You are here:

Careers: Police/telling your parents

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/2/2008


Question
hi Commander Chris Wagoner... I'm 14 years old and I've always wanted to be on a SWAT team. I've always been told to follow your dreams but how do you tell your parents that when they have always been telling me to be a teacher. My question for you is how could I tell my parents of my dream without disappointing them? See in my family im like the "perfect" child, too scared to risk something, quite and etc.. but thats not me I just hid my adventurous side. What do you think i should do?

Answer
Hi Lilly,

WOW! I think its great that at 14 you are already considering a career. That show great maturity and thought on your part. Good for you! Not many teens your age are thinking that far ahead.

From what you tell me in your question it sounds like you have a good relationship with your parents. At least one that is good enough to sit down with them and talk to them about this. One thing you could do is look at joining the Police Explorers in your area. Its a great program that allows teens to become part of the police department and learn about and be a part of the police. Its through the Boy Scouts of America (Boys and Girls!!) and I was one myself for several years and it was great, part of the reason I became a cop. That way you could get an idea if its what you really want to do. Go here for information on them:
http://www.learning-for-life.org/exploring/lawenforcement/index.html

I would sit Mom and Dad down and tell them you want to talk to them. Tell them that you have been thinking that you might like to look at a career in public service, or public safety, and that law enforcement is what interest you. Ask them to look at the explorers program with you. Tell them that you are 14 and that for you to be thinking this far ahead is really good. Tell them you are willing to work to get to where you want to be and that is part of why you want their support. You want them to help you reach a goal, a dream if you will, of being a police officer, and a good, honest, honorable one at that.

Tell them, what could be better than being the mother and father of someone that serves their fellow man? You will be that fine line that helps people in need and also protects those that cannot protect themselves.

You are very mature for your age to be thinking this way, tell them that, tell them you really want to try this out and see where it leads you.

I hope those ideas help you think of a way. I would be very proud of my son (hes 9) asking me to help him do this.

Be well and good luck!!

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.