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Question
Chris - I am interested in becoming an animal cop here in the state of Florida. I would like to know what are the requirements and procedures in becoming an animal cop. Are there any other locations outside the Miami/Dade area where this profession is practiced? I am specifically interested in the Gainesville area?
Thank you for your time and interest
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
By Animal Cop I am guessing a police officer that investigates Animal Cruelty Cases? If I am correct then you have to understand specialty units in law enforcement.
Specialty Units (Dive Team, Animal Cruelty Units, Motorcycle Units and all the others...) all start out as Patrol Officers. You have to become a police officer first before you can specialize in a unit like Animal Abuse or Cruelty Investigations. Most departments that I know of require a minimum of 2 or 3 years on the "road" as a patrol officer before you can request a transfer to a speciality unit.
Also you need to know not all police agencies have Animal Abuse units. Some agencies are just not big enough to have full time investigators dedicated to these types of crimes. The bigger the agency the better the chances you have of getting into this very specialized area.
Gainesville Police Department does not have a full time Animal Cruelty Detective, the Alachua County Sheriffs' Office does have a Rural Services Unit. The Rural Services Unit is responsible for farm and agricultural related crimes. The unit partners with the ranchers and farmers to deter associated crimes which have a negative impact on the ranching and farming community. The unit provides a variety of community service assistance by conducting increased patrols, community speaking engagements, crime watch programs, and investigating animal abuse and cruelty cases. Contact may be made with members of the Rural Services Unit by e-mailing them at ruralservices@alachuasheriff.org.
BTW I am the Police Academy Commander in Gainesville. :)
Miami does have one of these units. You have to go to the police academy. Here is the link to the police academy information in Gainesville.
Be well and Good luck!!
http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/mapd/meet/meet.html
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Answers by Expert:
Chris Wagoner
Expertise
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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