Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/24/2008

Question
QUESTION:  i'm a 31 year old healthy and fit male,living in new jersey and i'm interested
in getting into law enforcement.i have been working the last 14 yrs for my
family's excavating and construction company and am looking for a change
into a more satisfying career.i have always wanted to get into law
enforcement,but growing up i didn't get support from my family due to the
fact that my parents and 5 brothers were all jehovah's witnesses and don't
get involved with politics or government issues.i also wanted to join the
military but again my family didn't want me to and didn't support me.i
should've stood up for myself but the religion has a way of brain washing you
and i got sucked into it as my family did. most of my family is not involved
with the religion anymore and my parents are divorced.... so much for that
mess.

i am friends with a few people involved with law enforcement,thru my years
of construction and working for township municipalities.i have some
connections thru the chief of police and some officers in the town i grew up
in and the township i now work in as well.i am going to inquire to them about
my options and what i can do,but i am looking around for any information i
can get.

i didn't complete high school as i was a bit wild as a teen due to my parents
divorcing when i was 16. i kind of rebelled,but never got involved in severe
criminal activities or drugs,just minor things,stupid things.i have a clean
record and respect the laws we live by.i did go to classes and received my
high school diploma back in 2001.my question is am i to old and
inexperienced to get started in law enforcement,if not then what in your
professional opinion should be my next move,should i take classes in law
enforcement at a college,an online course,or some other course. i'm not
getting any younger here and i would like to get started right away on
securing myself a position in law enforcement so i can have an
impact,hopefully, while i'm still somewhat young. any information or advice
you can give me will be greatly appreciated. thank you,greg

ANSWER: Hi Greg,

So why are you waiting around to get started? The oldest recruit I have had in the police academy was 73!!! So whats 31?? Oh and he got the high academic award and hi firearms award.

Greg, You need to get on the ball and decide where you want to be a cop and get going on the application process.

In Florida you go to the academy one of two ways, you get hired by an agency and they pay your way through and pay you a salary while you are attending. Or you put yourself through and then apply to an agency after you have passed the state exam. Some departments only take people who have completed the academy already,a and some put people through, its all is up to the department. In my area of North Florida they do both, but mostly hire those that have already put themselves through the academy.

I would recommend that you get going, and once you get on with a department you get back to school and get a 2 year degree. YES you can do it, don't say you can't. It took me almost all my adult life to get one, but then I got my second and now I love school and I teach college level courses in computer forensics.

Get off your butt and "just do it". (I have heard that somewhere before).

What state are you in and what state are you looking at being a cop in??



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i guess 31 doesn't seem so old,thanks for the encouragement and kick in the bottom.i live in central new jersey and would like to stay in this area but i have been thinking of moving to north carolina,but i'd like to stay in nj,just very expensive to live here now.i will get in touch with a family friend who is the chief of police in washington township,which is one of the towns i work in.i work at his house doing excavating and various construction related work.he's a great man and i'm sure he can help steer me in the right direction.thanks again for the information and the boost of confidence.

Answer
Hey Greg,

Your welcome and here is the link to the New Jersey State Police Training Commission: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/njptc/home.htm

It tells you everything you need to know to get started. Now you have no excuses. :)

And here is the one for NC:http://www.jus.state.nc.us/NCJA/blet1207.htm

Good luck and hope it all goes well for you.