3 answers
Pandeeswari
Student
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
1
Question
Asked
788 views
WHAT IS A PROCEDURE TO BECAME AN DETECTIVE
#clinical-psychology #moral-psychology
Login to comment
3 answers
Michael Russell
Clinical Neuropsychologist
26
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Michael’s Answer
I will give you the exact requirements to become a Detective for the Houston Police Department, which is where I work in the United States. Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States and has 5,250 sworn officers. If you want to be a detective, you should go to a big city because there is the opportunity for advancement, we constantly recruit people, and people are constantly moving around, creating opportunities to advance. To apply you need to be 21 years old, have 60 college semester hours (an associate's degree) or served in the military, or three years of full-time work experience with good references. Ideally, you get a Bachelors' Degree in Criminal Justice because it will prepare you for the examination and increase your salary by $3,866 a year. You must be physically fit, not obese, and otherwise healthy. You must pass a criminal background test, a physical ability test, a reading test, and a psychological examination (which means seeing me). If you make it through all that, you will be selected for the Police Academy. The Police Academy is 6 months long, you must read and understand 1,000 pages of written material. At the end of the academy, you must pass the TCOLE examination, based on your understanding of all the laws and regulations. you have three tries to pass this test. If you pass you are a probationary officer and replace your rubber gun with a real one. As a "probie" you are placed under a Field training officer and rotate through all three shifts: Days, Evenings, and Nights, because each shift has its unique quirks and demands. If you pass this 3 month period you are on the force. You must serve three years as a police officer to get the experience and seniority to be a detective. Then you have to decide what kind of detective: Special Victims? Homicide? Major Assaults? Burglary and Theft? Vice? Narcotics? Once you pick, and pass the interview, you will find there are also levels as a detective. For example, Narcotics starts at street level, busting drug dealers and small fish, but you can advance to mid level, taking out manufacturing facilities and following shipments from the border, or start working with the FBI or DEA on Federal Task Forces and even travel internationally to disrupt the drug cartels. It is an exciting and rewarding career. https://hpdcareer.com/
Michael Henson
Retired
48
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Quite simply... education and internship!
Ayotunde Elegbeleye
Lecturer
4
Answers
Abuja, FCT
Updated
Ayotunde’s Answer
Depending on the type of detective/investigator you want to be, you will need to obtain the required degree, training, and license. If there are internship opportunities, you may also explore that.
All the best.
All the best.
Can you give more details around what type of degree, training, and license are required?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
If you want to be a police detective for instance, you'd need to first work as a police officer before applying to be a detective. To become a police officer, you must have, at least, a high school diploma (B.Sc. optional) and go through Police Academy trainings. A forensic detective needs to obtain at least, a B.Sc. in forensic science or related field and will also have to go through expansive on-the-job training. A cybercrime investigator also needs to obtain a B.Sc. in cyber security or related field. There's also need to go through trainings (obtain certifications, if necessary) to keep abreast of current trends in the profession. Depending on each State, someone hoping to be a private detective/investigation may need to obtain a license in order to practice.
Ayotunde Elegbeleye