Scott L
Contributor
Are you also applying for a corrections position? This has a back door path for a large number of road patrolmen...
Any FL Law enforcement officers. Job help
- Thread starter MuddyRubberDuck
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Gatorshark
Contributor
Everything he said maybe true, but I would not change this job for anything in the world.
Join the military on the shortest hitch you can get, when you get out, a job in law enforcement is going to be alot easier. My sister and wife are both police officers. Well my wife used to be. We wanted to stay married. And even given the fact that they are considered a minority in law enforcement, it was hard for them to get placement.
I think the problem is more about the state of our economy and less about your history. Give it 6 months, if you can't find something in that amount of time, try the military.
I think the problem is more about the state of our economy and less about your history. Give it 6 months, if you can't find something in that amount of time, try the military.
havnmonkey
Contributor
The bottomline with applying for a LEO position, and I'm sure your instructors hammered this into you, is to apply EVERYWHERE. You must be willing to relocate during these "budget crisis" times. Some agencies are laying off (Port St. Lucie just dropped more than 20 officers two weeks ago), others won't return calls, and some are dropping pay and hiring....
It's not a very promising time to jump into this career... but, it will get better. So keep searching and keep applying.
Now, about your record... I highly doubt your Open Container arrest will really keep you from getting hired with most agencies, it may drop you behind a couple of otherwise equally qualified candidates. But it shouldn't keep you from getting hired. Your driving record, on the other hand, is more likely to keep you out. Too many recent tickets, more than one speeding ticket, or any careless/wreckless tickets can really ruin your apps. I hope you don't have any street racing tickets, cuz then it's pretty hopeless.
Remember, there are a lot less agencies that are openly hiring than 3 years ago... you can find them, just keep searching.
How many agencies have you applied to???
EDIT: Oh yea, unless you are comfortable going into corrections I wouldn't suggest it... It's a special kind of person who can deal with what they do, I couldn't do it... more power to 'em!!!
It's not a very promising time to jump into this career... but, it will get better. So keep searching and keep applying.
Now, about your record... I highly doubt your Open Container arrest will really keep you from getting hired with most agencies, it may drop you behind a couple of otherwise equally qualified candidates. But it shouldn't keep you from getting hired. Your driving record, on the other hand, is more likely to keep you out. Too many recent tickets, more than one speeding ticket, or any careless/wreckless tickets can really ruin your apps. I hope you don't have any street racing tickets, cuz then it's pretty hopeless.
Remember, there are a lot less agencies that are openly hiring than 3 years ago... you can find them, just keep searching.
How many agencies have you applied to???
EDIT: Oh yea, unless you are comfortable going into corrections I wouldn't suggest it... It's a special kind of person who can deal with what they do, I couldn't do it... more power to 'em!!!
Spg01
Contributor
Like Superlyte said, look into the military. Get a contract to be an MP and see how it goes. The military is a great time and a lot of fun, when you look back at it after you are out.
OP
MuddyRubberDuck
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I'm still trucking. I just found a couple more that are hiring. As for how many, I've lost count lol.
My thoughts are that "really wanting it" needs to include relocation where ever you need to go to make it happen.
Consider expanding your search well outside FL. Mileage will vary on how far an out of state LEO cert will get you and you'll probably need to repeat some form of cert process and/or attend that state's academy program. In some states you can't attend an academy at all unless you are agency attached (which avoids situations like the one you are in - candidates with dim prospects of being hired taking up a slot and/o getting a cert they can't use). The good news in those states however is that you can work for a period of time of, for example, a year before you are required to attend their academy. For a small department where certified officers seldom apply, and where if they do it's often because they have issues, having a relatively clean candidate on the way up rather than down with even an out of state cert is a plus as it gives them a little more confidence that you will require less supervison prior to attending the academy and have a better chance of successfully completing both a probationary period and the cert process.
The downside there is that pay in very small departments really sucks - but it's an option if you really want to get into the field.
As others have stated, the fact is you have displayed poor judgment in the recent past and no matter how much the hiring authority may like you, you present a huge liability risk in a very visible public trust position and that will always make the hiring authority think twice before taking a chance on you.
Enlisting and doing a hitch as an MP might be an option, but then again you might be doing LEO work on a military post, or you may find yourself doing some not so LEO career related duty escorting convoys in the sandbox. Read the fine print and pick your service carefully.
Consider expanding your search well outside FL. Mileage will vary on how far an out of state LEO cert will get you and you'll probably need to repeat some form of cert process and/or attend that state's academy program. In some states you can't attend an academy at all unless you are agency attached (which avoids situations like the one you are in - candidates with dim prospects of being hired taking up a slot and/o getting a cert they can't use). The good news in those states however is that you can work for a period of time of, for example, a year before you are required to attend their academy. For a small department where certified officers seldom apply, and where if they do it's often because they have issues, having a relatively clean candidate on the way up rather than down with even an out of state cert is a plus as it gives them a little more confidence that you will require less supervison prior to attending the academy and have a better chance of successfully completing both a probationary period and the cert process.
The downside there is that pay in very small departments really sucks - but it's an option if you really want to get into the field.
As others have stated, the fact is you have displayed poor judgment in the recent past and no matter how much the hiring authority may like you, you present a huge liability risk in a very visible public trust position and that will always make the hiring authority think twice before taking a chance on you.
Enlisting and doing a hitch as an MP might be an option, but then again you might be doing LEO work on a military post, or you may find yourself doing some not so LEO career related duty escorting convoys in the sandbox. Read the fine print and pick your service carefully.
AquaExplorer
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My first LEO job paid $8.50 an hour (early 90's small town Georgia). At best I got to near $20 an hour, with overtime, and a decent suburban metro county. I must say that it was a calling for me, but as Orlando Eric said, it takes a LOT out of you and your family. You had better really, really, really want to do it. It is not like on TV. Hell I still remember when I was getting out of the military speaking to several officers and many of them said the same thing "why the hell would you want this job?" and "do not do it!".
Though if you are set on doing it...you need to be willing to relocate, either anywhere in the state of Florida, or surrounding states (many will have you attend an abbreviated academy just to get familiar with that states laws). THAT is wanting it...doing whatever it takes.
Though if you are set on doing it...you need to be willing to relocate, either anywhere in the state of Florida, or surrounding states (many will have you attend an abbreviated academy just to get familiar with that states laws). THAT is wanting it...doing whatever it takes.
Whenever someone ask me..."Hows can I be a cop too?" -- Go to the fire academy and become a fireman. Do that for like two years. If you still feel you just have to be a cop then go to the LEO academy. You can always be a fireman again if you slip on your banana some day.
bilsant
Contributor
Disregard...other people have already said it as well as I can.
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