Police Officer

[Sportz]

Well im going to be a freshman this coming school year. I want to be a police officer when i grow up and i was wondering what classes i should take and once i get out of highschool should i go to college or is there some sort of police academy i just go into? It would be great if anyone knows what i have to do to become one!!

[Sapphire]

Doing well in English is important because you will have to do a lot of official paperwork. A good level of fitness is needed as well so maybe P.E. would be an advisable option.
If law is an option for you then it would be beneficial to take that - I know some places offer it at this level.

I'm not sure how it works in America, but here you can get on a fast-track promotion scheme if you have a university degree - obviously something like law is preferred.
If you don't go down that route then you can always go straight from high school to the police. After the selection process, they have a sort of academy where you get trained etc.

[Sportz]

Doing well in English is important because you will have to do a lot of official paperwork. A good level of fitness is needed as well so maybe P.E. would be an advisable option.
If law is an option for you then it would be beneficial to take that - I know some places offer it at this level.

I'm not sure how it works in America, but here you can get on a fast-track promotion scheme if you have a university degree - obviously something like law is preferred.
If you don't go down that route then you can always go straight from high school to the police. After the selection process, they have a sort of academy where you get trained etc.

------------------------
ok thanks a lot!! :)

[tbboltz92]

Any big city these day requires a college degree to be considered for the academy(my uncle is a cop he got turned away from Dallas police b/c he didnt have degree.Jus so you no im not bsing). I sugesst you take some englis, and spanish classes. um the normal stuff.

In Florida we have a high school that offers a law enforcement academy it's pretty cool.

[INFERNO]

You should take some classes in law, English, some computing, definately gym, some other language class depending where you are, maybe some sociology or psychology also. I would also do some basic mathematics.

After, there is an academy for police officers and you need to be in good physical shape and now the laws pretty well. You also would need to be able to figure out who may be lying and more sociology and psychology would be used.

I would go for a degree in college or university for a few reasons. First, it shows you have some brain power, which is needed for your job. If you just graduate high-school then it doesn't really show that much. It also can put you in better light. Second, in case you end up not wanting it or get sacked, then you're not screwed with only a high-school diploma, you have a college or university degree. In university or college, law courses, sociology, perhaps a bit of language courses, basic mathematics and some philosophy would be good. For sociology and philosophy, you can take courses that delve more into crime and law. Law would be needed for obvious reasons. Basic mathematics just to show you can do more and same goes for the language courses. If you want to take some psychology courses, that's up to you. Depending where you go, you may be able to do something with the law in second or third year. At my university though there is forensic psychology (3rd year) and psychology and the law (3rd year also).

While you're there, hit the gym or join some sport clubs as they can also keep you in good shape. Preferably a sport with running, either football, basketball, baseball, etc... . You may also want to take some classes at the university in martial arts, especially self-defense. You'd be taught that at the academy but it'd be better to go in knowing something on it rather than nothing. Perhaps also another martial art, either with grappling, wrestling or striking.

You don't only want to be a fast-runner and physically strong because that doesn't mean you'll be able to combat the person. Physical strength doesn't necessarily equate to winning a match.

[Ender]

I highly reccomend contacting your local PD's and SD's and check out their Explorer programs. Most agency's have them(I myself am an explorer and have DREAMED FOR A LONG TIME of working in law enforcement.)

You get to do alot of really cool things and it gives you a really good look into law enforcement.

Form more info send me a PM.

[Eagle1]

I highly reccomend contacting your local PD's and SD's and check out their Explorer programs. Most agency's have them(I myself am an explorer and have DREAMED FOR A LONG TIME of working in law enforcement.)

You get to do alot of really cool things and it gives you a really good look into law enforcement.

Form more info send me a PM.

sweet a fellow explorer deff. check out to see if your dept has one. I would also take any law classes and do a LOT of PE/Gym STAY IN SHAPE trust me im not that bad but im not terribly good either.:whoops:lol. oh and make sure you have good friends and stay on the right track.

EDIT whoops sorry for bumping the thread

[Mikey]

Well I'm going on the same road as you but I'm a sophie. Take English and P.E. Most likely weight training would help because you want to intimidate. This year I'm taking criminology & law as well as Anthropology or sociology i forget. Those two are the study of human life and whatnot. I'm going into the forensic field so i need medical training probably. Best of luck man!

[Ender]

Now for colledge, i dnt reccomend a criminal justice class, cuz it's just teaching u stuff u'll hav to do again in the academy. I reccomend Public Safety Administration courses(usually a Bachelors)