AboutLoren Stevens Expertise Retired after 31 years in a large metropolitan PD.
Areas of expertise: COVERT OPERATIONS. Management, Administration, Inspections, U/C development, Project design, Ethics, and other related sub topics in COVERT OPERATIONS.
I'm 18 and currently a Senior in High school. I have applied
and will most likely be accepted into Florida State, where I
will major in Criminology. My hopes are to become a U.S. Marshal after graduation. Law Enforcement is most defiantly my passion in life, I couldnt imagine myself doing anything else. With that said I have several questions.
1. How feasible is it to become a US Marshal with no experience but a degree?
2. Is it hard to get a job in that field of Law Enforcement (Even with experience and a degree)
*btw I'm not sure if this helps much but I'm an NRA certified Distinguished Expert, which is the the highest shooting certification awarded.
3.What can I do now and or in college to become well prepared for what I will be facing?
4.I have been on the US Marshal website several times and there is a number listed to talk to a local recruiter. I want to call really bad and tell him what I'm all about, but then again I don't want the Marshal to feel like I'm wasting his time or pulling his leg because of my age. Do you think it would be a good idea to call and talk to him now or wait until later when I'm in college?
Thanks a lot for the help,
Max
ANSWER: Hello Max,
I admire you for having a law enforcement goal in mind.
When you say U. S. Marshal, I assume you mean a Deputy Marshal. THE Marshal of each state is a Presidential appointment. Usually, the senior senator of the same political party as the President makes a recommendation for that appointment.
As for your college, consider going for a double major, no miner. Talk to your academic adviser about that.
If you decide to do that, consider majoring in two fields that compliment each other, e.g.., marketing/finance, political sci/pre law, Criminal Justice/Soc etc.
I believe you can apply for the job you seek without any prior Law Enforcement experience. And, I don't believe that a college degree is a requirement.
In terms of your "NRA certs", any KSA(knowledge-skills-abilities) that is relevant, will tend to favor your marketability. Even that which has no certificate could be valuable, in terms of being an attractive candidate. Being physically fit, martial arts skills, bi-lingual, computer literate, first aid certs etc. The more you can put on the table, the better your chances.
But, keep in mind, you will still need to pass a general knowledge test. So, enhancing your written and oral communication skills will always serve you well.
On what you need to know....you will be required to go through a training academy, and pass those testing procedures.
It may be helpful for you to study Constitutional law subjects that are relevant to law enforcement.
Certainly, the Bill of Rights, plus the 14th Amendment.
Really focus in on the 4th Amendment.
Review some case law like Tenn. v. Garner, on the use of force.
And, prepare for an oral examination as well.
It is there, that you will be asked questions like: why do you want this job/, questions on the use of deadly force, and possibly some custodial questions, as that is an element of that job.
And yes, I would speak with a recruiter if I were you. Have prepared some questions you need clarity on. And, consider doing this face to face. They will certainly have some literature for you to review.
My question to you, is why the Marshal service?
Don't get me wrong, they are a fine organization. But, if law enforcement is my interest, I would make sure that the agency of interest, is engaged in the activity that appeals to me.
Make sure that you determine what their primary duties are, and that those duties are what you are interested in doing.
Good Luck,
'Hope this is helpful.
loren
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Loren,
I was thinking about the one question you asked
"My question to you, is why the Marshal service?" Honestly I don't really know why I want to be in a US Marshal so badly. I always looked at them as very active an effective, maybe something like an elite group in law enforcement. The only other career in law enforcement I have thought about is INTERPOL, which seems like a very neat but hard job to obtain. I really don't know what branch of law enforcement I want to get into, even though I thought I did. This is something I'm very passionate about and I know that this is my purpose. With all that said are there any groups of law enforcement you can suggest I look into that are similar to the Marshals, INTERPOL or any other elite groups of law enforcement.
Thanks a lot for your help,
Max
Answer Hello Max,
I didn't mean to suggest the Marshal's service is anything other than a fine agency, doing honorable work.
We all have different tastes, and it just wouldn't be a choice for me and my interests. They do alot of custody work, fugitives and warrant service, witness-protection service etc.
What I would suggest to you, is for you to try and define what activities you find interesting and an interest to proceed along those lines. Keep in mind, that your interests will expand and evolve as you progress through a career.
And, I'm not sure what you mean, when you say: "elite".
Any task that is done correctly, is elite to me.
Some people view "elite" as those functions that generate media attention, or where the entertainment world tends to focus.
Maybe you are thinking about SWAT or something??
Those type units are usually not for a duration of a career, for a variety of reasons.
The type of work you want to do is important, as is where you want to do it.
There are well over 53 federal law enforcement agencies, coupled with military police, and a host of regulatory agencies to consider. There are probably 40,000+ city, county and state law enforcement agencies, plus regulatory agencies. So you see, there is an abundance of options.
If you like impromptu action, a good sized city police department will give you that. If you like investigative work, about any agency will give you that.
INTERPOL is not a agency per se. Each state has an INTERPOL rep, usually the FBI. ALL INTERPOL activity goes through a clearing house in DC, staffed by a handful of different federal agencies, but primarily FBI.
Clearly, the federal government does not want the state agencies doing business without going through a central facilitating agency.
There are also alot of restrictions with INTERPOL, on activity on what they can, and cannot engage in.
So, my counsel to you, is to do some research on what kind of work interests you, where you want to live or work, and whether local, state or federal work has the most appeal to you.
Some agencies require a 4 year degree, others don't. So, qualifications may be another consideration you want to entertain.
Mid to large sized agencies at the local level has a wide variety of different aspects of enforcement choices.
Other agencies have a limited choice field.
Small agencies tend to be difficult to move around in, as somebody has to die or retire to open a spot up for opportunity.
Hope this is helpful to you, and remember, my opinion's are not necessarily shared by all.
Good Luck,
loren
