How To Become A Us Police Officer

How Do I Make Myself More Marketable

California is a highly desirable state to work in, so it doesnt hurt to stick out from the bunch. Having an associates degree in Criminal Justice can be highly beneficial. If you dont have that, it doesnt hurt to take some criminology classes to boost your knowledge and expertise. Are you bilingual? Awesome! Many police agencies in the Golden State are searching for candidates who can speak in other languages in addition to English particularly Spanish.

Police Officer Education Prerequisites

To become a police officer, youll need these education prerequisites:

• Be a U.S. citizen over 20 years old
• Not be a convicted felon
• Have earned a high school diploma or a GED
• Must pass several competitive written and physical examinations
• If youre thinking of working at the state or federal level, youll need a college degree.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Police Officer

When choosing to embark on any career, its certainly helpful to know how long the educational process will take. For those wanting to work as a police officer, there is no clear-cut answer to the question of how long training and education will take. It really depends on your long-term career goals, as well as which path you choose to get there. Here are some of the most common timelines you might encounter when looking at becoming a police officer.

Nowthat you have a rough idea of how long each educational pathwayusually takes before being able to serve as a law enforcementofficer, lets talk about what to expect from each specific path.

Step 2

Don’t Miss: What Do You Do In The Police Academy

Required Police Officer Skills And Characteristics

Much of what you need to know to be a successful police officer is taught during police academy training, but valuable skills can be learned anywhere. For example, having military experience or being bilingual can be an advantage when it comes to hiring. The following skills and tools are essential to help keep police officers and the public as safe as possible.

Leadership: Leadership qualities are important, not just for leading fellow officers, but for helping the civilian population in times of need. Police officers must be able to assess situations quickly and tell others what to do to keep safe.

Good judgment: Many problems faced by police officers have no easy solution. The right thing to do may require a complex solution and blur the lines between right and wrong. Good judgment helps police officers make the best decisions possible.

The ability to read people: Police officers interact with ordinary citizens every day. They must be able to figure out when something isnt right, not because of what is said, but because of what isnt said. There will also be disputes that boil down to one persons word against another. Being able to read peoples motives and tell when someone is being truthful is essential.

Physical strength and stamina: Law enforcement is demanding work, whether it is working long hours or having impromptu foot chases. Not all work will be dramatic, but physical ability is a much-needed skill for police officers.

The Ability To Make A Difference

Becoming a police officer also allows the opportunity to make a positive impact in a community, down to the individual level. Police officers can improve the quality of life and peace of mind of the citizens they serve, whether by responding promptly to an emergency call, keeping children safe at a crosswalk or offering assurances after a home break-in. Beyond that, police officers are in a unique position to make a difference through simple daily acts of kindness and heroism.

Don’t Miss: Who Are Police Looking For In My Area

Does The Police Academy Pay You

Officers receive a full starting salary while training at a police academy. Once you successfully graduate police academy, you will likely get a bump in salary. Depending on the police department where you work, this salary bump can be as much as $2,000 or $3,000 more than what you earned while training.

What Is Age Limit For Police Officer

Minimum / Maximum Age Requirement While most agencies require you to be 21 by academy graduation date, some take cadets as young as 18. The maximum age can vary widely. Do not assume that just because you are over 30, your chances of becoming a police officer are over. Some agencies have no maximum age.

Don’t Miss: What Happens If A Police Officer Hits Your Car

Florida Sheriff Deputy Requirements

Florida has 66 sheriffs, one for each of the states counties, except for Miami-Dade County, which has a countywide combined police and sheriffs department.* In Florida, sheriffs serve four-year terms. Requirements to become a sheriffs deputy in Florida can vary from county to county. The generally held requirements are that candidates must:

• Be at least 18 to work as a deputy
• Be a US citizen
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Possess a valid Florida drivers license
• Pass a background investigation
• Pass the vision, medical, psychological, and fitness evaluations and a polygraph test

*In a 2018 referendum, the state constitution was changed to require Miami-Dade County to reinstate the office and elect a sheriff in 2024.

Nevada Sheriffs Deputy Requirements

Nevada has sixteen counties and each county has an elected sheriff. Prospective sheriffs deputies, who are sworn law enforcement officers assisting sheriffs in carrying out duties such as rural patrol, delivering court documents and enforcing court orders, and carrying out bench warrants, must meet Nevada POST requirements for law enforcement officers at a minimum. Counties may set additional requirements beyond the state minimums.

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Police K9 Trainer

State Police Officer Requirements

Each state also has its own requirements for law enforcement officers. Click on your state below to find out more about state trooper, sheriffs deputy, and police requirements in that state.

References and Notes: 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Detectives and Criminal Investigators: 2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, Police and Sheriffs Patrol Officers: 3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: 4. Griffin, N. C. . The five-Is of police professionalism: A model for front-line leadership. Police Chief, 65, 24-31. 5. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 6. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections:

*Note: Although this guide uses the terms police,police officer, and cop exclusively, the process described here as characteristic of municipal departments is fairly typical of county sheriffs offices and state agencies as well.

This guide was written by William Prince, Adjunct Instructor of Criminal Justice at Wharton County Junior College.

Police Officer Hiring Process

The police officer hiring process is much different than that of any other job. It is not simply attending an interview and then being approved for the position. In order to become a police officer, you need to undergo a series of tests and each of them can disqualify you. The entire process is quite competitive and each police department can put more importance on a single element of the process rather than on the other. Nevertheless, the hiring process consists of several elements that are common for each agency no matter if we talk about local, state or federal law enforcement.

Once your application is accepted, you need to be tested in order to prove that you have what it takes to do the job. This includes checking both your general knowledge, writing skills, physical abilities, and your background. Here are the steps that you need to successfully pass through, in order to become a police officer:

• Physical ability test

The physical ability test checks the fitness of the candidate and their readiness to face the physical challenges of the police officer job. Basically, there are two approaches adopted by the agencies into performing the PAT: the job simulation method and the fitness-based method. In both cases, it is a pass/fail test and the applicant must meet certain criteria in order to pass. Check with the department which of the two approaches they use and train for the test.

• Medical exam

• Background check

• Polygraph test

• Psychological screening

• Oral board interview

Read Also: How To Find A Police Report In California

Eclectic Nature Of The Job

For those who are averse to monotonous professions, life as a law enforcement officer may provide the desired variety. Because the needs of communities vary, and the specific directives of a police department may shift over time, police officers may find that no two days are alike. As the Houston Chronicle notes, the daily responsibilities of a police officer may involve directing traffic, patrolling a neighborhood, responding to calls from concerned citizens, making an arrest or even testifying in a legal proceeding.

Pros And Cons Of Becoming A Police Officer

This isnt an 8 to 5 office job. Its an on-your-feet, always-alert, out-and-about career. And while thats a good thing, it also comes with a few downsides. Heres the straight story on what to expect in a career as a police officer:

Pros:

• Job stability: Police officers work for the local, state, or federal government, which dont generally go bust or downsize like companies.
• Benefits: Many government agencies, unlike most private companies, still provide pension plans so people can comfortably retire not to mention life insurance policies and more time off.
• Advancement opportunities: The combination of job stability and retirement benefits leads to a fairly consistent hierarchy in constant need of new people moving up the ranks.
• Training: Police officers receive excellent training that can be used beyond their careers in police work, should they want to go into private security, firearms training, or similar work.
• Sense of pride: In a 2016 study of law enforcement officers, 58% reported feeling proud of their work nearly always or often.
• Collegiality: Like other coworkers, police officers bond over shared duties. But those bonds are reinforced with constant teamwork in the face of danger.

Cons:

Also Check: How Much Is It To Get Into The Police Academy

Explore Police Officer Education Options

Learn about police education options and find out what police officer jobs are available to you.

Police officer education can help prepare you for work as one of your citys dedicated law enforcement agents.

Youll maintain law and order, collect evidence, and conduct criminal investigations. You might be patrolling a neighborhood to keep residents safe, responding to a call for help, or participating in a SWAT team raid.

If youve ever thought of becoming a police officer, youll want to know what your police education will prepare you for:

• Urban police officers have general law enforcement duties including maintaining regular patrols and responding to calls for help. Many are assigned to patrol a specific area, such as a business district or residential neighborhood.
• Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs enforce the law on the county level. Sheriffs, who are elected to their posts, perform duties similar to those of a local or county police chief.
• Detectives gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids or arrests.
• State police officers, also known as highway patrol officers, arrest criminals statewide and patrol highways to enforce motor vehicle laws and regulations. At the scene of accidents, they may direct traffic, give first aid, or call for emergency equipment.

Nevada Police Jobs Outlook

Nevada has a number of vibrant, expanding communities and the outlook for law enforcement careers in the state is positive. Jobs growth for police and sheriffs patrol officers is estimated to reach 15.5% through 2026.6 During this period, an estimated 350 average annual openings for police and sheriffs patrol officers are expected.6 Cops in Nevada earn an average annual salary of $73,930.1

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

You May Like: What Is A Police Challenge Coin

Law Enforcement Degrees & Training

Attend A Police Academy

A police academy will train you in patrol, traffic control, firearm use, self-defense, first aid, and emergency response tactics. There is a lot to learn, so this takes about 6 months to complete. Upon completion however, you are promoted to Officer. Attending an academy is like having a full-time job. You will most likely attend your academy Monday through Friday for about 40 hours of training a week. You will also be paid.

Read Also: How To Look Up Police Calls In Your Area

Municipal Police Force Salaries & Benefits

In comparison to the federal police force, the municipal police agencies offer slightly higher salaries.

The Calgary Police Service offers a starting salary of approximately $66,000/year.

The Vancouver Police Department offers new hires $70,154/year with an incremental increase to $90,198 after 3 years. Benefits include paid vacation, medical and dental benefits and a BC Municipal Pension Plan membership.

The Toronto Police Service has a starting salary of $63,564.98 for their cadets. After year 3, police officers receive an annual salary of $90,836. Benefits include paid vacation, family medical and dental benefits, life insurance, pension plan, parental/maternity leave and more.

Considering that the median income for individual Canadians was $36,400 in 2018, according to Statistics Canada, the starting salary for a Canadian police officer is an attractive one.

When deciding between the federal or municipal level, keep in mind that while the RCMP might have a lower salary, the role involves police duties at the international, federal, provincial and municipal levels with a much wider variety in operational and administrative opportunities.Some specializations that are unique to the RCMP are: Integrated Border Enforcement Team, National Security, Marine Services, International Peace Operations and many, many more.

Police Officer Salaries & Benefits

A career with the United States Capitol Police offers many rewards: making a significant and positive impact interesting work and employment opportunities serving the public pride in serving on the nations premiere police department and competitive salaries and excellent benefits.

Immediately upon hire, all officers receive full pay and are appointed to the rank of Private. Upon graduation from the United States Capitol Police Training Academy, officers are appointed to the rank of Private with Training. After successful completion of 30 months of service, officers are typically promoted to the rank of Private First Class.

As of January 2021, the initial salary steps are as follows:

Position Title Salary

In addition to offering a competitive salary, the USCP offers a wide range of benefits that are designed to make our employees federal career very rewarding.

Opportunities for Career Growth

Upon successful completion of training, probationary periods, time in grade, and all other professional requirements, future competitive promotions may be available to a higher rank or positions within a specialized area such as Dignitary Protection, Intelligence, Patrol and Mobile Response, K-9, Containment Emergency Response Team , and/or other positions within the Department.

Recommended Reading: How To Check Your Police Report Online

Apply To Become A Police Officer

Working as a police officer is a popular job, so it makes sense that each job opening has more than a few applicants. In fact, in some areas of the country, becoming a police officer can be a highly competitive process, with hundreds of qualified applicants vying for only a handful of positions. Given this, its very important to learn how to stand out from the pack of hopefuls and get the attention of those who call the shots when hiring time rolls around. The following resources can help you with everything from cleaning up your resume to understanding how to interview for the job you really want.

Step 7

Successfully Pass A Background Check

You can expect any law enforcement agency youre applying for to conduct a number of checks into your background, including criminal history and even credit history. While this isnt literally the first step to becoming a police officer, it is the first one youll need to consider before you get too invested in the process. If you have concerns about how your background might impact your candidacy, you may want to consult a police academy admissions representative about it.

Your credit history may be analyzed because it gives potential employers an idea of your level of responsibility and potential problems like gambling-related debts. Police departments look into applicants history of criminal activity, employment, residency and academic records as well.

Basically, the police department is going to get deep into your business, says Adam Plantinga, and 17-year veteran sergeant with the San Francisco Police Department. Dont leave anything out on your background packet. If you omit something, even inadvertently, and it comes to light, you will likely be eliminated as a candidate. Departments are looking for responsible people who play by the rules.

Things like felonies and gross misdemeanors could disqualify you from becoming a police officer, but less serious offenses could also be problematicit really depends on the department and its policies.

You May Like: How To Apply For Police Academy In Florida