How to Become a Police Officer in a Gang Unit
The gang unit investigates crimes associated with gang activity. In recent years, the country has seen a dramatic increase in the number of specialized gang units. Though typically considered a feature of the inner city, gang activity is now spreading to suburbs and quiet communities. The duties of a gang unit are wide-ranging and extensive; they include gathering intelligence and uncovering methods of recruitment and selection. Gang unit officers can go undercover in schools, make narcotics busts and speak to youth groups. The gang unit is never boring -- the wide variety of crimes they investigate include car theft, murders, graffiti, vandalism, shootings and robberies. They are among the toughest detectives in the police department, and expected to be versatile, physically fit and street smart.
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Instructions
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Acquire a degree. In order to enter a police academy, one must take a civil service exam. The minimum standards required to take the exam are two years of military service or an associate's degree. The majority of students who know they want to join the force get a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, police science or psychology. Most colleges offer programs in law enforcement.
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Excel at the police academy and gain the notice of superiors who can later aid your career. Every year the famed Los Angeles police academy trains about 250 students. In order to stand out, a student must be highly motivated and team oriented. He will have to report to a drill sergeant and attend several classes a week. He will be expected to pass rigorous physical and psychological testing. He should strive to demonstrate leadership abilities.
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Work as a patrolman. A rookie officer is expected to spend anywhere between 3 to 7 years learning the ropes. Patrol duties are the foundation for any specialized work that a cop might later want to take on. Now is the time for an ambitious young officer to distinguish himself from his peers. If he strives to be a member of a gang unit, he must demonstrate an aptitude for the kind of work a gang unit undertakes. A good repiore with young people is helpful. A working familiarity of slang, popular music and youth psychology is also helpful.
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Apply for a transfer to the gang unit. To be an officer on the gang unit, request a transfer. In the police department, the most important factor that determines who receives transfers, commendations and promotions to detective status are the recommendations of superiors and job performance reviews. The needs of the department also factor heavily into decisions -- there are usually waiting lists to get on "popular" units. Demonstrate your knowledge of law enforcement and express your passion about the work that gang unit officers do, and you'll be on your way.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Police image by Zeno from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Another big thing is to attend as much training as possible in regards to gangs. There are several gang investigator associations out there that you could pay for on your own. Just depends how passionate you are. A major things to be successful as a gang officer is to have ability to talk. The gift-to-gab has been my biggest tool, in being a successful and respect gang officer on the streets.
