Hey guys my name is tyler and i live in moore oklahoma im currently interested in being a police officer but im worried about going to school for police science and end up unemployed for a couple years trying to get hired so i have a few questions i would appreciate some help with?

How long does it usually take to get hired by a department after college?

Are there long waiting list for most departments?

i didnt get the best grades in highschool. i had like a 2.0 gpa will the overlook that if i get a 3.85 or higher in college?

also when i was 16 i got a truency ticket will that effect my chances?

as well as a speeding tickect when i was 17?

when i was 16 i experimented with pot will they hold that against me?

and im currentl wanting to go to osu-okc for an associates in police science. is that a good degree to get or would you recomend something else.

any advice or answers will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Hello Tyler,

You should also post an introduction in the "Introduction" section before posting questions here on the threads ( http://policelink.monster.com/discussions/130-introductions/topics).  It is a matter of courtesy and goes a long way towards people responding to you.  That being said.......

How long does it usually take to get hired by a department after college? That depends upon the location you are in and the hiring status of the agencies in your area.  The current economy is making it tough all over but agencies are hiring.  Check with the PDs in your area.

 Are there long waiting lists for most departments? As I have already noted, the current economy is a big factor in hiring.  Waiting lists will be dependent upon the individual ageny.  Some have long waits while others do not.  Once again, check with the agencies that you are interested in applying to.

 I didnt get the best grades in high school. I had like a 2.0 gpa. Will they overlook that if iIget a 3.85 or higher in college?  Your 2.0 GPA will not be a hinderance to getting hired.  If you work hard in college and earn your degree you will be fine.

When i was 16 i got a truancy ticket, will that effect my chances?  Not a major issue.  It will not hurt your chances of getting hired.

As well as a speeding tickect when i was 17?  One speeding ticket will not hurt your chances of getting hired.

 When i was 16 iIexperimented with Pot, will they hold that against me?  See this post...... http://policelink.monster.com/topics/77644-does-prior-drug-use-automatically-disqualify-you-from-an-le-career-check-here-before-you-ask-in-the-threads/posts

I'm currently wanting to go to osu-okc for an Associates in Police Science. is that a good degree to get or would you recomend something else.  While a degree in Police Science would help you to understand the Law Enforcement career path that you have chosen it is not necessarily the best degree program to take (not a bad choice but there are better).  You should also be thinking ahead to your post-LEO career when considering a degree.  Give some thought to degree programs in the following for instance, Political Science, Business Administration, Forensic Sciences, Psychology or Public Administration.  These are but a few of the options that you have so look at all of the programs your college offers and decide which best fits your interests and needs.  I would also suggest that you speak with the College administration and officers in your area and ask them what degree programs they would recommend.

Best of luck in your endeavor to join the Law Enforcement Community

Pay very close attention to what Retleo posted. He has said it exceptionally well and I do not believe anyone can really add much of anything to what he said.

Yep, pretty much summed up all of it...

Retleo gave some good advice. I do not see why you can not overcome some minor infractions. I recommend a degree and the G.P.A. should not play a part. Learn spanish.

36TR says ...

OK, someone has to say it, might as well be me.

 First off, my very best wishes to you, Tyler!! Law Enforcement is an excellent career choice!!

Secondly, listen to what Retleo says. Some very good advice there!!! The only thing I can add or stress is: Work hard to brings your grades up, and especially hard in College!!

 Which brings me to my next point - this >>>   "Hey guys my name is tyler and i live in moore oklahoma im currently interested in being a police officer but im worried about going to school for police science and end up unemployed for a couple years trying to get hired so i have a few questions i would appreciate some help with?" Please, for the Love of God, son. Tell me this is not how you really write!! The ability to construct a grammatically correct sentence is vital to Law Enforcement work. Yes, we write. A lot!! The most in-depth trial you can possibly imagine (in real life - not Hollywood) started out as an initial report by a responding patrolman (in most cases). If we wrote a report in one complete run-on sentence, with no punctuation or proper capatalization, well, it just wouldn't work.

OK, off my soap box (sorry)

I think that as of late I have been just overlooking the writing skills of some of the members, but you are right on the money. I have always taken great care to write reports correctly and ensure that there is nothing that can cause a case to be thrown out. Many LE do not take that into account. You want to see a warrant get quashed in a hurry, spell something wrong. I have seen and had to actually coach some officers how to write reports correctly. Paying attention to small details saves a lot of headaches. Bump 36TR