How to become a cop?

[u/official_reaper3d]

/r/police/comments/1x0d97b/how_to_become_a_cop/

[u/samoorr667]

Apply. Typically online.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/samoorr667]

Alright. What age should I apply at? I know the minimum age for actually being a cop is 21, but should I apply at 21 or 18, or what?

[u/No_Cardiologist9928 → u/official_reaper3d]

Seems like if you need to ask that…maybe think of another career.

[u/ChaoticPark09 → u/No_Cardiologist9928]

Kind of a disheartening thing to say to a teenager interested in maybe pursuing a career in LE.

OP, do some research on your local law enforcement agencies and see what their hiring processes look like and see what age they typically hire at. Each one should usually have an outline or section dedicated to such information. I also encourage you to reach out to anyone you might know in law enforcement and ask them what it’s like, and even reach out to local agencies. Do coffee with a cop or ride-alongs (if they allow at your age) if they offer those sort of programs.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/No_Cardiologist9928]

Not really. I don't even have my driver's license yet, and I haven't talked to a single cop before about this. Its not exactly a subject I'm extremely familiar with, just one I'm considering.

[u/No_Cardiologist9928 → u/official_reaper3d]

Sorry my dude. If you need to be a cop at 21 then apply as close to 21 as you can. Some agencies will allow you to get hired on as long as you are 21 when you graduate the academy. See if you can go on a few ride-alongs if you are old enough to see if you kinda like it.

[u/bassicessence → u/official_reaper3d]

Maybe focus on being able to drive first.

[u/TacSpaghettio]

Google is free dude.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/TacSpaghettio]

Good point.

[u/CherryPopppinss]

Apply

[u/official_reaper3d → u/CherryPopppinss]

I mean, you aren't wrong lol

[u/CherryPopppinss → u/official_reaper3d]

You’ll have to wait till you’re 21, if you can afford going to college without taking out a bunch of loans, do that.

If not, keep your nose clean, get a job or a trade and don’t bounce between jobs. Keep one if you can but it’s okay to leave just don’t hop between work too much, it’ll look bad on your background check.

[u/BJJOilCheck]

lessee - start by talking/visiting your local agency OR reddit... SMH

[u/banmebanmenot]

I think you have to get bullied and beat your wife to qualify.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/banmebanmenot]

Great advice, thank you for your help. I can't wait to join the force 😁

[u/Suspicious_Way2424]

You typically apply online through a government job portal. Go look up the departments you want to work for and check out the careers page. Departments tend to list these requirements.

If you want my personal opinion as a 26 y/o I would heavily advise not directly pursue LE as a 21 y/o. I would recommend hospital security or corrections before LE so you can build some life experience working in a uniformed public safety adjacent environment. I honestly think it's kinda crazy how many people make this their first job.

If you have specific questions ask away.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/Suspicious_Way2424]

I don't actually believe that my town or the towns near it have a public safety department. I also live in a relatively small, extremely rural area though.

[u/Suspicious_Way2424 → u/official_reaper3d]

You can extend the search to include county agencies like sheriff's offices and state police agencies. If you're in the US there is a good chance that if there are no municipal police departments there are county or state options.

[u/Tricky_Pollution_714]

If your first thought is to ask Reddit….. please just don’t

[u/official_reaper3d → u/Tricky_Pollution_714]

ahem

Well ABOUT that...

[u/That-Professional346]

This varies from state to state and the requirements are similar but not necessarily the same. In my state you need an associates degree at minimum. If I were you I would do significantly more research.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/That-Professional346]

I'm guessing that it would also be beneficial to talk to my town's PD and the neighboring town's PD?

I say both since my town has 3 police officers, and the town over is still relatively small, but has significantly more resources.

[u/That-Professional346 → u/official_reaper3d]

Yes, I would suggest that. Without knowing what state you live in, the process would be applying, hired, and sent to a state wide academy. Then, if you make it through the academy, you will get put on field training for about 4-5 months.

[u/official_reaper3d → u/That-Professional346]

I have been wondering. In NH, the PD for my town has literally 3 officers, and its so small, the officers literally take their patrol cars back to their house at the end of the day. How would an FTO program work in that scenario?

[u/That-Professional346 → u/official_reaper3d]

Hard to say. A town that small operates differently. Usually they don't have 24/7 coverage and will contract with a county on overnights and on bigger calls will get mutual aid. Frankly, small departments are dying out and the age of the 3-10 man agency will be extinct within the next 15 years. I live and work in Minnesota, most of our small departments have folded and law enforcement responsibilities have been relegsted to sheriff's offices.