new law enforcement officers?

billhilly7 · 01-24-2006, 08:51 PM

hey ya'll, im a criminology major at marquette university in wisconsin, just wonderin if anyone out there has recently gotten into law enforcement or anyone who ever has. just got a few questions and stuff. thanks

Shaun · 01-24-2006, 11:30 PM

I was in the field 8 years ago in PRK

Copper · 01-25-2006, 03:27 PM

Fire away billhilly7. I graduated from OU (Oklahoma University) with a BA in Criminal Justice in '97. Been in the law enforcement field for 9 years so I'll try to answer any question you have.

Diclaimer ad: All answers may not be politically correct.

billhilly7 · 01-26-2006, 03:31 PM

well i just wanted to c, with ur degree do u make more money or have more oppurtunities? and what did u do in the academy, how long were u in it for? and how easy is job placement in rural vs. urban communities, and where r u serving?

billhilly7 · 01-26-2006, 03:32 PM

and politically incorrect answers r more than welcome copper!!!!

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.

billhilly7 · 01-28-2006, 03:35 PM

thats great info copper, thanks alot, um yeah another question, what is the average starting pay for a normal cop?

Copper · 01-28-2006, 07:27 PM

It really depends on the tax base of the county or the city. I would say the average is around $22,000 to $25,000 per year if they are salary or around $10.00 to $12.00 per hour. Your bigger counties and cities are generally salary and they start around the $30,000 per year mark.

billhilly7 · 01-28-2006, 08:00 PM

cool, and is there some good oppurtunity to work overtime or be promoted and move ur way up fairly quickly or is that a long process?

Copper · 01-28-2006, 08:18 PM

It really depends on the department. Take my case for example; You have the chance of getting a new boss (Sheriff) every 4 years. The new Sheriff may come in and clean house. We had 17 openings overnight last election year. I was one of the lucky ones that kept a low profile and just did my job so I avoided the axe. I was called in shortly after the new Sheriff took office and he told me that I was his new 2nd shift supervisor, threw sergeant stripes at me and told me to have 'em sewn on by the next day. That's how I was promoted.

Cities are different. Smaller departments don't usually have rank structure, just a Chief and that's it. With bigger departments, someone has to die, retire or get fired to move up. It can be a very long and drawn out process.

billhilly7 · 01-28-2006, 08:35 PM

thanks so much for the info copper, ur really clearin up some questions that ive had forever

billhilly7 · 01-28-2006, 08:36 PM

got any funny stories to share from patrol?

Copper · 02-02-2006, 07:55 PM

I guess the funniest story I have is how I got into a foot pursuit with streaker. I was sitting at a stop sign one summer afternoon, and this kid with nothing on but a pair of shoes ran right in front of my patrol car. I pulled in behind him and when he saw me, he started running though yards. I jumped out of my car and chased him on foot for about two blocks. The poor kid tried to jump a 6 foot privacy fence and when he did, he uh...nearly lost "little Jim and the twins" in the process. To make matters worse, he landed into a Honey Suckle bush that was swarming with bees and wasps. I saw him straddle the fence and then fell, after that I heard him screaming. I figured that he had broken his leg or an arm, but the blood running from his freshly torn genitalia and the welps from the stings starting to surface, it obviously wasn't the case. After a trip to the hospital and getting treated for the multiple stings and getting his "package" sewn up, he went to jail. When I asked him why he ran, he told me he did it on a dare. Ya know, if it wasn't for stupid people, I'd be out of a job.

billhilly7 · 02-05-2006, 09:41 PM

HAHAHAHAHA, thats the best one ive heard yet! i got a few uncles who r cops but that is the most bizarre story ive heard!

01-24-2006, 08:51 PM	#1
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	new law enforcement officers? hey ya'll, im a criminology major at marquette university in wisconsin, just wonderin if anyone out there has recently gotten into law enforcement or anyone who ever has. just got a few questions and stuff. thanks

01-24-2006, 11:30 PM	#2
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,592 Images: 1	I was in the field 8 years ago in PRK __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

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.

01-25-2006, 03:27 PM	#3
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	Fire away billhilly7. I graduated from OU (Oklahoma University) with a BA in Criminal Justice in '97. Been in the law enforcement field for 9 years so I'll try to answer any question you have. Diclaimer ad: All answers may not be politically correct.

01-26-2006, 03:31 PM	#4
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	well i just wanted to c, with ur degree do u make more money or have more oppurtunities? and what did u do in the academy, how long were u in it for? and how easy is job placement in rural vs. urban communities, and where r u serving?

01-26-2006, 03:32 PM	#5
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	and politically incorrect answers r more than welcome copper!!!!

01-28-2006, 03:35 PM	#7
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	thats great info copper, thanks alot, um yeah another question, what is the average starting pay for a normal cop?

01-28-2006, 07:27 PM	#8
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	It really depends on the tax base of the county or the city. I would say the average is around $22,000 to $25,000 per year if they are salary or around $10.00 to $12.00 per hour. Your bigger counties and cities are generally salary and they start around the $30,000 per year mark.

01-28-2006, 08:00 PM	#9
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	cool, and is there some good oppurtunity to work overtime or be promoted and move ur way up fairly quickly or is that a long process?

01-28-2006, 08:18 PM	#10
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	It really depends on the department. Take my case for example; You have the chance of getting a new boss (Sheriff) every 4 years. The new Sheriff may come in and clean house. We had 17 openings overnight last election year. I was one of the lucky ones that kept a low profile and just did my job so I avoided the axe. I was called in shortly after the new Sheriff took office and he told me that I was his new 2nd shift supervisor, threw sergeant stripes at me and told me to have 'em sewn on by the next day. That's how I was promoted. Cities are different. Smaller departments don't usually have rank structure, just a Chief and that's it. With bigger departments, someone has to die, retire or get fired to move up. It can be a very long and drawn out process.

01-28-2006, 08:35 PM	#11
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	thanks so much for the info copper, ur really clearin up some questions that ive had forever

01-28-2006, 08:36 PM	#12
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	got any funny stories to share from patrol?

02-02-2006, 07:55 PM	#13
Copper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern "Mizzeruh" Posts: 246	I guess the funniest story I have is how I got into a foot pursuit with streaker. I was sitting at a stop sign one summer afternoon, and this kid with nothing on but a pair of shoes ran right in front of my patrol car. I pulled in behind him and when he saw me, he started running though yards. I jumped out of my car and chased him on foot for about two blocks. The poor kid tried to jump a 6 foot privacy fence and when he did, he uh...nearly lost "little Jim and the twins" in the process. To make matters worse, he landed into a Honey Suckle bush that was swarming with bees and wasps. I saw him straddle the fence and then fell, after that I heard him screaming. I figured that he had broken his leg or an arm, but the blood running from his freshly torn genitalia and the welps from the stings starting to surface, it obviously wasn't the case. After a trip to the hospital and getting treated for the multiple stings and getting his "package" sewn up, he went to jail. When I asked him why he ran, he told me he did it on a dare. Ya know, if it wasn't for stupid people, I'd be out of a job.

02-05-2006, 09:41 PM	#14
billhilly7 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 107	HAHAHAHAHA, thats the best one ive heard yet! i got a few uncles who r cops but that is the most bizarre story ive heard!