Expert: Jack Toomey - 6/9/2010

Question
Hi I would like to become a either homocide detective or a general detective for the federal government and one thing I want si to just get my masters degree in criminal justice and then start my career but I hear different stories like I have to be a cop first but I don't want to be a cop so one of my sherifs that goes to the same church says that I just have top go to 4 year school to become a detective is that true and my goal is to get a lot of education in criminal law from masters to phd in criminal justice. please notify me as soon as you may.

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Answer
There are no homicide detectives or general detectives who work for the federal government.  That is because murders are almost always state crimes thus they are handled by the individual cities, counties, or states.  

It doesn't sound like you have a good grasp about police work.  There is no way that you could possibly become a detective right after college.  It would be like reading 50 books on anatomy and then become a surgeon the next day.  It just wouldn't happen.  If you are serious about someday become a detective you have to first be hired by a police department.  That is not easy.  Less than 1% of those who apply for positions on police departments are actually hired.  Its because most people simply do not have the aptitude to become police officers.  Assuming that you are hired you will go to the police academy.  Not everyone graduates because it is there where they weed out the ones who are not fit.  After getting out of the academy you would be assigned to a precinct where you will work the streets as a uniformed police officer for many years.  After that you may be eligible to apply for a position in the detective bureau.  Eventually a position in homicide may open up.  

I am not sure that you know it but the majority of the work that a homicide detective does is investigating natural deaths, suicides, and accidental deaths.  On television it appears to be a glamorous job but in real life it is not.

I don't know who is telling you that you need a PHD.  You would be wasting your time and you would be 30 years old before you got that degree.  Get a four year degree in anything that interests you.  It is not necessary to have a degree in criminal justice.  So many people believe these ads on television from these bogus schools that advertise criminal justice degrees which are worthless if you are not working in law enforcement.