Careers: Police/Police Officer

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Expert: - 10/26/2006


Question
Dear Jack Toomey,
Hi my name is Juwan,and I am a seventh grader.I want to be a Police Officer, I watch cops and i think they are awesome.I always like when the cops always catch the criminals. I have a few question for you, What do you have to do to become a police officer? Do you have to get a degree to be a police officer? and was it hard being being a police officer? I want to be a officer because my uncle is a state trooper and i want to be like him. I am twelve years old and i want to be a police officer.  

Answer
Juwan,

   Perhaps you should be talking to your uncle who you already have a family relationship with and you are more familar with?  Your uncle can give you some sound advice and tell you about how it is to work the road on the state police.

   But to answer your question you do not have to have a college degree for most police departments. However you should go to college before you apply to become an officer because you will be either 17 or 18 when you graduate from high school and then you will must be 21 to apply to become an officer and you will have four years in between.  So I would strongly encourage you to get good grades in high school, because they will check that, and then go on to college and do well.

Careers: Police

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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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