Expert: Jack Toomey - 7/17/2008

Question
Hi, I know you already answered a similar question, so sorry for taking up some more of your time. My question is about working for the SVU department of the NYPD... (although I have seen the tv show, I do realise it is a drama and not real, besides, I've been interested in criminal psychology much longer than I've liked the show)
Basically, what requirements in the way of schooling do you need? What degree's?
And do you have to be a police officer before you join?

Thanks for your time,

Emily.

Answer
Emily,

  I hope that you realize that your chances of working for such a unit are very slim.  Thousands and thousands of officers on the NYPD and only a few in such a unit if it even exists at all.  I realize that you are getting your impression of such a unit from a television show and in real life these units that you see on television either don't exist or they are much different in real life.  One thing that you have to realize is that every memember of a police department is a police officer no matter if you are walking a beat or working homicide.  Its just that you do different jobs.  Any detective will spend at least half his career on the street as a uniformed police officer before he would ever be experienced enough to become a detective.

  However since you asked about the qualifications I will try to guide you through the process.  Every single police department in the United States has different hiring qualifications.  No two are the same.  And then the individual units in the departments might have slightly different qualifications.  These "made for tv" units that have sprung up are new to me.  I can tell you that on MY department a sex crimes decective needs no more schooling than a uniformed police officer.  College is great but it is not going to prepare you for the job of detective because everything that you need to know is going to be learned on the street when you are working as a uniformed police officer.  The street is your classroom and not in college.

  In no way am I discouraging you from going to college because everyone should go to college whether they are going to be police officers or not but the common misconception is that there are special courses in college that will pave the way for specialized units in police work.