How To Become A Philadelphia Police Officer

Pennsylvania Sheriffs Deputy Requirements

There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania and each county has an elected sheriff. For anyone looking to become a Pennsylvania sheriff deputy, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Board oversees the training and certification process. Requirements above state minimums may differ from county to county, but in order to be certified, all new recruits must complete a basic training program of at least 760 hours. The training is quite comprehensive and covers all facets of law enforcement in Pennsylvania including civil law and procedure, criminal justice, firearm use, patrol procedures, ethics, and professional standards.

Career Considerations After Applying

Being a police officer is a physically demanding job and you will likely be working with rookies much younger than you. Police officers work long hours and are often scheduled on a shift rotation. Carefully consider if the job requirements match with your current lifestyle and commitments at home. Also remember police officers go through a probationary period and promotion through the ranks usually requires years of service as well as more exams and physical testing. If youre applying to be an officer at 48, you wont likely be applying for a promotion until into your 50s.

References

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Police Academy And On

Another important aspect of police officer education requirements is on-the-job training, which includes police academy training. When officers are hired onto a police force, they typically attend a Peace Officer Standards and Training Council -certified police academy for a certain number of hours. During POST training, officer candidates learn skills relevant to policing, such as firearms training, defense tactics, community policing, traffic enforcement, and report writing. POST-certified basic law enforcement academies typically include three to six months of full-time training, for which officers are paid.

Some cities allow these POST training hours to be applied to the number of credit hours required to be hired as a peace officer. For example, the Sacramento Police Department requires 60 semester credit hours of college to be hired, but 25 of those hours can be applied after the police academy training is completed, so technically only 35 hours of college credits are needed beyond the academy training that all officers receive. After attending a police academy that satisfies the POST requirements, most officers begin in the patrol division of the force, where they continue to learn on the job as a new patrol officer in field training, working under the supervision of a more experienced officer. After completing field training, officers are typically assigned to their first independent patrol.

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Pennsylvania Police Officer Requirements

As in most states, there are a number of requirements candidates must meet before being eligible for active duty in Pennsylvania. The Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission oversees the process of becoming a Pennsylvania cop or sheriffs deputy and sets minimum standards. However, local departments may stipulate their own requirements on top of the state requirements. For example, although the MPOETC requires a high school diploma or GED equivalent, local departments may require an associates degree or higher. Even if a college degree isnt mandatory for employment, most departments look favorably upon college experience.

The MPOETC minimum standards state that to become a Pennsylvania police officer candidates must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Be a US citizen
• Not have a record of any disqualifying criminal offenses
• Be able to read at at least a 9th-grade level
• Have visual acuity of at least 20/70 correctable to 20/20
• Score in at least the 30th percentile in physical fitness according to Cooper Institute standards

Salary Benefits And Jobs Outlook

During police academy training, recruits earn a salary of $49,477 per year, which is raised to $51,245 at graduation.3 With regular step increases, patrol officers can earn up to $64,459 per year plus incentives such as overtime.3 Benefits for PPD officers include health and dental insurance, vacation and holiday leave, and sick time. Officers also participate in a pension plan which vests after 10 years of service after 25 years of service and reaching the age of 50, officers can retire at 54% of their average total compensation.3

While salaries can vary depending on education, rank, and experience, the average annual Philadelphia area patrol officer salary is $70,500 per year.5 According to projections, employment growth for police officers in Pennsylvania will be 4.1% through 2026, equating to 115 new positions added to police forces statewide each year.6

For more information on current Philadelphia law enforcement positions, take a look at our police jobs board.

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What We Have To Offer

The Harrisburg Bureau of Police does not require the Police Academy Act 120 Certification to be accomplished prior to hiring. The Bureau will send you to Harrisburg Area Community College for the required Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Course and pay you a salary and benefits. No residency requirement in the City of Harrisburg.

Competitive Starting Salary & Benefits

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Law Enforcement Or Policing

One common degree specialty for those interested in a career in policing is law enforcement. Degrees in law enforcement are offered at the certificate, associate, bachelors, and masters levels. Students in law enforcement and policing degree programs learn about the history of law enforcement, focusing on an ethical approach to policing, the application of law, due process, tactical strategies, law enforcement technology, and the proper use of force. Law enforcement and policing degrees may be pursued in a traditional format as well as in a hybrid or online format. Courses common to a degree in law enforcement include Physical Training/ Use of Force, Constitutional Law, Police Report Writing, Firearms, Law Enforcement Leadership, and Traffic Law. Courses taken at the police academy after being hired as an officer are typically similar to those found in law enforcement or policing degree programs.

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Women Cops And Domestic Violence

In a recent study, researchers out of the University of Virginia examined the period after major American cities added women to their police departments some by mandate, some on their own. They found that when a city added more female officers, that led to a significant and substantial increase in the rate at which domestic violence victims reported their crimes to the police.

Cases of repeated domestic violence, in which a woman called the cops multiple times, also went down, as did incidents of partner homicide.

The researchers didnt examine why rates of domestic violence went down when women were added to the force. But they had some ideas:

Its possible that female victims might be more willing to call the police and seek help if there are female officers there, said Amalia Miller, who led the research.

This notion that more women police officers spurs higher rates of domestic violence reporting has been borne out internationally. India and Brazil, among other nations where rates of violence against women are high, have been experimenting with women-only police departments for more than a decade.

Reporting rates could also have gone up, and serious incidents down, because women officers were taking domestic violence seriously, Miller said. At a time when domestic violence was more likely to be treated as a private matter between partners, women officers were treating it as a crime.

Other Requirements For Police Officers

Many police departments require recruits to live in the jurisdiction. While some departments allow new hires time to move to the area, others require residency at the time of application. Also, many departments require police officers to have completed some college credits. If you didnt attend college, upgrade your education or select a jurisdiction that only requires a GED equivalency. Some departments waive education requirements if you served in the military or will consider your previous work experience.

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Becoming A Federal Game Warden In Pennsylvania

Game wardens at the federal level also operate in Pennsylvania at the request of other law enforcement agencies, in federally-managed territories, or to enforce federal laws.

Federal fish and game warden applications are submitted through the USA jobs website for positions titled Service Special Agent with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. Applicants must meet requirements that include:

• Being a US citizen aged 21-36
• Passing a drug screening
• Passing a firearms proficiency test annually
• Medical and psychological review

Federal game wardens are also recommended to have a four-year bachelor degree in an area related to Wildlife Management or Criminal Justice.

The training process for federal game wardens also differs from their counterparts at the state level, and includes 64 weeks divided into:

• 20 weeks of training in wildlife law enforcement and criminal justice at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia
• 44 weeks of hands-on field training with an experienced officer

S To Become A Police Officer In Pennsylvania

If you want to be employed as a police officer in this state, you must complete all requirements that are detailed below.

General Requirements

The Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission supervises the procedure for becoming a police officer in Pennsylvania.All requirements are explained below.

Other Relevant Exams

All aspiring candidates who meet the general requirements must also go through some of the following exams and clear them to be eligible for hiring.

• Background Check: Must have a clean criminal record and a clear credit and employment history
• Polygraph Test & Drug Screening:All prospective Police Officers must pass the Polygraph test as well as the drug screening.
• Medical, Physical & Psychological Tests: Candidates have to take all required tests including a fitness test to be employed as a police officer.

Interviewand Civil Service Exam

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Police Officers Full And Part

The Rice Township Board of Supervisors is currently accepting applications for non-competitive Full-Time and Part-Time Police Officer Positions.

Eligible Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Current Act 120 Certification or Equivalent
• Valid PA Drivers License
• Ability to successfully complete a thorough background investigation
• Be physically and mentally fit to perform the duties as a Police Officer according to MPOETC standards.

A complete job description is included in the application packet.

Application packets can be obtained at the Rice Township Municipal Building, 3000 Church Road Mountain Top PA 18707. Completed applications can be returned in person or via U.S Mail to the Rice Township Police Department.

Rice Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications can be obtained by emailing:

Posted: 08/30/21 Deadline:

Best College Degree For Police Officer

Police officers need a broad range of skills to thrive and excel in these careers. From solid communication to a strong understanding of human behavior, police officers will find a lot of value from an associates or bachelors degree in many different fields. The best major for you will be one you have a unique interest in and one that you would like to apply in your career as a police officer.

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Do You Need A Degree To Be A Cop

To be completely clear, formal education, such as an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree is not actually a strict requirement for becoming a police officer. However, many departments across the country are requiring at least a two-year degree, while others are placing a strong emphasis on hiring 4-year college graduates.

Even when not an official requirement for a job opening, having your college degree will be immensely helpful in the hiring process. Despite the fact that these are extremely challenging jobs, there can be lots of competition for positions, so having a formal degree, in addition to the required police training, will make you a more attractive job candidate.

Not only will a degree enhance your chances of being hired, it will also increase your chances of being promoted. At some point in your career, you may want to move into leadership roles, such as a captain or sergeant having a bachelors degree in an appropriate area will make you more likely to find promotion.

Act : Municipal Police Academy

To be employed as a police officer in the state of Pennsylvania,an individual must successfully completea certified Act 120 program and pass the MPOETC state certification exam.

TheCriminal Justice Training Centeroffers full-time and part-time Act 120programs. Full-time academies meet from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and usually take about 22 weeks to complete. Part-time programs are designed for people who work or whose schedules dont enable them to be in classes all day. These academies meet about 20 hours a week: three evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Duration is about 49 weeks.

For further information on locations and availability, see Current Academy Schedules.

For answers to common questions about the CJTC programs, see our frequently asked questions. For information on fees for the Act 120 program, see Program Fees.

Information on applying to the Criminal Justice Training Center

• Criminal Justice Training Center

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Continuing Education And Career Advancement

Once you have completed all of these steps to becoming a police officer, you will still have plenty to learn. Nothing beats on-the-job experience to show you all of the specialized areas police officers might want or need to learn more about. The best officers are never done learning.

Similar to other industries, officers must meet continuing education requirements in order to renew their license. For example, Minnesota police officer requirements mandate a minimum of 48 hours of continuing education within the three-year licensing period in order to maintain their license.

In addition, active officers are required to train annually in use of force and once every five years in emergency vehicle operations/pursuit driving. Specialized training may also be directed by your police department based on federal and local needs. Departments might also incentivize other education opportunities to encourage their officers forward. Additional training or credentials may be required for those looking to climb the police ranks.

Icipate In Field Training

After graduating from a training academy, you can complete your field training. Field training involves working with an experienced officer, known as a field training officer, to grow your skills and prepare you for your position in law enforcement. You may observe them as they perform standard policing tasks and you may assist them in various situations, including arrests and traffic stops. The number of required field hours that you may complete can vary depending on the police department. Generally, the field training officer determines when youâre ready to work independently as an officer.

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How To Become A Police Officer In Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to over 1.5 million people and has a lower crime rate than similarly-sized cities.1,2 However, its violent crime rates are higher than the average for the US, with 445.9 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.2 To keep the city safe, Philadelphia maintains the fourth-largest police force in the US, employing more than 6,300 sworn officers as well as 800 civilian personnel.3 The steps to becoming a cop with the Philadelphia Police Department are outlined in detail below.

Associate Of Science Or Associate Of Arts

Following close behind the postsecondary certificate, according to O*NET OnLine, the second-most common degree recommended for cops is an associate degree, with 24% of respondents recommending this degree.4 An associate degree is a two-year degree that can be found as an Associate of Science , Associate of Applied Science , or an Associate of Arts , comprising about 60 credit hours of coursework. Degrees focusing on law enforcement, police science, criminal justice, or related fields like homeland security or forensic science provide the most useful training for prospective or current police officers. An associate degree in law enforcement may include courses such as Community Relations, Firearms, Criminal Procedures, Loss Prevention, and Forensic Investigation.

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How Long Does It Take To Become A Police Officer:

It takes approximately 6 months or 960 hours to complete police academy training. The Memphis Police Department Training Academy typically takes 22 weeks, or 880 hours, to complete. All in all, it may take as long as 2-years to become a police officer, including both pre-employment and training processes.

Bachelor Of Science Or Bachelor Of Arts

Another option for police officer education is the bachelors degree. Similar to an associate degree, a bachelors degree can be in the form of a Bachelor of Science , a Bachelor of Applied Science , or a Bachelor of Arts . Bachelors degrees usually take four years of full-time study to complete, and prospective or current cops may choose to pursue a bachelors in any subject in order to fulfill most departmentseducational requirements. For students considering a career in federal law enforcement, jobs like CIA officer or US Marshal may require a bachelors degree in a criminal justice-related subject, such as homeland security, criminology, or law enforcement. To be the most competitive candidate for these federal positions, many students pursue graduate degrees after obtaining their bachelors. Most bachelors degrees require around 120 credit hours to graduate, including foundational and specialized coursework. Law enforcement bachelors degrees may include courses such as Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Law, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Community Policing, Crime Analysis and Investigation, and others.

Police Officer Education Matters-Rydberg and Terrill, The Effect of Higher Education on Police Behavior, Police Quarterly

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