Careers: Police/detective

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Expert: - 10/30/2007


Question
I am interested in becoming a detective, I ask why did you pursue this carrer? what are some good background skills to have? I am pursuing A.A/A.S in a community college I plan to transer for my B.A and B.S in Cal State Los Angeles to major in criminology. What do big departments look for when hiring graduates fom a certain academy? One more question...how much hours would a detective work and how much experience would take to become homicide detective?

Answer
I had no idea at all that I was going to be a detective.  I was a patrol officer, was on the scene with a detective, he talked me into it and the next time that there was an openeing I applied and was accepted.

In my area there are no private police academies so I am completely unfamiliar with your second question.  I can't understand how police departments hire people from these academies.  It doesn't sounds like a good way to get qualified officers.  In my area, which is several states surrounding me, each police department runs their own academy and do the hiring and firing.  So I don't know the answer to your second question.

There is no way to tell you how many hours a detective works.  There could be hundreds of hours of overtime or there could be just a few depending on where you work.  I think that you are thinking that there are some kind of national standards for work hours.  There aren't. To get into homicide you will of course spend many years on the street getting the necessary skills in order to be assigned to a station detective position and if everything goes well and you are recommened you might get into homicide but that is years down the road.

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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