How To Become A Police Officer

by Genevieve M. Blaber

Patrolling the mean streets of cities and suburbs alike, police officers help maintain the peace on a day-to-day basis. From writing tickets and mediating disputes, to arresting criminals and testifying in court, police officers are a vital part of everyday life, law, and order.

How do I become a police officer?
In general, police officers need at least a high school diploma and the psychological and physical fitness necessary for getting accepted into the force. However, some police agencies require applicants to have a college degree or some degree of college training. Courses in criminal justice and/or the legal field may be beneficial. In addition, many police departments these days require that a police officer have a college degree before they can receive a promotion. While some police officers may pursue an education during their service, some choose to get these classes out of the way before they enlist.

Before police officers hit the streets, they must receive professional police training and pass certain written, physical, and psychological tests. The purpose of the written test is to ensure that the budding police officer has a thorough understanding of the law and their place serving it, and knows how to properly respond when faced with various situations. The written test also confirms that the student is an effective communicator; an important aspect of the job. The physical test, meanwhile, is to judge whether the candidate has the right amount of strength and stamina necessary to carry out their job. A police officer needs to be in enough shape to run after criminals and strong enough to disarm them inf necessary. As for the psychology exam, this checks to make sure that the candidate has no mental problems (or potential for them) that might cause them to a be a hazard on the job -- either for themselves, colleagues, or the public.

What will I learn in a police officer school?
When you attend a police officer school, get ready to get in shape. Police officers have very physically demanding jobs and when they're not busy chasing down criminals they're using their energy to save lives. At a police officer school you'll work on building both your strength and your stamina. You'll also learn everything from self-defense and first-aid, to how to respond in a emergency situation and how to handle firearms in a safe and smart manner.

As you may have already guessed, you'll be getting quite the education at a police officer school. Police officers need to know about things like how to investigate an accident, what the law is, what people's civil rights are, and various state and local ordinances that will vary according to the area in which they work. Police officers also must be effective communicators, as they often have to write about reports about calls they have responded to and even testify in court regarding evidence and witnesses.