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Careers: Police/accident reconstruction

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Expert: - 2/5/2009


Question
Hello, my name is Jess and I am a junior in high school. I have been trying to find information about Accident Reconstruction, especially the kind of education I need to become one. I'm not really sure if someone from this website can help me, but I figured I give it a shot. If you have information, I just really would like to know if I can do a Criminal Justice major in college and become an accident reconstructor. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!

Answer
Jess,

Most high school students are not aware that specialized units in police departments should be the secondary goal.  Getting hired by the police department is the hard part.  The rest is easy.  Only about 5 - 10% of those who apply to become police officers actually make to graduation from the police academy.  Most are washed out in the application process or somewhere in the background investigation.

What you should be doing now is maintaining nearly perfect grades, have a spotless disciplinary record, and have a near perfect attendance record.  Then you should be getting your college degree.  It makes no difference what degree you have.  A Criminal Justice degree is fine but its not going to help you get hired and its not going to teach you a thing that you will need on the street.  The thing that you need to think about is if you do get a degree in Criminal Justice and are never hired as a police officer then what are you going to do with your degree?

After graduation from the academy you will spend years on the street as a patrol officer and then after at least several years you will have the chance to apply for your chosen goal if in fact your department has such a unit.  Not every department does.

Careers: Police

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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