How do you become a police officer or detective?

Answer

These days it's best to start by getting a four-year degree in criminal justice.
 

Answer

most jurisdictions, not all, you need around 60 credit hours of college courses. You will not be successful without at least two years of college courses. This includes course work in English composition, basic college math, college algebra, biology and chemistry. You need to know how to communicate and how to write and use a computer. Some agencies will say that all you need is High School, or a State issued GED, but the average cop has at least two years of college. If you wish to progress, to the detective bureau or up the ranks get your Bachelors or Master's Degree. Look on police sites like the IACP, the FBI, Customs and the ATF. Go in the military if you are able, you will get the training you need and the discipline that is required to excell in police work. You also will obtain money for college. Only idiots start law enforcement at eighteen years old. You will need a clean drivers license with a minimal moving violations, a clean credit history and you will be required to take a psychological examination, a physical, and a physical aglity test. Many departments require vision correctable to 20/20 and no color blindness. You can start at a smaller department and transfer. But, most departments are not interested in "jumpers". Once you apply you will need to be accepted into a police academy. They can be live in boot camps or forty hour a week schools. The school is at least eight weeks. It will consist of classes in criminal law, evidence and procedure, criminal state statutes, federal laws and codes, firearms, defensive tactics, driving, and other high liability formats. Once you pass the academy you are eligible for the State POST TEST. The test is usually several days long and certifies you as a police officer in that state. Once you complete your college, the academy and the test you are eligible to sit for an exam. Good luck the job is not easy. I have worked as an academy instructor, police officer, and a sergeant with large agencies in Florida for the past thirty years. If you are a Spanish speaker, a female, or a minority, we are especially interested. We need colleged educated and ethical people.
 

Answer

The first answer is correct as is the second. Im from an officer from Houston and down here a degree is required at most agencies. Also, it helps one become a more well rounded person prior to joining the academy. As for becoming a detective, that is not a quick thing. Once you join an agency you will be placed in the Patrol Division. From there, once you are eligible, you can test for a Detective position. At small agencies it is always a good idea to learn the ins and outs of what it is that a detective actually does. Try to impliment these practices in your job function on patrol, and hope that someone with some clout notices!




But just try to give people notices not just arrest them being strict and stay around east st Louis and cahokia da greens more

*While the answers are correct, anyone who states 'only idiots start law enforcement at eighteen years old' needs to rethink their attitude. I would hope there is someone less prejudicial, and much wiser at the helm than this person.

your right.


not only idiots start law enforcement at 18 years old, they are just people who want more time in law enforcement because they enjoy the job, but it will make it harder for them to get into detective status considering they wont have a degree, but it doesn't make them idiots! I am from England and considering joining the us law enforcement (Because british law is a bunch of rubbish) but it will be harder for me because i need to get a green card then citizenship, so i will probably get a green card then join the marines then once i leave the marines, then go into law enforcement, its hard but you can do anything if you put your mind to it