BlueSheepdog
10 Years Experience
Around the Way, FL
Male, 40
Cheating death and fighting communism: that is how a fellow officer once described our job. It was meant to be funny, but as time went on it seemed all too true.
I spent more than ten years in law enforcement, all of it on the street in uniform patrol. I've been a patrol officer, instructor, sergeant and lieutenant.
Do not report crimes here. Nothing here should be considered legal advice. All opinions are my own.
Requirements vary from state to state and department to department. Generally, you would need a GED or high school diploma, good driving record, and a clean criminal history. Most departments will also require a physical fitness test, a polygraph, drug testing, a stable employment history, excellent references, a psychological evaluation, some form of IQ or mental abilities test, and a credit check. Many departments also require an applicant to have two years of college (or more) or military service with an honorable discharge. The minimum age for employment varies, but is normally 18 or 21 years old.
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TV and the movies rarely portray law enforcement (or anything else for that matter) in a realistic manner. Even the so-called reality shows are heavily edited to present what the network wants to show you.
As for their reasoning...well it all revolves around $$$. The better the story, the more viewers they get. More viewers = more advertising dollars. Everything on TV is about making money. That is the reason why "news" programs are sensationalistic rather than objective.
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Most 18 year olds are considered an adult. You can still be reported as a missing person.
If you want to avoid problems, you should act like an adult and tell your parents that you are fine, but you have moved out.
If you fall into a variety of special categories (such as under court order), you might not be able to move out. Chances are you would know if one of those applied to you.
If you have additional questions, you should contact an attorney or the local law enforcement agency.
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I'd call the PD and let them know I was the homeowner and had accidentally set off the alarm. That way the officers know to expect someone when they get there. I would wait for them outside, and I would have a driver's license (or other ID with my address) to show them I was the homeowner.
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Navy Officer (Former)
Just how educated is the typical US military serviceman?
Poet
Does being a professional poet pay the bills?
MBA Student
Is business school a party compared to law or med school?
Call the police.
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I've touched on these topics before. In brief:
1. Every department's hiring standards are different. Contact the agency you would want to work for and see what their requirements are. Most are looking for a two year degree or military experience. A few want a four year degree.
2. All other things being equal, the military experience is far more valuable than the piece of paper from some college.
3. A CJ major is not needed to get hired, even if a department requires a college degree. Consider picking a major with practical application beyond law enforcement.
4. Debt is bad. Student debt is extremely bad. A cops salary will not pay off a student loan very quickly at all. Student debt is one of the major problems with the economy in this country now.
If I was just starting out, I would join the military and work on my two-year degree while I was active duty. Then I would come out with a head start on college plus the GI bill if I wanted to continue that. If I wanted to jump right into police work, I would have the experience plus a two year degree. Many departments offer a tuition reimbursement program, so you could go to work for a PD, continue college on their dime and save the GI bill for an advanced school if you so desired.
For example, 4 years military gets the GI bill and a two year degree. 4 years as a law enforcement officer and you get your bachelors degree. Then you could use your GI bill to get a law degree if you wanted. Just my thoughts.
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You should contact the local police department.
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