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Careers: Police/process of becoming apart of swat
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Question
hi I'm 17 and i dropped out of school but going to try and get back in school to get a diploma. i was wondering what would i have to do after getting my diploma to become apart of swat.
Alan,
No one goes straight into SWAT. SWAT is merely a unit of a police department that sworn officers have a chance to aspire to once they are on the department for at least several years. In other words, perchance that you ever get hired, that you will spend several years on the street as a uniformed officer before you would be eligible for applying for a SWAT position. I hope that you realize that SWAT, on most departments, is a part-time position and that the officers perform routine patrol tasks most of the time.
I have something else to tell you. Dropping out of school was not a good idea. When you apply for a police position when you turn 21 you will undergo a thorough background check and once they find out that you dropped out it will not be looked on favorably. I would suggest that you enroll immediately, graduate, and then go on to college before you start thinking about the police department.
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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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