Becoming a police officer

[97slpss]

Well i've decided I want to become a police officer. Is there anyone here in law enforcement that knows how to get the ball rolling or where to begin. I really have no idea where to start. I wasn't planning on doing this yet because I wanted to graduate college first, but I'd really like to start this process while attending school.

Thanks,
Santino

[V]

come join the army, lol. Do 4 years as an MP, and just about any PD will take you if they have an opening.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Cbrmike should be able to help you. Good luck!

[V]

basically go to the town/municipality you are inetrested in applying to and talk to them directly. they can give you the best advice.

are u thinking state trooper? corrections(county or state)? local pd...

[Rich189]

The best way to do it is to take the civil service test (go to a local library or pd and pick up an application) fill it out send it in and go take the test... they use the scores on the test to hire in a ranking fashion... i beleive military adds 10 points to your test this year

[GrandmasterCow]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

basically go to the town/municipality you are inetrested in applying to and talk to them directly. they can give you the best advice.

are u thinking state trooper? corrections(county or state)? local pd...

exactly, that's what i did.

make sure you got a good employment/school record too. I did the special officer I program, because i'm still in school i can work part time and do the training, then when i finish school, or at least get 60 credits, then i become full time and complete training.

[GrandmasterCow]

Originally Posted by Rich189

The best way to do it is to take the civil service test (go to a local library or pd and pick up an application) fill it out send it in and go take the test... they use the scores on the test to hire in a ranking fashion... i beleive military adds 10 points to your test this year

LINK: http://www.state.nj.us/personnel/pub...level_opps.htm

You'll definately want to get your app in ASAP

[79T/A]

Also, don't limit yourself to civil service departments. There's a lot of competition to get on The Job these days, so the best course of action is to prepare yourself ahead of time.

Since you're in college now, save up a few grand and then apply to a few police academies to enroll in the Alternate Route program. I know that Essex County College Police Academy, Somerset County Police Academy and Morris County Police Academy all have an Alternate Route program. What that entails is enrolling yourself in a police academy at your own cost. The academy will still require you to take an entrance exam, medical exam, physical agility exam, psycological evaluation and interview to get in, but most recruits who go through this program get hired by a police department before they graduate the academy.

The reason I recommend this approach is that a lot of the towns that aren't on the civil service list are hiring police officers based on resumes. It saves the department a lot of time and money because they don't have to wait six months for you to graduate on their dime. A little departmental in service training and you're out in the field.

Someone mentioned being a Special I. This definitely helps, but if you can, get into a Special II program somewhere. I don't know where you live, but if you're in south Jersey and you can get hired by a shore town as a summer employee, they have a habit of hiring Special Is for a summer (Full police powers when on duty ONLY, no gun) and then sending them for Special II (Full police powers when on duty ONLY, armed) or even a full-time academy during the off season. They seldom keep their summer hires, but the summer hires go on to get hired by other departments because they are already trained. I know that the Essex County Sheriff's Department has a Special II program (Deputy Sherrifs) also.

Keep in mind that with the war going on, soldiers are coming home and getting hired off the civil service list, so the competition these days is harder than ever. Give yourself all the advantages you can.

Now, more importantly: Are you SURE you want to be a police officer? It's not like you see on TV. Depending on where you end up working, a shift can be a half hour of excitement and seven and a half hours of boredom. A lot of people hate you (Just look at what happens when someone posts up that they got a speeding or tint ticket) and a handful love you. You miss holidays and family commttments and it takes a LOT out of you sometimes. Oh, and you can get hurt and maybe even killed. It's not the job for someone who just wants a good job with benefits. You really do have to want to do it and do it well or you burn out fast.

I've been a police officer for almost eight years and I still love coming to work every day, and not just to go out and lock a bunch of people up and give out tickets. If you have the right mindset, it can be an awesome career. Just do some soul searching and make sure you're positive you want to do it so that you don't burn yourself out or waste precious years of your life.

Good luck!

[ap2000z28]

Try to talk to your local town/municipality, that will give you a start at getting information. Also look into the SLEO I and II programs. Not all towns have them, but it is a good place to start. Its getting a little late but contact all of the shore towns and see if you can get some applications. They hire good numbers of seasonal officers each year. I just completed my interview with the North Wildwood Police Department and was hired today as a SLEO II.(Pending passing to PT test to get into the Cape May Police Academy). Goodluck with your future man!

[ap2000z28]

79TA you beat me by minutes lol

[SteveR]

I was talking to the Captain from Totowa about this yesterday. He said it works like this;

There are three tests and you take them in order, from written, then physical, then an interview. Score really good on all three and you'll be at the top of the list. Then they break the list down and prior service goes to the top, then applicants that live in the same town that the department is in, then county, then finally state. He said that you can expect to see 500 or more applicants for a handful of openings so it usually never makes it past the people from the same town. Like Paul said, prior service gets the first shot at the openings, as long as your scores are high and they like you in the interview. You can go to your town and ask when the next time they're giving the test and sign up. It's that easy. Make sure you find a study guide though, he said anything less than a 90 or 95 isn't too good. He said there's some pay website you can join for like $7/month and it lists all of the police openings in the state and you can just go around to all the towns and take their tests and see who calls back.

[maroman88]

i almost have an AA in criminal justice and have gotten all my dispatcher qualifications (basic and EMD) and have applied for dispatcher in a few places with no luck yet, once im done with school ill go hardcore, also im only 21 and pretty much anywhere wont look at you till ur 23+ for a police officer. i signed up for the LEE civil service test for the spring also

[97slpss]

Thanks alot everyone ...a bunch of great info that really helped me out, I just got word that mytown (Fairfield) is giving out 250 applications monday morning and are looking to hire 4 police officers. So im going to go apply and see what happens. I am also going to look into what GrandMasterCow said I think that would be the best choice for me since I do want to complete college. Thanks Again everyone i'm sure i'll learn more as it comes but this was a great start!

[heavy_chevy29]

my brother became a cop right out of college. he was having a very hard time finding a station that would hire him around here. so he joined the NYPD. hes been doing that for about a year and he really seems to like it. if you dont mind being under payed, then join the new yorks finest.

[Ian]

not that you would want to work there, but jersey city is hiring. one of my friends is a cop there and told me they have some openings.

[maroman88]

Originally Posted by 97slpss

Thanks alot everyone ...a bunch of great info that really helped me out, I just got word that mytown (Fairfield) is giving out 250 applications monday morning and are looking to hire 4 police officers. So im going to go apply and see what happens. I am also going to look into what GrandMasterCow said I think that would be the best choice for me since I do want to complete college. Thanks Again everyone i'm sure i'll learn more as it comes but this was a great start!

i suggest gettin there no later the 6am and get in line! depending on wat time they start handing them out of course, thats happend up here quite a few times when they limit the number like that

[DrivenZ28]

Originally Posted by 79T/A

Also, don't limit yourself to civil service departments. There's a lot of competition to get on The Job these days, so the best course of action is to prepare yourself ahead of time.

Since you're in college now, save up a few grand and then apply to a few police academies to enroll in the Alternate Route program. I know that Essex County College Police Academy, Somerset County Police Academy and Morris County Police Academy all have an Alternate Route program. What that entails is enrolling yourself in a police academy at your own cost. The academy will still require you to take an entrance exam, medical exam, physical agility exam, psycological evaluation and interview to get in, but most recruits who go through this program get hired by a police department before they graduate the academy.

The reason I recommend this approach is that a lot of the towns that aren't on the civil service list are hiring police officers based on resumes. It saves the department a lot of time and money because they don't have to wait six months for you to graduate on their dime. A little departmental in service training and you're out in the field.

Someone mentioned being a Special I. This definitely helps, but if you can, get into a Special II program somewhere. I don't know where you live, but if you're in south Jersey and you can get hired by a shore town as a summer employee, they have a habit of hiring Special Is for a summer (Full police powers when on duty ONLY, no gun) and then sending them for Special II (Full police powers when on duty ONLY, armed) or even a full-time academy during the off season. They seldom keep their summer hires, but the summer hires go on to get hired by other departments because they are already trained. I know that the Essex County Sheriff's Department has a Special II program (Deputy Sherrifs) also.

Keep in mind that with the war going on, soldiers are coming home and getting hired off the civil service list, so the competition these days is harder than ever. Give yourself all the advantages you can.

Now, more importantly: Are you SURE you want to be a police officer? It's not like you see on TV. Depending on where you end up working, a shift can be a half hour of excitement and seven and a half hours of boredom. A lot of people hate you (Just look at what happens when someone posts up that they got a speeding or tint ticket) and a handful love you. You miss holidays and family commttments and it takes a LOT out of you sometimes. Oh, and you can get hurt and maybe even killed. It's not the job for someone who just wants a good job with benefits. You really do have to want to do it and do it well or you burn out fast.

I've been a police officer for almost eight years and I still love coming to work every day, and not just to go out and lock a bunch of people up and give out tickets. If you have the right mindset, it can be an awesome career. Just do some soul searching and make sure you're positive you want to do it so that you don't burn yourself out or waste precious years of your life.

Good luck!

Couldn't agree with you more! My father was a person that joined the force for the benefits and pay. He hated every minute of it, and was constantly in a bad mood. Although he never got physically hurt, I think psychologically he did feel some pain...especially in Jersey City.

To the original thread starter:

Having said that, if it's something you really want to pursue, then go for it, but always keep your options open. I tried and failed in going for Jersey City police, my class was sent to Somerset Academy, and I'll tell you that place is extremely tough, those guys mean business and they know what they are doing. I would say they rival Seabright as most difficult, that's an opinion of course I could be wrong. I believe you said you were about to complete college, isn't there any career you can get with a degree that would be better? I myself have gone back to college and I'm about to graduate with a degree in History and teacher certification...a job just slightly more pedestrian than Police Officer...lol

[shane27]

the best way to do it is dress up like one and be a douchebag. make your presence known at D&D, and theres your best hands on training right there.

[maroman88]

Originally Posted by shane27

the best way to do it is dress up like one and be a douchebag. make your presence known at D&D, and theres your best hands on training right there.

someone needs a WAAAMBULANCE

[Featherburner]

Originally Posted by shane27

the best way to do it is dress up like one and be a douchebag. make your presence known at D&D, and theres your best hands on training right there.

Or, wait on your street and, arrest you for DUI