Becoming a LEO 101

[eddiet204]

i thought about applying to CHP, but i figured there wouldnt be much upward mobility in terms of becoming an investigator, also, i am attending law school at the moment and i read somewhere that assignment for the CHP is based on an applicant having children or owning a home in a desired area; both of which i do not. SFPD seemed appealing to me. id like to find a position at a local pd between sf and sj. staying somewhat local is the most important thing to me, at least until i finish school.

Finish school first, then start your career. You won't be successful at either if you attempt to do both.

 

[Kornholio]

Time's running out for the CHP...

 

[kelsodeez]

Finish school first, then start your career. You won't be successful at either if you attempt to do both.

ive been hearing that a lot from everyone, but the fact of the matter is that school is too easy for me right now and i am 30 years old, sitting around working towards a law degree that i am only completing to make my family happy. i have been going crazy lately not having my own money and being supported by my family. also, if i decide to apply to the FBI straight out of school, it would be nice to have 2-3 years of LEO experience under my belt, as the cutoff age for the FBI is 38 years old.

basically, the approach i am taking to finding a job in law enforcement is to not rush it. wait for the right opportunity to present itself, and then utilize that opportunity. i think (hope) that by me being in law school, i have a leg up on other people that are applying for the same jobs, so i feel as if i can be picky as to what agency i end up applying to.

 

[bojangle]

ive been hearing that a lot from everyone, but the fact of the matter is that school is too easy for me right now and i am 30 years old, sitting around working towards a law degree that i am only completing to make my family happy. i have been going crazy lately not having my own money and being supported by my family. also, if i decide to apply to the FBI straight out of school, it would be nice to have 2-3 years of LEO experience under my belt, as the cutoff age for the FBI is 38 years old.

basically, the approach i am taking to finding a job in law enforcement is to not rush it. wait for the right opportunity to present itself, and then utilize that opportunity. i think (hope) that by me being in law school, i have a leg up on other people that are applying for the same jobs, so i feel as if i can be picky as to what agency i end up applying to.

I think you're underestimating the amount if time and dedication that is required of a LE career. You might also be underestimating what it takes to get hired too.

 

[kelsodeez]

I think you're underestimating the amount if time and dedication that is required of a LE career. You might also be underestimating what it takes to get hired too.

the time constraints i have are as follows:

3 more years of school
8 more years before the FBI is out of the question

what i envision is 3-5 years with a local agency, then apply to the FBI (if i still want to pursue that)

also, correct me if i am wrong, but i have been told that getting a job with a local agency is a lot about who you know. my uncle is a sacramento county sheriff, i dated the chief of police's daughter in burlingame for 4 years and we still regularly talk, my best friend from school works for the FBI and his dad is the retired west coast director for them. they are the one's that put the idea of applying to the FBI in my head.

references and getting the nudge in the right direction by the right people wont be a problem for me, my main issue is that i am not getting any younger and i need to decide what i want to do within the next few years, as these next few years will most likely dictate the rest of my career/life.

 

[Rel]

the time constraints i have are as follows:

3 more years of school
8 more years before the FBI is out of the question

what i envision is 3-5 years with a local agency, then apply to the FBI (if i still want to pursue that)

also, correct me if i am wrong, but i have been told that getting a job with a local agency is a lot about who you know. my uncle is a sacramento county sheriff, i dated the chief of police's daughter in burlingame for 4 years and we still regularly talk, my best friend from school works for the FBI and his dad is the retired west coast director for them. they are the one's that put the idea of applying to the FBI in my head.

references and getting the nudge in the right direction by the right people wont be a problem for me, my main issue is that i am not getting any younger and i need to decide what i want to do within the next few years, as these next few years will most likely dictate the rest of my career/life.

FFS, sooooooooo much drama already......

 

[1085One]

the time constraints i have are as follows:

3 more years of school
8 more years before the FBI is out of the question

what i envision is 3-5 years with a local agency, then apply to the FBI (if i still want to pursue that)

also, correct me if i am wrong, but i have been told that getting a job with a local agency is a lot about who you know. my uncle is a sacramento county sheriff, i dated the chief of police's daughter in burlingame for 4 years and we still regularly talk, my best friend from school works for the FBI and his dad is the retired west coast director for them. they are the one's that put the idea of applying to the FBI in my head.

references and getting the nudge in the right direction by the right people wont be a problem for me, my main issue is that i am not getting any younger and i need to decide what i want to do within the next few years, as these next few years will most likely dictate the rest of my career/life.

Sounds like you got everything you need to get into LE.......:rolleyes

 

[kelsodeez]

FFS, sooooooooo much drama already......

:laughing yea, i probably am over thinking it and putting the cart before the horse a bit but id rather find a good fit for me rather than find the first thing that comes along. i am getting restless not working, but that doesnt mean i NEED a job just yet. i still have time to be lazy/picky.

 

[Rel]

The job or department you think you want may not want you. It took me 10 years to land my job. I applied with 12 different agencies. I was on the hire list for four different departments but didn't get the call. Don't be to picky or you'll hose yourself.

 

[Tharkûn]

The job or department you think you want may not want you. It took me 10 years to land my job. I applied with 12 different agencies. I was on the hire list for four different departments but didn't get the call. Don't be to picky or you'll hose yourself.

They probably asked if you wanted to be a motor and you said no.






My QAP I told them I wanted to be a motor and I was fast tracked through the process :laughing

 

[Rel]

They probably asked if you wanted to be a motor and you said no.
My QAP I told them I wanted to be a motor and I was fast tracked through the process :laughing

You were one of the 70%'er huh.... :rofl

 

[Lionel Cosgrove]

the time constraints i have are as follows:

3 more years of school
8 more years before the FBI is out of the question

what i envision is 3-5 years with a local agency, then apply to the FBI (if i still want to pursue that)

also, correct me if i am wrong, but i have been told that getting a job with a local agency is a lot about who you know. my uncle is a sacramento county sheriff, i dated the chief of police's daughter in burlingame for 4 years and we still regularly talk, my best friend from school works for the FBI and his dad is the retired west coast director for them. they are the one's that put the idea of applying to the FBI in my head.

references and getting the nudge in the right direction by the right people wont be a problem for me, my main issue is that i am not getting any younger and i need to decide what i want to do within the next few years, as these next few years will most likely dictate the rest of my career/life.

not to sound mean, but none of that means dick to potential employers.

a law degree wont matter much in landing a pd job, the FBI on the other hand would prefer it. working 3-5 years as a cop means you just barely got your feet wet in law enforcement and wouldnt help a whole lot in getting hired with the feds.

 

[Rel]

not to sound mean, but none of that means dick to potential employers.

a law degree wont matter much in landing a pd job, the FBI on the other hand would prefer it. working 3-5 years as a cop means you just barely got your feet wet in law enforcement and wouldnt help a whole lot in getting hired with the feds.

This.

 

[kelsodeez]

30 years old and getting a degree to make your family happy and not being able to support yourself financially...

someone give this guy a badge and a gun asap! :rolleyes

no need to assume and make yourself look stupid. i have been working for the family business since i was out of high school. in 2010 when the economy took a crap, my dad offered to pay my nut while i went to school because the company couldnt afford to pay me anymore. i could go back to work for the family business right now, but everyone in my family knows that i would be better off taking another path.

i dont mind when people on the board i respect give me a hard time and put it bluntly to me when i ask for advice, but for someone to just assume they know my situation talk down to me like that isnt cool.

 

[silversvs]

I'd say if you only need three more years to complete school you should ride that train into the station.

You will not be able to go to law school in your first couple years as a police officer. The schedule is too turbulent for at least the first two years if not first five.

Many good officers start in their early 30s.

If the FBI is your goal, I would skip the idea of being a local cop and concentrate in the degree then the fibbie route.

 

[Rel]

Many good officers start in their early 30s.

31 here when I was hired......unless you were not talking about me... :cry

 

[Kornholio]

Shit, almost every officer I've met through the years seemed to start around 22-24. :dunno

BTW, SDPD is hemorrhaging officers this year due to retirements. Plenty of openings for recruits.

 

[silversvs]

28

 

[Rel]

31

 

[1085One]

22