Expert: Jack Toomey - 2/5/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr. Toomey,

My name is Jason Gonzales, I'm currently in the Army and my job is infantry I'm stationed in Ft. Benning GA. I'm 24yrs old I highly want to become a S.W.A.T. police officer, which is my main goal. I know I have to do a few yrs before possibly being recommended for that position. I'm going to be separating from the military in Sept. 2011, my question is should I stay in GA and apply to a PD out here i.e. Atlanta PD and lateral over to CA which is where I want to be for good. Or do you recommend me to go straight to CA after I get out of the military and enroll in college and get my degree, and while I go to school do a reserve program at a local PD in CA? Please any advice is greatly appreciated.

ANSWER: Jason,

Having never been to Georgia or California I can't say that I am knowledgeable about police departments in either state.  But I can tell you that police departments do not look kindly on people who use them for training and experience and then see them quit and move across the country.  Departments put thousands of dollars into training a recruit and if  that person's motive is to leave after just a few years then they have to train someone to take his place.  So if you are going to do that make sure that no one knows.  Some departments require contracts where an officer has to pay back the  department for the cost of his training.  The key word is "some".

Speaking of California I guess that you know that the state is nearly bankrupt and has laid off many municipal workers so there may not be many departments that are hiring.

Also about your goal  of SWAT.  I hope that you realize that the way SWAT is depicted on television is completely unrealistic.  On most departments SWAT officers are patrol officers who respond to SWAT situations when needed.  On large departments they spend their down time serving warrants or performing patrol duties.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr. Toomey,

I understand what you mean about the PD spending so much time and money to train a person then for them to leave. So I will take that into consideration and think about that very highly. You are right about CA and them having a hard time to higher on new recruits. Do you think that I should go to school in CA and just try and sign on there? I also know what the SWAT dept. consist of, the stuff on TV has no affect whether or not I want to purse in that area of the PD. I know its not a game, I know what they go through and it relates kind of to what I do for a living now if I were to be overseas.

I have a few more question and I hope you can provide me some advice. Like I said I'm 24yrs old, now I wasn't the best angel when I was younger. I had gotten a few tickets the biggest one being a reckless driving. I had a speeding but it was 45 in a 35 had a few other minor tickets, but that was it. i haven't had a ticket in about 4yrs. I was wondering if they will affect me?

One more thing I want to be as honest as I can on my applications. Is there a website I can do a background check on myself that will simulate to what the PD will find as far as addresses and places of past work. I can't remember all of them so i was wondering if those background websites will help me. thank you again for all your help and advice.

Answer
I can't tell you where to go to school.  I can't give life changing advice because if it backfired on you then you would come back and blame me.  All I can do is to tell you what I have experienced and what I know.

Your traffic record certainly won't help you but it probably will not hurt you.  Remember that some of these departments have hiring pools of thousands of applicants and they can afford to be very picky.  

There are plenty of websites out there that claim to do background checks.  Police departments do not use them except to do credit background checks.  They go back and interview many people.  Past associates, parents, friends, and former employers.  If you want to find these websites that you speak of then just google "background check".  To be honest I think that you would be wasting your money.