OK I have been reading and posting here on Officer.

com for a
while now and I see several repeated subjects over and over
again. So I am writing this complete guide for those wanting to
get into law enforcement, the academy and going through the
process of being hired or going into the academy and after.
First my qualifications for writing this are I am the olice
!cademy "ommander at an !cademy in #orth "entral Florida.
$ave been for %& years. I helped write the State of Florida's
olice (ecruit "urriculum currently in use. I have been a cop for
&)* years and have been on oral boards for a large agency
+,roward "ounty Sheriff's Office- for about & years, and I have
been involved in training or hiring police and corrections officers
for more than %. years. I have trained police officers all over the
world.
/et's start with getting hired by an agency to be a cop. First you
have to ta0e an honest loo0 at yourself and your bac0ground. If
you're dishonest with yourself, you should not bother applying to
an agency as they will find it out anyway.
1hat will disqualify me from becoming a police Officer2222 1ell
how about what will qualify me2
3ou need to be at least %4 in some states, and &% in others.
1hen in doubt loo0 up your states laws or requirements.
3ou need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. ! college
degree is better and rates you higher with a police department. I
hate to say this but what the degree is in is not that important.
1hile a degree in criminal justice is nice, it's not going to beat out
a 5aster in some other area of study.
3ou have to be physically able to perform the job. If you're on
medications read further.
6ach and every state has its state laws that cover what you have
to have to be a cop. States vary in requirements7 some say %4
years old, some &%. Some say you have to have this or that, each
has its own. 3ou need to loo0 up the particular state +!ll .8
S9ates /aws can be found here:::- you are thin0ing of being a cop
in and read the law carefully. !lso chiefcop on the forum was nice
enough to provide lin0s to ;4 of the States olice Officer
Standards Sites here in this thread<
http://forums.officer.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=108913 .
If you meet the minimum standards, then you may qualify by
law, but then you need to read those things that will disqualify
you also. 9hese are things that may or may not be in the state
law7
%. ,eing a convicted felon = !s convicted felons cannot carry guns
in most cases, it's hard for the police department to give you one
or require you to buy one when it's illegal for you to have one:
!lso domestic violence reports or arrest are a >?. !lso I have
seen posted here on officer.com the question what if my spouse is
a convicted felon2 1ell I am sorry but 44@ of departments will
not hire you. !lmost everyone has a department policy against
associating with felons. !nd that includes family members. 1hile
this in some cases should not apply I am sure, it does. /ife is not
always fair. !lso any >omestic Aiolence conviction or even a call
or two on record of domestic violence. It's against the law in most
states for anyone convicted of >omestic violence to buyB carry a
firearm, and that includes police.
9his is from Florida (equirements< #ot have been convicted of
any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false
statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of
the !rmed Forces of the Cnited States. !ny person who, after
Duly %, %4)%, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty
of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false
statement is not eligible for employment or appointment as an
officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of
adjudication. #otwithstanding this subsection, any person who
has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false
statement, prior to >ecember %, %4)., and has had such record
sealed or eEpunged shall not be deemed ineligible for
employment or appointment as an officer.
!lso having an injunction for domestic violence, or being
convicted of domestic violence is almost always a >?. ,eing
arrested for it is not always one, but most of the time it will be.
&. Some misdemeanors that involve perjury or false statements =
It's hard to let you swear to tell the truth in court when you have
already lied. See F%
G. >ishonorable discharges from the military. Self eEplanatory I
thin0 and covered in F%.
;. $aving a bad driving record = I mean tic0ets for things li0e
speeding, rec0less or careless driving, or other tic0ets that show
disregard for safety. ! history of a lot of tic0ets also is a no go in
most cases. I saw a person post a question and as0 if they would
qualify after having ) tic0ets and being arrested twice for not
paying tic0ets. 1hat do you thin0: Suspended license are usually
a no go also. 3ou should have a clear record for a period of time
before you bother to apply or ma0e sure it's a minor tic0et li0e a
taillight out or something. ! clear record for G=. years will get
you by this one, or a minor tic0et or two will be OK most of the
time. (emember the agency has to trust you with a patrol car
that you at times will have to drive in emergency mode, 0ind of
hard to justify that in court when you had rec0less driving tic0ets.
.. $aving bad credit H this one is different for different agencies,
but all seem to be loo0ing at it more. If you have bad credit
+really bad, ban0ruptcies, or loads of outstanding debt- you are a
liability for bribery or other problems. 3ou may at times in this
job find yourself handling large sums of cash and being in debt
ma0es you a liability when doing that. 9he temptation is too
much for some in need.
I. >rug use H this is one I get questions about a lot. First let me
say again each department may be a little different but most are
along the same lines. $ard >rugs used even in the last &8 years
is a >? most of the time, heroin, Speed, /S>, addiction to
prescription drugs are a few automatics. 5ost agencies will not
touch you if you were dealing drugs at all +that is a felony, see
F%-. I actually had a 0id as0 me if he was >?'d if he had dealt
pot bac0 when he was a teenager +J years ago-, he just admitted
to a felony, so of course you can guess the answer. If you used
drugs in the last G years or so most agencies don't li0e it. If
you're . or more years out, it depends on what it was and how
often. >aily usage is a no no, wee0ly is still not good. Csing a
couple of times in a . year period is better loo0ing.
J. ast 6mployment H having &8 jobs in a . year period is a no
go. 3ou should show some 0ind of ability to hold a job. Ketting
fired for failing to show up to wor0, calling in sic0 all the time,
and having an eE=employer tell us that you were the LworstM
employee they ever had does not loo0 to good. !gencies depend
on you to show up to wor0 on time and ready to wor0. So do the
other guysBgals on the shift.
). If you have a 5ySpace or Face,oo0 page, ma0e sure it is
something you would want your prospective employer to see.
9hey are hiring people +li0e me- to loo0 them up and give them
copies of everything found there. !lso do a web search for
yourself and any user names that you use or used and see what
you find. 9hey are chec0ing things li0e that. (emember, never
write or put anything online that you would not want you're ,oss
to see as heBshe just might have seen it already:
1e had several >eputies get fired because of stuff they had put
on their 5ySpace
pages.http://www.wesh.com/news/9400560/detail.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...pace_pae.html
9hat's a rough guide for qualifying before even bothering to
apply. 1hen in doubt you should of course as0 the agency you
are trying to apply to if something in particular bothers you or
you're not sure if you are disqualified. It is much better to as0
,6FO(6 you even apply to save yourself the time and money, in
addition it will come out in the bac0ground if you try to hide
something, and that of course is an immediate disqualification.
OK so now if you pass those requirements and have decided to
apply to an agency. First you have to decide where you want to
live and with that, what agencies are in the area. 3ou should
research the departments on the internet and see what they are,
how big they are, what they do and what 0ind of agency they are.
/oo0 at the benefits, retirement and other things that they offer
the officers. 3ou should also tal0 to a few of the patrol officers.
#ot just one, you may get the one that is not happy because he's
in trouble with the department. So ma0e sure you get a good
overall picture of the department.
Ko to the department and get an application or go to the human
resources section or wherever you are supposed to go. 5ales
wear a suit or shirt and tie, and women wear a pants suit. One
that is in good taste and not lime green +saw one in an
interview:::- or purple. Dust a basic suit or pants suit. 1ear this
every time you ma0e contact with the department. 5a0e sure you
have ta0en out the purple hair coloring and all the face piercings.
3ou need to loo0 li0e you meet the appearance standards for the
department or academy. Shave and ma0e sure you loo0 li0e
you're going to a job interview +oral board-. (emember, first
impressions are very important. !nd over a few times you may be
there, your impression you leave with the people in $( and those
that see you going onto and out of the department can be very
important.
9he application process itself can be daunting. Filling out all those
forms, paying for all the stuff to be done +if you have too that is-.
/et's cover the application process parts.
First the application, be sure to fill it out completely and
accurately. /eaving something off the application can get you
disqualified. 3ou will have to list everything it as0s and they
eEpect it to be complete. Sit down and ma0e a list of all your past
jobs, addresses and schools to help you when you fill it out.
(esearch these things if you have too. If you have a tough time
remembering all your jobs, you may want to pay one of the
online sites that do bac0ground chec0s on you to give you one on
yourself. It will help to jog your memory, and give you an idea of
the stuff that is out there on you.
5a0e sure you type or print /6KI,/3: If they cannot read your
application, it will get canned quic0ly. 5iss=spelling, typos and
other errors are also problems. If you have a real problem with
writing so people can read it, have someone else fill it out for
you.
5a0e sure you have all the requested documents attached and in
order before you turn in your application, or it will just sit there
until you do. If it says to get a driving history, get one and attach
it. Failure to do so will earn your application a quic0 trip to the
Lhold and wait until they get their act togetherM pile.
Once you have a readable, neat, fully completed and filled out
application, ta0e it in and remember to dress accordingly li0e I
said previously.
If this is an application for entry into the police academy, follow
the same guidelines.
Once you turn your application in, then you have to sit bac0 and
wait. It can ta0e some time for them to go through all the
applications and get to yours and review it, and then ma0e
arrangements for further processing if you ma0e it that far. So
give them several wee0s. If you do not hear something from
them say after G or ; wee0s, it's OK to give them a call and as0
how your application process is going. >on't call every other day
and bug them, which will earn you a reputation before you even
get hired +if you do-.
9he testing and other processing.
1ritten 6Eams
3ou will more than li0ely be as0ed to ta0e part in testing such as
the "D,!9 or F,!9 or departmental specific testing. 3ou should
show up dressed as described above, and ready to ta0e the test.
9hey are usually easy if you simply prepare a bit. 9here are all
0inds of study guides out there on the mar0et for these tests.
hysical !gility "ourse, hysical !bilities "ourse +or whatever
your area calls it-
9he physical abilities test or !9 or !gility "ourse or whatever
your area or departmental specific test are not that hard, they
usually involve a run +ours is %.. miles- and a obstacle course of
some design, and maybe some basics li0e pushups or sit ups and
such. If you are truly out of shape a terribly over weight I suggest
starting to get in shape well before you have to try and ta0e this.
It is not for athletes only, but it is not for the couch potato either.
>o about ;=I months of regular eEercise before you attempt this
test.
Oh and please do not show up loo0ing li0e your trying to get a
date. 5en and women included. Show up in proper clothing for
running a physical course. 5any require climbing and crawling,
remember that. >on't show up in jeans and a tee shirt and dress
shoes: Or for that matter, your old military uniform and boots.
Dust wear gym shorts or long sweat pants, and a tee shirt +that
does not have profanity or seEual writing on it::8 /O/ I mention
these things because I have seen them at the testing:
>octors hysical 6Eam
3ou will more than li0ely also have to get a physical, this is self
eEplanatory, but the doctor will decide if you are physically
capable of being a police officer. 9his is where you as0 about
medications you are ta0ing, physical and mental problems you
may have that you are concerned about and such. 9he doctor will
decide based on the states or departments standards they have
set forth.
9he olygraph.
1ell let me say that it's just part of the process. 9here is nothing
you can do to prepare for this part of the process, but just go in
with an open mind and tell the truth. 3ou can read more about
this test in other threads on the forum, but it's just one of the
things you have to do.
9he olice Oral ,oard..what and how222
I am sure if your reading this you have either been to an oral
board already or are getting ready to go to one, or you are
interested in becoming a police officer and want to 0now what an
oral board is and what it's li0e, and maybe even get luc0y and get
some tips on how to do well in one. 1ell I will try to do all of
those things here for you. $ow's that for help::
6nd of art % loo0 at art &
art & of the previous post..
olice oral boards are one of the most nerve rac0ing things you
will do. 5ost people are very nervous when they wal0 in the door
of the room and see the oral board panel sitting there. 3ou're
before a live audience and it's time to perform your best:
1hat is an oral board2 It's a live panel of people, usually G=.
people +sometimes only % in small agencies- that as0 the
applicants a set of questions that they rate your answers too and
then score them. 9hese scores are compared with the required
passing score, and against other applicants. 3ou can in some
agencies be removed from the application process for not passing
the oral board. It's a must pass part of the application process.
3ou usually are seated in a room across a table from these
people, they as0 you questions in turn and then listen too, ta0e
notes on, and score your answers to the questions.
So how can you perform well on these boards2 9here are a few
things that can help you do well and get a better score or ma0e a
better impression on the panel, and I will cover those here.
First thing is dress accordingly. 9hat means for men, a suit and
tie +conservative style- and women should wear a pants suit or
dress. 1hichever they are more comfortable in. !lso ladies, a
conservative cut is always best. ,oth male and female, you are
dressing to impress, not get a date. "lean and neat hair
+conservative cut-, clean fingernails and no gaudy jewelry. #o
overpowering cologne or perfume. 9a0e out all the facial metal
piercings, and if you have tattoos on your arms, wear a long
sleeve to cover them. +I have tats, so no comments about not
li0ing them, this is for those going to an oral board- #othing
ma0es a worse impression that someone wal0ing into the board
in jeans and tee shirt and loo0ing li0e they just wo0e up and
crawled out of bed minutes before. First impressions are very
important, so ma0e a good one.
1hen you wal0 in, say hello and reach out to sha0e the first
members hand. If they ta0e it, sha0e the hand of each board
member and introduce yourself. 3our name is good enough.
Sha0e hand, LDohn DonesM. 9hey will more than li0ely introduce
themselves by name. 9(3 9O (6565,6( $O1 9$63 I#9(O>C"6
9$65S6/A6S, if they use a title and name or only their name,
this will come in later.
Sit down in the chair provided and place your hands on the table
in front of you in a comfortable position. >on't put them down in
your lap and don't pic0 your nose or ear. Dust try to relaE and be
comfortable. !s much as you can that is.
9hey will tell you what they are doing and how the oral board will
be done. If they provide a pencil and paper, use it. Cse it to write
down the points of the questions they want you to answer. In
some oral interviews I have been a part of they will purposely as0
multi=part questions and see if the interviewee writes things down
to 0eep trac0 of the points, and then answers them in the order
they were as0ed.
1hat 0ind of questions will be as0ed2 1ell it varies from
department to department, but they are generally structured to
see if you have any 0nowledge of law and procedures, and to see
if you will tell the truth. !lso some are designed to see if you will
0eep the departments interest in mind over other things.
$ere are a few I have seen or heard of<
%. 1hy do you want to be a police officer2
&. If you witnessed another officer steal something what would
you do2
G. If you stopped the 5ayor for drun0 driving what would you do2
;. If you stopped a family member what would you do2
9hose are just a few common ones. !nswer questions in a
chronological order. 1hen they give you a scenario and as0 you
to tell them what you would do, answer from the beginning to the
end and donNt jump around.
!lways notify your supervisor of anything that you may thin0 of
as being of that nature your boss would li0e to 0now about. !nd
ma0e sure you request himBher to any scene that they need to be
present on. One question I remember from the boards I sat on
was O3ou respond to a possible suicide. 1hen you arrive it
appears to be a suicide, what would you do and who would you
notify2O !nswer7 LFirst I would see what I have and chec0 the
victim for signs of life if that has not been done, then I would
close off the scene and notify my supervisor to respond.M 1hile
that may not be to the department's eEact procedure, it shows
your thin0ing and also you 0now about chain of command and its
proper use.
1e 0now you would not write your family member a tic0et
+unless it was that brother you hate so much..j0ing..- so be
honest and tell them what you would do, here is a good answer I
saw to this one< I told them O#o I wouldnNt.O 9hey of course
began drilling me as to OSo it's o0 if your family speeds2O I said
O#o its not, but I certainly would not write my own 5other a
tic0et. $owever, I would tell my 5other not to speed any more,
and eEplain that sheNs putting me in a bad position.M
!lso ma0e sure you !/1!3S put the departments' interest first.
9he typical question of O3ou see another officer steal a candy bar
from a store while you are there on a burglary call, what do you
do2O is actually a very simple one. 3ou would tell the officer you
saw what he did, and you have no choice but to notify your
supervisor immediately. 3ou just observed a crime and you can
not overloo0 that. !nd it places the department in a bad position.
5ost stores have cameras, and if they find out about it and you
did not report it, you would also be fired along with the officer for
failing to report the crime. Ket the idea2 Other officers do not pay
your rent or put food in your families' mouth. 3ou do not cover for
anyone, you ta0e care of yourself and the department. 9he days
of cover=ups and stuff li0e that are gone, about &8 years ago.
5a0e sure to loo0 at the person that as0s you the question. 6ye
contact is very important, loo0ing from one panel member to the
other is a good idea. In fact here is where remembering the titles
and names of the panel members would be a plus. If /t. Dohnson
as0s you a question, beginning your answer this way is an
impressive tactic7 L/t. Dohnson I wouldPPP..M showing your
ability to remember names and titles is a good way to ma0e an
impression on the panel members. !nd it shows respect for the
title they used.
9he question Lwhy do you want to be a police officer2M is one of
the hardest for some reason for people. ! simple short decisive
answer is best. LI want to be a police officer because I would li0e
a secure, steady occupation that I can enjoy and is not the same
thing day after day. One I can ma0e a &8 year career of. I want to
be able to meet people and see if I can help them when they are
in need, and I want to be able to protect those that cannot
protect themselves, and I thin0 I would be very good at that.
9hat's why I want to be a police officer.M 9hat short answer is a
good one and does not go overboard. lease don't tell them
because you want to play with or carry a gun and shoot people.
Or tell them that you want to drive a police car fast and beat up
on bad guys. 9hos are not impressive answers.. /O/
5ost oral boards end with the panel as0ing you if there is
anything you want to add. 9his is your chance to shine and put
yourself apart from the rest. 3ou should research the department
you are applying to on the internet and see if you can gather
some information on the department. 1hen as0ed do you want to
say or add anything, you can say +DCS9 !# 6Q!5/6:- L3es I
would, I have loo0ed closely at your department and I li0e the
fact that it has ; >istricts, and a >ive team and K4 both of which
I might be interested in. I li0e the fact your department has RRRR
and RRRR and that the siSe of your department, G;. officers, is
just right for where I would li0e to be a member of, it gives me a
chance to wor0 at RRRRRR. I thin0 I would be a very good officer
at your department.M /oo0 up some things that you can use to
show the panel you have loo0ed at the department and li0e it and
how it is being run. If you have a particular interest and the
department has this unit or program, tell them you saw they have
such and such and would be interested, in due time, loo0ing onto
helping in that program or unit.
!lways stic0 to the truth, honesty, and ethics. It's what you're
supposed to stand for.
9hen when they say you're done, get up, than0 the panel for
having you there, and eEcuse yourself.
If you follow those simple guidelines, you should do well enough
to pass, and you may even stand out just enough to be the one
at the top of the list.
O0 so that is the basic process to get into the academy or get
hired by an agency.
SO once you ma0e it through all that, what about the academy
itself2
1ell since I am the !cademy "ommander at an academy I thin0 I
can spea0 on this. 3ou need to be prepared for the type of
academy you are thin0ing of going too.
#ot all academies are created equal. Some are very different than
others. 9here are those that are very militaristic, li0e most state
police academies. Some you live on the academy grounds while
you go to the academy, some you don't. Some you go full time )
hours a day, some you go in the evenings. SO it really varies from
place to place, state to state. ,ut I will try to spea0 on those
things that the majority of academies have in common.
First off, thin0 of the academy as one big job interview. 3our
instructors are usually police professionals and current or past
officers. 9hey have ties to the agencies they are part of and will
remember you if you do something that it merits remembering:
!lso you may have police officials wal0ing around your academy
at times, and when they see you standing the hallway, screwing
off and tal0ing about something you should not, they will notice
you and remember your face and name.
9reat the academy li0e your there and being watched the whole
time as a wor0ing job interview. I get a call on every single
person our local agencies are thin0ing of hiring. 9hey as0 about
the time in the academy and what they did or did not do.
!ppearance is 0ey. rofessional loo0ing uniforms +if you wear
them- is important. Show the staff you can loo0 good in a
uniform.
!lso you have to study. Set time aside every day to study the
material you covered that day. For some people it's not new
material, for others it is, either way you should go over it. 9he
eEams you are going to ta0e are very important. In some state,
li0e Florida, if you score under the cut off score, you fail the eEam
and then fail the academy. SO if you go through all the trouble
and time and money to get in the academy, don't blow it because
you did not ta0e the time to study because you wanted to go out
with your friends drin0ing the night before the eEam.
!lso if you're not in a live on academy, do not get in trouble while
in the academy. In fact while you're in you should live the life of a
#un: Stay away from drin0ing in eEcess +or at all-, of course I
should not have to say this but do, no drugs, no criminal activity,
and don't get arrested. Ketting tic0ets do not help either. So do
your very best to drive li0e you are supposed to anyway, and
behave yourself. 3ou want to be a police officer, not arrested or
tic0eted by one:
9hat's about the basics. 9here is a lot more of course, but you will
have to learn as you go for some things. I 0now a lot more about
the Florida system, but am trying to ma0e this generaliSed for all
states and people wanting to get into law enforcement. I hope
this helps. ,e safe and be (OF6SSIO#!/