Expert: Chris Wagoner - 2/25/2008

Question
I am a student in high school and am required to write a research paper about any topic i choose. I chose " How to become a cop" and was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me.

1. How long does it take to become a cop?
2. What do you have to do to become a cop?
3. What are the upsides and downsides of being a cop?
4.Do you think being a cop is for anybody?

Thank you for your time
Chad


Answer
Hi Chad,

Well thats quite a list of questions there and I could probably write for a long time on each of them, and bore you to death, or I can give you what I think you need for your paper and at the same time maybe teach you a thing or two about being a cop. Hows that?

First lets address your questions.

Q: 1. How long does it take to become a cop?

A: Different states have different requirements for training. Florida has 772 hours of training to be a police officer. The training takes place at a community college or vo tech center in Florida, other states use vocational techs and some use stand alone police academies. The average nationwide is about 6 months worth of training (thats what Florida's is. There are some that have very little and others that take up to a year.

Q: 2. What do you have to do to become a cop?

A: Well its more like what do you have to make sure you don't do.
You also have to meet the state of Florida requirements (about the same nationwide)which are here:

To be eligible for the position of a law enforcement or detention officer, you must meet the following criteria (F.S.S. 943.13 (It's Florida State law)):

• You must be at least 19 years of age
• You must be a citizen of the United States
• You must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• You must not have been convicted of any felony, or misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement, nor have received a dishonorable or undesirable discharge from any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement shall not be eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subsection, any person who has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement, prior to December 1, 1985 and has had such record sealed or expunged shall not be deemed ineligible for employment or appointment as an officer
• You must agree to be fingerprinted by the employing agency or training academy
• You must pass a physical examination by a licensed physician that will be administered upon a conditional offer of employment
• You must be of good moral character
• You must successfully complete a background investigation
• You must complete basic recruit training
• You must complete an Affidavit of Applicant form (CJSTC-68)
• You must comply with continuing training or education requirements as deemed by the employing agency

In Addition, in accordance with federal law U.S.C. 922(g), it is unlawful for any person:
• who has been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
• who is a fugitive from justice;
• who is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, any controlled substance [as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. 802)];
• who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;
• who, being an alien, is illegally or unlawfully in the United States;
• who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
• who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his or her citizenship;
• who is subject to a court order that
o was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had an opportunity to participate;  
o restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child;  
o and includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety or such intimate partner or child; or by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or
o who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence;
• to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affected commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. There is no exception.

Thats quite a list of things that can get you disqualified huh! You should also be in good physical shape.

Q: 3. What are the upsides and downsides of being a cop?

Well I can say with some experience there are a lot more upsides than downsides. As for listing them, well, the upsides would be first I think the job satisfaction we get from helping people and stopping the bad guys. I used to really get a good feeling from arresting someone that had hurt or harmed someone. Defending those that can not defend themselves is a really satisfying way to work. Police work is never the same thing day after day. Its always different every day you go to work. The pay is not bad and has gotten a lot better over the years. When I started in 1980 I made $11,000 a year!!! Thats was not much, even back then. Now cops make a decent salary. You really are your own boss when you are out on the street and you have to make your own decisions a lot of time under pressure and that is a very satisfying thing when it all works out. So police work is a great job, and those are some of the reasons.

The downside would have to be you constantly see the ugly side of society and the people that like to prey on other people. You see a lot of death and sorrow. I worked 7 years as a homicide investigator and it was very sad at times and it can get to you after a while. I still see some of the victims at times. You sometimes begin to wonder if there are any really honest to goodness good people left when all you see are the bad ones, but you can sit back and see the good people if you just look past the criminals.

Q: 4.Do you think being a cop is for anybody?

A: It defiantly is NOT for everyone. It takes a person with a certain ability to handle stress and make decisions while under stress. You also have to be able to talk to people and communicate with all types. You have to not be biased or prejudice in any way, all people have to be treated the same, no matte who they are. Many people think they want to be cops, only to go through the training and then find out its not really for them when they try it out. They say if you make it past the 5 year mark you will probably be OK in this job. I guess I will make it. :)

I hope that answer some of your questions. If you have anymore for your paper just let me know. Good luck on your paper.