Careers: Police/Police

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Expert: - 7/1/2007


Question
QUESTION: Hi,I just want to find out a few things from you about being a police man in America!
What requirments are needed to get into this career?
What is the pay like?
Is this a good job to do if you want something different to do everyday?
Thanks in advance

ANSWER: Daniel,

  As you know the United States is a huge country with fifty states, over a thousand counties, and tens of thousands of towns and cities.  Each has its own police department from the New York City department with over 25,000 men and women to a two man department in some rural area in the South of Midwest.  The pay could vary greately and so could the work.  In a big city that is crime-ridden a patrol officer would go from call to call without a break while in a little town the job would entail checking doors and looking in after the elderly.  So it would depend on where you are working to describe the work.

  However the one thing about police work is the variety.  There are never two calls and that are exactly alike and you are constantly meeting new people.

 Any other questions or follow-ups....fire away.

 By the way I've seen quite a few of your officers on tv this week with all of the terror situations.  The officers look very professional.

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

QUESTION: is it easy enough to get a job as a police man in America?
Is it any way dagerous?
Do you know any good wabsites on this career?
What are the requiriments for this job?

Answer
Daniel,

  Actually it is not easy to get a job as a police officer.  There is much competition and there is a thorough background check, polygraph, a series of interviews, physical exams, etc, for the job.  I am not sure that you realize that we do not have a national police force like some countries do.  What might be the case in one city or county might not be the case on other departments.

  As I have told you that the "requirements" could easily be different on each police department.  

 How old are you?

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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