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Police candidates must be in excellent physical shape. Image Credit: Troy Newell/sxc.huA police training academy is exactly what it sounds like---a specialized program that trains potential police recruits to effectively perform the job of a police officer. There are many components involved in police training. These vary from area to area, but most have a physical training program, ethical training, aptitude training and procedural training. Candidates must be height and weight proportionate and in excellent physical condition. They mist also prove their intelligence and ethics. While candidates are thoroughly trained in the academy, much of their education is tested on the job in real life situations. -
Police candidates must pass extensive tests. Image Credit: Greg Schoppe/sxc.huIn order to be considered for entry into a police training academy, certain prerequisites must be met. For example, most police academies require that candidates are at least 20 years old. They should be United States citizens who are not convicted felons. Plus, they must have earned at least a high school diploma (or GED). Some academies also require additional classes or an associate's degree. Once basic prerequisites are met, one must pass aggressive physical and written tests. If one is considering working on a state or federal level, a college degree is required. -
There are several types of police officers. Image Credit: Steve Woods/sxc.huThere are several types of police officers that are trained by police academies. Urban police officers are the ones you see on the streets and in neighborhoods and are often assigned a particular area to patrol. They are also the officers who respond to calls for help from citizens in trouble. Sheriffs and their deputies help to enforce the law on a county level. A sheriff is elected to his position and has similar duties to a local police chief. Detectives gather facts in criminal cases and perform interviews with people related to these cases. They also engage in other fact-finding activities and may participate in the final arrest. They are the crime solvers. State police officers, also called highway patrolmen, are those who keep the highways safe by patrolling and ensuring that laws are being followed. They also assist in arresting criminals across their state. They may direct traffic at the scene of an accident, offer first aid assistance or call for additional help. -
A California State Police Car. Image Credit: Steven Kapinos/sxc.huAccording to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 861,000 police officers employed in 2006. Of these, 79 percent were employed by local precincts while state police agencies employed about 11 percent. Federal agencies employed 7 percent, and the remaining officers worked in private sectors. These included things like educational services, security services, contracted investigational services and rail transportation. Most of these officers were employed in larger communities, as smaller precincts (in smaller towns) generally employ 25 or fewer officers. Larger departments sometimes have hundreds of officers. - The US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that by 2016, employment opportunities for police will grow by 11 percent, which is about average when compared to other job fields. However, due to the stringent requirements necessary to become a police officer, those who make the cut will have excellent job prospects over the next decade. Plus, with some of the existing force moving into the private sector or being promoted into higher ranking positions, more entry level positions will be open, at least on a local level. It is expected to remain difficult to break into the federal and state agencies, since there is more competition due to higher salaries. Even so, in the police field, starting in a lower salaried position is an important way to gain experience and a reputation before moving into the higher paying jobs.
