What does it take to become a homicide detective?

Question

I would like to know if anyone knows the requirements on this?

Answer 1

My understanding--I'm not in law enforcement--is that all homicide detectives started out as uniformed patrol cops, same as every other cop. By distinguishing themselves early and often, they worked their way up through the ranks until they got offered the plum assignments, including homicide.

Answer 2

First you have to be a police officer.

Second you have to have put in time on the street and shown your capabilities.

Third there has to be an opening in the detective bureau.

Fourth you have to put in a request for transfer.

Fifth you have to be accepted into the detective bureau.

Sixth you have to put in time as a detective and shown your capabilities.

Seventh there has to be an opening in homicide.

Eighth your supervisor has to recommend your transfer.

Answer 3

Training and more donuts

Answer 4

Requirements are, of course, different in different departments.

I worked for a very large city police department. In my town you had to be a police officer for at least 3 years before you were allowed to take a detectives test. The test was not given too often. If you made it, usually only the top 10% was listed, you waited on the list for promotion by seniority. You needed at least 60 semester hours of college to be a police officer in my town. You did not need any more college for detective. You did need a bachelors for sergeant or higher.

Once picked you went back to the academy for 4 weeks. Twenty 7.5 hour days of classroom work learning all kinds of things. If you pass all of the tests in the academy you then get assigned to a detective unit. If you have made a name for yourself on the street you sometimes get to choose what unit you go to (actually the unit boss gets to request you), homicide/s*x, robbery, burglary, auto theft, arson, etc. You work with an experienced detective or detective team for a couple of months until you hook up with a partner.

If you wanted homicide and got something else you could get a transfer, by seniority, when they made a new class of detectives, if there were openings. Homicide detectives also investigated officer involved shootings, serious batteries and kidnappings.

Skills needed include interview and interrogation, observation, report writing (an initial investigative report on a homicide could easily run 30 pages) and courtroom demeanor among a hundred other things.

Answer 5

Will differ slightly by dept.

Get hired by a PD.

Get thru the academy.

Pass field training.

Get through your probationary period.

Develop a good reputation in your dept as a good street officer.

Apply for a detective position-usually a generalist or property crimes.

Work your way up to major Case-Robbery Homicide.

In my dept you need at least 3 years street experience to apply for any special assignment. As Major Case-Robbery Homicide is the elite of Investigations, they will only consider applications from detectives who have a certain amount of desk experience in Investigations.

Answer 6

A murder.

Can't investigate a homicide that hasn't actually occurred.