I'm interested in becoming a police officer. just to check it out and see how it is. Right now im in college and definetly dont want to drop out of school or anything. Anyone been a part time cop? how easy/hard is it?
anyone here a cop? or ever thought about being one?
- Thread starter AUMM
- Start date
What would happen if the cops pulled themselves over everytime they were speeding?
They would all be bankrupt or in jail.
They would all be bankrupt or in jail.
Starting pay for Plano police right now is $47K a year. requires 15-20hrs of college credit. One of my friends is going to apply in about 6 months.
im not really doin it for money or cuz i need a job, it just seems like something that could be fun to try. LAPD looks like theyre in need for cops too.
My son (one of them) is going to be a cop. He will start as a walk in hire at the jail as a guard, and then the sherrif dept will pay for his training to make him a street cop or HP or whatever. Pay sure as hell isn't 47K though. The sherrif doesn't even make that. But maybe Plano, Tx. needs to pay premium for a decent cop. Here they start around 22K/yr. He thinks it's a glamourous job, but I think he thinks he can be a tough guy with a badge and gun, and exercise unrightous dominion over the weak and defenseless. He thinks cops is a good TV show. And car chases are cool. I really worry about that boy.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
I took couple of administration of justice class and it was thought by a cop and also couples of class mates were trying to be cops. First it?s not as easy to become a cop as you may think. It takes about 6 month before u can even start police academy if they accept you. A background will be done on u and they will talk to as many people as they can talk to. Yes your formal teacher, neighbors etc. Second they will do interviews with u and etc. Don't know what the interviews are about. As for if it?s easy or not. Well it depends in what are u get assigned. Also don't forget when you are in uniform u are visible so be prepared for anything especially someone deciding to take a shoot at u while u are sitting at the red light. Also don't forget that u are on 24 hours duty u never are civilian and be prepare to do double shifts sometimes when tactical alert is issued.
If you are serious about trying to become a cop then see if any of your administration of justice classes are being teached by former cops.
If you are serious about trying to become a cop then see if any of your administration of justice classes are being teached by former cops.
Not sure how relevant it is, but I was an MP in the army for 6 years. I signed up for it after high school because I thought it sounded "cool". It was that experience that wholly convinced me that I did NOT want to be a cop on the civilian side.
StageLeft
No Lifer
- Sep 29, 2000
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I think some hate it and some like it. I'd thought about it but mrsskoorb doesn't want to be married to a cop and I might make a crappy one anyway. Although I might make a good one. But that's besides the point.
Anyway I'm sure there is a police forum somewhere on the net and you can ask people first hand, although you're more likely to get a pro-bias since people who don't like being cops aren't likely to spend time on a cop forum.
Anyway I'm sure there is a police forum somewhere on the net and you can ask people first hand, although you're more likely to get a pro-bias since people who don't like being cops aren't likely to spend time on a cop forum.
Yep. I went through the normal 8-week boot camp at Fort McClellan, Ala. and stayed there for the next 9 weeks for the advanced training. I have a feeling that civilian trainees probably spend alot more time in training. The 9-week course mainly covered the basics, with alot of time spent on learning how to properly fill out paperwork. I had no idea there would be so many forms. Not so many for something minor like a fender bender, but there were something like a half dozen or so to fill out for a DUI case.
The cops here in Plano are bastards :| The street cops spent most of their time chasing down redlighters while the Squad Commanders eat a Taco Bueno feeding scraps to their K-9s
Last time I had an "incident" with them, one of the cops kept telling me I was lying and I should just tell the truth when I was giving him the entire story. And it went on for 20 minutes. I basically told him to stick it after about 10 minutes and damn, that was a show
I want to be a cop. I work at a police department, and while filling out forms isn't any cop's idea of a good time, I know that it's a great job for me. Working at a college police department (which is what I want to do) is great because all of the cops are college-educated and they're all really easy going. And because it's a university police department, it's almost assured that dangerous situations are few and far between.
I love the idea of helping people out and I like the idea of working irregular hours (I worked the night shift as a student assistant patrol and I really liked it). It seems like a great job. The only problem is that there are lots of cops who want to work at UMDPS, because it's such a great job.
But, because I already have a job there, I've got just that much more of an advantage for eventual hiring.
I love the idea of helping people out and I like the idea of working irregular hours (I worked the night shift as a student assistant patrol and I really liked it). It seems like a great job. The only problem is that there are lots of cops who want to work at UMDPS, because it's such a great job.
But, because I already have a job there, I've got just that much more of an advantage for eventual hiring.
Originally posted by: Tripleshot
My son (one of them) is going to be a cop. He will start as a walk in hire at the jail as a guard, and then the sherrif dept will pay for his training to make him a street cop or HP or whatever. Pay sure as hell isn't 47K though. The sherrif doesn't even make that. But maybe Plano, Tx. needs to pay premium for a decent cop. Here they start around 22K/yr. He thinks it's a glamourous job, but I think he thinks he can be a tough guy with a badge and gun, and exercise unrightous dominion over the weak and defenseless. He thinks cops is a good TV show. And car chases are cool. I really worry about that boy.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
yea, im not looking to make a career out of it, im studying to be a civil engineer and already have jobs and whatnot planned out, i was just interested in trying something different and being a cop seemed like something that would be "cool" i was thinking of just trying, going throught the interviews and whatnot and see how it goes, a friend of mine started through the interview process and he said it was actually really easy but he never completed it cuz he got too busy.
I am college as we speak getting my degree in Criminal Justice. I thought about going federal(better pay) but decided I want to serve my community rather than being at the whim of the DOJ. If you search Google or talk to departments in your area, you will find they all have similar requirements. Many departments are now requiring College Degrees or push for you to get your degree once you get hired. The major plus of having a degree is better pay and a lot better opportunity to advance. I have several friends who are officers and also have a good number of officers in my classes. There is a LEO forum on the web but right now I cannot remember their web address.
If you really want to see things first hand, try a ride along with a department in your area. If you like that then take a few CJ classes and see if it is cut out for you. It is not cut out for everyone. Another thing I would suggest is picking up a couple of books. One is named COPS and the other is What Cops Know. Both of these books are written by an author who interviewed officers in just about every specialized field. If you read them you will learn more than you ever will in a 100 or 200 level CJ class.
I suggest that you make sure this is something that you want to do. Your pay will never be that great unless you have a degree or work for a department that is desperate. I highly recommend you get a CJ degree. If you really want to have options try to get into law school after you are hired. I know an officer who did this and has several career options in his department.
Good luck,
Evan
If you really want to see things first hand, try a ride along with a department in your area. If you like that then take a few CJ classes and see if it is cut out for you. It is not cut out for everyone. Another thing I would suggest is picking up a couple of books. One is named COPS and the other is What Cops Know. Both of these books are written by an author who interviewed officers in just about every specialized field. If you read them you will learn more than you ever will in a 100 or 200 level CJ class.
I suggest that you make sure this is something that you want to do. Your pay will never be that great unless you have a degree or work for a department that is desperate. I highly recommend you get a CJ degree. If you really want to have options try to get into law school after you are hired. I know an officer who did this and has several career options in his department.
Good luck,
Evan
Originally posted by: Tripleshot
My son (one of them) is going to be a cop. He will start as a walk in hire at the jail as a guard, and then the sherrif dept will pay for his training to make him a street cop or HP or whatever. Pay sure as hell isn't 47K though. The sherrif doesn't even make that. But maybe Plano, Tx. needs to pay premium for a decent cop. Here they start around 22K/yr. He thinks it's a glamourous job, but I think he thinks he can be a tough guy with a badge and gun, and exercise unrightous dominion over the weak and defenseless. He thinks cops is a good TV show. And car chases are cool. I really worry about that boy.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
Thanks
Quick question: why do you consider Feds greedy? Aren't they a national police force, just as the Ann Arbor Police are a city department?Originally posted by: Millennium
Originally posted by: Tripleshot
My son (one of them) is going to be a cop. He will start as a walk in hire at the jail as a guard, and then the sherrif dept will pay for his training to make him a street cop or HP or whatever. Pay sure as hell isn't 47K though. The sherrif doesn't even make that. But maybe Plano, Tx. needs to pay premium for a decent cop. Here they start around 22K/yr. He thinks it's a glamourous job, but I think he thinks he can be a tough guy with a badge and gun, and exercise unrightous dominion over the weak and defenseless. He thinks cops is a good TV show. And car chases are cool. I really worry about that boy.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
Thanks. The CIA is not law enforcement and federal is the way to go if you are greedy.
Originally posted by: jumpr
Quick question: why do you consider Feds greedy? Aren't they a national police force, just as the Ann Arbor Police are a city department?Originally posted by: Millennium
Originally posted by: Tripleshot
My son (one of them) is going to be a cop. He will start as a walk in hire at the jail as a guard, and then the sherrif dept will pay for his training to make him a street cop or HP or whatever. Pay sure as hell isn't 47K though. The sherrif doesn't even make that. But maybe Plano, Tx. needs to pay premium for a decent cop. Here they start around 22K/yr. He thinks it's a glamourous job, but I think he thinks he can be a tough guy with a badge and gun, and exercise unrightous dominion over the weak and defenseless. He thinks cops is a good TV show. And car chases are cool. I really worry about that boy.
But he is probably typical of many who join law enforcement. They want to crack heads of bad guys and get praise for it. He will find out 65% of his time will be filling out forms. The TV shows are just that, entertainment. He will find out its not all that "cool".
If you are in collage, take courses in police science and apply for FBI or CIA or something. Screw being a cop. A collage educated person should have more going for him.
Thanks. The CIA is not law enforcement and federal is the way to go if you are greedy.
They dominate and destroy local departments and will take credit for anything they can. They have almost unlimited resources.
I'm going into college next year as a CS major, and I will probably go down the line of Computer Security. Then I plan on becoming a street cop for 5-6 years (maybe more/less) and then I hope to join either the FBI, CIA, ATF, etc., doing something with computer crimes, security, etc.
Aren't cops the ones who looks at the worst parts of car crashes, shootings, etc.?
Something to think about. Maybe check out rotten.com and see if it affects you.
Something to think about. Maybe check out rotten.com and see if it affects you.
nah, im pretty ok with most of that stuff. but as i said, im not looking to make a career out of this unless its something i absolutely love, im plannin on building houses and stuff.
How would i go about getting a ride along? and if i told them i want to only work part time would they even consider me? thanks for all the replies.
My brother is a law enforcement officer in Colorado. He always wanted to be a cop, it only took him about 10 years to get there. He was a reserve officer for a couple years, couldn't get hired because he was a white male. Sorry, the truth ain't always pretty.
They actually were hiring minorities with minor criminal records before white males with no criminal record. That pretty much infuriated him and he became disenchanted with being a police officer for several months. But he finally was given a slot at the Denver Police Academy and offered a position after completion.
I can say being a police officer has changed him. He is far more 'coarse' and 'hardened' than he used to be. I guess that's what dealing with sub-human scum on a daily basis, being insulted, punched, kicked, shot at, vomited on, etc. on a regular basis, can do to you after a while.
That, and the fact that nobody likes a police officer until they need them, and when they do need them, you can never get there fast enough for their liking or do your job well enough to satisfy them. You have to find a way to take it in stride, to deal with all the stress in a positive way, which is far more easily said than done.
Good money and benefits, though. Not nearly enough in my opinion to make it worth all the BS you have to deal with, but to each his own.
My brother's 'outlook' and job satisfaction has, however, improved a lot since he accepted another LEO position in another community. He worked in Denver for about five years, primarily in high crime areas of Denver. Now he is working for some upper-scale community with a whole lot less crime.
Working in high crime areas can quickly cause you to lose a healthy portion of your faith in humanity, because the term "animals" is not all that far off from being an apt description for an inordinate number of residents in high crime areas. Worse than animals, in fact, because animals don't know better nor are they supposed to.
They actually were hiring minorities with minor criminal records before white males with no criminal record. That pretty much infuriated him and he became disenchanted with being a police officer for several months. But he finally was given a slot at the Denver Police Academy and offered a position after completion.
I can say being a police officer has changed him. He is far more 'coarse' and 'hardened' than he used to be. I guess that's what dealing with sub-human scum on a daily basis, being insulted, punched, kicked, shot at, vomited on, etc. on a regular basis, can do to you after a while.
That, and the fact that nobody likes a police officer until they need them, and when they do need them, you can never get there fast enough for their liking or do your job well enough to satisfy them. You have to find a way to take it in stride, to deal with all the stress in a positive way, which is far more easily said than done.
Good money and benefits, though. Not nearly enough in my opinion to make it worth all the BS you have to deal with, but to each his own.
My brother's 'outlook' and job satisfaction has, however, improved a lot since he accepted another LEO position in another community. He worked in Denver for about five years, primarily in high crime areas of Denver. Now he is working for some upper-scale community with a whole lot less crime.
Working in high crime areas can quickly cause you to lose a healthy portion of your faith in humanity, because the term "animals" is not all that far off from being an apt description for an inordinate number of residents in high crime areas. Worse than animals, in fact, because animals don't know better nor are they supposed to.
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