| Becoming a police officer has become | | | | Google and type in the name of the first |
| increasingly difficult today. Not only do the | | | | department on your list. As an example, |
| majority of police department's require two | | | | "Denver Police Department." Once you are on |
| years of college at a minimum, but numerous | | | | their website look for buttons that say, |
| department's expect police officer candidates | | | | employment, careers, jobs, join our team, |
| to put themselves through a certified academy | | | | etc. Click on the button to be taken to the |
| at their own expense. In addition to this, | | | | department's employment page. Here is where |
| the competition for each open police position | | | | you will answer your first question, "Are |
| can produce hundreds of applications. | | | | they hiring?" Police department's make it |
| | | | very clear if they are hiring. They will list |
| So, how do you put the odds in your favor? | | | | their selection process dates and deadlines |
| How do you get your foot in the door? Simple | | | | in a timely manner. Some department's may |
| ... just do a little homework. | | | | state they are not currently hiring at this |
| | | | time. But that's fine because you need to |
| Firstly, there are three questions you must | | | | know the hiring status of each particular |
| answer prior to applying to any police | | | | department. |
| department. | | | | |
| | | | Once you know if a police department is |
| Number one: Is the police department hiring? | | | | hiring you need to answer the second |
| Number two: What are their minimum | | | | question, "What are their minimum |
| qualifications? Number three: How do I apply? | | | | qualifications?" This is easy, just look for |
| | | | the position announcement. What you are |
| It is imperative to answer these three | | | | looking for here is what their college |
| questions before moving forward in the police | | | | requirements are, must you have already gone |
| selection process. | | | | through a police academy, age, sight |
| | | | requirements, prior traffic violations, etc. |
| Now lets break this down. Many police and | | | | Anything at all that would disqualify you |
| sheriff department's hire new officers at | | | | from the process. If you meet their criteria |
| given times throughout the year. Others hire | | | | then you are ready to apply for a position. |
| only when vacancies exist. So how do you know | | | | |
| if and when a police department is hiring? | | | | Lastly, you must answer the question, "How do |
| Just go to the Internet. Begin by typing in | | | | I apply?" Most police department's will have |
| This is a wonderful tool when applying for a | | | | an application right on their website that |
| police position. When you arrive on the home | | | | you can download and print. Some will have |
| page of this site you will see an interactive | | | | you apply directly online. It is critical |
| map of the United States. Click on the state | | | | that you complete the application neatly and |
| you live in. You will now be taken to a map | | | | correctly. Spelling counts, so does grammar. |
| of your state, broken down into counties. | | | | Continue this process until you have applied |
| | | | to as many department's on your list as |
| Your goal is to compile a list of about 20 | | | | possible. |
| police department's in your area. First click | | | | |
| on the county you live in. You will be shown | | | | Did you know that one third of police |
| a list of police agencies. Write the name of | | | | candidates will be disqualified at the |
| each police department as it appears, nothing | | | | application stage, and 70% of all candidates |
| more. All you want are names right now. Next, | | | | will fail the written exam? These are |
| click on each surrounding county and write | | | | staggering numbers. Police department's are |
| down the name of each police agency listed. | | | | geared to eliminate police applicants as |
| Continue clicking on all the surrounding | | | | early in the selection process as possible. |
| counties in your area writing each | | | | Why? Because the selection process is very |
| department's name. You should easily have 20 | | | | time consuming and expensive. If you follow |
| by following this exercise. The only | | | | the steps I've outlined here you will soon |
| exception is if you live in a rural area, in | | | | become involved in several hiring processes |
| this case you may have a few less. | | | | simultaneously. The more department's you |
| | | | apply to the sooner you will be hired. This |
| Now that you have your list go back to the | | | | is not the time to be picky. Remember the |
| Internet. I would estimate that 99.9% of all | | | | competition is fierce. |
| police agencies have a website. Pull up | | | | |