LEO's ???
 

Hey LEO's I have a few questions for you...

1. What if I get my 60 college credits and get out of the academy before I turn 21? Since I'm not allowed to have a handgun before 21 does that mean I can't get picked up? Will I be able to work and just have to hand my gun in every time my shifts over?

2. What do you need to carry off duty? Do you just bring your badge? Do you have to get a CCW?

3. Can correction officers carry off duty? Is there a special academy for correction officers?

4. Do you know any non cival service municipals?

You want to be given a hand gun?:shock:

you would have a duty weapon like anyone else, you can not purchase an off duty and therefor can not carry a personal weapon off duty

you need to do all the paperwork any one else would do to buy, then to carry you need to have a card from your work and qualify with it.


yes we do, and yes there is a corrections academy

you have to know people to get those jobs, and then when the political party changes your job can go out the window with it... you are better off pay wise, and job security wise sticking to civil service jobs

Thanks for the quick response..

The reason I asked is because my friends dad just retired and moved away from here and he said that when officers started having kids they would go home, unload there issued guns and put them in a safe. Then the next day they would have to qualify and some would go to take the first shot and there would be no round in the chamber making me believe that your allowed to take your issued gun home..

most departments do take their weapon home, but they dont carry the duty weapon off duty

:werd:

depends the dept, some depts. in my old area, including NJSP, do carry off duty as they're still officers. my uncle is in the NJSP and he carrys all the time.

he means they don't use there duty weapon they have their own personal weapons they carry.

yeah but most have off duty weapons that are smaller, less obtrusive, and more concealable than the big intimidating duty weapons

true didint think about that.

i think its funny how my best friend can carry off duty, but not on duty while in the jail, lol, makes sense though, just funny.

Mike's answers are pretty much on the money. As far as non-civil service towns go, not all of them hire based on the "good ole boy" practice (Although I'm sure there are plenty that do), but many departments now prefer to hire candidates who have already been through the academy. It saves them time and money.

From what I can determine of your posts, you're still in high school (Or just finished). If you REALLY want a job in law enforcement, I'd recommend that you go to college and get your associate's or bachelor's degree (Doesn't have to be criminal justice, and you may decide you want to do something else in the meantime). Then, try to get into the "Alternate Route" program before you leave home and go out on your own and treat it like another semeseter in college. It's very difficult to do this after you've already gone out on your own and have to support yourself because you're not getting paid for it and it costs about $2-4k to do it.

The "Alternate Route" program is available through many different NJ police academies. Basically, you take a written test, physical and psychological evaluation and background check as if you're being hired by a department, but if you qualify, you basically pay your own tuition to go through the academy. Many recruits have jobs lined up before they even graduate.

I recommend this because you are young, and you'd benefit greatly from some real life experiences before taking on a career like law enforcement. Just getting through the academy itself takes a great deal of self discipline and maturity and while you may very well be mature (Or think you are), it's an entirely different experience than anything else you'll ever do. Plus, it will give you time to really decide if this is the career for you. It's nowhere near like what you see on television. It can drain you physically, mentally and emotionally. It can also be the greatest experience you'll ever have. But you need to grow up a little more first. Not judging you or taking a shot by saying this; I don't really think it's a great idea to hand ANY eighteen year-old a badge and gun and say, "Here you go! Protect and serve!"

I've been a full-time sworn officer for ten years now. I really enjoy my what I do and can't imagine myself doing anything else. Beforehand, I volunteered as an auxiliary police officer in my old home town, worked on the local ambulance squad and got my associate's degree and EMT certification. I was also a police dispatcher for four years prior. All of this helped me get where I am now.