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becoming a cop?

M

MadOni0n

Senior member
Hey im interested in possibly becoming a cop, preferablly in my hometown (a suburb in NJ). I'm a senior in high school. What can i do to help me get the job and/or get to know more contacts in the police. Do they have interm positions,etc anything at all that i could do? Also, do most police officers now have bachelor degrees?
 
A lot of police officers have bachelors degrees. One person in my brother-in-law's class was a assistant DA.
 
I would disagree. Although a bachelors in criminal justice is helpful, it's not a must (at least here in the midwest). See if you can do some ride alongs with them to see if you actually like it. I was in the same shoes, but after the ride along I wasnt so hot on it.
 
Get a college degree and go from there. It's becoming more of a standard in law enforcement these days, and in any regard, not many departments want to hire an 18 year old and put a gun in his hands. Get your degree.
 
Originally posted by: Jeeebus
Get a college degree and go from there. It's becoming more of a standard in law enforcement these days, and in any regard, not many departments want to hire an 18 year old and put a gun in his hands. Get your degree.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what do you think this is, the army? 🙂

More seriously, a degree in criminal justice would help immensely.
 
Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
Originally posted by: Jeeebus
Get a college degree and go from there. It's becoming more of a standard in law enforcement these days, and in any regard, not many departments want to hire an 18 year old and put a gun in his hands. Get your degree.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what do you think this is, the army? 🙂

More seriously, a degree in criminal justice would help immensely.
Click to expand...

I kinda disagree. Most departmenst only look for 4 year degrees, NOT criminal justice degrees. In fact a lot of police agencies go after business grads, at least at my old school they did.

But yea do what others here have said. Go to the department you THINK you want to work for. As them if you can do a ride along several times. Try and get some days and nights to see what the job is really about. Then if you are still gunh ho about it as them what degree matters, if it does. You might be able to get apart time job doing some paper work while going to school and the job will also count as credits earned at soem schools as well.
Had a old friend that did that and got about 10credits for just doing paper work, ride alongs, going to court with the cop he rode with and writing it up, etc...
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
Originally posted by: Jeeebus
Get a college degree and go from there. It's becoming more of a standard in law enforcement these days, and in any regard, not many departments want to hire an 18 year old and put a gun in his hands. Get your degree.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what do you think this is, the army? 🙂

More seriously, a degree in criminal justice would help immensely.
Click to expand...

I kinda disagree. Most departmenst only look for 4 year degrees, NOT criminal justice degrees. In fact a lot of police agencies go after business grads, at least at my old school they did.

But yea do what others here have said. Go to the department you THINK you want to work for. As them if you can do a ride along several times. Try and get some days and nights to see what the job is really about. Then if you are still gunh ho about it as them what degree matters, if it does. You might be able to get apart time job doing some paper work while going to school and the job will also count as credits earned at soem schools as well.
Had a old friend that did that and got about 10credits for just doing paper work, ride alongs, going to court with the cop he rode with and writing it up, etc...
Click to expand...

My friend went that route (CJ) to become a state trooper, maybe they have different criteria for local departments.
 
A psych degree of some sort of social sciences degree might help, but the truth is you should just ask the local police stations if you can get some career advice and maybe do some job shadowing.

You may also have some good luck with a degree and some time in the reserves.
 
Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
My friend went that route (CJ) to become a state trooper, maybe they have different criteria for local departments.
Click to expand...

I'd assume that it would be dependant on the size of the city and what city it is.

In a big city, they might require a lot more than a podunk little town.
 
Hey Mad, I know a bunch of local and state police in NJ. They all have a bachelors degree. One of the guys I graduated high school with had to get a bachelors degree before he would even be considered. I don't know if it's a requirement or an unwritten preference though. I don't know where you are in NJ, so YMMV.
 
Just remember to try your hardest to not become a dick. I know this sounds harsh but I have seen it happen SO very many times with friends of mine.

Just my two cents.
 
My brother is going through the schooling right now for it. I'm pretty sure all you need to have is an associate's degree (2 year degree) but I can see where having a 4 year degree would be an advantage. You should be able to go to the police academy and get your associates degree in criminal justice and become certified for everything that you need to become a police officer. Good luck
 
Join the military and do a 4 year stint, when you get out apply for job at PD. When I went to the academy, 90% of the people there were ex-military.
 
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