Believe it or not, police officer requirements can vary quite significantly from department to department.  Aside from some requirements which are universally standard – such as citizenship, background requirements, or physical endurance standards – other requirements might not be so standard.  Most notably, police applicants can expect to see a divergence of qualifications between smaller departments and larger departments.

This is not to suggest that the smaller police departments are somehow inferior regarding their police officer requirements than the larger departments.  To the contrary, smaller departments are much more likely to evaluate applicants on an individual level than are the large departments.  This is primarily because their hiring practices are based more on reasons to find qualified candidates than to weed out the masses based on arbitrary criteria.  People, rather than processes, are actually making the decisions – at least the initial ones.

Because larger police agencies tend to offer better salary, benefits, and advancement opportunities than do some smaller departments, the large urban agencies are typically swamped with huge volumes of police applicants.  For this reason, the larger departments regularly utilize what one could call an elimination process to sort out applicants.  What this means is that these departments define strict police officer requirements for perspective officers.  Applicants who fall short of any of these requirements are automatically eliminated.  For example, one could be eliminated because they have no college degree, or because their driving record is unacceptable.

Unfortunately, because these elimination techniques are so rigidly applied, otherwise well qualified applicants can fall by the wayside.  The process is discouraging.  If you’re working hard on your education, but you’re not quite there yet, likely you will not be considered.  If your driving violations occurred 10 years ago and your record since then is perfect, you could be gone before you even begin!

There is a silver lining, so to speak.  While the smaller departments might lag in salary and benefits, even in a long term career path, plenty of opportunity remains.

Applicants who have been eliminated from the larger departments, yet who nonetheless possess overall superior police officer requirements should seriously consider application to a number of smaller departments.  Understand, though, that smaller departments rarely, if ever, operate their own police academies.  Self-sponsorship or department sponsorship is far more likely than being hired as a police recruit.

Begin with research.  Check department websites, look for news articles.  Are there any obvious red flags?  Smaller departments suffer from a perception that the environment is too political, too susceptible to cronyism.  While sometimes this might be true, don’t think that larger departments don’t suffer from the same negatives.

Because smaller departments generally pay less than the larger ones, they are more likely to have a higher turnover rate.  Assuming you have ruled out obvious problems related to that turnover rate, it actually can work to your advantage.  Higher turnover means more open positions.  And, by consistently upgrading continuing police officer requirements through ongoing education and professional training, that turnover can ultimately result in a greater potential for career advancement.

Different opportunities exist at the small level.  For example, patrol officers are much more likely to engage in follow up investigation than in a larger organization where everything is handed over to the detective bureau.  In addition, with a smaller department, officers can develop a closer relationship with the community, even with the upper management staff.  In a large department, the “average” officer is, well, a “number”.  In a smaller environment, this is rarely the case.  In short, officers in smaller departments often have a better opportunity to shine than in the faceless surroundings of a large agency.

While the rigid police officer requirements of the larger departments can be discouraging, don’t give up.  The smaller departments can provide equally as much benefit – if not more – than the mega agencies.  Continue to pursue your education, and continue to apply to a variety of police departments, both large and small.  There is a genuine likelihood that someday someone will give you that chance, that opportunity to pursue your dream.

The foundation for all police training courses is Basic Law Enforcement, also known as BLE.  Police officer requirements are mandated by each state.  Basic Law Enforcement provides the framework for all police careers.  Only upon the successful conclusion of BLE training can candidates earn the certification necessary to serve as a police officer.

BLE training is the curriculum that is followed in police academies.  While the specific courses differ from state to state – even from school to school – the overall requirements are standard.

As we have discussed in Police Academy Training, actual admission to Basic Law Enforcement training depends on the policies of the individual jurisdictions.  Whether one is attending as a police recruit, as a sponsored candidate, or as a self sponsored student, all students will begin their career with a BLE police training course.

BLE police training courses offer a combination of classroom and field curriculum.  While field activities typically include firearms training, suspect apprehension, self defense and physical endurance, the classroom courses form the basis of the curriculum.

Arguably the most important aspect of police work is the officer’s knowledge and application of the law.  More often than not, BLE curriculums begin with an in depth study of constitutional law.  As all laws in the United States must adhere to the Constitution, it is imperative for the police officer to fully comprehend the basis for the laws.

With the foundations of constitutional law established, most BLE police training courses will shift more definitively to the criminal laws.  These studies will focus on the substance of the criminal laws including the actual identification of crimes, the classifications of law (such as misdemeanors or felonies), and the penalties for those laws.

Criminal procedures are another important element of the study of criminal law.  Included in these studies are the interaction of the courts and accused suspects.  BLE students will learn specifically how that court system works to enforce the criminal laws, and specifically how the accused are tried, and how the guilty are sentenced, and convicted.

BLE police training courses also focus on traffic laws.  As with criminal laws, traffic laws fall into a variety of categories.  Depending on the individual jurisdiction, traffic laws can be categorized from non-moving violations (such as parking) to moving violations (such as careless driving), to more serious violations (such as speeding).  Traffic laws can also be categorized as crimes, such as DUI, Reckless Driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, or vehicular homicide.  The point is, regardless of the differences between jurisdictions, the police officer must have a thorough understanding not only of the traffic laws that apply, but also in the enforcement of those laws and infractions.

Interestingly, the traffic stop is considered one of the most dangerous activities of a patrol officer.  For this reason equally as much emphasis is placed on safety protocols for traffic stops as on the laws themselves!

BLE police training courses will also devote a significant amount of time to report writing.  Don’t assume that this is a quasi ‘police-journalism course”.  Hardly.  While police candidates can be expected to be screened on their writing skills, writing skills are only a portion of the report writing demands.  Equally, if not more important than the officer’s ability to properly construct the report, the officer must first acquire all facts related to the report.  This means accurately questioning victims and witnesses, obtaining all information available at the time of the report, and properly categorizing the event as a crime or as an incident.

We will discuss the elements of the police report in future blog posts.  Suffice to say, the accuracy of the police report is a reflection of the unique knowledge of the police officer.  For starters, it is a blend of interviewing skills, observation techniques, and the application of law.

While BLE police training courses represent the beginning of law enforcement careers, their importance cannot be overemphasized.  These courses are the structure, the foundation for all police officers.

Becoming a cop means successful completion of police academy training.  Regardless of the circumstances of attendance – police recruit student, sponsored applicant, or self sponsored – police academy training requirements are rigorous across the board.

While specifications vary by jurisdiction, the purpose of police academy training is to certify all graduates in accordance with state mandated requirements.

Police academy training may be offered as an entity of a particular police department, through a community college system, or by means of certain private colleges.  In order to certify students, all police academies must adhere to state police officer requirements.

Students accepted into police academy training as recruits or sponsored applicants of a specific police agency must meet the hiring standards of that department.  Self-sponsored students are likewise held to high standards and must meet, at least, state standards for admission.  In general, these requirements mandate a clean criminal and driving record, psychological and polygraph testing, drug testing, and a health check-up.

Depending on the school, self-sponsored students might also be required to meet certain academic standards such as a previous college credits and grade point average requirements.

Again depending on jurisdiction, many police academies also require that students must meet certain pore-admission physical agility qualifications.  Some states require a pre-admission agility test, while others mandate these standards as a requirement for graduation.  In any event, students should be in top physical shape in preparation for any police academy training environment.

Police academy training is sometimes referred to as Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) training.  Again, while specific curriculum will vary by state and jurisdiction, basic BLE requirements are universally standard.

Becoming a cop is a learning experience that is found both in the classroom and in the field.  Classroom curriculum will typically include an in-depth study of criminal law, constitutional law, and evidence.  Other studies will include report writing, traffic statutes, communications and interpersonal skills, investigative techniques, and patrol procedures.

Field curriculum will include firearms training, defensive driving techniques, physical fitness training, and defensive tactics.

Students can expect a program length usually of at least 22 weeks.  Regarding cost, police recruits are employees of a police department and are not charged tuition.  Sponsored applicants might pay a portion of tuition costs, or can qualify for reimbursement once hired by the sponsoring department.  Self-sponsored students can expect tuition to range from $4000 or higher depending on residency and school.  Equipment costs such as uniforms, firearms, or other items will be extra.

No doubt, police academy training is a commitment.  So is becoming a cop!  Are you ready to answer the call …

In the past, police officer requirements mandated that police academy training had to be tied exclusively to a police department.  As time has evolved, so has the institution known as the police academy.  More frequently than ever, community colleges in particular are offering certified police academy training to anyone who can qualify.  Upon successful graduation from the academy, students receive the state certification that is required of all police officers.  Even for those who choose not to pursue a law enforcement career, the credits earned are still valid college credits.

Police academy training is available through three options:   as a police recruit for a specific police department, through sponsorship of a specific police department, or as a self-sponsored student.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these options.

Police Recruit Status
Police recruits are employees of a police department.  As such, they receive full pay and benefits while they attend the police academy.  The department also pays for all supplies, equipment, and uniforms.  For those who have made a decision to pursue a police career, this is clearly the preferred option.

Some larger departments prefer to operate their own police academy training.  In this case, only recruits are eligible to attend.  In fact, certain states including Arkansas, Indiana, and Kansas utilize this process as their sole means for training their police recruits.

Upon successful graduation and certification from the academy, the police recruit is sworn in as police officer.  Inevitably, that recruit will begin his/her career in the patrol division.

Sponsorship By a Police Department 
In this situation, a police applicant attends police academy training that isrecognized by a specific department.  Following successful graduation from that academy, the applicant is guaranteed a position within the department.

Sponsorship does not include salary and benefits, supplies or equipment.  Nor does it include tuition.  However, some departments do offer partial reimbursement once the applicant joins the department.

Depending on the department, “guaranteed” can take on several meanings.  Some departments sponsor a recruit with the certainty that a police officer position will be available upon successful graduation.  Other departments will guarantee employment only after a position becomes available.

Self-Sponsoring
In  self sponsored police academy training, the student has no affiliation with a police agency, however, he/she has qualified to attend a police academy.  Self-sponsored academies are typically found at community colleges.  Courses are for credit and all courses are required to meet state certification mandates.

Self-sponsoring requires that the student must pay all expenses including tuition.  Costs vary, however one can expect a range somewhere between $3,000 to $5,000 tuition for a complete course.

Needless to say, self-sponsoring has become increasingly popular with police departments.  No longer are they required to burden the costs of salary, benefits, or equipment.  And, as an added benefit for police agencies, with self-sponsoring they have the opportunity to evaluate the candidate after graduation from the academy rather than before.

Because students are self-sponsored, there is no guarantee of employment by any police department.  However, on the plus side, once the applicant obtains state certification they are eligible to apply for any police agency in that state.  Note, however, that if self-sponsored  applicants do not attain employment within a certain period of time, recertification is required.  Recertification standards vary between states as do eligibility periods, which can expire anywhere from 1 – 4 years after graduation.

There are other benefits associated with self-sponsoring police academy training.  An exceptional performance in the police academy can greatly enhance employment opportunities.  Not to mention that a less than impressive employment or academic history can be overshadowed by  that same stellar performance.

Becoming a Cop provides the solid advice that you need to succeed not only in achieving that coveted police job, but also how to prosper once you’re there.