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Careers: Police/Becoming A Police Officer

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Expert: - 3/20/2009


Question
I am 48 years old and have always wanted to be a police officer, my first Question is Am I too old? And if not where do I begin?

Answer
Scott,

  Federal law protects you as far as age discrimination which means that any particular police department cannot disqualify you simply based on your age.

   But the other side of the coin is that if perchance that you do get hired that you will have to keep up with kids 25 years younger than you in the academy and that will be hard.  Then you will be in your 50's and still a rookie working the streets into your 60's.  That is almost unheard of.

  Where do you start?  I don't know where you live but in some parts of the country there are private police acadamies where the applicant (you) pay your own tuition and then upon graduation you have to go out and find a job.  I can't imagine having a system like that but unfortunately it is prevleant in some parts of the country.  A lot of unqualifed people spend a lot of money and then end up with no job.

  In other parts of the country, including mine, the first step is to apply to a police department and then go through a hiring process that can take up to a year.  Assuming that you get hired you are then sent to their academy and upon graduation you report to a station where you undergo training on the street and then eventually work by yourself.

  So there it is.  If you have any questions or if this is not clear please let me know.

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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