How To Become A Transit Police Officer

Bart’s Social Resources Programs And Homelessness Action Plan

The national homelessness crisis can be visible in BART stations and on trains as unhoused individuals and destinationless riders use BART for shelter. Increasing rates of homelessness and related quality-of-life issues on BART present us with unique challenges as a transit system, and highlight a pressing need for action and understanding from us, our riders, and our partner agencies in the communities we serve.

We are developing a Strategic Homelessness Action Plan and we have a coordinated approach to connect homeless people who seek shelter in our system to services and resources.

How To Become A Transit Police Officer

Education and experience guidelines depend on the employer, but most transit police officer jobs only require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many transit companies want applicants to be at least 21 years of age with a requirement that the candidate holds a valid drivers license. The applicants must take and pass a written exam, pass a very thorough background check, a psychiatric evaluation, and in some cases, a lie detector test before being considered for a position as an officer.

Candidates for this job should be in good physical shape to be able to withstand the often gruelling physical aspects of the job. In the case that a criminal must be apprehended on foot, an officer may have to run long distances, and they may have to restrain a suspect while waiting for backup. A candidate should not only be fit to run long distances, they must also have a good deal of strength.

Candidates must also be able to wield a certain amount of authority and be prepared to exert that authority in necessary situations. Like any other police officer, they must be able to take charge in stressful environments while still keeping their cool to do the job correctly and without unnecessary aggression.

Are Railroad Police Real Police

Railroad police are certified state law enforcement officers with investigative and arrest powers both on and off railroad property in most states. They also have interstate law enforcement authority pursuant to federal law. Only 4 percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies have earned CALEA accreditation.

You May Like: Can Police Track Your Phone

Help Stop Fraud In State Government

The Maryland General Assemblys Office of Legislative Audits operates a toll-free fraud hotline to receive allegations of fraud and/or abuse of State government resources. Information reported to the hotline in the past has helped to eliminate certain fraudulent activities and protect State resources.

Using the translate feature with screen reading software requires having the synthesizer for the foreign language you request already installed on your screen reader. NVDA users should use the e-Speak NG synthesizer. JAWS users should download and install Vocalizer Expressive voices. VoiceOver and Narrator users should download the appropriate voices directly from Apple and Microsoft. To view the disclaimer, press down arrow until you hear the words view disclaimer and press enter.

Get Accepted & Paying Your Way

Admission requirements can vary widely depending on the type of program and institution offering it. Another consideration is how to pay for this education and training. During your application process, keep the following pointers in the back of your mind to help you get into the best program to meet your needs and goals as a future police officer.

Entrance requirements

Entry into various degree programs in law enforcement will all require some general points, such as completing an application, paying an application fee and presenting proof of high school graduation.

The associate degree program might require:

• A personal statement
• Transcripts from any other college courses taken

The bachelors degree might require additional information:

• Transcripts from associate degree work
• Completion of certain prerequisites
• A resume of related experience

Application process & fees

Paying for Your Program

How much a training or educational program costs depends greatly upon the degree level you want to obtain. For instance, obtaining an associate degree will cost much less than a bachelors degree will. To learn more about financial aid options and how those will affect your financial bottom line, visit our online financial aid handbook:

Step 4

Don’t Miss: How To Get A Copy Of A Police Report

Working As A Metro Transit Police Officer

Do you want to work as a Metro Police Officer? Before submitting your job application, make sure that you have the qualifications to perform the job. The minimum requirements are:

Be a United States citizen.

Must have a High school diploma or GED.

Must have a valid Drivers License.

Minimum age is 20 years and 9 months.

Must be physically fit to perform normal police activities.

In addition to the above requirements, you must obtain a score of at least 70% on the written application. You will also have a background investigation, a physical ability test, an oral board interview, a truth verification test, a Psychological evaluation and a Physical examination.

Before you start your job application, collect current and past employment and education information. In order to apply for a Metro job, you must first create an online profile. If your profile is incomplete, you may not be considered for the position. Filling out the job application takes about 30 minutes and the application cannot be saved until it is complete.

Go to Employment Application. Note: Metro no longer accepts paper applications. The link will take you to a site titled “Welcome Metro Applicant!” Click on “Create/Update Resume”. The link will take you to a site titled “Log into HEARTS.” Click on “Are you a new applicant? Click here to register”. You will be taken to a site titled “Identification.” Enter your email address and create a password. Finally, click “Register” to finish creating your profile.

Pass The Licensing Exam

The next step to becoming a police officer is to earn a passing score on your states police licensing board exam. Your education and training will prepare you to take the Peace Officer Standards and Training exam.

Each state has its own licensing board, so the tests will also vary. But generally speaking, most POST exams cover topics like: practical application and techniques, civil and criminal law, community policing, victims rights and management and communication. By passing this capstone exam, you are licensed to become a police officer and enforce the law in your jurisdiction. You are now free to seek employment with a police department.

Don’t Miss: How To Be A Police Officer In Tn

What Is The Role Of Transit Officer

Transit police officers are responsible for keeping the public safe on subways and other railroad property. They must be able to remove people in violation of the laws of these public transportation and freight carrying systems, including people who are stealing or trespassing on the property.

Discover Your Program In Minutes

Being a police officer is a meaningful and impactful way to serve a community. Becoming a police officer doesn’t rely heavily on formal education in fact, a high school diploma is often the minimum formal education required. An associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree is rarely mandatory. Instead, extensive and specialized training is required. This training is often provided by police academies on the local, regional or state level.

So why get a law enforcement degree? Two reasons: Potential higher pay and better advancement opportunities. This guide focuses on how education can help an aspiring police officer realize their dreams.

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Homeland Security Police Officer

Police Officer Salaries And Job Outlook

The BLS projects a 5% growth rate in employment for law enforcement officers between 2018 and 2028, which is consistent with the average job growth rate. Job turnover rates are low for this occupation, which means job seekers may initially face some competition. However, job security is reasonably high for police officers and other law enforcement workers.

Police officer salaries and benefits can vary widely from state to state. Law enforcement positions may have different salaries, depending on each positions job duties and police force. For example, in 2019, the BLS reported the following median annual earnings of different law enforcement officers:

Police and sheriffs patrol officers: $63,150 Detectives and criminal investigators: $83,170 Transit and railroad police: $71,820 Fish and game wardens: $57,500

The approximate entry-level salaries for these positions in 2019:

Police and sheriffs patrol officers: $36,960 Detectives and criminal investigators: $44,860 Transit and railroad police: $43,220 Fish and game wardens: $33,930

Impress At Your Police Officer Interview

Many hopeful applicants will be offered an interview during the hiring process. This is an opportunity to get to know you on a personal level, and sometimes that can be enough to land you that coveted job. Here are some questions you might encounter during that interview:

Lets keep in touch

Stay up-to-date with the latest education, training, and career trends.

Recommended Reading: Do All Police Reports Get Investigated

What Degree Do You Need

Bachelors Degree

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Transit and Railroad Police or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Transit and Railroad Police what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Transit and Railroad Police must have at least a high school education or GED and be a graduate of their agencys training academy. Many agencies and some police departments require some college coursework or a college degree.

Bachelor’s Degree In Law Enforcement

A law enforcement degree at the bachelor’s level typically takes four years to complete and can include many different topics or subjects. There are prototypical degrees such as criminal justice, criminology and law enforcement studies. But there are other majors that can hold police officers in good stead. For example, graduates with a degree in accounting are excellent candidates for a career in white collar crime investigations, while computer science majors can have an advantage if they’re interested in pursuing a career in computer forensics or cyber crimes.

Those in a bachelor’s degree program in a law-related field can expect to find courses like these:

Police Ethics

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Police Officer In Miami Florida

*laterals & Requirements For Higher Pay

LATERALS: Currently employed LEOs can lateral over and start at PO1-Step 5 based off of years of service Those who have left prior LEO service within 1 year can start at PO1-Step 5 based off of years of service. MILITARY: Those who are current military police officers or have an equivalent Military Occupational Specialty can start at PO1-Step 5 based off of years of service Those who have left with similar qualifications within 1 year can start at PO1-Step 5 based off of years of service Other current military with any other MOS will be brought in at PO1-Step 2 Other current military who have left within 1 year with any other MOS will be brought in at PO1-Step 2 . CORRECTIONS: Those currently employed by a State or Federal Penitentiary can start at PO1-Step 3 based off of years of service Those who have left within 1 year can start at PO1- Step 3 based off of years of service. COLLEGE: Those who have received a bachelors degree will qualify to come in at PO1-Step 2 Those who have received a masters degree will qualify to come in at PO1-Step 4 .

Are You Suited To Be A Transit Police Officer

Transit police officers have distinct personalities. They tend to be enterprising individuals, which means theyre adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive, and motivational. Some of them are also realistic, meaning theyre independent, stable, persistent, genuine, practical, and thrifty.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if transit police officer is one of your top career matches.

Read Also: Can You Sue The Police For Harassment

What Skills Does A Police Officer Need

Learning how to become a police officer requires the development of specific skills. According to the BLS, these include the following:

Communication. Officers should be able to speak with and record data from colleagues and community members, as well as express information effectively both verbally and in writing. Empathy. Officers should understand the diverse perspectives and needs of the communities in their jurisdictions while enforcing the law and assisting the public. Judgment. Officers should use common sense and relevant knowledge to address problems and resolve issues appropriately. Leadership. Officers should be comfortable with guiding, correcting, and directing community members as needed. Fitness. Officers should have enough strength and stamina to perform the challenging physical aspects of their responsibilities.

Get New Jobs Emailed To You Daily

By clicking the button above, I agree to the ZipRecruiter Terms of Use and acknowledge I have read the Privacy Policy

Could not find any Transit Police Officer jobs within 25 miles of Richmond Hill, CA

*Salary estimates are not verified by employers actual compensation can vary considerably. To learn more about Compensation Estimates, please see ourFAQ.

Get new jobs emailed to you daily

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Boston Police Officer

Certificate In Law Enforcement

A certificate in criminal justice or criminology is an opportunity for individuals to gain specific instruction in an area of law enforcement. Since a certificate consists of a few classes and can be completed in a few months, the certificate can also provide an opportunity to get started on an associate degree without having to commit to the two years just yet. Certificates are also great in that some department require applicants to have some college credits, but do not require a full degree. Some of the courses available in a criminology or criminal justice certificate program are listed below:

Criminology

• Use of different philosophies regarding criminal punishment
• Familiarity with common practices within a correctional facility.
• Ability to follow established procedures and protocols of various correctional facilities

Pass The Post Exam & Become A Police Officer

In order to work as a police officer, aspiring applicants must pass the Peace Officer Standards and Training or Police Officer Standards and Training exam. Commonly known as the POST exam, this is required for each state except Hawaii . Each state has subtle differences in their testing procedure, requirements, and the test itself, so its important to do in-depth research on the test your particular state requires.

Examsfor police officers include not only the POST written examination which includes an evaluation of grammar, reading comprehension, andwriting but other points as well, such as physical agility,medical health, psychological fitness, background review, and an oralinterview. Some states might add other requirements, such as apolygraph test. Once these tests are satisfactorily passed, graduatesare ready to work as police officers. The procedure it takes to getfrom passing the tests to wearing the badge depends on the state andin some cases, the department itself.

Step 6

Recommended Reading: Why Do I Want To Be A Police Officer

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.

Letter From Chief Of Police Deirdre Jones

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Transit Police Department was created on July 5, 1977, and is the fourth largest police department in Cuyahoga County. As the safety and security of the transit system is paramount, every police officer is certified by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission and is authorized to enforce all city, state and federal laws.

In addition to our patrol officers, seven canine teams and plainclothes detectives traverse our system daily to deter crime and terrorism. As an added layer of security, technicians installed and maintain thousands of security cameras throughout our train stations and platforms, at transit centers and parking lots, and on our trains and buses.

We pledge to provide our riders and operators a safe transit environment, as the dedicated men and women of the Transit Police Department carry out this mission with the highest level of professionalism by treating our 35 million annual users with empathy and compassion.

Because we appreciate the importance of building and maintaining relationships, we continue to create new community engagement strategies while enhancing our existing programs. For example, the highly successful KidWatch program reaches thousands of children throughout the county at various events and builds relationships with children at a tender age to teach safe riding habits.

The police are the community and the community are the police

Thank you for riding the RTA.

Also Check: How Much Do Police Officers Earn