Essay on Becoming a Police Officer

There are twelve qualities that Dennis Nowicki believed that are authoritative for entry-level police officers: “Enthusiasm, Good communication skills, Good judgement, Sense of humor, Creativity, Self-motivation, Knowing the job and the system, Ego, Courage, Discretion, Tenacity, and Thirst for knowledge” (Peak, 2012, pp. 137-138). First, enthusiasm is mostly about having faith “in what one is doing and going about even routine duties with a certain vigor that is almost contagious” (Peak, 2012, pp. 137). Second, having good communication skills is “having a highly developed speaking and listening skill that helps interacting equally well with a wealthy person or someone lower on the socioeconomic ladder” (Peak, 2012, pp. 137). Third, good judgement

This book also offers a chapter on the pros and cons of becoming an officer. In general, it has information on how to become an officer. The book also sheds light on the inner world of police officers, how officers will protect their own--even if that individual is wrong. There is also a chapter on the traits an individual should have to better function as an officer. I will use this source to build on the "initial entry" of my outline. I will also be able to extract information for the "requirements" section of my

Becoming a police officer takes a lot of heart and determination. To become a police officer you must obtain a high school diploma or GED, pass the law enforcement entrance exam, graduate from the police academy and work towards promotion. In order to graduate from the police academy recruits must undergo 21 weeks of intense training. At the police academy recruits will learn all the following: state laws, criminal investigations, patrol procedures, firearms training, traffic control, defense driving, self-defense, first aid and computer skills (“An Overview of Police Academy Training”). The final step before graduating from the police academy recruits will take the Oath of Honor. “On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution, my community and the agency I serve” (“What Is The Law Enforcement Oath of

Also, I would be aware of officers applying with the sole motivation of advancing their own careers rather than having the true motivation of training new officers (Scoville, 2005). There would have to be a minimum amount of time served on patrol, and depending on the size of the agency, the time requirement could be different. I would say 5 years is a good starting point. Data has suggested that FTO’s can become “burnt-out” due to the long shifts and constant flow of new officers rotating in (Doerner, 2012). Officers that possess a strong quality of patients are essential. I would require FTO’s to pass a FTO trainers course consisting of at least 40 hours. The course will provide the qualification of becoming certified as an instructor. I would seek officers that have a diverse qualification background such as K-9, anti-gang/drug, traffic, and homicide, which would expose new officers to the many faucets of police work. Although not a qualification, FTO selection would be strictly reserved for officers that are absolutely honest, have a tough work ethic, and exemplifies moral principals. The long-term impact FTOs have on new officers cannot be

The Longview police department is always looking for new recruits. They have new recruits fill out an electronic application. They will then pick through those applications for the best candidates and notify them when and where to show up for a written test. This test is the (POST) Police Officer Selection Test. This test will see their basic skills on reading, writing and arithmetic. If they score at least a 70% on the test they move on to the next step. The next test is the physical ability test. It is just a pass or fail test if they pass they move on to the next step. If they pass both of those they will be given an application packet to be filled out and it will be given to the training and recruiting section to review and approve. The applicants that are approved move on to the interview board. This board will have three officers who will rate the candidates. If they pass this step they are then scheduled for a polygraph examination. If they pass their

Many times, it comes down to extra training and education one can bring to the job. My Marine Corps training has taught me many different skills such as: leadership, first aid and combat skills that I can use in any situation. The main thing any police department would look at is my urban combat training. This training gives me the ability to make decisions fast and in the heat of the moment while the world around me is in complete chaos. Having been trained to keep a cool, level head about me as I encounter dangerous situations, will help me if I need to take down a perpetrator who decides he wants to fight it out or do something else to resist arrest. My choice of career has also been influenced by my self-study of police literature that I read in my downtime in my barracks room and the extra education classes I have taken from teachers and professionals in the police field at the educational center on Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay. I read books about police training, as well as books written by retired police officers about different situations that happened and could happen while they were on the job. The classes taken at the education center on base were about police/security jobs. The started from local correctional officer positions all the way to the FBI and the situations that came with them. From those classes, I can draw a baseline of what any police

For one, the applicant must be 21 years of age, United States citizen, valid driver license, copy of birth certificate, and social security card. Also, applicants are required to complete a physical efficiency battery (PEB) and as well as a physical examination. Besides, other requirements are that applicants’ vision must meet their Florida driver’s license requirement. The selected individuals cannot have visible tattoos to the community, and must be a person of good moral character with no criminal record involving perjury, domestic violence, false statements, and illegal traffic will be thoroughly reviewed upon selected the right fit for the agency. Before applying to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, it is strongly recommended that for applicants’ to take the criminal justice basic ability test (CJBAT). “The purpose of the exam is to determine whether candidates possess the required abilities to master the curricula and understand the materials presented in training. CJBAT is an accurate assessment of the abilities identified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as important for success in training and on the job” (“TCC,”

The police must be stable, efficient, and organized along military lines (Bohm & Haley, 2012). Officers must be professional in everything that they do. The police department must be able to withstand departmental changes. The military is always uniform, clean, knowledgeable, trained and always prepared for the next mission and most police departments follow a military chain of command

The type of applicant in which a police department attracts all depends on who they need on their team to balance things out. For instance, if a department is lacking in female officers they are going to advertise and reach out to females so that more of them would gain interest in the force. The recruitment process in general consist of three different elements; the minimum qualifications, the recruitment effort, and the applicant’s decision to apply for a position.

The standard for recognition in the United States is the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) that was established in 1979. Psychological testing is in place, however; standards are not set by CALEA, and each agency conducts their own testing (French & Wailes, 2008). According to "Psychological Testing And The Selection Of Police Officer" (2008), “In 1973, the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals recommended that every police agency follow a formal selection process that includes a written test of mental ability or aptitude, an oral interview, a psychological examination, and a background investigation.” It was believed that introducing greater screening and standardization to the selection process would result in a more qualified police force. International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) developed several guidelines for pre-employment psychological evaluations. These recommendations address such issues as validation of testing instruments, compliance with legislation, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), using qualified psychologists familiar with the relevant research, and content of the written reports (Cochrane, Tett & Vandercreek, 2008). Compliance with such acts as the ADA indicates the implementation of diversity in the testing process. A few of the most common comprehensive

In order to become a police officer, individuals have to be twenty-years of age, a United States citizen, have basic law enforcement training, mental evaluation, physical evaluation and no crimes committed. This article compares to the next article listed below because it provides background information and insight into how to become a police officer and the training they must acquire. The article helps me understand a basic component of my essay, which is the training police officers receive.

Perceptions of what constitutes a qualified police officer have been crafted as a result of numerous television shows and movies. They are often portrayed as heroic, invincible, and possessors of brute strength. While some of these physical attributes are in fact expected and required of police officers, they are not the only ones and at times,

Being a police officer is by no means easy, there is a lot of things that goes on behind the scenes, things that don’t make the job so great. The job of a street cop is physically demanding, yes there is cops that aren’t in the best shape but to be a good cop you should be in decent shape. Their job is dangerous, there is all kinds of crimes and calls they get sent on every single day. There is many of

     The curriculum that is devised for a police officer is very important to the police officer and his or her success in their chosen career path. An officer’s training is also very important to the community in which they serve and the department in which they work. An officer must receive training in a variety of fields to help them be a well-rounded police officer. Officers receive training in such areas as: law, community relations, firearms, vehicle driving, search and seizure, and cultural awareness. The basic curriculum that is offered to a new recruit is focused on giving the recruit the best overall training that will give him or her the tools necessary to become the

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a police officer. I’m sure, as a little boy, what first caught my attention were the flashing lights and sirens on the police cars. It could have also been then the facts that police officer were permitted to carry a gun and had the ability to run red lights. This is why as I grew up and played games like cops and robbers, I was always the police officer. During my teenage years, I later joined the police explorer program and really started to learn about police work. That’s when I