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Careers: Police/Animal Police Officer

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Expert: - 12/12/2009


Question
Hi,
My name is Jessica. I want to be an Animal Police Officer, I live in Ocala Florida and I was wondering where I could go to school to become one. I have a deep love for animals and animal cruelty is my biggest concern. I want to help them and be someone who can make a difference. So if you could help me in finding somewhere I could go for this I would very much appreciate it.

Thank you,
Jessica  

Answer
Hi Jessica,

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.

Miami does have one of these units. You have to go to the police academy. Since you live in SOuth FLorida, you could go to Broward or Dade County.

Here is the contact information for the academies down there:

Miami Police Training Center
Miami Police Department
400 Northwest 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33128
Phone: 305-579-6624
Contact: Lt. Jonathan S. Yavneh


Metropolitan Police Institute
Miami-Dade Police Department
9601 Northwest 58th Street
Miami, FL 33178
Phone: 305-715-5101
Contact: Major Bernie Gonzalez


Miami-Dade College
School of Justice
11380 Northwest 27th Avenue, North Campus
Miami, FL 33167-3418
Phone: 305-237-1327
Contact: Director Donna L. Jennings, Ph.D


Broward County SHeriff's Office has a full time investigator also. Have you thought about working for the Florida Department of Agriculture? They do a lot of those types of investigations.

Thats just a few ideas for you. I would start by calling them and asking them the questions you may have about becoming a police officer in that area of Florida.


Good luck!!



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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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