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Question
Hello...I am an over 40 female and I am very interested in changing my career. I have always wanted to work in law enforcement but as a single parent, decided that my main focus would be on raising my daughter. Now, she is at an age were I am not needed 24 hours a day so I am seriously thinking about becoming a police officer.
My question is how difficult is it as a women over 40 to get into the academy? I have a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration which I think would help but I am a little worried about my age. Please give me some advise as to how I begin or IF I should begin.
Thanks a lot...........
Hi Erika,
Well first off 40 is not to old, but what most of the older Recruits have an issue with is the physical training part. You will have to spend some time prepping for the testing and the physical part of the academy.
Your degree will help you in the hiring process and your life experience will help you overall, but being a cop is not all what you see on TV or read in the papers.
You begin by deciding where you think you may want to work (state) and then look at the minimum requirements to be a cop and make sure you meet them. Then you need to look at what can disqualify you and make sure you don't meet any of those.
Read this it will help explain much more than I can here.
http://dept.sfcollege.edu/IPS/CEW/So%20you%20want%20to%20be%20a%20cop.pdf
Good luck and if you still want to go for it, you will never know if you could have unless you try.
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Answers by Expert:
Chris Wagoner
Expertise
I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!
Experience
I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.
Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..
Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.
Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.
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