

102193 says...

I'm only 15

marine42 says ...

Ok, so young guys are getting angry because people don't think they are mature enough yet to do the job.  On the bright side, young guys will get older and the more they see and learn will develope maturity.  My downfall is I can't get younger or go back in time to chase a career I am very interested in.  So at least young guys have the advantage.  They will gain maturity and knowledge.  Life will do that.  If they have what they need they will be hired and retain their jobs in law enforcement as with anything else.  Those who have attitudes or excessive power trips will weed themselves out and be unemployed.  At 43 I have to decide if it is realistic to pursue a career in LE.  I have to weigh family and income vs time and income in LE.  Hard to give up 50K a year turning wrenches for Ford.  I would love to drag myself through the academy and get on as a reservist.  I've already had a possible offer from a local department to fill a reservist position.  Catch...gotta get post certified.  If I do it they won't be disappointed because I don't half ass anything and haven't for 43 years.  If I don't do it...I'll never know if I could have done it.  There is only one way to find out.  I have untill Oct 7th of '09 to get in for this years academy.  There is always next year, but then I'll be 44.  Young guys, you have time.  Open your eyes and learn from guys that know.  Old guys, you were young once, help the young ones if they will let you.  If they know it all, they won't last long.

Well Said.