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Becoming a police officer help!?

I am about to start community college, and I would like to become a police officer. I am 18 years old. I would like to know if there is a certain class I should take, and what would be the best route to get into the academy? I hear you ahve to be 21 to get into the academy, and taht they drug test you to look at the past 3 years.

I recently quit smoking marijuana and will not be picking it up again, but I am just over 18. If they do look at my past drug relations, do you think this would make them not accept me if it was when I was in high school?
I mainly would want to be K-9 unit or SWAT, but I know I have to start low. Thank you for any help!
EDIT: I only smoked Marijuana a few times, so I wasn't a major druggy. And I never did anything stronger than Marijuana.

Asked By: BeDazzled - 4/23/2008
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Were you ever arrested/charged or held on suspicion of MJ? Just because you tried it, with no damaging report, it will have no effect on your application....

Study up on K-9 procedures at the library in your spare time, and take elective classes that are related to law enforcement.

Also, check and see what the age limit is of police dispatching in your area...you may be able to begin a career in law enforcement there, and then apply to the police (that way, you'll have rubbed shoulders and that'll always help)

Also, have you considered talking to a military recruiter about military police or security? If your scores are high enough, you can be guaranteed some job classifications after you get out of bootcamp, and military police is one of them.
Answered By: THE ROOK - 4/23/2008
Additional Answers ()
Go to a college or Community School that offers courses in Law Enforcement. After All that apply for a job, then you have to go through training and testing. Later you can arrest anybody you want.
Answered By: me - 4/23/2008
Major in Criminal Justice will be helpful, most who has college eduaction in Cops major in criminal justice, they need that in order to be a agent or futher their career like in FBI.
Answered By: Rich - 4/23/2008
If it's been more than a couple weeks since you did Marijuana there is no trace of it left in your blood. Personally I oppose the illegal status of drugs. I wish you luck in your endeavors to become a police officer. Police officers are good. Pigs however are bacon!!
Answered By: Inferno22 - 4/23/2008
I am currently testing for the PD myself. The drug test goes back 5 years and that is not all you have to worry about. They will do a background check on you which lasts 6 months and they will find out everything about you all the way down to when you last wet the bed. If you have anything to hide that may disqualify you they will find it and they will know.

I was a good christian boy all my life and still am. I even married as a virgin and have nothing to hide at all. But they will still investigate all the way to every traffic ticket I ever had.

Just a heads up

Also when you get to college ask your councelor what you should be taking. That is what they are there for.
Answered By: darren s - 4/23/2008
You just want to shoot some one but when you do tell me and yeah hey might not accept you but if you haven't take mariguana for 2 years or more then you are fine
Answered By: ukyo m - 4/23/2008
I am a criminal justice major @ my university. Most kids go this route when going into policing. I took CJ w/ a concentration of Law Enforcement Admin. It taught various courses, it doesn't matter if you go to college or not to become a police officer, but I'd reccommend it for higher pay. I am really not sure what state you live in, but here in CT they post standards online. i will link you so you can see them, but I hope that they give you some answers your looking for.

PS. the weed is no big deal. Some ppl get arrested numerous times and still become police. Make sure on the lie detector test comes you admit to doing it, don't lie, its not huge deal...really.

http://www.ct.gov/post/site/default.asp


http://www.ct.gov/post/cwp/view.asp?a=2062&q=291738
Answered By: Desiree D - 4/23/2008
For choosing the classes to take its best to ask and advisor because law enforcement is a major itself and should be set up so that you take all the necessary classes.

When you are being hired in the real world and they question you about your past experience with drugs don't brush it off but confront it head on and say what you learned from it and what influenced you to quit. Like family friends or your dream to be in law enforcement.

hang on to your dreams don't ever let your past take away your future
Answered By: senior08 - 4/23/2008
Haha ...
u wana b 5.0 ,
humm ...
juvinal affences dont count against you
so dont worry drop the weed and you'll b fine

theres a training program you have to take
and pass to become an officer

at some point
but idk ...

Much love
Kiki :3 )
STAY CHILL WIT IT
Answered By: shawtylovebiotch - 4/23/2008
My dad is the chief of Police in our town. The best way to get a job as a police officer is to attend the training before you apply for a job. You will have to pay for it, rather then getting a job at a station and them paying for it, but they always look at this as a plus. About your drug test. They will do one and if all they find is weed,and it was when you were a kid they will over look it and may never even find out about it. Just be sure you never do it again because they randomly drug test you at work. So given all that and your record is clean of any felony charges you shouldn't have a problem getting a job when you turn 21.
Source(s):
Police Station brat
Answered By: Amanda - 4/23/2008
My fiance is an Army MP, and he's lined up to be a Police Officer when he comes back.

First of all... major in criminal justice (may be called something different, but that is what it is called at my school).

Second of all... for drug testing, police requirements normally require only a urine test. With marijuana, it can be detected in urine anywhere until two days to two months. However, here is some more information in case you want to know about other drug testing. They do a urine test though, but, regardless, any test you take you will easily pass in 3 years if you never do drugs again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_test#Detection_periods

3. As long as you have no legal trouble over your drug use (or in general) you should have no problem

4. Consider becoming a security guard. My fiance is a security guard when he's not busy with Army stuff. We call him a 2.50, a bacon bit, and lots of other funny things. But it really shows that thats what you want to do, and that you've got a history in that area. Its not that hard to become a security guard... look into local malls or hospitals.

Good luck!
Answered By: Clover - 4/23/2008
What state are you in? im in NY and i wanted to do the same the best Com. College for me was BMCC wich is the best if you want to join the academy right after.... go to the police department and/or your state PD website ex. NYPD.COM and read they should offer a CD with practice tests and extra info on becoming a cop, and you can take the official exam and get it out the way so once your out of college you can hit the force problem free... i got the RFEE CD and began to study, took the exam like 2 months ago and evry other week i receive a letter for me to report to the academy to register but im out of school and i wont be able to be a cop for while ( due to none related issues)
Try it, you'll see
Source(s):
Personal Experience
Answered By: gh0st_85 - 4/23/2008
At my dept. you cannot have smoked the mary jane for 5 years in a row (it varies) anything stronger than that will disqualify you and they will give you a polygraph exam! Also not doing it at all will give you an advantage because if they have another applicant they same as you exept they have not smoked weed ever they will pick him/her over you just because of that.

You should be fine.
Answered By: Austin - 4/23/2008
You should find out what is required by the department. They are the best to steer you in the proper direction. It is important to take the proper classes but if you are looking to have the bet chances find out what is the base requirements and then work your way up. You dont want to spend time taking classes that are not applicable for entry in to your field of choice.

Community colleges are excellant starting points. See your counselor for pointers.

Keep you personal record clean! Stay off of MySpace and Facebook if you do stupid things. Dont make yourself high profile. No drinking and driving or drunked behavior. No controlled substance use. Prevent any traffic violations.

Yeah, I know it sounds easy but it isnt. Remember that there are only so many jobs and you are not the only person trying to get in. Sometimes it pays great dividends to stop partying for awhile and grow up.

How do I know... it worked for me. 15 years now as a fireman in San Francisco. I competed against 12,000 people for 150 jobs. Stay clean in all areas of your life. Study hard and stay positive. It is worth it in the end.
Answered By: Calspeed - 4/23/2008
My personal opinion is to major in something OTHER than LE in college. Law enforcement is a dangerous job and getting hurt in a 30 year career is very possible. If something were to happen and you had to fall back on your education, I would prefer seeing someone have another career as a back up plan.
When it comes to promotions and incentive pay for college degrees, departments generally don't care what your degree is in. Just that you have one.
Answered By: CD - 4/23/2008
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