Expert: PaulKoinig - 3/7/2009

Question
Paul, thank you so much for being a mentor on this site.  Your advice
probably helps a lot of people and your love for what you do speaks well for
the field of law enforcement.

I will first give you my background and process so far, then ask my
questions.  I am due to meet with a counselor at the community college here
in Minneapolis regarding some of these same questions and more, but I
would love to hear what you have to say.

I am a 42 year old woman with an incomplete bachelor's degree, shy only one
class from back in 1988 that I never tied up loose ends on.  I went to two art
schools then began the arduous and poorly paid, twenty-year scramble of
being an artist, working for in various jobs as an illustrator, muralist and
graphic designer.  On the side I became active in animal rescue and dog
training, finally starting my own business as an off-leash trainer/pet care
professional in the mountains of northern CA (www.Ciree.com)  I was never
certified by any agency mainly because every time I looked into getting
official training I could never afford it.  I trained in canine search and rescue
through CARDA for nine months until my boxer got cancer and I quit, very
disheartened, but my love for S&R remains.  I also have been on volunteer
teams for animal disaster rescue, went to hurricane Katrina sites and LOVED
it.

I would love to go into law enforcement with an end goal of getting into K-9.  
I'm not sure exactly how to get there.  There seem to be so many steps and I
just found out that I still owe my old college some money that I couldn't
possibly pay at this time, when I tried to get my transcripts.  Good news is
that I'm pretty sure I qualify for a good grant that would help me at
community college.  

I am in excellent physical shape and am really close to the physical testing
goals set at the training academy, have studied a Kaplan Law Enforcement
sample test book and aced the whole thing once I got the hang of it and plan
to start going to a shooting range for practice.  I may also take and get my
First Responder tests/certification this summer.

The only ugliness in my background that I can see is some taxes I need to
pay and I am chipping away at that.

Okay, here we go...

Can I just go ahead and start going to school to get some of my basic law
enforcement 2-year requirements out of the way and then chip away at my
debt to begin the four year certification?

Once I've completed school, given my background, how difficult do you think
it would be for me to land a job?

I don't understand the difference between working as a civilian and a public
servant.  Can you clarify?

Is there a way to work somewhere and get trained at the same time, just in
some capacity, if not full fledged officer?   

Would it be better to try for a larger force once I graduate, because of the K-
9 unit being available or would a small town be just as good?

Would it be difficult or me to get trained here in Minneapolis and then try and
move to Oregon to get a job?  It seems like there are just a few additional
classes to take if I do that from what I've found on the Oregon state site.

Do you feel the dogs you develop relationships with are treated as sentient
beings with lives of their own, or does it seem sad at times, that they are
denied large parts of comfort and love?  I know how they live to please...my
boxer was never more amped than when we were training and I'd never seen
him happier.

What happens to dogs who can no longer perform?

Do you feel confident with the compassion level of the other trainers you've
worked with?  

What was the most difficult situation you've had to deal with in your career,
and also, the most rewarding?

Can you suggest anything else I can do right now to get started?

Thanks so much for your time.  I know your advice will be invaluable to me.

Ciree

Answer
Ciree, wow alot of questions with some limited answers. First of all get your degree! Now start looking at getting into a Law Enforcement academy to get certified in the state you want to work. A certification is a must. Look at whomever is hiring. Small or large doesnt matter.
As for my dogs, all are different personalities and they all get special one on one attention. They are truly spoiled with love and affection! Dogs retired for healthissues go to the handler for the remainder of their life.
Thats it in a nut shell.
Good Luck
Paul