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Expert: - 10/1/2006


Question
thank you for your quick reponse. I have one other question if you don't mind.
Since transfer is not a guarantee and I think I might be moving sometime in at least the next 3-5 years. What would you recommend? I want to start a career in Law Enforcement. I am afraid that if I start at 30 that I won't achieve a good career at a late age, yet if I have to move and start over I will probably be 30 anyways.
   My problem is Vegas is a stepping stone for me and I would like to move sometime in the next few years, 5 at the most. This is also including when my girlfriends attenting graduate school in another town sometime in the next few years.
 My thoughts are, I should just join the police force here and hope for the best.....if I can "transfer" than I do. If I can't then when I move in a few years, I would start over and at least be ahead of the game to some degree.  

Answer
   First of all DO NOT let the Las Vegas police department know that you are only staying for three years.  They are not going to want to invest thousands of dollars in your training only to have you leave and then have to train someone else.  Another thing that you have to take into consideration is your retirement.  I know that it is the last thing in the world that you are considering now but if you start hopping around between departments you are going to wake up one day at 45 years old with no time invested in a county or state retirement system and you will be working until you are 75.  So make sure that whatever department you join after the first one accepts retirement credits from the first one.  Most don't, some do.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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