You are here:

Careers: Police/S.W.A.T training school

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/15/2009


Question
hi jack my name is kieran and i live in the UK. i have always wanted to join SWAT in America from an early age but no one has helped me to find out how to get my dream job. I'm not in the police force here in the UK so i was wondering if there is any chance that i would be able to go to SWAT training school in America with me not having any experience at all? if i do need the experience first is there a way that i can join a police force in America without being a police officer here in the UK?

Answer
Kieran,

In order to become a police officer in the United States you have to be a United States citizen and that takes some time once you move here.  I am sure that the same could be said about the UK.

Assuming that you became a US citizen you would have to be hired by a police department, go to the police academy and graduate, and then spend many years in patrol as a uniformed police officer before you would have enough experience to be considered for SWAT.  There really is no "SWAT training school" outside of the training that you would receive by the police department that you might work for.

I am getting a ton of SWAT related questions lately and I am wondering what is influencing these inquiries.  There must be a new TV show or something.  Believe me when I say that SWAT is not as nearly as exciting as depicted on tv or in the movies.

Careers: Police

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.