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Expert: - 3/15/2007


Question
Hi, I was just woundering whats the first step to becoming a cop? My boyfriend wants to become a cop and everone telling him to take crimnal justice then your'll get sent to police accademy. Now he just plain confuse as well as i am. He realize he needs a college degree but he not sure what course to take that will help him become a cop and where to start. so basicaly my question(s) would be
1)What is the first step to take to become a cop
2)would taking crimnal justice help him?
3)is there any specific course he should take?


Answer
Elissa,

  I hope that your boy friends doesn't use the term "cop" because that is a slur towards police officer.  The term that most people use is "police officer".

  Since there are litterally thousands of police departments across the country and each has its own hiring standards there isn't a clear way to tell you what he needs to do.  There are departments with ten thousand officers that have their own academies, there are five man departments that send their prospective hires to academies run by the larger departments, there are places in this country that have private police academies where you have to pay your own way and come out with a certificate but no job.  So I don't have any way of knowing what category that your friend falls into.  What I would suggest is that he go to the police department that he is interested in and simply ask them what are the requirements for the position of police officer.  The department should have a recruiting office so that where he should go.

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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