Expert: Jack Toomey - 7/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hey. I am wondering what it takes to become a homicide detective. How do you get to where you are? And also what's it like? I'm interested in interviweing people and finding them. is that what they do? if not what would that career be? thank you(:

ANSWER: I found your question in the question pool.  In the future it might be a better idea to address a question directly to one of the experts so it won't sit there for days and days.

Its a long road to the desk of a homicide detective.  First of all let me assure you that NOTHING that you see on television is realistic.  So if you are getting your ideas from television then you need to start over.

The first thing that you need to do is to get hired by a police department.  Only about 10 - 15% of people who make it past the application stage actually get hired.  The rest get washed out because of something in their background or their unsuitability for being a police officer.  Assuming that you do get hired you will go to the police academy which could be anywhere between four and six months.  Upon graduation (and not everyone does) you will go to a station and spend many years in uniform as a uniformed officer learning the necessary skills that are needed in police work.  There is no where else to learn these skills besides the street.  Depending on what department you work for there might come a time after seven to ten years (this is an approximation) where an opening in a station detective office might be open.  You would apply for the position along with other officers.  The best qualified candidate would get the position.  After so many years working theft, car theft, burglary, and other cases, you might be fortunate to be able to apply for an opening in homicide.

The vast majority of work in homicide is investigating natural deaths, suicides, and accidental deaths.  On television it makes it appear that only murders are investigated.  A lot of time is also spent in court, meeting with the prosecutor about upcoming cases, testifying in front of the grand jury, and doing a ton of paperwork.
That is why excellent writing skills are necessary and all of your reports during your career are reviewed first before you are selected for homicide.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well all i really want to do is find missing murderers or someone who has done something along the lines of horrible. do you know what i mean?
like find them and question them possibly.

Answer
Yes I know what you mean.  But you cannot simply go from high school (or whatever you are doing now) and become a homicide detective.  Could you take an anatomy class and the next day be a doctor?  Of course not.

Go on to college, get your degree, and then apply for the police department of your choice.  Then you need to go through the steps that I listed.