Become a Police Officer,Police Officer Exam,Police Exam,Police Academy

Becoming A Police Officer: Where to start?

Welcome to Police-School.com. If you're interested in a career in law enforcement, you probably already know that you are in a VERY competitive field. Literally hundreds of thousands of people are studying to get into some type of criminal justice job right now. What does this mean to you? It means you better figure out a way to get some type of edge over your competition. One way is not falling into the "I have a degree, I've worked security, I'll be fine." The truth is, most people "don't worry" about it and just assume they will get hired because they are "qualified." Wouldn't you want to know exactly what recruiters are looking for when you go to your interview?

Getting an edge on the competition...

If you don't have an edge over the competition, then you better know someone pretty important at the department you're applying for. I know that sounds harsh, but that's the truth. You MUST take steps to get ahead of other applicants, period. Wouldn't it be nice to talk to one of the recruiters that would be interviewing you "before" you interviewed? The course offered below does just that. Of course he won't be in your interview, but he's interviewed literally thousands of applicants for the position of police officer, and now offers a Video Training Course on the subject. And quite literally this is one of the best courses we've found, especially for the price (currently at $49.00). They even stand behind their product, offering a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Online Video Training Course - 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Step 2 - Affordable and proven programs to significantly increase your chances of getting into police work: I'd like to talk about one software package that seems to have gone above and beyond when it comes to preparing future police officers. It was created by an actual Police Sergeant who was a police recruiter for his department. He sat in on interviews, conducted the actual questioning, and watched over the years as qualified applicants would not pass over petty things. Now he's actually written a Police Preparation Guide that offers not only reading materials, but also Video Training as most departments now employ Video Technology to test applicants. And for a mere $35, we cannot see any reason to pass on it. What's $35 compared to thousands of dollars of past college?

How To Become A Police Officer article

Probably one of the most common questions I get is "how can I become a police officer." And answering that question is not a simple task, simply because there are so many things that come into play when applying for the position of police officer. So for this article I've decided to try and make a complete list of things that you need to consider when choosing this profession.

First off, why do you want to be a police officer? Its really an important question because its actually one of the main goals that your department wants to know when they are interviewing you. So why do you want to be in law enforcement? The truth is many people are attracted to the excitement that it brings. You're on the front line when crazy things are happening; you're the first to see it before the media actually reports it. If I told you I couldn't wait to get into police chases and arrest bad guys when I first applied, I'd be lying. Is that the wrong answer for your though when you get your interview? Not really, but a better way to word it in our opinion would be something like "I have always been interested in law enforcement and I'm looking for a career with advancement opportunities. I also enjoy helping people and I'm not a desk type of person." This type of response is believable and its true. Most police officers have a wild streak in them which is part of the reason they're attracted to police work in the first place. But lets get back on topic.

Staying out of trouble: To become a police officer requires a lot preparation, usually in the early years of school. This means if you "think" you want to get into law enforcement early on, its very important to stay out of trouble. In most states if you have a Felony conviction, you cannot legally get hired. In some states, even misdemeanors can eliminate you. So keep that in mind.

Getting good grades: Its important to get good grades, especially since there is so much competition in the criminal justice field. We've heard it before from our parents and school teachers, but its very important to remember.

Choosing a Criminal Justice Degree Program: To become a police officer in today's day and age, a criminal justice degree is an absolute necessity. In fact, many departments are now requiring a 4-year degree and more! One great thing about criminal justice degrees now is that you can now get your degree online and have the ability to choose from several criminal justice schools. Many schools offer huge incentives to choose them over other schools, i.e. financial aid, discounts, etc.

Assuming you're now in college, its always ok to apply to police departments before you obtain your degree. In fact, we actually recommend it, and here's why: Many police departments can take literally years before they end up hiring new police officers whether it be background checks, interviews, lack of officers needed, etc. But the point is, getting hired as a police officer is not nearly as easy or as quick as getting hired at a retail store for example. And we believe that's a misconception that many recruits believe after graduating. They think, "Ok, I've got my degree now, I'll just go apply" and they expect to get hired quick, only to discover there's a chance they won't get hired at all, or realize they have to move across the state or country to take a job. So applying to criminal justice programs while you're in college is never a bad thing (unless of course the department requires you to have a degree first before applying).

Sponsored Police Officers vs. Pre-Service Training: To cut to the chase, when you are sponsored it means a police department has hired you and are paying for you to attend the academy. In other words, as long as you successfully complete the academy, you have a job. If you decide to sponsor yourself (pre-service), you are paying to attend the academy, which is usually around $3000 to $5000. You are not paid while you attend, and the risk is that if you don't get hired by a police department, you've lost your investment. On the flip side of the coin though, some departments appreciate that you've paid yourself because it tells them that you are serious, and nothing was handed to you. Another quick note about sponsoring yourself is that even though you may have the money to attend the police academy, a degree is required, or close to it. You should contact the police academy you are interested in attending to find out what exactly is needed. But the point is, money alone will not get you in. You will interview for it as well.

Applying at Police Departments: Just like any important job, you should be on time, look good (this means wearing a suit), use good penmanship, etc. I'm always amazed when I see people come down and apply while wearing sweatpants, or like they just got done working on their car. I seen one guy the other day come in with two ear-rings on, one in each ear. I understand in today's society, that's more acceptable now; however, its not acceptable to wear them to an interview as man, in my opinion. Yes, you're interviewer will not admit it, but I guarantee it will hurt you. Don't wear them.

Be Honest: Probably one of the most important things when applying to the position of Police Officer is honesty. Its a fact that the first thing most background investigators do for police officer applicants is simply go run your name through LEIN, and run a Criminal History Check to look into your past. This is the fastest way to screen applicants without using anymore time and resources on the applicant. This means be honest up front. If you got in trouble in school or was even arrested for something minor, list it on the application. They will find out. On a side note, if you had something expunged from your record, you should contact your attorney first. But it is highly recommended that you tell your background investigator or during your interview that you had a crime expunged but that you still want them to know. Because if they find out you didn't reveal it, it shows dishonesty and will likely eliminate you.