How to Become a Police Officer

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by monsterguide

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When you were a kid, you probably played a lot of “Cops and Robbers.” While it’s difficult (and dangerous and illegal) to have a career in robbery and grand larceny, a job at the police force is a fulfilling and important job. Without the police to safeguard the community, crime will run rampant in the streets; people will not feel safe and confident about their lives, property, and well-being.

Many are called, few are chosen, but only the best remain in the police department. To get into the patrol, a person must possess the necessary qualifications and skills to protect the community from dangerous, lawless elements. If you want to fulfill your childhood dream of being your neighborhood’s hero against crime, here are some ways that you can become a full-fledged police officer:

Qualifications

The minimum requirements for a career in law enforcement include the following:

You must have at least finished high school or successfully passed a General Educational Development (GED) course. In some jurisdictions, a college degree may be required, and criminology is often recommended for law enforcement.
You must be physically fit and test negative for drug use and alcoholism.
You must not have had a previous criminal record or run-in with the law.
You must pass a strict background and character check.

Many departments and jurisdictions highly recommend that an applicant should have a minimum of two years of active military service before joining the police force. Military training helps applicants have an edge in high-risk situations like counter-terrorism operations, breaking up riots, and subduing violent and armed suspects. Military experience is not a requirement for service in the police force.

Examinations

Police officers enter the service through the prescribed civil service exam. Civil service examinations are required for every job or appointment in the state or federal level, and law enforcement is no exception. The civil service examination for law enforcement will depend on what task you are applying for in the police force:

Court officer/bailiff: the exam will involve reading comprehension and some tasks related to courtroom proceedings.
Corrections officer: the exam will involve practical and administrative test questions on prison conduct, emergencies, and protocols in a correctional facility.
Probation and parole officer: the exam will involve tests on rules and protocols regarding handling criminal offenders on parole, or have yet to be sentenced to incarceration.
State Trooper: the exam will require general knowledge about police activity, rules for traffic enforcement, criminal offenses, and criminal investigation.
Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT): SWAT examinations and training are usually given to experienced members of the police force, and includes training for high-risk situations, including hostage rescue and counter-terrorism operations.
Rank promotion: the exam is given to police officers who seek a higher position on the ranks, and evaluate whether or not the officer is due and qualified for promotion.

Interviews

The police department takes honor and integrity in high regard. Police officers must pass strict character and background tests before they are considered for further training and acceptance into the police force. After the examination, the police chief and some high-ranking members of the police force will conduct some interviews and background checks to determine whether or not an applicant has the honesty and integrity to join the ranks of the patrol. Some of these tests include:

Character references. Like any job interview, the police force requires that an applicant does not have a past criminal record, or a court case filed against him or her.
Drug tests. Members of the police force are required to submit to random drug tests during their tenure with the department.
Polygraph tests. Sometimes the police chief may require the use of lie detector tests to determine the integrity and honesty of an applicant or an officer.

Training

A job in the police force requires extensive and continuous physical and academic training in various aspects of police duty. Once you are accepted into the police force, you are put into a training program for the department to see if you’re fit to stay with the police force. The training program is a lot like military boot camp, only that the program focuses on police activity and protocol. Once you pass the police training program, you’re now ready to be re-evaluated and accepted into the force as a full-fledged police officer.

Police duty and law enforcement is more than a job for officers of the law; for them, to protect and to serve is a lifelong commitment and duty. With these tips to help you with your future career in law enforcement, keeping the community safe will have just as much fun as a kid’s game of “Cops and Robbers,” and as much fulfillment as valor and heroism.