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Is It Hard To Become A Police Officer

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Police Officers Lose Their Delusions Of A Nice World Quite Soon

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Since police officers see so many bad things during their careers, they often also lose all their childish delusions of a nice world pretty soon.

While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day.

Consequently, it may also be hard for police officers to build trust with others and to make really good friends since they may always mistrust people right from the beginning.

S To Becoming An Australian Police Officer

To become a police officer in Australia, you will be required to go through the following selection process:

The first stage of applying for a job as a police officer is to submit an application form. The application holds an incredible amount of weight your ability to move forwards in the selection process will all depend on whether or not your application form is successful.

Meeting the Requirements

Before submitting your application form, you will need to check whether or not you are eligible to apply. In simple terms, do you meet the minimum criteria? If not, your application form will likely be rejected.

Please read the eligibility criteria above to use as a guideline of the key requirements for joining the police force. Dont forget, these are just basic criteria, and the police department you apply to may have slightly different requirements. Be sure to check out their website to know what requirements you will have to meet.

Desirable qualities

Alongside the criteria, the selection process will also assess you on how well you meet the desired qualities. Whilst these are not mandatory, meeting these qualities will hugely increase your chances of being successful.

Some desirable qualities for those who wish to take on the role of Police Officer include the following:

Before writing or typing anything, consider your answers carefully. Remember, you are going to be judged on your answers so they need to be as clear and concise as possible.

  • Background checks
  • Interviews.

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.

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What Is The Cost Of Becoming A Police Officer

From research, the cost of enrolling in Police academy is usually total less than $5,000, and some police departments will reimburse a percentage of that tuition upon employment. After receiving your certification, you can then apply to become a police officer in that state.

Also to get a better police career level or higher pay, you can opt to get a college degree in Criminology or Criminal Justice. And, the average out-of-state cost for a bachelor program in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration is $31,914 with an estimated average four-year degree total cost of $127,656.

Your Colleagues Will Become Your Second Family

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You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career.

In fact, your colleagues will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them.

Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible.

Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency.

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Hawaii Police Officer Requirements

The Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii County Police Department, the Maui County Police Department and the Kauai Police Department are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. . To achieve and maintain CALEA accreditation, agencies must adhere to a number of standards that apply to those who wish to become a police officer. These include provisions that officer candidates must complete:

  • A medical examination
  • A psychological screening
  • A background investigation which includes verification of qualifying credentials, a review of any criminal record, and verification of at least three personal references
  • A recruit training academy that meets widely-held police standards

In addition, sworn officers must comply with state laws regarding the carrying of firearms. As a result, the minimum age to become a police officer in Hawaii is 21, and applicants may not have any domestic violence convictions on their records. However, certain jurisdictions may begin the hiring process with recruits who are 20 years of age the Honolulu Police Department, for example, hires recruits at the age of 20 so long as those recruits are 21 at the time of graduation from training.

Other common requirements for Hawaii police officers include:

Learn How To Become An Australian Police Officer

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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.

Work Towards A Promotion

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So long as its within your reach, always try to improve yourself in your chosen. Attend any training meant to boost your experience and get certified.

Pay increases with a promotion, but so does the level of responsibility and potential bureaucracy.

Once some experience requirements are met , officers have a variety of opportunities. These include positions such as detective, mounted officer, SWAT, and other focused units, depending on the size and needs of a given police department.

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You Will See Things You Wish You Didn’t Have To

It’s the nature of the job. Once you get out of the academy, and probably while you’re still in field training, you’ll start responding to all sorts of calls, many of which will be tragic. Accidents, injuries, abuse, and death all will become a regular part of your week, if not your day.

Dealing with victims of crime and families of lost loved ones is difficult and painful, but it’s perhaps the most important part of the job of a police officerand one you’ll have to get used to pretty quick once you begin your career.

Paperwork Is Part Of Being A Police Officer

Being a police officer is not only about action. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge.

In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks.

Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer.

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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.

Federal Police Force Salary & Benefits

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If youre interested in the federal police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police offers new hires $53,144/year with an incremental increase to $86,110 within 3 years of employment. Benefits include paid vacation days, an RCMP pension plan, medical, dental and family health plans and group life insurance. The RCMP also offers generous maternity and parental allowances as well as financial support for continuing education and professional development opportunities.

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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

How Long Is Police Academy

One of the most important steps, as well as possibly the most challenging, in your path to becoming a police officer is training at a police academy. Each state will have different requirements for the specifics of a police academy, but recruits will typically spend about 800 hours in training before graduation. In general, the academy will take about six months to complete.

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How Much Control Do I Have Over How I Handle My Calls

The Seattle Police Department takes a lot of pride in our officers. Patrol officers are the most visible representatives of our Department to the community. That is why training is so rigorous – by the time you are assigned to patrol you are ready to work independently. With the confidence of knowing that your co-workers are there for backup, and a solid foundation of laws, policies and tactics, your response to each call is ultimately up to you.

Pass The Licensing Exam

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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.

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Picking The Right Program

Once you know which program level you want to pursue, its time to figure out which one best suits your needs. When researching the schools that make it onto your all-important shortlist, keep the following questions in mind:

  • Is the school regionally accredited?
  • Can you afford the tuition?
  • Does the timeline fit with your future goals?
  • Does the program have a high success rate?
  • Does the program provide POST exam prep?

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:

  • An essay
  • 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

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Add More Skills To Your Skill Set

Adding more skills to your skillset will definitely make outstanding in your work. This is because you will know how to profer solutions to any kind of challenge that may arise. It is important you learn how to drive. It is important to learn how to administer simple first aid. Getting advanced computer and technology skills will surely make you the go-to guy in your field.

Requirements To Become A Police Officer In Texas

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The minimum enrollment requirements for training as a Texas Peace Officer, as set out by Commission Rule 215.15, are as follows. Candidates must be/have:

  • 21 years of age or older, or 18 years and older if the candidate has at least an associates degree or 60 hours worth of credits from an accredited university or college
  • A citizen of the United States
  • A clean criminal record
  • A valid Texas drivers license of current Class C status
  • No trace of drug dependency
  • A high school diploma
  • Free from any medical or physical conditions that could get in the way of their duties as a police officer

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How Important Is Accreditation

Accreditation refers to an outside organization reviewing a particular school or program to ensure it meets certain standards of quality. Accreditation is important for police training programs because it serves as a mark of quality graduates who complete their education and training can be confident that what they have earned will be accepted by future employers and peers. The specific entities that offer accreditation will vary depending on the program. For instance, many associate or bachelors degree programs will not be accredited at the program level, but the school offering the degree will be accredited. This will usually be a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the US Department of Education.

As for the accreditation of police training academies, the most prominent is the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA.

Step 3

How Hard Is Police Academy

The police academy is, above all, an educational institution. In classroom settings, youll learn the basics of law enforcement, crime prevention, patrol, conflict management, and investigations. You will also complete field training that will cover firearms proficiency, self defense, agility and strength training, and more.

Similar to basic training for a military recruit, this all-encompassing education requires physical and mental endurance. Youll be up early for exercise, attend strict classroom settings, drill in firearms, learn how to use non-lethal measures, and likely spend hours in the hot sun running, jumping, wrestling, and becoming a more physically-fit police recruit. Its not easy, but at the end you will be prepared to face the physical, mental, and emotional rigors of police work.

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Is It Hard To Become A Police Officer

By | Submitted On October 28, 2011

The question pertaining to how hard it is to become a police officer is being asked by several young people who are thinking of joining the police force. The answer to this is that it’s not hard to become a police officer if you are committed to making a career in law enforcement. However, everyone is not a cut out to become one. The reason for this is that becoming a police officer is easy, but remaining in the service for a long period of time becomes difficult for many and they leave the force to take up a career in another field.

To become a police officer in the United States:

You must be a U.S. citizen You must be at least 21 years of age Possess a valid driver’s license Have a high school diploma or GED Possess 60 College Credits Have no felony conviction Be physically and mentally fit.

These are some of the general requirements to join the police force however, the requirements to become a cop differ for federal, state, city and county police forces. Once you qualify, you have to undergo rigorous training. This is where you realize whether you have what it takes to become a police officer.

If you’re interested in learning How to Become a Police Officer , or more about Police Officer Salary we have information and resources on our website at

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