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Careers: Police/police officer elegibility inquiry

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Expert: - 1/23/2012


Question
I have been living in Germany for the past 12 years, but am moving back "home" to the States in the summer.  When I moved here, I was 20 years old, and did not know that I was required to register for the selective services.. and the subject never came up.  I have had the same job now for the past 11 years as a materials science engineer.  I am now 32 years old, and joining the police force has been a dream of mine which I was hoping to achieve upon returning to the States.  I have found out though, that the failure to register with the selective services may prevent that from happening.  Could you tell me if there is any way I may still accomplish my dream?  For example, would it do any good if I joined the military first- or would that do any good since I will then also be over the age of 35 once I have completed my term of service?  I would greatly appreciate your help with this matter, and any advice you can give me.  Thank you.

Answer
Good afternoon Christopher,

you are correct since you failed to register for the selective service when required and you would be unable to obtain a job as a police officer anywhere in the United States. But if you were to join the military and serve the required time, whichever you sign up for, and get an honorable discharge you then have fulfilled the requirement for military service and the selective service question becomes moot. As you are 32 years old, I may suggest that you might want to look into the National Guard or Army reserves, and if you go either of those you can still apply to become a police officer and show that you are currently in the military thereby making the selective service question one that would not matter.

I hope that helps answer your question good luck and out of the two I personally like as or better than the National Guard.

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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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