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Copper · 01-28-2006, 01:11 PM

In Missouri we have what is called a POST program. Police Officer Standards and Training. (other states have similar programs) It was 470 hours when I went in 1997, and cost right about $2000 to go. It's now 490 hours and costs about $3000 to go. Once you complete your POST academy, you have what's called a Class B certification. You are able to work in any county or any municipality that does not require a Class A certification. Such cities are St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield that have their own academies.

The things that are taught in the 490 are State laws and statutes, case law, report writing, accident investigation, domestic violence, Bill of rights (especially the 4th amendment), arrest procedures, use of force, and everyone's favorite, shooting about 2,000 rounds at the range. If you go full time, it takes about 4 months to complete, if you go part time, it will take about 10 months.

Having a degree has helped some as far as promotions go, but that's about it. Some of the bigger cities require you to have at least 2 years of college or 2 years of law enforcement. I've worked both rural and urban, and job placement is about the same with both. I prefer to work a county because you have more room to roam and are not confined by city limits. One bad thing about working for a city is you have to deal with the city council, which most of the time don't know crap about law enforcement but make the rules and regulations to operate it.

I love the job, and cannot imagine my self doing anything else. You have to have a somewhat cynical attitude about the job, or it'll drive you nuts. You will also develop a very warped and twisted since of humor that not all your family is going to understand. In fact, discussing about how a person was hit by a train and was dragged about 1/4 of a mile over dinner will seem perfectly natural to you. There are going to be people out there that don't like you for the simple fact that you represent everything they hate. In fact, there have been a few heated discussions at the Powder Keg on this very topic. It doesn't pay the greatest in the world, and it's a thankless job, but I don't do it for the money.

If you have more questions, keep 'em coming.

01-28-2006, 01:11 PM	#6
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	In Missouri we have what is called a POST program. Police Officer Standards and Training. (other states have similar programs) It was 470 hours when I went in 1997, and cost right about $2000 to go. It's now 490 hours and costs about $3000 to go. Once you complete your POST academy, you have what's called a Class B certification. You are able to work in any county or any municipality that does not require a Class A certification. Such cities are St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield that have their own academies. The things that are taught in the 490 are State laws and statutes, case law, report writing, accident investigation, domestic violence, Bill of rights (especially the 4th amendment), arrest procedures, use of force, and everyone's favorite, shooting about 2,000 rounds at the range. If you go full time, it takes about 4 months to complete, if you go part time, it will take about 10 months. Having a degree has helped some as far as promotions go, but that's about it. Some of the bigger cities require you to have at least 2 years of college or 2 years of law enforcement. I've worked both rural and urban, and job placement is about the same with both. I prefer to work a county because you have more room to roam and are not confined by city limits. One bad thing about working for a city is you have to deal with the city council, which most of the time don't know crap about law enforcement but make the rules and regulations to operate it. I love the job, and cannot imagine my self doing anything else. You have to have a somewhat cynical attitude about the job, or it'll drive you nuts. You will also develop a very warped and twisted since of humor that not all your family is going to understand. In fact, discussing about how a person was hit by a train and was dragged about 1/4 of a mile over dinner will seem perfectly natural to you. There are going to be people out there that don't like you for the simple fact that you represent everything they hate. In fact, there have been a few heated discussions at the Powder Keg on this very topic. It doesn't pay the greatest in the world, and it's a thankless job, but I don't do it for the money. If you have more questions, keep 'em coming. Last edited by Copper; 01-28-2006 at 07:30 PM.