Careers: Police/SVU Detective

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Expert: - 10/23/2007


Question
I am a girl in high school and I really want to become an SVU detective.  I have watched Law & Order SVU and I absolutely love it and would love to work in that line. I have also gone through some of the situations and so I feel very strongly on wanting to stop it.  I tried to research colleges that taught this but didn't really find anything. I was wondering if it was likely for me to become and SVU Detective and what colleges would be good to look into and what majors I would have to take. Also, what I would have to do in order to get up to an SVU detective.

Answer
Christi,

  I am sorry to have to break this to you but in real life "SVU" units do not exist.  It is something that has been made up by a tv network to get people to tune in and thus patronize their advertisers.  Another tv show that is totally ficticous is "CSI".  In real life technicians do not work in a lab and then rush out onto the street to solve cases and question suspects.  In real life civilians do the lab work and then turn the information over to real police officers.

  However this does not mean that you couldn't become a detective and do real police work.  Of course you need to attend college first, it does not matter what courses that you take, what does matter is that you graduate.  Then you need to be hired by a police department and then you will spend many years on the street as a uniformed officer in order to gain the skills that are necessary to become a detective.

   Again....I get tons of questions from students who think what they see on tv is real.  It's not.

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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