Careers: Police/hiring process

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Expert: - 8/5/2008


Question
Department in question has the following hiring steps:  written, background, psyc/medical & job offer. I've passed the written & background portion. Is it "safe" that passing the  to assume background investigation was the biggest hurdle for most applicants?  

After medical my application goes to a review board for final approval. This agency is hiring A LOT and starts a new academy monthly

Answer
Hey Kevin,

Actually the truth be told it is the background that gets most people rejected. But the psychological and polygraph (if they use one) are a close second.

The psychological evaluation is one that I do not really like that much myself as a administrator, as it is based on a lot of subjective information from the Doctor doing the evaluation. I do not feel that they are that accurate or a really accurate tool. I will tell you why, I knew a police officer from another state, this guy had been a cop for 5 years and was a Sgt. where he came from in Cal. He was also a former Navy Seal with three combat tours in Vietnam, and 8 years in the Navy with several awards for all types of things including valor. He came to Fl and a psychological eval by this one Doctor told him he was "to controlled" and they rejected him. He went to a larger city next to the one that rejected him, and was hired after passing their psyc. He served 28 years with that department, was on their Vice, SWAT and also became a Sgt. He received 48 departmental awards during his time. The reason I bring all this up is to let you know that I would not feel "safe" until I get that job offer. Nothing is written in stone until you get that job offer and sign on the dotted line.

When departments use tools for evaluations like psychological and polygraphs which are so subjective, you have to be careful until you are all the way through. Keep yourself guarded until you get that offer of employment. I am not trying to scare you, but trying to keep you from getting your hopes up and letting your guard down and then get rejected by the department.

Good luck and be well....

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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!!

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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.

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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..

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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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