With the economy in shambles, many people are leaving the private sector in favor of the security provided in government jobs. Law enforcement jobs are one of the few careers that can sustain an economic downturn. Police departments are usually hiring, while everybody else are laying off.
Deciding that police work is what you want to do for the rest of your life can be very excitement. However the process to eventually wear that badge is a long and tedious one. Sometimes taking as long as a year or two before you are hired. The application process is not easy, but the rewards are enormous.
Take it from me, being a police officer is one of the few careers that you’ll have an oppurtunity to make a difference on a daily basis. Sure there are other notable careers like teachers and doctors, but there’s nothing more noble than public service.
Image saving a young mother’s life from an abusive husband – had you not shown up would have gotten killed, or helping a young kid see the light, directly shifting the destination of their young life. That’s impact at its finest.
Becoming a police officer has its rewards like great pay, paid vacations, career advancement oppurtunities, retirement program, not to mention the lucrative off duty assignments. Off duty details depending on the city can greatly supplement an officer’s yearly earnings.
That’s why many police officers around the country are making a lot of money, some even reach the six figure mark in some cities. The reason are, private companies are willing to pay big bucks to hire police officers.
Requirements To become a police officer:
- You must be at least 21 years of age in most states
- You must not have been convicted of a felony
- You must pass the police written exam (also known as the civil service exam in some states)
- You must pass the background check
- You must have a high school diploma or GED (some PD’s require some college or military experience)
- You must pass the physical ability test (physical fitness test)
- You must possess good moral character and reputation
- You must have a valid driver’s license
- You must not have been convicted of domestic violence
- You must pass the medical exam
- You must pass the psychological test
- You must pass the polygraph test
- You must not have a poor credit history
While the life of a police officer may seem exciting to some, there are some con’s to consider. For example, police officers have a high divorce rate.
Police officer are usually stressed out to the max, and face a lot of risky situations on a daily basis. Police officer are usually the ones running into a building with an armed gunmen inside, while everyone else are running out of the building.
