Self sponcered academy, or degree ?

[Big D]

Definitely stay in school. As many people already said the degree won't expire, the POST cert. will. Another thing I would recommend while you are in school take some foreign language classes.

Also BP and CBP are hiring I believe.

[cacop]

Definitely stay in school. As many people already said the degree won't expire, the POST cert. will. Another thing I would recommend while you are in school take some foreign language classes.

Also BP and CBP are hiring I believe.

Get fluent. Arabic, Farsi, or other ME related stuff is good if you want to go be a Fed.

Spanish is good for street cops. Even though my town is 80% most of the other 20% is Mexican or Salvadoran. Because I stopped takinf Spanish before I was fluent I can barely speak with 15% of my city. Most of the time it is not a problem but others it is a PITA.

Also one of our guys pointed out with Rosetta Stone you could make back your money within a few months with the biligual pay.

Also if you are going to learn a language make sure to keep on practicing it regularly. Find a native speaker to practice with from time to time. My wife used to practice with a coworker where they would go out to lunch and only speak Spanish or work for a half an hour and speak on Spanish. IF you don't have something like that see if you can audit a Spanish class or join a club.

If you don't use it you will loose it.

[TheExpertish]

+1 for getting a degree. You can be a cop at anytime.

[Claymar]

Really hate to be picky, but.... as stated before the job market is such that little things can become very important.

The word is "sponsored" w/o a "c". An officer lives or dies, in some cases literally, by attention to detail.

[Claymar]

I am retired after 25 years on the job.

My first question why would you want to be a cop?

Second have you taken an aptitude test that shows law enforcement as your career path?

Why I asked is that I was an FTO for 7 years and I had several trainees that had no skill as a cop. Maybe they could do 35 pullups or was an academic wonderkid but not a cop.

How you know you are not meant to be a plumber or a librarian?

Is there such an aptitude test?

[AR15Kimo]

From my experience: It doesn't really matter if you have a degree or a self sponsored academy. The degree is good once you get hired. From my understanding, it's either they like you or they don't. I know people who have masters, bachelors, military experience etc etc who never got hired. I also have met/know people have been hired with a hs diploma and a job at taco bell. I think it all comes down to how you present yourself. I wouldn't get a degree in criminal justice because you learn everything you need to know in the academy. Have a degree in another field as a back up plan. I have friends currently in level 1 module academy that have been picked up by departments.

my advice: Learn to speak without saying "hmmmm" or "you know" lol..

good luck and stay positive.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

These threads make me appreciate my job. Whenever I start feeling lazy and unmotivated at work I think of all these hungry young warriors that are looking to replace me out here. Good luck with your dreams partner.

[HisOwnHero]

"Also BP and CBP are hiring I believe"

Do not apply to BP or CBP if you just want to "get your foot in the door". It is not the same as local/county/state law enforcement and if you hope to transfer to such, you will be hard pressed to find departments that will accept you as a lateral from BP and none will accept you from Customs. The work is completely different and you will not be happy if your true desire is to become a cop.

[Big D]

HisOwnHero, what exactly are you basing your statement on?

[HisOwnHero]

HisOwnHero, what exactly are you basing your statement on?

Experience. The majority of the guys that come to BP with the sole intent of transferring out to become a cop when the opportunity arises usually do not end up doing so for one reason or another.

Many departments do not accept BPA's as laterals which in turn means the individual will have to either start at entry level and or have to attend another academy. This means they will have spent all the time, stress and hard work in the Academy, FTO, and Post Academy, probation etc only to have to start over and go through it all again. If they flunk out of the PD Academy or wash out of the PD FTO program, they cannot just come back to BP. BP currently does not have a reinstate program for former Agents. They have to reapply, and attend the Academy again. BP is a much different beast then local PD's and the work is much different. There are similar aspects but for the most part it is an entirely different type of LE work.

My point is just that if you plan on becoming a LEO, there is a LOT of hard work and dedication that goes into the first few years. The Academy, FTO program, post academy training, probation period etc. I'm asking that anyone considering a career in law enforcement take a hard look at where you actually want to be long term. You will be putting in a lot of time, training and effort in to get to the point where you are out in the field on your own and considered a member of the team. It is hard to give all that up to go somewhere else and repeat it all over again.

Apply where you think you will actually be happy working and while you are playing the never ending waiting game, do everything in your power to boost your resume. I by no means am discouraging anyone from applying for LE jobs that they are interested in. The job market is really tight now for these jobs so it is understandable. I'm just asking that you give a long hard thought as to where you are applying and your long term goals.

[Big D]

Well, the OP never said he wanted to be a local beat cop, he just said he wanted a job with an agency, and I suggested 2 that are hiring right now. If very few PDs are hiring and the marketplace s saturated with laid off cops then what are you going to do?

You're right that most people who join the BP with the intention of becoming cops never leave for one reason or another and here is the reason, they don't want to take a pay cut

As far as laterals, Ca POST doesn't recognize FLETC's program for BP or CBP to get a waiver so no one can lateral from either of those two agencies to a Ca peace officer job. But you made it seem like if one was a PA or CBPO no Agency in Ca would hire them. Which isn't true.

Are you a PA?

[jrivera408]

As stated before, thank you to all who have responded! I do not have my mind set on a particular agency or branch. I have done homework on the agencies I have applied to as well as ones I will apply to in the future if and when that time comes. I have not ruled out the BP idea either. I'm glad there are legit arguments from both sides going on here to help give me a little more information.

[HisOwnHero]

The OP stated that he was seeking a job in the SF Bay area and was debating a self sponsored academy which led me to believe that he was seeking a PD job not a federal gig and that his intentions were to become a cop.

I very clearly stated that a CA agency would not accept BP or Customs as a LATERAL not that they wouldn't accept him period.

Yes I am a PA. I lost several friends who were classmates who quit because they wanted to be cops and the work was not the same. They hated it and they hated that they had left their homes and moved to the southern border to live in a tiny border town. They decided to move back home and try to get on with local departments since that was their true desire. They did not like the work or the area and they chose quality of life/true calling over the job which is fine.