3 answers
Elizabeth
Student
Troutdale, Oregon
3
Questions
Updated
262 views
How would I apply for a police job and make sure I don't accidentally hurt others?
Any information on police
3 answers
Herbert Webber
Police Sergeant (retired)
10
Answers
Roseville, California
Updated
Herbert’s Answer
How would I apply for a police job:
- Check the requirements for the agency (Local police, Sheriff, State Police) that you are interested in.
- Make sure you meet those requirements or exceed them (education, clean record, having a minimal or non existent social media profile outside of networking sites would help)
-Go for a ride along and do research on the agency. Sometimes a particular agency might not live up to your expectations. It's best to find out before you are hired and on the street what you have gotten yourself into.
-Do not just stop at applying to one agency if you do not make the cut. I have seen some serious errors made by people during interviews. It takes practice in interviewing / applying for a job.
-Be honest. If you lie in your application your perspective career in law enforcement could be over before it starts.
-Be mentally and physically prepared. Smoking , drinking, and drug use will increase your potential for problems in your career.
And make sure I don't accidentally hurt others?
-Refer to what I said above about social media. If you insist on being in social media, be careful what you say. What you think is no big deal now can be a a red flag during your application to be an officer. I have seen officers lose their jobs for what they said on their social media accounts because they hurt someone's feelings.
-Over 21 years in law enforcement, and here is what I will impart to you:
Do not panic. You will make mistakes and you will end up hurting someone.
You will disappoint victims because you were unable to bring the suspect or suspects to justice. The only thing you can do is tell them you will try your best to resolve their case and not make a promise the suspect will be caught. That could have someone very upset and hurt calling you a liar.
You will get into a situation where physical force is necessary to detain someone (a combative robbery suspect, a guy going 60 MPH down a street in a car he just carjacked from an old lady). Use of force is never a pretty thing and occasionally it involves people going to the hospital because of a taser deployment or car crash. Using sound tactics and having a calming demeanor will help you in most cases. Just be aware that a lot of people do not like going to jail. A fight may inevitable. Do not have aa superhero complex and have backup with you before even making contact with subjects. Having more than one cop helps them realize fighting is not a good option and lowers the probability of a use of force occurring.
Most important:
Be aware you are a human being and to treat everybody you meet the same way you would want to be treated.
- Check the requirements for the agency (Local police, Sheriff, State Police) that you are interested in.
- Make sure you meet those requirements or exceed them (education, clean record, having a minimal or non existent social media profile outside of networking sites would help)
-Go for a ride along and do research on the agency. Sometimes a particular agency might not live up to your expectations. It's best to find out before you are hired and on the street what you have gotten yourself into.
-Do not just stop at applying to one agency if you do not make the cut. I have seen some serious errors made by people during interviews. It takes practice in interviewing / applying for a job.
-Be honest. If you lie in your application your perspective career in law enforcement could be over before it starts.
-Be mentally and physically prepared. Smoking , drinking, and drug use will increase your potential for problems in your career.
And make sure I don't accidentally hurt others?
-Refer to what I said above about social media. If you insist on being in social media, be careful what you say. What you think is no big deal now can be a a red flag during your application to be an officer. I have seen officers lose their jobs for what they said on their social media accounts because they hurt someone's feelings.
-Over 21 years in law enforcement, and here is what I will impart to you:
Do not panic. You will make mistakes and you will end up hurting someone.
You will disappoint victims because you were unable to bring the suspect or suspects to justice. The only thing you can do is tell them you will try your best to resolve their case and not make a promise the suspect will be caught. That could have someone very upset and hurt calling you a liar.
You will get into a situation where physical force is necessary to detain someone (a combative robbery suspect, a guy going 60 MPH down a street in a car he just carjacked from an old lady). Use of force is never a pretty thing and occasionally it involves people going to the hospital because of a taser deployment or car crash. Using sound tactics and having a calming demeanor will help you in most cases. Just be aware that a lot of people do not like going to jail. A fight may inevitable. Do not have aa superhero complex and have backup with you before even making contact with subjects. Having more than one cop helps them realize fighting is not a good option and lowers the probability of a use of force occurring.
Most important:
Be aware you are a human being and to treat everybody you meet the same way you would want to be treated.
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1666
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Elizabeth,
When you are a police officer, you train, train, train, and train some more! The academy is just the beginning. There are state laws and agency requirements to get a certain amount of training hours every year. And, while there is always a chance of hurting an innocent bystander, the training greatly reduces that risk.
For example, you will train to always keep your finger off the trigger of the gun until you are ready to shoot. Training will result in you acting so fast you won't really have time to think about it. The first time I ever pulled my gun out of my holster in a situation, it was not a thought process of "maybe I should draw my gun." Somebody had told me "be careful, he has a gun." I did not stop to question this man as to how he knew this. Such hesitation could be costly. They had drilled all of this into us in the academy.
You will also learn to evaluate your surroundings in a split second. You will learn there will be times it would not be safe for you to fire a gun. Thankfully, more and more officers are carrying tasers. Tasers are much safer to use in certain environments, but they do require that you be closer to the suspect.
Again, it's all about training. If you are considering being a police officer but perhaps feel a little lack of confidence, you may want to consider enlisting in the military first. There you will learn the value of training and teamwork, and develop a stronger sense of self-confidence. It's worth considering.
Kim
When you are a police officer, you train, train, train, and train some more! The academy is just the beginning. There are state laws and agency requirements to get a certain amount of training hours every year. And, while there is always a chance of hurting an innocent bystander, the training greatly reduces that risk.
For example, you will train to always keep your finger off the trigger of the gun until you are ready to shoot. Training will result in you acting so fast you won't really have time to think about it. The first time I ever pulled my gun out of my holster in a situation, it was not a thought process of "maybe I should draw my gun." Somebody had told me "be careful, he has a gun." I did not stop to question this man as to how he knew this. Such hesitation could be costly. They had drilled all of this into us in the academy.
You will also learn to evaluate your surroundings in a split second. You will learn there will be times it would not be safe for you to fire a gun. Thankfully, more and more officers are carrying tasers. Tasers are much safer to use in certain environments, but they do require that you be closer to the suspect.
Again, it's all about training. If you are considering being a police officer but perhaps feel a little lack of confidence, you may want to consider enlisting in the military first. There you will learn the value of training and teamwork, and develop a stronger sense of self-confidence. It's worth considering.
Kim
James Hanzel
Corrections and Security
236
Answers
Cape Coral, Florida
Updated
James’s Answer
Greetings. As an individual serving in the law enforcement sector, there's always a potential risk of causing harm to others or even ourselves. The nature of our job carries an inherent danger. However, there's a possibility that such a situation may never arise, and there's a possibility it might. Regardless, it's crucial to set aside such fears. Pay close attention during your training in any chosen field and rely on your intuition when faced with challenging circumstances.
While serving in the Corrections department, I've learned a valuable lesson that has guided me through all possible scenarios. The individuals I interact with are all human beings. Some may have made grave mistakes, but this doesn't strip them of their right to be treated with dignity and respect. If I engage with everyone with a sense of firmness, fairness, and neutrality, the odds tend to favor me.
While serving in the Corrections department, I've learned a valuable lesson that has guided me through all possible scenarios. The individuals I interact with are all human beings. Some may have made grave mistakes, but this doesn't strip them of their right to be treated with dignity and respect. If I engage with everyone with a sense of firmness, fairness, and neutrality, the odds tend to favor me.
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