Careers: Police/Hello (:

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Expert: - 6/15/2008


Question
QUESTION: Hi:)
Well I'm really obsessed with the show Law and Order-Svu,
and it's a dream of mine to be an SVU detective.How difficult is it for someone to work in Special Victims?
Why don't all police have that department?

ANSWER: Kimmy,

  I hate to break your heart but that is a ficticional show.  Nothing that you see on tv actually happens in real life.  While some police officers do some of the things that you see on tv there are no units like CSI or SVU in real life.  If they made a show about real police life no one would watch.

  Even if there was a unit like you see on tv you would spend many years as a uniformed police officer before you would ever be ready for anything involving investigations or detective work.

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

QUESTION: So there isn't a unit like the Special Victims?
Aww what a bummer.
I always wanted to work into
Child Abuse and Rape Victims.

Answer
Kimmy,

   You can still work with child abuse and rape victims but you have to understand that these tv shows are nothing like what really happens in real life.  They portray things that would never happen to keep up the interest of the viewer.  Typically those people who deal with these kind of victims are either detectives or civilians who work in crisis centers.

  And as I said before an officer will spend many years on the street as a uniformed officer before they would ever have enough experience to become a detective.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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