Opinions from LEO

[xmikex]

Hey guys, I have been applying at multiple agencies all around me with no luck. I know that the hiring process is very competitive.

I have gone through several agencies with no luck, I have Been told that there were more qualified applicants then me. Im guessing people with military back ground and more schooling then me. I currently only have an AA and no military background. I have not been in trouble and for the most part my background has been clean, very small things like couple parking tickets. Smoked weed a couple times in tenth grade of high school and that's it no other drugs.

So my question is what would help my chances in getting hired? Lately I have been thinking of going back to school and get my BA. I have also been thinking of joining the army reserves. I don't take this decision lightly I want to serve my country but i feel the discipline an traianing would help me in life and hopefully better my chances. I know that LE is my career that is what I want to do and it has always been my dream. I'm not taking a couple agencies turning me down stop me from betterig myself and applying other places bi am serious enough that I have even thought of moving out of state to other agencies.

Any input or thoughts would be great. I'm always open to comments and suggestions to better myself.

[TRICKSTER]

How old are you and what type of work experience do you have?

[benjamin101677]

Are you a academy graduate? If you put yourself through the police academy you will go from several agencies available to you to just about all of California available to you. There will be lots of openings in the central valley within the next 2 years, Fresno Police and Fresno Sheriff will be hiring 100s but you going to need to be a academy graduate.

If a academy graduate have you thought about becoming a reserve deputy sheriff / police officer? I was a reserve first to get myself going full time direction.

Have you ever thought of applying for law enforcement non sworn jobs such as dispatch? I know several friends that got hired dispatchers got in with a department and got hired. Several agencies also reworked there schedule to allow them to go the police academy while still working full time.

Also how old are you? Age could be a factor a lot of agencies would rather hire a 26 years old compared to a 22 year old.

Getting your bachelor's degree is only going to help you in life and long run. A lot of officers get injuried and have to retire, get fired, etc. so if you have a bachelor's degree to fall back on you will be in a better spot. If your lucky and don't get hurt you will need a degree to promote.

[ncortez11]

Like everyone in the above threads are saying, age is a huge factor. Also, do you owe a lot of money or/and have bad credit? Those are factors you have to take into consideration. Also, are you applying to the larger departments or small ones? Larger department will have more opportunities. Education is also good, but, are you economically okay so you can go back to school? Also, being in the armed forces can set you back or even get you fired. Many close friends in the infantry and marines quit or got fired because they got called back for active duty and they couldn't handle the stress of both careers.

[POLICESTATE]

Getting your bachelor's degree is only going to help you in life and long run. A lot of officers get injuried and have to retire, get fired, etc. so if you have a bachelor's degree to fall back on you will be in a better spot. If your lucky and don't get hurt you will need a degree to promote.

Not exactly selling the career with this

To the OP, why do you feel you have to be a LEO? Do you come from a LEO family? Speaking of family, do you want to have one someday? Think carefully about how your choice in career will affect your family. It's not just a career, it is a way of life.

I considered a career in law enforcement about 20 years ago, but I took a long hard look at how growing up in a LEO-related family affected my upbringing, my family, etc as well as those LEO families we knew. I decided it wasn't worth it, and I don't just mean the safety factor. LEO dads are not like other dads.

Be sure it's what you want. And have a backup plan in case you either change your mind, wash out, or otherwise have to change careers.

I'll tell you what though, friends of our family, the wife was an assistant chief probation officer (not entirely accurate on the job title I think, it was about 25 years ago now) and her husband was former sheriff deputy on disability retirement. Really nice guy, would give you the shirt off his back, always smiling. Not like most LEOs I've known since. He ended up going back to school and becoming a registered nurse.

I bet it wouldn't hurt to have a nursing degree or other paramedic-related degree in your pursuit of a LEO career for obvious reasons. And it would be great to fall back on as well.

[xmikex]

Thank you guys for all the feed back. I am currently 24 years old turning 25 this November.

I don't come from a LE background but ever since I was a little kid I have always wanted to do this or a career. I like te fast pace aspect and always new things. I know there are crappy things about the job. It's not always going to be car chases and shoot outs.

My work experience are a couple part time jobs. I started working when I was 16 and have a total of 4 jobs. At all of them I was there for over a year to a year and a half.

If I wanted to put myself through an academy how would I go about doing that? Is there any websites you guys could point me to?? I know when applying several agencies only wanted lateral transfers or post graduates. Puttin myself through the academy would help me out.

I applied to mainly larger agencies figuring the bigger the agency the better of a chance I would have since they would have more room and more money. I applied to lapd la sheriffs Ventura sheriffs and city of Oxnard I was told by lapd Oxnard and Ventura that there were better candidates then me. La sheriffs are on a hiring freeze right now. I was lookin to Northern California to see if agencies have openings.

[Falconis]

Not exactly selling the career with this

To the OP, why do you feel you have to be a LEO? Do you come from a LEO family? Speaking of family, do you want to have one someday? Think carefully about how your choice in career will affect your family. It's not just a career, it is a way of life.

I considered a career in law enforcement about 20 years ago, but I took a long hard look at how growing up in a LEO-related family affected my upbringing, my family, etc as well as those LEO families we knew. I decided it wasn't worth it, and I don't just mean the safety factor. LEO dads are not like other dads.

Be sure it's what you want. And have a backup plan in case you either change your mind, wash out, or otherwise have to change careers.

I'll tell you what though, friends of our family, the wife was an assistant chief probation officer (not entirely accurate on the job title I think, it was about 25 years ago now) and her husband was former sheriff deputy on disability retirement. Really nice guy, would give you the shirt off his back, always smiling. Not like most LEOs I've known since. He ended up going back to school and becoming a registered nurse.

I bet it wouldn't hurt to have a nursing degree or other paramedic-related degree in your pursuit of a LEO career for obvious reasons. And it would be great to fall back on as well.

Can you describe LEO related family? Also, what is there to sell. You either want the job or you don't. You either qualify or you don't. I don't think this job should require selling to anyone.

[xmikex]

I don't have a bad background that I believe would dq me from any department and i have excellent credit. I bought my own car and paid it off early I have also never been late on any type of CC payment I actually always pay more then the required

[x-007]

As someone else pointed out, becoming a reserve police officer or deputy Sheriff might be what you need to get your foot in the door. You'd receive the training, a P.O.S.T. certificate after working the minimum amount of hours, experience as a "part-time" LEO, and something positive to talk about when you test for a full-time position.

During my 31 years as a full-time LEO, I worked with numerous reserve officers, and several went on to become full-time officers (One of them wasn't sworn in as a full-time LEO until he was in his mid-50's, and only after going through the full police academy training!).

Military service wouldn't hurt, either.

The thing of it is, the main driving factor has to be your full commitment. If you WANT something bad enough, you don't just quit after a few set-backs.

[Caddis]

Check this thread out to see if this gig is for you.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=807590

[55chevypost]

I considered a career in law enforcement about 20 years ago, but I took a long hard look at how growing up in a LEO-related family affected my upbringing, my family, etc as well as those LEO families we knew. I decided it wasn't worth it, and I don't just mean the safety factor. LEO dads are not like other dads.??????

Can you explain your thoughts and experience on this statement?

[wattspd]

Do yourself a favor become a firefighter not a cop.

[infringed711]

Do yourself a favor become a firefighter not a cop.

Why? Just curious

[infringed711]

I considered a career in law enforcement about 20 years ago, but I took a long hard look at how growing up in a LEO-related family affected my upbringing, my family, etc as well as those LEO families we knew. I decided it wasn't worth it, and I don't just mean the safety factor. LEO dads are not like other dads.??????

Can you explain your thoughts and experience on this statement?

Just assuming but a lot of time away from home can take its toll.

[wattspd]

Why? Just curious

It's not the job that most people think it's going to be. If you like trying to do your job with one arm tied behind your back law enforcement is for you. Talk to some trusted officers with some time on the job and they will fill you in.