motorman4life
New member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2005
- Location
- right behind you...
- Moto(s)
- WORK: Kawasaki KZ1000P & '07 H-D Road King. PLAY: '07 Honda GL1800 & '88 Kawasaki KX600 Ninja
- Name
- MM4L
This was sent to me via PM and I figured I'd post it here for those that are interested. If there are any other LEOs out there that would like to chime in with information, corrections or advice, please do so in this thread. ~MM4L
It is also a good idea to try to get ride-a-longs with adjacent agencies to get a better picture of things. Sometimes people in a nearby agency will be more frank with you about the problems they see with their neighboring agency.
Unless you are a lateral or pre-trained (completed the POST academy), most departments will require a physical agility and written test, which are usually done at a regional center and hosted on a regular basis. Satisfactory completion will garner you a certificate that would be attached to your application with your resume, diploma, college transcripts and a recent copy of your driving record. They may not require all of these things up-front, but having them all together with your application cannot hurt. It shows you are thorough and prepared.
At the interview, you can use the information you gained on the ride-a-long and through your research to show the interview panel how much you have done to prepare and how you are sure your selection would be mutually beneficial.
If you are hired as a trainee, you will be sponsored through a 5-6 month POST police academy. After you graduate, you will start a 4 to 6 month FTO (field training officer) period where you will work with several senior training officers on a variety of shifts, being trained, tested, observed and evaluated daily.
Once you are successfully released from FTO, you will have a remaining 12 to 14 months of probation. On FTO, your work schedule will mirror the FTO you are assigned to, so in all likelihood, you will have weekends off, etc… Once you are released, you will likely go to the most undesirable days and shifts until you earn the seniority to choose something more appealing.
Each department is a little different in the way they do things. Most here in CA will stick to this regime, good or bad, that's pretty much the way it is.
Added advice, for those young people considering a career in law enforcement:
For all of the stereotypes and images seen in movies and TV shows, I have to tell you, by and large, you will find 99% of the cops that you meet are totally down to earth, fun-loving people that would give you the shirts off their backs. Yeah, some are jaded or "salty" and some are hand-jobs and slackers, but they are really good people, out there bustin' their asses to try to make a difference in their communities.
If you get into law enforcement, you will see for yourself. Don't be put off by those you may meet in the interim that only show a rough exterior. In many cases, you will discover it is merely a defense mechanism.. and maybe someday you'll even understand it.
True enough, law enforcement has changed a lot over the years, some for the better, some for the worse. One thing hasn't changed though. If you excel, you will be recognized. No doubt education is highly stressed, now more than ever. Coming in with a BA or BS (in anything and from any credentialed school) would really boost your earning potential and increase opportunities for specialty assignments.
I suggest a BS in computer science as I really feel high-tech is the new frontier for crime and those with the credentials in the tech field will be in a prime position when those investigative and enforcement opportunities avail themselves in your career. If college is not for you, consider military service. If the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines don't appeal to you, check out the Coast Guard. If that won't work for you, look into the Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity.
Other than an AA or BS/BA degree and/or the military and non-military services.. Stay out of trouble. Don't fuck up your driving/criminal/credit records.
Get out on your own. Too many 21 to 25 year old applcants live w/ Mommy and are seen as "not having enough life experience." College and military will help, but only if you are away from home.
Work on your fitness. Run, workout. Ensure you can pass the POST physical agility test. At a minimum, you must be able to jump/climb a 6-foot fence in under 30-seconds without assistance, do 30 sit-ups in 1 minute, run 2 miles in under 20 minutes, bench press 65% of your body weight and do a 300 meter sprint in 70 seconds.
Learn Spanish.. seriously, learn Spanish.
Best of luck.
The best thing to do is contact an agency in your area that you would be interested in joining and ask to speak with a recruiter or background investigator. They can advise as to the requirements they are seeking in applicants. Once you are confident you meet their bar, you would complete an application and request a ride-a-long (if possible) with a patrol officer and do some research on their jurisdiction and agency. Many departments offer ride-a-longs for their citizens (reisdents), many do not. Most of those that do not, will allow (or encourage) a ride-a-long for an applicant to their agency.
It is also a good idea to try to get ride-a-longs with adjacent agencies to get a better picture of things. Sometimes people in a nearby agency will be more frank with you about the problems they see with their neighboring agency.
Unless you are a lateral or pre-trained (completed the POST academy), most departments will require a physical agility and written test, which are usually done at a regional center and hosted on a regular basis. Satisfactory completion will garner you a certificate that would be attached to your application with your resume, diploma, college transcripts and a recent copy of your driving record. They may not require all of these things up-front, but having them all together with your application cannot hurt. It shows you are thorough and prepared.
At the interview, you can use the information you gained on the ride-a-long and through your research to show the interview panel how much you have done to prepare and how you are sure your selection would be mutually beneficial.
If you are hired as a trainee, you will be sponsored through a 5-6 month POST police academy. After you graduate, you will start a 4 to 6 month FTO (field training officer) period where you will work with several senior training officers on a variety of shifts, being trained, tested, observed and evaluated daily.
Once you are successfully released from FTO, you will have a remaining 12 to 14 months of probation. On FTO, your work schedule will mirror the FTO you are assigned to, so in all likelihood, you will have weekends off, etc… Once you are released, you will likely go to the most undesirable days and shifts until you earn the seniority to choose something more appealing.
Each department is a little different in the way they do things. Most here in CA will stick to this regime, good or bad, that's pretty much the way it is.
Added advice, for those young people considering a career in law enforcement:
For all of the stereotypes and images seen in movies and TV shows, I have to tell you, by and large, you will find 99% of the cops that you meet are totally down to earth, fun-loving people that would give you the shirts off their backs. Yeah, some are jaded or "salty" and some are hand-jobs and slackers, but they are really good people, out there bustin' their asses to try to make a difference in their communities.
If you get into law enforcement, you will see for yourself. Don't be put off by those you may meet in the interim that only show a rough exterior. In many cases, you will discover it is merely a defense mechanism.. and maybe someday you'll even understand it.
True enough, law enforcement has changed a lot over the years, some for the better, some for the worse. One thing hasn't changed though. If you excel, you will be recognized. No doubt education is highly stressed, now more than ever. Coming in with a BA or BS (in anything and from any credentialed school) would really boost your earning potential and increase opportunities for specialty assignments.
I suggest a BS in computer science as I really feel high-tech is the new frontier for crime and those with the credentials in the tech field will be in a prime position when those investigative and enforcement opportunities avail themselves in your career. If college is not for you, consider military service. If the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines don't appeal to you, check out the Coast Guard. If that won't work for you, look into the Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity.
Other than an AA or BS/BA degree and/or the military and non-military services.. Stay out of trouble. Don't fuck up your driving/criminal/credit records.
Get out on your own. Too many 21 to 25 year old applcants live w/ Mommy and are seen as "not having enough life experience." College and military will help, but only if you are away from home.
Work on your fitness. Run, workout. Ensure you can pass the POST physical agility test. At a minimum, you must be able to jump/climb a 6-foot fence in under 30-seconds without assistance, do 30 sit-ups in 1 minute, run 2 miles in under 20 minutes, bench press 65% of your body weight and do a 300 meter sprint in 70 seconds.
Learn Spanish.. seriously, learn Spanish.
Best of luck.
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