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Expert: - 12/9/2007


Question
My name is David and I am 31 years old.  I have a high school education but that is my extent.  My brother is a detective with the NYPD and is part of search & rescue.  I am interested in becoming a police officer in Florida and want to know the first step I would need to take.  I know that eventually I would need to go to the police academy but what is the exact first step.  I have already read the requirements and I qualify except for the citizenship part.  I am a permanent resident who has lived in this country since I was 3 years old.  I am in the process of getting my citizenship now.  I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Any advice you could give me would be great.  I really want to get started quickly as I am getting older and want to get a career going.

Thanks,

David

Answer
Hi David,

Glad you have chosen to be a police officer. And since you are in Ft. Lauderdale, you would attend the police academy at BCC in Davie. Its where I went to the Academy, the #80th Class.

Before you apply to a police agency to be an officer, you need to take certain tests:  two written tests, a physical agility test and a swimming test.  You take those tests at the Criminal Justice Testing Center at BCC.  Once you take the tests, you then apply to the different police agencies and hope to get hired. http://www.broward.edu/ips/IPS/TestingCenter/page4889.html

Then you can apply to the different agencies if you like. Or you can put yourself through the Academy. Cost is around $2500. Download this booklet and follow the directions: http://www.broward.edu/ips/Supporting%20Content/Information%20booklet%20rev12-06...

BTW I was also the Academy Coordinator there at Broward for a number of years, while I worked for the Broward Sheriff's Office, before I took my job as the Academy Commander at the one I am at now. The person in charge of the testing there is Denise Beaulieu and she is a very good friend of mine, if you go, tell her I said hi.

Also you can find my class photo there on the wall. The 80th Academy.

That should get you started. Good luck.

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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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