AboutCommander Chris Wagoner Expertise I have been a police officer for 28+ years and still going! I am the Police Academy Commander at a LAw Enforcement/ Corrections Academy in North Central Florida. 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 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!!!
Experience I am a 26 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.
Publications I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management.
Education/Credentials I have 2 degrees, an AAS in Criminal Justice Technology from Santa Fe Community College, and a AA from Santa Fe Community College in Criminal Justice Programs.
Question QUESTION: 1.)I am 18 years old and I want to become a Police Sniper when I get out of high school, is it possible? 2.) I have a vision of 20/400 uncorrected, and 20/20 corrected (glasses), could I still become a Police Sniper with that vision? Thx alot for your time!
ANSWER: Hi Clay,
You can become a police officer out of high school, but most states require you to be 19 or 21 to be a police officer. Check with your states police standards.
As for your vision, You can be a sniper and have corrected vision on SOME departments. Some departments require a certain level of uncorrected vision to be a SWAT member. Each Department sets its own rules on that and you will have to check with the individual department you want to join on that requirement. There is no national standard.
You have to be a police officer first before you can become a SWAT/ SNIPER member. As for SWAT. Many people are under the impression that being a SWAT team member is a full time position. In 99% of departments its not, it is what we call a secondary position. That means that you are a patrolman or detective or whatever position you are serving in and a SWAT member second. You carry all the SWAT gear in your assigned vehicle or its carried in the SWAT response vehicle, and when you are needed for a SWAT call out, they notify you and you respond to the location and become a SWAT team member.
That’s how secondary positions work. Other secondary positions in most places are teams like Dive team, Search and Rescue and others like these that are not needed all the time. SWAT teams require a lot of physical and mental discipline.
Before you can apply for any additional position you have to have been on the force a year in some places, more in others. Its up to the department.
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
So you see there are many other specialty units you can get into.
I hope this answers your question and I wish you the best of luck in which ever you choose.
Be Safe!
PS> Please take a second to rate this answer, I do not get paid to answer these and the rating is my only form of "payment", thank you!!!
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QUESTION: Thanks for putting so much info in that other question! it really helped! but, I got one more question, my state requires me to be 21, and if I graduate at the age of 18 is there a Police academy I can go into? and how long is it? Thx for your time!
ANSWER: Hi again Clay,
I don't think you can. I suggest that you go to college and get a degree while you wait, or get some military time in while your young. Both will help you tremendously while in the Academy and being a cop.
Use the time wisely, do something with it to better your personal well being. Don't just hang out and get a "job" do something that when someone looks at what you did from 18 to 21 they say "Wow you spent your time after high school well, good job." and they hire you!
Be Safe.
PS> Please take a second to rate this answer, I do not get paid to answer these and the rating is my only form of "payment", thank you!!! A vote for "expert of the month" is appreciated!!
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QUESTION: Thanks! what large departments do you recommend me going into? that would really help me because for some reason I am having a very hard time looking it up, I am just wondering if you know any vision requirements for certain divisions off the top of your head, thanks allot!
Answer Hi Clay,
Well I would recommend a few but I am not sure where you live, or where you want to be a cop. Second the vision requirements, I do not know the specifications off hand, but yu can always call any of them and they will tell you.
PS> Please take a second to rate this answer, I do not get paid to answer these and the rating is my only form of "payment", thank you!!! A vote for "expert of the month" is appreciated!!
