Pros And Cons Of Being A Police Officer

Improved Essays
Being a Police officer is someone who enforces law and protects people and property. The duties of a police officer are to respond to calls, enforce laws, make arrests, and occasionally testify in court cases. A police officer patrols areas they are assigned which are usually jurisdictions. The annual income is roughly $53,540 a year. It should all be worth it as the hiring process and training academy takes about 12 to 18 months to complete.
The basic requirements of becoming a police officer are generally the same across the country. For one, you need to be 18 or 21 depending on the state you live in. Number two, you must have a valid drivers license. And three, you must be a legal resident of the United States. The age qualification varies on location so contact you local authorities to find out.
Disqualifications of being a police officer are very simple. The most common disqualifications are criminal records.. If a person has had an adult felony conviction, he or she is not allowed to become a police officer. Some crimes are even more strictly excluded. No one who has a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence or a racially motivated crime can be a part of law enforcement. Any convictions in those two areas will exclude a person from the police academy. DUI convictions can and will stop you from pursuing a
…show more content…
As soon as you decide to pursue your career as an officer or any type of law enforcement, start to think about how important your physical fitness is. A police officer should be able to run a long distance in a timely manner, Sprint quickly to catch fleeing suspects, and use physical force when necessary. All officers must pass a fitness test which includes push-ups, sit-ups, running, and other strenuous activities. If an aspiring officer does not reach the minimum score of the fitness test, they will be unable to become a police

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    There are some career opportunities at the county facility. You must be at least 21 years of age, must be a U.S. citizen and must have a High school diploma or a GED. The officers have to go thru a drug test, history background, must pass a criminal credential and driving. They must stay in shape and be in shape thru out their carrier at the facility. Candidates must be in good health and must have a valid driver’s license.…

    • 1471 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state. A Massachusetts State Trooper is known to be part of the Law Enforcement, and one of the largest in New England, holding 2,300 officers.” Known as “State Troopers”, they are primarily hired by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety.” In order to become one of these officers, you have to meet the requirements. Apply for employment, take the Massachusetts State Trooper entrance exam, undergo a medical exam, take the Physical Abilities Test, psychological testing and a background investigation, an…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Issues In Policing

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages

    What Are the Issues in Policing? Policing has been around for a very long time in society. Policing is simply the duties and tasks that police officers have to perform to maintain law and order in communities. Polices perform such duties as traffic control, criminal investigation, keeping peace, and other helpful services to citizens. Over time, policing has changed tremendously and has had a great effect on today’s society.…

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Police officers risk their lives every day to ensure the safety and security of the community. Their bravery, integrity and sheer commitment to the duty are unwavering as they serve to create order as well as the protection of lives and properties. They selflessly act in emergency situations, uphold law, respond to crimes and other forms of violence which is why the public continue to have their trust and confidence in them. But as individuals that whose job requires impeccable common sense and critical thinking, we tend to ask; should police officers required to have tertiary qualifications? While it seems obvious that professions like nursing would require a university degree, why it is not required from being a police officer to which the…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    State Patrol I have been interested in law enforcement since I was a little kid. I have always admired what they do every day protecting people and catching bad guys. I grew up watching Alaska State Troopers and seeing what they do really got me interested. Another show that I watch is the show cops it really gives me an insight on day to day life of officers. Mr. Meek really got me interested in the state patrol when he had a state patrol recruiter come in and talk to me about joining up.…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The requirements to become an officer is to have at least a high school diploma, complete undergraduate education, attend a police academy and pass some exams. This seems to be a pretty easy and achievable process. There needs to be an aim for first-rate police academy curriculum. For example, eight-hundred hours or more of a mixture of classroom and supervised field training, community sensitivity training and training in violence reduction techniques (“Fighting Police”). The government can’t really be recruiting anyone who passes these tests.…

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Things are completely different once they hit the streets after the police department hired them. Experienced officers known as field training officers (FTOs) train the new recruits during their probationary period. These new recruits are sometimes told to forget what they were taught at the academy and that their FTO will teach them what “real” police work is and how it is done (Malmin, 2012). The FTO will…

    • 2157 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Essay On Nfl Career

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages

    There are many responsibilities for a police officer, they need to enforce laws, patrol assigned areas, and respond to emergency and nonemergency calls. The work environments for a police officer is different than other jobs, they work for a local government, work at crime and accident scenes, and work outdoors and in any kind of terrain. Becoming a police officer is hard, they train at a police academy, 4 years of college, and a bachelor’s degree. Police officer pays a lot, they get paid about $60,270 a year, but the most they are paid $77,210, and make $22.97 per hour. The job outlook has projected to grow 4 percent by 2024, crime rates have fallen in the last few years, we need to improve public safety.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As stated in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, “recruits receive qualification from state and local police department agencies” (Labor statics, 2014). Recruits are schooled in traditional classroom teaching format; they are instructed about “constitutional law, civil rights, state laws and police ethics” (Labor statics, 2014). Recruiters will have to receive training in first aid, self-defense, traffic control and firearms (Labor statics,…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Never Ending watch; Police Practice in action Based in one of the worst neighbors of Los Angeles, California the movie End of Watch follows the film project of a Los Angeles Police Department officer Brian Taylor in his daily life with his close partner Miguel Zavala. The beginning of the movie starts with a car chase that eventually leads to a shootout with the beginning monologue. “I’m the police. And I’m here to arrest you.…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Becoming a KSP officer is much more than just a job it’s an honor. The minimum requirements to be a KSP office is that you must be a citizen of the United States of America, of good moral character and in good health, not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, possess a valid driver’s license against which no more than six (6) driver dement points have been assessed, and at the time of application, posse a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours or credits from an accredited college or university Police officers have many criminal justice career opportunities that can be obtained through training, tenure and education. Detective, Crime Scene Investigator, Community Liaison Officer, Narcotics Officer and SWAT Officer is just a few examples of some of the police jobs available. Webb 3 In addition, the job responsibilities of a trooper include enforcing state laws with the goal of promoting safety, responding to disorderly conduct, preventing disturbance and riots, relaying the evidence to detective and preparing testimony for court appearances.…

    • 807 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the United States, there are high ethical standards that have to be followed in the criminal justice system. To work in law enforcement in the United States, a person of interest has to go through an extensive background check to determine whether they have good moral character which may include a polygraph exam and a psychological exam. “How To Become A Police Officer” by Timothy Roufa updated October 12, 2016 The Balance.com If so much is demanded of a Police Officer who openly carries a gun, than the same rules should be applied to everyone, especially gun owners who want to conceal and carry their guns. To obtain a (CCW) Concealed Weapons Permit the only requirements are to have good moral character, good cause, meet the residency requirements,…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Police Corruption

    • 1766 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Police: persons whose responsibility is to enforce laws; usually the term used for the city or municipal officers, as opposed to county deputies (Peak, 2015). The duty of a police officer is to protect, serve and maintain order of the public. They are the ones to call for when there is an emergency or for a civil matter. Policing is a difficult job, it is physically, mentally and emotionally draining. Law enforcement officer are given a great amount of authority to make find solutions to problems and keep the community safe, while being unsupervised.…

    • 1766 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Becoming A Police Officer

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In this essay I am going to write about three main aspects of becoming a police officer: the job description and responsibilities, and the education required to accelerate in this career.…

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They have to be able to interact successfully with the community and be able to show that they are there for the benefit of the public. Being able to successfully combine the two thru police-community relations is the sign of a well socialized person and…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays