Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/27/2008

Question
I am 18 years old and about to graduate. I want to be a law enforcement officer. I just don’t know what steps to take in order to become one. I’m not sure which college to go to or what courses to take. It’s all very confusing to me. I’m just sure that’s the career that I want. I was just thinking of going to Miami Dade like most kids my age but do you think that’s a good idea?

Answer
There are a few things you can do that would help you out in a law enforcement career.

Keep a clean record. Don't get traffic tickets when you drive and stay away from drug use, all of those can keep you from getting a job as a police officer. Even drug use as a juvenile can get you disqualified, so be careful.

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 in Florida, other states use vocational techs and some use stand alone police academies. You mentioned Miami-Dade, they have a great academy.

Getting a college degree is going to be very important. Even a 2 year would be very very helpful. I have 2 in criminal justice and they are very helpful. Some departments require them to get hired, and some require it to get promoted. Either way getting that college degree is important. A number of colleges offer criminal justice programs for individuals interested in becoming a police officer. Most of these programs involve education in human behavior, legal issues, computer systems, and a variety of other subjects which assist law enforcement officers. The more advanced your training, the more successful your application as a police officer will be. This training will also serve you well in the field.

Policing requires a high state of physical and moral fitness. Participating in organized sports will condition your body and also serve you well as you apply to a police department. Police officers must also pass a background check, and people with extensive traffic violations, drug convictions, or other indiscretions will likely be rejected. To be accepted as a police officer, you should use common sense, and avoid getting involved in potentially illegal or dangerous situations.

When you are ready to apply to a police department, you will have to sit for the civil service examination. The civil service exam is administered through the police department you are applying to. If you are concerned about the examination, many companies offer study guides which can help you get a higher score. The civil service exam is offered whenever a department has openings, and some departments also offer it on a regular basis to establish a pool of eligible recruits.

You will also take a physical exam which tests agility, strength, vision, and hearing. If these tests are passed successfully, you will take drug and lie detector tests and began a series of interviews with the police department. If accepted, you will be sent to the police academy, a program which ranges from three months to one year. The police academy will prepare you fully for your job as a police officer.

Police officers are expected to pursue continuing education as well, and attend yearly seminars and workshops to this end. The law enforcement community must constantly adapt to changing needs, and this ensures that police officers are updated on current legal procedure and cultural sensitivity. Advanced training allows police officers to better serve the communities they work in, and to retain their edge as law enforcement professionals.

In some states, it is possible to attend a police academy without being affiliated with a specific police department. If you are unsure about the area in which you would like to work, you can attend the police academy first and then apply into police departments as a fully trained police officer. With a growing population come growing demands on law enforcement, which translates into increased opportunities for individuals interested in a career in law enforcement. Pursuing your dream of becoming a police officer can be a lengthy process, but well worth it at the end.

You can go here to see the process for getting into the Police Academy in Florida. We can always use good police officers. www.policecareers.org

Some departments require a certain number of years as a patrol officer before you can apply for the position of Detective. The requirements are up to the department. Some are as little as a year, and some are more.

What kind of Detective do you want to be? You know there are many different types. Here is a short description of some of the different types:

Major Cases Section: includes the Aggravated Felonies Unit, Homicide, Cold Cases, Traffic Homicide, the Bomb Unit and the Analytical Support Unit. These units investigate the most serious crimes that threaten society: aggravated assault, aggravated battery, stalking, kidnapping, murder, bombings and arsons.

Special Victims and Family Crimes Section: includes the Abuse and Neglect Unit, the Sex Crimes Unit, the Missing Persons Unit and the Domestic Violence Unit. Created in May 2000, this section takes a holistic approach to dealing with crimes stemming from intra-family dysfunction and violence.

Abuse and neglect of any family member (spouses/partners, children, elderly, the frail or infirm and animal companions) are investigated by detectives who also work to identify other family members who are equally at risk. With early identification and intervention, through outreach and educational efforts and through victim empowerment, vulnerable family members can break free from the cycle of violence or abuse.

Strategic Cases Section: includes the Career Criminal Unit, the Robbery Unit, the Economic Crimes Unit, the Polygraph Unit and the Case Filing Unit.

The Career Criminal Unit is an aggressive and highly proactive unit. The unit targets both juvenile and adult habitual offenders, and tracks and updates files on sexual predators and offenders residing in Broward County.
The Economic Crime Unit is a leader in the investigation and prosecution of unscrupulous telemarketers in South Florida and handles other serious financial crimes involving fraud and identity theft.

Here is a list of just some of the additional units available in the police department:

Aviation Unit
Bicycle Patrol
Bomb Squad
Canine Unit
Child Protective Investigations Section
Contractor Licensing and Fraud Unit
Crime Scene and Crime Lab
Crime Stoppers Unit
DUI Unit
Economic Crime Unit
Evidence Unit
Marine Unit and Dive Team
Mass Transit Unit
Motorcycle Unit
Mounted Patrol
Regional Investigations Division
School Resource Deputy Unit
SWAT Team
Victim Services Unit

And that is not all of them!!!!

So you see there are many other specialty units you can get into.

I hope this gives you a few ideas and things to think about. Also keep your driving record clean, that’s almost as important as keeping your criminal record clean and not using any drugs.

Stay safe and good luck!