Becoming an Officer

A little update...

I finally got a hit with New Orleans PD. Should be heading down there next week for testing...

Is there anything I need to know or what I need to study on? I've been taking the practice test and I'm doing fine but I want to do great.

Thanks

 

I'm not a LEO. But there are plenty of LEOs here. Hope they chime in. Good luck.

 

Good luck Rick! I really admire men and women that devote their time to making a difference, volunteer or paid positions

 

In the interview talk a lot about community policing. Learn the demographics of New Orleans and read their mission statement. Let them know you have planned financially for the move and are ready to join their department.

 

Are you ready to miss family gatherings, holidays with your family? Using the drive thru somewhere to get the 99 cent heart attack in a bag because its 0200 and its the first break you've had because of your work load. Working the night shift(1800 - 0600) get home by 0630(maybe) speed sleep for a bit , be in traffic court by 0900 stay till 1100 go home speed sleep some more till 1400 be in municipal court by 1500 stay there until 1700 then go work your regular shift at 1800. The stress that you will be under and the stress that your wife/girl friend will be under worrying about your well being and a whole host of other things that will happen. Yes, I point out the negative only because of my 37 years of experience as a LEO from a working road toad up to a Watch Commander(LT). And it cost me a marriage and a whole bunch of other things family related and if given the choice to do it again I would without hesitation. There is a bond between police just like the military that unless you've been there you wouldn't understand.

 

long....but you asked so here goes...

I would highly reccomend you consider applying for Federal Law Enforcement. Much higher salaries, excellent retirement benefits/pension, medical benefits, 20 yr retirement, many locales to be stationed and your overtime or AUO is on the job not scratching for side jobs. The best of the best training, computers, field equipment, firearms, vehicles, etc. Many local PD's have pretty set budgets and they get what they get as far as $$$ go. Asset forfeiture helps local PDs with vehicles and some equipment, but they are constrained by the local state, county or city, government.

There are lots of federal law enforcement opportunities timing is key. If your a Veteran that is a huge plus. They have a program called VRA- Veterans Readjustment Act which you can be hired under. A degree or military service is very helpful and with most federal opportunities makes you a very competitive applicant. Any criminal history e.g. arrests, history of casual drug use including the (devils weed) or financial issues or lots of consumer debt will disqualify an applicant.

I had application in for State LEO opportunities in NYS Police or Va State Police. Looking back, I can only tell you that I am so glad I went into federal law enforcement, had a really great career and finally after 35 yrs retired Oct 1 2015. My last 3 yrs, I gave talks and recruited at colleges, was a program manager for applicant testing, and video tape interviewing, pretty cool. Prior to this, I taught for 3.5 yrs at the FLETC aka- (Club Fed)or Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, in Glynco Ga, a really great gig.

The FED LEO/Agent application process is really long. If hired prepare for Financial disclosures, intense background checks and ongoing background interview every (5) yrs.

Most FED LEO jobs are hired off this website, with exception FBI and DEA. I prefer not to discuss details about the agency I worked for for a myriad of reasons, as I did sign a nondisclosure agreement when I retired.

But general questions and application info can found right when there are openings in many FED LEO positions or federal jobs in general. Big decision that will impact and change your life if you get on board, but worthy of a look.
OP you can PM me if you have questions.
Best of luck!

https://www.usajobs.gov

 

I have a friend/co-corker whose daughter recently became a US Marshal. Parole Division I think. She was valedictorian at UC Boulder which probably didn't hurt her chances getting in. Quite frankly she's kind off bass ass now and loves firearms. Who knew?

 

Congrats Rick!
Thank you for taking up a job where you serve others in your community!

I'm sure I speak for all of us on here when I say "we've got your six!"

 

Very cool! She went through her basic training at FLETC.

 

Rick,I applaud your decision to become a LEO as this job is not everyone's forte. And during my tenure I had a lot of good experience's and got some very good feelings from helping someone just know and be prepared for what you're getting into. And should you join NOPD I wish you all the best and you and any other LEO may rest assured that if crap is going south and I see you need help I got your back !!

 

Good luck in your exam and wish you get the job you're looking for. Just remember your anti-bias training and use of force continuum. Not sure of the exam requires knowledge of their revised statutes. Just a few things to consider since I don't know what the exam entails.

 

If you've served you should be able use your GI Bill. Otherwise you can look into larger departments that run their own POST academy's.

This way you not only can save 7k but get paid while getting burned down and yelled at. Makes the academy much easier knowing your making money while dealing with all the BS you're gonna go through.

Edit:
Guess I should have read more than the first few posts before replying. Lol

 

Hello everyone sorry it took me awhile to reply back to everyone just been one of those crazy busy day.

Well first off I just want to thank everyone for their wonderful response. I will take every responses to heart and i do have a lot more to learn but im willing to learn all I can. I just have to say this is one of the best forum out there with a great group of humble people. I really appreciate that tremendously.

And second of all the main reason why I do want to become an office and hopefully move up to something great is because I main want to protect my family and after thinking about that I want to protect everyone's family so we all can go home safely to out loved ones.

I have though and talked this through with my spouse and kids a lot and they do understand what it's going to do and the sacrifices I would have to take. They appreciate what I'm wanting to do and have said that they got my six.

I can not thank you guys enough for everything here but again THANK YOU GUYS my tundra family

 

I have a friend who has taken many CQB training courses for his career and he told me that they trained him to stay a few feet out from the wall when traversing a hallway. Apparently there have been studies done that prove bullets tend to "hug the wall". I am not sure if there in any validity to this or not. Has anyone ever heard of what I am referring to?

 

I shot the cement ground about 3 feet in front of me at a 45 degree angle for training. The bullet followed the concrete and hit a target 20' away at only 6" off the ground.

 

I agree, it seems like hugging the wall would be a better option when clearing a room/small building compared to plunging into the middle of the room. However he said that this method is supposed to only be used when going down a large corridor or hallway. The primary reasoning behind this method supposedly has something to do with ricochets tend to end up hugging the wall. Though, in my opinion it still feels like it would be a safer position to be closer to the wall. I am not sure though. I know when clearing a room you want to hug the wall/corner (upon entry) as much as possible so you can get the whole team in the room as soon as possible.

 

Just got the the results for the written part and I passed so now I'm having to go back and do my physical test and wait for background and panel interview

 

Congrats!!

 

Thank you

 

Nice work! Good luck!

 

Thank you

 

Wishing you the best in your career Rick, remember this-

My Dad taught me -Integrity is ALWAYS doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Never let anyone take yours, guard it fiercely. There are bad cops out there, Sadly, I arrested several during my career, who just made very bad permanent life altering decisions.

These few very important words guided me well through a 35 career in Federal Law Enforcement.

 

Hey everyone more update...

I passed my physical easily and had my panel interview. Got accepted to move onto background and now this is the last step that I need to take. I'm 30 years old now and it's a little hard trying to remember very job and every place I lived at.

I'm very nervous with this part. I have nothing to hide or have done any wrong doing but I've heard that it can be harsh and they will try to get me mad. I'm a very easy going guy and have a lot of patience.

Is there any advice or need to know before my background?

I'm schedule for my background on Monday morning.

 

That's what I'm planning on doing try to remember anything I can and be very truthful with everything. I went through a lot in my early 20s and a lot of it has been a blur that's the only thing I'm nervous about. But I know for a fact it's nothing about breaking the law or anything to that extent

 

long answer- no apologies haha.
One thing for sure the truth is pretty easy to consistenly remember. Omit nothing. Ommisions or voids in your discussion or statements are not good. Good interviewers usually call these signs of deception. This usually indicates a person is wanting to avoid talking about a not so good detail of who they really are or bad experiences they don't wish to share. It's just human nature to omit or "bury our trash or the negative life stuff". If those details omitted were or are unlawful and they find about it during your interview or even later post interview you can be terminated from the process or employment if hired. Applicant BI screenings are strict and they need to be. Still some applicants slip through, it happens. They usually don't last in career Law Enforcement positions in my experience.

You said your moving into a background investigation(BI). Most agency BI usually are completed and then if there are questions and concerns you are interviewed about the results of the BI. I honestly have never heard of interviewer(s) trying to get an applicant mad during a (BI). So I am not sure what you mean. Has your BI been completed and they want to talk to you about it?

If you tell any interviewer that you went through a lot in your mid 20's and it's a "blur" that won't be a helpful answer at all. I suggest you NOT say this. Keep in mind you are applying for a career that absolutely requires full and complete memory of facts of what occurred if you are hired.
So if you don't give full and complete answers, usually its simply considered or noted, applicant gave an incomplete answer, Or did not fully explain the answer. They may ask you additional information to get you to expand on the answer, but they will never coach you for more info. It's up to you, you either provide it voluntary or you don't. Yep, it's a bare your soul time for lack of better words. They need to know you are going to be trustworthy if hired.

If you gave excellent references that can completely verify your work ethic, integrity, character, financial stability (credit history) you should be fine. No blurs.
Trust me they know you are going to be nervous, all applicants are. This is a opportunity that you want and they know it. Clear, honest, concise answers will be to your advantage. I have seen hundreds of applicants and applications during my career. I wish you the best.

The truth is easy to remember. Good Luck!

 

Best of luck to you, you'll do fine.