Expert: Jason Grabill - 11/10/2004

Question
hello, Im just looking for some information on starting a career in the police field.  Im actually in the pharmaceutical/manufacturing field now (I have a BS degree in Biology), so this would be a big switch.  But my desire to do this is big.  I actually applied for the FBI a couple years ago, and just missed getting into the academy.  If I were to jump to this career, I would like to get into crime investigation, or a similar area (detective work?).  I understand if patrolling is required at first.  So I guess I am looking for some advice on what to do, and if I make this jump, how hard would it be to become an investigator or what would I need to do?  

Thanks for your advice,

Jason B

Answer
Jason:

  Basically, you have the general idea.  You'll just have to start applying to the agency of your choice.  And, once you get thru the academy, figure on a couple of years in uniform, on the street.  From that point, as openings come up in the Detective Bureau, you'll be able to put in for them.   

  I will tell you, tho, that the college degrees will help, but it will be the work you do on the street that will actually get you into the 'DB', as it's called.  Competition for those slots in big agencies is intense.  Smaller departments, not so much, but in smaller outfits, there are fewer slots, so an opening may not come up for a long time.

  The best advice I can give is usually 'take lots of writing and English courses' to people.  Your writing skills in the short paragraph above are quite good (you'd be amazed at the amount of poor grammer I see in these questions....) so I don't think that will be a problem;  cops (even patrol officers) write massive amounts of paperwork.  You'll go through far more pens than bullets.  Investigators, even more so.  Your writing ability will make or break you in this line of work.  It will also get you noticed by the 'big boys' who make the eventual selection.

 Don't know how helpful all this has been, but I think you have the drive to do it, so keep plugging away!  

Best of luck,

Jason G