Comments on How to Become a Police Officer

Wow, talk about bad advice. Culhaque, I will correct you. Having military service, especially combat MOS's will not only help you deal with high volumes of stress (which a Police Officer will encounter daily) but it will give you preference points at the end of your academy. Every police officer I have known has said being prior military is a huge plus.

Actually CULHAQUE I know at least 10 police officers (nypd) and all have had military experience and they all say that is one of the biggest things that has helped the. It helps them physically, mentally, discipline and quite a few other things.

i know who to pass this article along to, thanks

Some good advice by all. What we need are more police with higher quality training and education to combat the more sophisticated criminal elements hitting the mean streets.

The article doesn't mention getting a POST certification which is a requirement to become a police officer. And other than physical conditioning, military service won't help you at all. The ability to write reports is the most important aspect of being a police officer and unfortunately, the most overlooked. A college degree would actually serve you better than combat experience.

i agree with piratepuck35.

Police officers with a college background is a good thing, but it does't take a rocket scienctist to detemine the difference between right and wrong. Don't break the law and you won't have a problem with the police! If there are any Clermont, FL police out there, your doing a great job! There's definately a noticeable difference when taking a walk through town. No more undesirables walking the streets or standing on street corners!

pet10591 - LE officers go through an extensive background, polygraph, psychological examination and oral boards. IF they are chosen, they then go to a Law Enforcement Academy for an average of 26 weeks depending on the department/state requirements. While some agencies do require a university degree or credits, rest assured that anyone abusing their authority is not doing so because they are not educated in Law Enforcement. They may not have been brain-washed in a philosophy class, but they have all the tools they need to be good officers and succeed.

I find it particularly disturbing that becoming a police officer requires no degree. It just points out the fact that most people who seek law enforcement positions are under qualified and have no right to be "policing" a public that is more aware than they are. It would be interesting to see if a higher education would contribute to more tolerant, less racially prejudiced, and more productive police department. It is a common occurrence now and throughout history that people in power abuse that power, why should these people not have a greater world knowledge and concept of ideas beyond themselves?