The dream of many men and women is to serve as a police officer. The field of law enforcement is a rewarding and challenging line of work that places officers in harm’s way on a regular basis as well as positioning them in critically important situations in which the lives of others, as well as their own, are at stake. Police work is also one of the most difficult professions to enter and requires a high level of commitment to achieve it.
The first step to becoming a police officer is to maintain a clean criminal record and a high standard of ethics in whatever endeavors you’ve pursued prior to entering law enforcement. Many otherwise excellent candidates for police work are disqualified on the basis of indiscretions committed long ago. Cleaning up the past by expunging an old criminal record may be the first requirement you face.
Most city, county, and state law enforcement agencies begin the employment process by offering potential officers a civil service test. Candidates are scored and placed on a hiring list on the basis of the test results. Taking as many civil service tests as possible is a good idea since scores can be improved with practice. Passing several tests is also recommended since the hiring lists may be valid for a year or two and candidates may not know their chances of being hired by a particular agency until long after the test.
Police agencies that don’t require a civil service test generally require that a resume and application for employment be completed. In the case of both those agencies requiring a civil service test and those who do not, when an opening occurs, the most promising candidates are contacted for an interview. Depending on the individual agency, a lie detector examination, physical conditioning test, drug screen, and a psychological exam will be required.
Many agencies require that a candidate have a college degree prior to applying, preferably in the field of law enforcement. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree provides an opportunity for interested applicants to prove their intellectual abilities as evidenced in possessing a college degree as well as their ability to pursue a goal and accomplish a task. These personal characteristics are important for police officers and police administrators want to hire those candidates who possess them.
Every state in the union and federal law enforcement agencies require that candidates pass a police academy. The academic and physical requirements are stringent and those with the tenacity and dedication to successfully complete the training are considered worthy of the honor of being a law enforcement officer. Candidates need to contact each agency they’re interested in to determine if that particular agency hires only those already possessing police certification or if the agency hires a candidate prior to sending him or her to the academy. How agencies approach this matter differs considerably from one agency to another, even in the same state and local geographical area. The only way to find out is to ask.
Prior to starting a police academy it’s important to get into good physical shape. Academies “wash out” a lot of candidates by requiring them to be in better condition than they’re willing to work to get into. Being able to run, do push-ups and other exercises, and maintain good aerobic health makes the academy experience much more enjoyable.
Becoming a police officer requires several steps. If you’re interested, it’s never too early to start the process. Pinning on the badge is a dream come true.
