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Careers: Police/Homicide Detective Requirements.

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Expert: Eric Potts - 9/19/2009


Question
I have been researching for how to become a homicide detective, and it would be a career I would like to pursue. However, I had poor grades in high school. Is there any chance I can work around that and still become a detective? Also, does volunteering with the police force increase my chances?

Answer
Meiha,

Go to college and work on getting good grades, concentrate your studies to areas that would benefit you in the Police Profession ( Criminal Justice) and show that you've grown up since High School.

Volunteering in a Police Department is a great way to get to know more about the job, a great way for the department to get to know you and a great way to find out of the job is right for you.It won't increase your chances per se it it certainly can't hurt.

Good Luck

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Eric Potts

Expertise

I am a Veteran of The United States Army where I served as a Military Police Officer for 6 years and have been a Municipal Police Officer for 20 years. I am a certified Arson Investigator, as well as a certified Community Police Officer. I am a DARE teacher in the local schools. I am a Defensive Driving Instructor and worked for years as a Detective specializing in White Collar Crime. I'm qualified to answer general law enforcement questions, general procedure questions (all departments have different rules and regulations. I can answer questions about how to become a law enforcement officer, and questions that might help someone understand why an officer acted a certain way. I am also a Police Suicide Awareness trainer and a member of the NJ Critical Incident Response Team. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO SWAT-I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THEM AND WILL REJECT THOSE QUESTIONS.

Experience

I have 27 years total Law Enforcement experience in a wide range of areas. I have worked as a Detective and a Patrolman and have made well over 2,000 arrests in my career.

Education/Credentials
Graduated from the United States Army Military Police School Basic Law Enforcement Training Arson Investigators School DARE Officer Training Interview and Interrogation School Police Suicide and Awareness Trainer

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