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Careers: Police/A Brit joining American Police.

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Expert: - 1/26/2011


Question
Hello Mr Wagoner.

I am a 23 year old British guy who's currently serving in the British Military. I'm coming out of the military soon as I'm marrying a US citizen and moving to Florida (I see this is your area). So by the end of the year I will be a US citizen myself and be ready for a new career in the US. Law enforcement is a career choice I'd like to pursue as it has always been of interest to me and I believe it will suit me and my way of thinking and living.

My questions for you are; there seems to be many departments within law enforcement, I'm looking at the police force in Panama City, how would I go about joining?
What educational qualifications do I require? The American educational system is obviously different from ours.
Is the police force like the military in the sense of once you are in, you then apply for or are put into different fields in your department?
One last question, with regards to other agencies like SWAT and the FBI, am I right in assuming that some years in the police force will help in the application to these certain areas? This is a career move I may look into in the future, if I am successful in joining the police.

I've searched the internet trying to answer these questions and I have a vague idea, but there is a lot of information out there.
Any help on these questions and any other information you can provide that you think will be of help to me will be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Joe

Answer
Hello Joe,

Yes the American educational system is quite different from the British educational system as is our law enforcement system. In the United States the police departments are at the federal, state, local level and there are tens of thousands of them. The only federal police that we have our the FBI, Secret Service, US marshals office and the like. If you are looking at getting into a local law enforcement agency those are generally governed by the state in which they are found in.

You mentioned Panama City Florida, the way to find out how to apply is to go to the Panama City Florida's Police Department website and follow the instructions that they will have posted there for people seeking employment as police officers. In addition you can go to my website which I have placed the link below and that will explain to the right educational requirements and answer your questions concerning SWAT and some of the other issues you brought up in your question. If after reading the website you still have a question please feel free to post follow here.

http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/

Panama City Police epartment: http://www.panamacitypolice.com/

Good luck!

Careers: Police

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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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