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Question
i was just wondering how much is the salary of becoming a detective,also the outlook, and education requirements would be for being and becoming a detective?
Jessica,
There is no way to give you a "yes" or "no" answer to any of your questions. The reason is because there are thousands of police departments in this country and they are just like little companies. It would be like asking me what the salary is for the position of cashier in a store. I would need to know what store, what city, and what company.
You might not be aware of it but there is no starting salary for a detective because the individual will first spend many years on the street as a uniformed police officer before they would ever have the experience or knowlege to become a detective. So if an officer spent ten years on the street in New York City their salary would logically be much higher than someone who did the same thing in some little town in the south.
The same answer would apply to educational requirements. Some departments require a degree, most require an AA, while a few require only high school.
Not sure what you mean by "outlook".
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Answers by Expert:
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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