How do I become a LEO

[1911whore]

Title says it all, I would like to know what it takes to become a police officer and how long it takes.

[Jonathan Doe]

Usually, high school diploma, good health and clean background. It took me about 10 months from my application to being hired. That was back in 1985.

I just wonder if any is hiring now, though.

[ElkHunterSL]

My co-workers son was just hired by Ventura County Sheriff. He just left the Navy after 8 years. Took the tests and was hired. He's going through Academy now.

[Robidouxs]

I was out in Illinois at a university known for its Law Enforcement degree (not my degree program though). If you want to move up in the profession, meaning above a patrol officer, you need a Bachelor's degree (at least that is what Illinois State Police, California equivalent of the Highway Patrol) and other police officers would indicate. From what I have been consistently told, expect to have an interesting experience during your psychological assessment. Furthermore, don't bother lying about anything (I've seen guys back at my university doing Master's degree's since they disqualified themselves for lying).

I know California Highway Patrol has frozen hiring, but that has been in effect since roughly January-March 2009.

[Regulus]

Persistence. It took me almost 2 years (1987-1989) and I applied with several agencies, some more than once, before I was picked up.

Some of the large agencies I applied with had enough candidates where they could be very selective. With me, after passing all the tests with L.A.S.D., the background investigator passed on me saying it was my upbringing. While I had a clean background I was an only child raised by a single mother and was not a stellar student. Not sure if he was being honest or not, but that's what he said. Apparently, they had plenty of candidates with a wholesome upbringing and excellent grades in school. So, the applications continued. I finally found a department that gave me a chance and I graduated from the L.A.S.D Academy with the top marksman award. That showed them!

There are two alternatives to think about in these times:

1 - Pay your own way through a P.O.S.T Certified Academy. It costs a lot of money for smaller departments to put a candidate through an Academy if they don't have one of their own. They will likely pay you a salary while you're going though as well. If you pay your own way through an Academy, the smaller departments will look at that as a bargain on their budget, especially in times like these.

2 - Go Reserve first, prove yourself with your department of choice, then apply for a full time position when available. This will help you get "in" with the department and when a position opens you would likely be their strongest candidate. The downside to this is that you may need to go through the Academy twice. Every Reserve on my old department got picked up full time eventually if they wanted to.

All this is based (like topGun7 said) on a clean background. Some people have a colorful past and would likely never get hired.

Good luck.

[1911whore]

So how much does it cost?

[Rockit]

So how much does it cost?

Depends on the department. Sac County Sheriffs is about $2k for tuition. Plan another $500 or so for uniforms and equipment. Don't go cheap on boots!
Where are you located?

[Chk Chk Boom]

So how much does it cost?

Think $2000ish for POST academy like at a JC.

[Average Joe American]

I went through just 2 years ago. I am still a rookie lol. For me it took about 5 months from application to day one of the academy.

Here is how mine went step by step.

1. application/resume

2. initial physical fitness test. running, situps, pushups and jumping.

2. 1st interview with a Sgt and the Chief of the division I was applying to within the Dept. of Public Safety. (there were 5 LE division under DPS in my state)

3. A short "surprise" essay on why I want to be a cop followed by a board interview (3 senior officers from different divisions)

4. The big phone call!!! Conditional job offer.

5. psychological eval (the MMPI test...very weird questions? Do you hear voices or dress up like a girl? ect ect.)

6. Medical exam, turn and cough!

7. Polygraph... My guy was a total A-hole!!!!!!! I think he was trying to test my anger level? But I played it cool. Tell everything. Inconsistency can get you disqualified. i.e. I smoked 1 joint in the summer of 1996. Then later you say I smoked weed the whole summer of 96. Gong! Your out!!!

8. Back ground investigation. This is where most people fail and there is nothing you can do about this but to have lived a decent clean life. DUI's, jail time, restraining orders, court cases, bankruptcy, repossessions, foreclosures, financial issues with creditors, alimony, child support, ect ect. I think some places only look back 7 on the financial issues?

9. Once everything cleared...I quit the old job and took 2 weeks off until the academy started!

10. 800 hours of mental stress, physical pain, mind games and BS... and lots of fun in between. I served 6 years in the military so it was nothing new to me. Once defensive tactics came around it was all FUN. 2 weeks of range (basic quals and tactical shoots and the infamous "simunition shoot house", EVOC=driving fast!!! Getting tased and peper sprayed!!! ect ect.

11. Sadly 50% of our class got dropped due to injury or quit due to a reality check. Not sure if thats normal?

12. Then 1 year of probation. If you dont seem to be getting it they can and will let you go after all that you went through. This is rare but I seen it happen.

Hope this helps?

Oh and as previously mentioned, lots of cops got laid off due to this recession so plan on long lines and heavy competition in the LE world for a few years. Just because you pay for your own POST through a JC and save the city or county or state some money... you have to get past the experienced cops that just got laid off. I just turned down a federal officer job in San Francisco 2 months ago so I know LE jobs are available. Plus furloughs are killing alot of cops financially even if you manage not to get laid off. Dont let that stop you though.

[1911whore]

Ok so far it sounds easy enough, I was int he Army for a little over 7 yrs so thats easy, it isnt terribly expensive especially if a dept puts you through, and ive lived a clean life, my credit sucks but that is more about my ex wife than me, but I havent helped it much

So where does one go through the academy pr post and are they the same thing? Do they do academys at local colleges or am I missing something? Can you go to the academy as a single parent?

I am in Rocklin so anything in placer /sac county would work.

[C.W.M.V.]

Dude this really isnt the time to go into the LE field!
I put myself through the academy here and figured heck, I finished with a high percentage, I have a 4.0GPA in my classes toward a crim degree (one semester left!), and on top of that 8 years in the Army as an Infantry SSG with 2 tours in Iraq honorably discharged. All my supervisors wrote letters for me and my NCOER's are gtg. My record is clean-not even a parking ticket.

So far Ive applied at over 20 agencies in the central valley. Everytime I get past backgrounds (it only takes about a week for my background check to be completed) the department either hires a lateral or funding is cut so I get dropped. what happens more often is that they just hire a lateral outright and tell me thanks but no thanks. As much as it kills me Im going to have to start looking in the LA/socal area now. I heard LASO is hiring so Im putting one in with them.

Ive had sit downs with a few of the local LE heads here (including Sheriff Mims) and they all tell me to go reserve, cause there wont be any real hiring until the end of 2012 at least.

[Jonathan Doe]

I just went through the AR-15 training class today at my dept range today. The staff told me that the only academy class they are training is 16 cadets in the class from various agencies. No LASD recruit academy now.