Careers: Police/Animal Police

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Question
Iam thinking about getting out of the Marine Corps this December and I was intrested in animal police in North Carolina.  Do you have any advice for me or any contacts that you think might be helpful to me, in pursuing my career?

Answer
Hey Richard,

By animal police I am guessing you mean an Animal Abuse unit. In order to be an Animal Abuse Detective you have to be a police officer first and spend some time (usually about 1 or 2 years) on the road patrol.

I commend you for thinking of joining the military. Most people do not realize all the benefits that you get fro joining the military and doing some time serving your country. You will get so much out of it that will serve you for the rest of your life. When going for a job interview you will get veterans preference points added to your overall score. You get educational benefits, and also all the training you get in tactics and weapons and working within a chain of command structure just like we do in law enforcement. I highly recommend any person that is interested in law enforcement have some military experience. Its not mandatory nor is it the only good experience you can get, but it is one of the best.

Something that may be of great benefit would be to put in to be a Marine dog handler. That would be fantastic training to be an animal abuse investigator, also if you could get into the Marines Police investigations unit. Anything that could be related over to the civilian world.

As for NC, its a great state, I have been there to teach law enforcement several times (Wilson, High Point and others). Law Enforcement in NC is very up to date and professional. Here is a web site that list all the NC Police Agencies: http://www.the911site.com/911pd/northcarolina.shtml
or
http://www.usacops.com/nc/

Be well and I hope your decision whatever it is works out for you.  

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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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