What programs are best to become a police officer?
Asked by eric
I recently received a honorable discharge from the army and wish to follow a career as a police officer, i have seen many things in my research some are as simple as taking the basic abilities test and then applying and going to an academy others are a program through a college that certifies you to work in your state as a police officer. im not sure which one is better? or witch is for what? could someone please clarify?

Best Answer:
Skip any of the police science courses or trade schools you find. Police departments prefer to train their own officers. It prevents conflict from different investigative techniques and administration policies. What may be legal in one state is illegal in another state. It depends on what you want from your career. If you want to get hired by a police agency that pays well and has career opportunities, you will need the college degree. If you just want a job that pays the bills and 30 yrs from now you are still writing citations and responding to domestic problems, then skip college. You won't need it. Apply to the dept. where you test, go to the academy, and then are on your own. If you go to college, major in something other than police sciences. You will learn all you need to know about law and enforcing it on the job and in the police academy. The people who actually advance in the criminology field are the ones with business degrees. Police administrators deal exclusively with budgets, statistics and the people who have control over the budget. Administrators have long forgotten what it is like to ride in a patrol car and respond to calls. Oregon has a nice program where you apply to the police program. If you are selected, your college and living expenses are paid by the program. You must then work for one of the sponsoring police dept.s for 4 yrs. to repay the money spent on you. After 4 yrs. it becomes a grant and you don't owe a cent. If you fail to work for a police dept. for 4 yrs, it becomes a loan and you have to pay it back plus interest. And yes you get full salary and benefits during the 4yrs work it takes to pay back the money.

I was a police officer in Washington DC. You do not need to take any classes or courses for this. Some departments require a 2 or 4 year degree, but may be substituted with your army experience. I took 3 tests and was accepted to all 3 departments before settling with MPDC. Just go take exams and you will do fine (they are not too hard).
Answered by Jason