How do i get into the Police Academy?

Question

I want to be a police officer or a state trooper SO BAD!! but cant find anyway to get in! help ME!!

Answer 1

Hi,

I am a former city police officer from central MO with 8 years experientce.  The short answer is that it depends.  Some states (MO being one of them) will allow someone to attend a police recruit class as what is known as a "pre service" law enforcement student, which means that they have not yet been hired by a law enforcement agency.  Once they are done, they usually can find employment with an agency pretty quickly.  In order to be a pre-service recruit, you will have to apply to the academy (check with your state's police officer and standards board or POST commission for a list of approved academies).  They have a process that you must go through to get in and it depends on the academy as to what it entails.  You will need to do some research on this in your state.

In my case, I applied for a job with a PD, and went through their selection process.  Depending upon the agency, that process usually includes the following:

1.  Written examination

2.  Oral review board (with current law enforcement officers asking you questions)

3.  Citizen's review board (a group of citizens asking you questions)

4.  Physical fitness test (usually pushups, situps, flexibility testing, body fat testing, 1.5 mile run for time)

5. Background investigation and polygraph examination, psychological testing (may also include an interview with a psychologist)

6. Chief of Police Interview

7. Medical exam and drug testing

Now, what I would tell you to do is the following:

1.  Do well in high school, and prepare to go to college.  Most agencies like 2 years of college work, and many are now looking favorably on a four year degree.  Doesn't have to be in law enforcment or criminal justice, but it can be (mine was in biology..lol).  The main thing is to be broadly educated, and have excellent oral and written communication skills.  So take a variety of coursework.

2.  Get a good police exam prep book and study it well to prepare for the written examination.

3.  Start working on your physical fitness.  Start doing situps and crunches; pushups and weight lifting, stretching, and running (be able to run at least 2 miles for time, and work on sprint ability to enhance your speed)

4.  Go to your doctor for a physical.  It won't count for the official physical for the agency because they will use their own contracted physician, but by going to your own doc, you will determine if there are any medical issues that may need to be addressed.

5.  Background investigation....it's thorough, and they will go over you with a fine toothed comb.  If you have been convicted of a felony, you can't be a police officer.  Hopefully, you have a clean slate.  If so, stay that way, obviously.  IF there are any negative things in your background, you need to be prepared to tell the department...absolutely do not lie about ANYTHING!  It will be discovered.  Tell the truth, and you should be fine (unless you committed a felony crime or something like that).

Also, for most agencies you must be 21.  It depends on the state.  If you are not 21, don't sweat it.  Use that time for college, and preparing for your goal.

Hope that helped.  Email me if you need/want further info or have questions, and I will try to help [e-mail]

Answer 2

well i can tell u that u need a lot of patience, it took my husband about a year and half to get in. it gets very frustrating but if u persist and practice taking those polygraph tests and psychological, you will master them!! he had a friend that had been trying for 5 years. theblueline.com always has police job postings.

One suggestion is to look into auxiliary police. it will give help u eventually get in somewhere b/c you will get the experience. just don't give up!!

I should also add that you shouldn't limit yourself to your home state, try out of state like texas or florida.