Acquire A Degree Or Academy Training
The requirements for this step will vary substantially depending on the state in which you plan on becoming a police officer. Some states do not require their officers to be college-educated, even if they may prefer it. Other states, like Minnesota, an Associates degree or equivalent training is one of the requirements to become a police officer.
Generally speaking, the training process for aspiring police officers follows two routes:
- Completing training by earning a two- or four-year degree in Criminal Justice or similar field from a Peace Officer Standings and Training -certified college or university, or
- Completing training through a government-approved police academy or training program.
Since police officer requirements differ, youll want to be sure to check with the agency that sets the standards for law enforcement training and licensure in your area. Some also have arrangements for military reciprocity, allowing candidates who served in the military to follow a different process in acknowledgement of the training they already have.
Whichever path you take, your training will include classroom instruction in state and local laws, covering topics like constitutional law, civil rights and police ethics. Recruits also receive training and supervised experience in areas such as patrol, traffic control, firearm use, self-defense, first aid and emergency response.
What Do Police Officers Do
The essential role of a police officer is to uphold and enforce the law to protect citizens and their property. One of their primary tasks is to prevent crime so as to preserve the health and safety of a community and its inhabitants. Furthermore, there are a number of different specialties within the police force and they have differing roles that vary according to their area of specialization. Generally however, police officers are involved in carrying out a large number of tasks which include:
- Enforcement of traffic and safety laws
- Investigation of accidents and crimes
- Arresting those involved in or suspected of criminal behavior
- Taking statements from witnesses and gathering crime related evidence
- Conducting traffic
- First response in case of emergencies, traffic accidents, etc.
- Preparing cases for court
What Is A Police Academy
A police academy is an education center that trains recruits to become police officers. These institutions focus on both the physical and academic aspects of police work. Police academies put recruits through physically exhausting and mentally taxing schedules to build disciplined officers who can handle the responsibilities of the police force, similar to a military basic training program.
You May Like: How To Donate A Dog To The Police Department
Q: Is There Expedited Testing
A: Yes. To participate, please select Expedited Testing when you fill out your Police Officer Application by checking the box next to the instructions.
- To move forward in the Expedited process, you must agree to the following conditions: o Complete both the Multiple-Choice Test and the Personal History Statement within 15 calendar days of the date that you submit your application.o You will be expected to have time available to schedule and complete your Department Interview, Physical Fitness Qualifier, Medical examination, and Polygraph appointments within two weeks of the date you pass the PHS.
- If you pass all your test parts without experiencing any deferrals or unforeseen delays, you can expect to be appointed to an academy class within 4 months of the date you submitted your myPD application.
- If you do not complete the Multiple-Choice test and PHS within 15 calendar days of submitting your application or are not available to schedule the subsequent test parts during the two week period after you pass the PHS, you will be dropped from the expedited process and returned to the standard testing process.
- Out of town candidates who may have trouble meeting these conditions should call 213-473-9060 after passing the PHS, to schedule remaining test parts.
Can I Work Part Time
Police officers are eligible to submit a request for flexible working arrangements, ie. part time, after two years and 13 weeks from starting their Academy training, when officers are confirmed in their role as police constable and receive their Diploma of Policing.
Flexible work arrangement requests are always subject to the operational requirements where the requesting officer is based.
You May Like: How To Get Police Clearance Certificate In Usa
Recommended Reading: Where To Get Accident Police Report
What Do Related Occupations Make
If youre interested in how to become a police officer, you might also be interested in related professions. Working as a correctional officer, EMT or paramedic, firefighter, probation officer, security guard, gaming surveillance officer, game warden or firefighter might be on your radar. If thats the case, you can peruse the list of related occupations below, which includes average salaries:
What you earn depends on where you live, including the region, state or city. To help determine what you can expect to make in your particular area, our handy salary comparison tool can help.
Read Also: How To File A Complaint Against A Police Department
Police Academy Required Criminal Background Check
The goal of the background check is to evaluate whether or not you have the moral, ethical and legal character essential to someone with the honor of carrying a weapon and badge. This means that the background checks given to applicants are extremely thorough. From the time the application is sent in, applicants are being judged. Academies are looking for those who are thorough and responsible therefore applications should be filled out accurately, completely, and in a timely fashion. Preliminary investigations will look into criminal history as well as: education, residential history, employment history, driving record, credit score. There is a chance that the police academy will question the applicants friends, family, past employers, and former teachers to gather information on work ethic and overall character.
Also Check: How To Become A Police K9 Trainer
What Is Covered In Police Academy Training
Police academy training and police recruit training covers a wide range of skills that are taught in both classroom and practical settings.
Some skills that are covered in police academy training include:
- Firearms handling and proficiency
How Much Does Portland Pd Make
PortlandearnaveragePortlandearn aTo be considered for Multnomah County Deputy Sheriff jobs, you must meet certain requirements:
What are the qualifications for Police Officer?
Dont Miss: Can I Sue A Police Department
Recommended Reading: How Do You Be A Police Officer
How To Pass The Police Academy
After you are hired as an Entry Level Police Officer you will attend the basic police academy. The police academy is the first step in your training to become a self-sufficient solo police officer.
The police academy is designed to provide you the basic knowledge, skills and mindset that youll need to be successful. We typically send our new officers to the Alameda County Sheriff academy. Each is approximately 7 months in duration. Youll attend the academy Monday through Friday during the day. Neither academy is a live-in academy, so youll return home each day after class. To see a schedule of upcoming academies click here.
During the academy, you will receive instruction in a variety of topics ranging from use of force law, firearms, community policing, ground-fighting, evidence procedures and more. Each topic if divided into over 40 different Learning Domains.
Youll be required to pass dozens of tests to demonstrate your competency and knowledge. Each of those tests presents an opportunity for you to succeed or fail. Your performance will depend on your ability to study hard, work hard, and follow instructions.
What Are The Different Police Academies
There are two distinct types of police academies. In either academy, you can decide to enroll without first being hired, though you will have to pay tuition to attend. If you enroll without first being hired, you can apply to be a police officer after receiving your certification, but they may ask you to complete an additional training course.
The two types of police academies are:
-
Police-run academy: In a police-run academy, recruits are typically new hires to a police force going through basic training before starting the job. If this is the case, the recruits earn their starting salary while attending the police academy. Since the recruits are law enforcement employees, not students, these academies are often more intensely disciplined.
Read Also: How To Write A Good Police Report
School Safety Training Unit
The School Safety Training Unit provides an educational foundation for all school safety personnel, training them to be effective safety professionals. School safety personnel enhance the quality of New York City public education by maintaining a safe and secure environment in the citys public schools.
The School Safety Training Unit provides training and support for over 5,000 members of the School Safety Division including:
- Entry Level Recruit Training
- In-Service Training
- Command Level Training
The entry-level training entails 17 weeks of instruction at the Police Academy. Upon graduation, school safety agents are assigned to one of many New York Citys public schools.
Learn more about becoming an NYPD School Safety Agent.
Indiana Trooper Or Highway Patrol Requirements
The Indiana State Police employs over 1,300 officers.3 Every state trooper career with the ISP begins with highway patrol, though there are opportunities to move into other areas of state law enforcement including criminal investigation. To be hired as a state trooper and attend the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy, recruits must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be a US citizen
- Be at least 21 years old, but under 40 years old
- Have vision that can be corrected to 20/50
- Have a valid drivers license
- Hold a high school diploma or a GED
- Be willing to live and serve anywhere in the state of Indiana
Also Check: How To Do A Police Background Check
The Physical Fitness Qualifier And Candidate Advancement Program
In order to better prepare for the exam and the physical demands of the academy, you are required to attend the Candidate Advancement Program and complete the Physical Fitness Qualifier . You must complete the PFQ at least once prior to appointment. Your goal is to score 50 or higher on the PFQ and you are encouraged to take it as many times as you like. If you are struggling to reach the goal of 50 you must attend CAP to get tips and training from our recruitment officers.
The PFQ consists of four events: 1) maximum sit-ups in one minute, 2) 300-meter sprint, 3) maximum push-ups in one minute, and 4) 1.5 mile-run. This is the same physical fitness test that recruit officers take the third day of the Police Academy.
The Academy Physical Training Program is intense and demanding, the first physical fitness test occurs during the first week of the Academy. It is critical that candidates dont wait until they are in the Academy to get into good physical shape. It is recommended to begin a physical conditioning program as soon as you apply.
Also Check: How To Anonymously Call The Police
What Tests Do I Need To Pass To Become A Police Officer
With no federal standards for the minimum requirements for becoming a police officer, each state has its own testing methods to determine eligibility for the job. However, there are some basic criteria for police hiring qualifications such as being at least 21 years old with a high school diploma or GED equivalent and at least two years of higher education.
Here are some of the most common types of tests recruits need to pass to become certified:
-
Physical fitness tests
Recommended Reading: How To Know If Someone Reported You To The Police
About The Training Academy
The Metro Police Training Academy has been developing elite police officers since 1970. Since that time, the Training Academy has graduated over 2,600 police officers, and boasts an Academy staff, which represents a multitude of areas of expertise. In addition to being one of the most respected police academies in the country, it is a CALEA accredited public safety training academy.
The primary role of the Training Division is the operation of the Police Training Academy where it serves as the foundation of the agency by providing students with the highest quality training and knowledge, to support the needs of the department and the community they serve. The Training Academy provides training to newly hired police officer trainees, in-service training to all police officers annually, and thousands of hours of specialized training to officers from across the MNPD and the Metropolitan Government. All basic and in-service training is approved and monitored by the Tennessee Peace Officers Standards Training Commission.
Different Types Of Police Academies
The type of academy a recruit attends has a great deal to do with how the day-to-day life of a recruit may be structured. In some states, police training is decentralized and conducted at local community colleges or academies.
These academies tend to reflect a more collegiate atmosphere. In others, there may be one police academy that provides law enforcement training for the entire state. Some police agencies may host their academy.
Law enforcement agencies that hold their academies tend to have the most rigid training because their recruits are also hired as employees. This allows the agency to exert more control over their recruits and impose stricter disciplinary standards.
These academies are usually run similar to a military-style boot camp, where push-ups, leg lifts, and other forms of physical exertion are used as means of correcting even minor infractions.
Recommended Reading: How Can I Apply To Be A Police Officer
Q: Will I Be Subject To Drug Screening Prior To Appointment
A: Yes. Once appointed to an LAPD academy class, candidates will be required to complete a drug test using a hair sample approximately three weeks prior to the Academy start date. The hair sample process involves the nurse cutting off approximately 1 inch width of hair which is sent to a special lab that tests hair for different drugs. If the candidate has a shaved head then hair may need to be collected from the arms or legs.
Ensure A Career As A Police Officer Is Right For You
As with any job, its important to take a hard look at what the position requires to determine whether the career path is really right for you. Not only is it important to consider the career in general, its also important to look at the education required, the on-the-job intensity that police officers might experience on a day-to-day basis, and other factors. Its also a good idea to consider advancement if you have an eye toward higher-level administrative or federal work, is becoming a police officer the best stepping stone? Here are some questions to ask before diving into training to become a police officer.
- Do I have the physical strength to restrain dangerous individuals or save innocent civilians?
- Can I effectively read peoples emotions and feelings, in particular when it comes to assessing an individuals credibility and danger to others?
- Can I make difficult decisions that often have no ideal outcomes?
- Am I comfortable taking on a leadership role, whether it be as a community resource or point of assurance during a crisis?
- Am I good at communicating with others, especially in high stress situations?
If you answered yes to these questions, you may be an excellent fit for a police officer career.
Recommended Reading: How To File A Fraud Complaint With The Police
How To Gain Experience Before Becoming A Police Officer
If you are looking to start your careers in law enforcement but dont want to make the financial and time commitment to the academy just yet, you have options.
For example, many aspiring police officers start their careers in security to gain experience that will help get them into law enforcement careers.
Paladin Security offers exceptional training, which gives police academy candidates a leg up.
Paladin offers training that is done in partnership with local law enforcement like the Vancouver Police Department, with our security officers training alongside real police officers in skills such as combat fighting techniques like jujitsu.
Paladin Security officer training includes:
- Basic Security Training
- Management of Aggressive Behaviour
- Active shooter situations
- Investigations and crime scene protection
- Note-taking and report writing
- Mobile alarm response
- Responding to opioid overdoses
- Traffic control methods
- Pre-assignment security officer training
- Security officer orientation and sight training
LEARN MORE: How to write a stellar security guard resume .
If you want a quick way to get into a career that doesnt waste your time, consider joining Paladin to jumpstart your career in law enforcement.
How To Prepare For The Police Academy
The course syllabus is extensive. To get through it successfully, candidates must be prepared. Here are some ways you can navigate through the course with success.
First keep fit. Yes, you may have succeeded in the police officer exam, but your physical strength and endurance are now going to be tested much further. Go to the gym, build strength and cardiovascular capacity to maximize your endurance on the field. You should do strength-based exercises at least three-times weekly, and cardiovascular exercises daily. However, you may tweak this recommendation based on your own activity / inactivity levels.
Second, build teamwork skills. No police officer goes it alone. To succeed at both the police academy and in your future career as a police officer, you must be able to build and maintain personal relationships and this includes working effectively within teams. Sometimes this can be difficult, particularly if its not something you like or are used to. But it is something that you need to work on and its better to start now rather than trying to resolve it when things are too late.
Study and Pass the 2022-2023 Police Officer Exam!
Read Also: How Do I Become A Police Officer In Utah