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Expert: - 3/30/2008


Question
QUESTION: Hi. My name is dave. I am 24 yrs old. I presently live in ny. I am interested in becoming a full time officer. I am a civil defence oficer with full weapon capabilities in yonkers and I am a veteran. I got honerably discharged because of injury but I am healed now. I wanted to know where and how can I get police employment without having to wait long periods of time? Thanks

ANSWER: Hey David,

Glad your OK now, and thanks for your service from a vet. (3rd ID).

If your looking in NY for employment, there is no way to speed up the slow hiring system that law enforcement in general has, but you need to decide what department you want to work for and get the ball rolling. It's like the military, hurry up and wait. Same for police departments hiring.

Here is a link that gives you links to many of the larger NY departments and you can find the hiring process from there.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS239&q=police+office

Glad your thinking of law enforcement as a career, we need more military vets in it, they seem to have a better idea of how the organizations run and they already have much of the training and discipline needed to be a police officer.

Good luck and stay safe!!


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

QUESTION: Hi I was actually interested in florida police departments. How do you find out which ones are in need of officers and not just taking people and not hiring and what would I need to do to apply in full for a police job in florida? I also have one major question. I messed up a lot when I was a kid with my financial history like I had a car taken back and a few bills. I don't have more than like 7k in debt but does a bad credit score mess up your chances of being hired?

Answer
Hey David,

You don't have to worry to much about credit from a long time ago, current is more important.

As for Florida police departments, here is a list of all of them:
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/publications/AgencyAddresses/

You need to decide what part of Florida you want to live in look at agencies in that area. Florida has a little of everything for everyone, just depends on where you want to live.

I would decide where first, them look at a map and look at the agencies in that area and then get on-line and look them over. Many advertise openings on-line, and even allow you to download an application via the Internet.

Good luck, and maybe I will see you here in Florida. I teach at a lot of the State wide conferences.

Stay Safe!

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Chris Wagoner

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I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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