Ask Me About Being a Police Officer

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how long would it take for, say, someone like me to become a police officer? is there like a 6 week academy, a few tests, then u get to be under someone for a cpl years till you get ur own car? how does that work?

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It is different in all states, but the main thing is the training. Pennsylvania is quite different.

I had to go through 19 weeks of a police academy to get what is called "Act 120 Certification." I then had to get hired at a department. After that I went to Harrisburg, PA to take a test, and that would give me the final certification to become a police officer.

After you pass the test and get hired, most departments will do some on-the-job training and then you're out there. I did a few nights with a partner and then I went out on my own. I kind of got thrown out there, and basically learned as I went along. It's very different going from the classroom to the street.

Most departments hire you and then have their own academy. It really depends on where you want to work, I guess.

[raptor517]

ok cuz i was hoping to get a sick prop bet with durrr going sometime in the future and the loser had to go thru all that and become a legal police officer. thats prob not what u wanted to hear though [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] this is a great thread though and i think its super awesome that theres all sorts of diff ppl in the 2p2 community. i had no idea a police officer would post on 2p2, ive also read ur posts in past and just assumed u played full time. cheers

[wiper]

pretty interesting (and honest, i assume) thread thusfar...

1. sounds like you're nearby sharon/farrel

2. talk about some perks of the job...i've come to know a few cops in the city i live, and a few have told me that if they don't leave the city limits, they're untouchable, at least in the assault/dui-type arena...

3. ever had to arrest/cite someone you know, or let them off?

4. say for some reason, someone had a gun, definitely bought on the 'black market' many years ago, and definitely illegal (no registration), and say that person would like to get rid of that gun for legality purposes because this person owns legal guns, and there's no reason to possess the illegal gun anymore. what's the best recourse for disposing of this gun?? keep in mind, putting the gun in a car (with no registration for the gun) puts the person's freedom at stake... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

thanks for not being an [censored], from what i can tell, tough job you all have...

[ItalianFX]

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ok cuz i was hoping to get a sick prop bet with durrr going sometime in the future and the loser had to go thru all that and become a legal police officer. thats prob not what u wanted to hear though [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] this is a great thread though and i think its super awesome that theres all sorts of diff ppl in the 2p2 community. i had no idea a police officer would post on 2p2, ive also read ur posts in past and just assumed u played full time. cheers

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I basically suck at poker. I played alot when I did play, but it was never because I was making alot of money. I had hopes and dreams, but I never saw the results.

[ItalianFX]

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pretty interesting (and honest, i assume) thread thusfar...

1. sounds like you're nearby sharon/farrel

2. talk about some perks of the job...i've come to know a few cops in the city i live, and a few have told me that if they don't leave the city limits, they're untouchable, at least in the assault/dui-type arena...

3. ever had to arrest/cite someone you know, or let them off?

4. say for some reason, someone had a gun, definitely bought on the 'black market' many years ago, and definitely illegal (no registration), and say that person would like to get rid of that gun for legality purposes because this person owns legal guns, and there's no reason to possess the illegal gun anymore. what's the best recourse for disposing of this gun?? keep in mind, putting the gun in a car (with no registration for the gun) puts the person's freedom at stake... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

thanks for not being an [censored], from what i can tell, tough job you all have...

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1. Sharon is not too far away.

2. I have an ID card that I carry at all times that says where I'm a police officer at. I could probably use it to get out of some traffic violation. I could probably get out of alot of traffic violations because of it, but never had to try. I also get free coffee and fountain drinks at our local Sheetz (convenience store) if I'm in uniform. We have a Fox's Pizza and they give us 50% off. That is all I can really think of at the moment.

3. I have dealt with alot of people I know. I've pulled over my chief's wife (didn't know it at the time), and let her go (obviously). I've stopped some friends. I've had a situation with my cousin and his ex-wife fighting over child custody issues. I really don't write alot of citations. I'm pretty lenient when it comes to traffic violations. However, when it's a criminal issue, it's a different story because there is usually a victim involved.

4. I'm not really sure what to do about that. I'm not sure if you should contact your local police department or sheriff's office and see what they say, but then if that is a bad idea, then you could be arrested? I don't know. Seems like a touchy situation. If you're really unsure, take it out to the woods and bury it as deep as you can. haha Or call a lawyer and get some free advice from them and see what happens. I honestly have no idea.

[Tablerat]

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I have wanted to be a police officer for as long as I can remember. I'm still in school now so the police job is a stepping stone. I'm not sure where I'll end up.

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Do you have any interest in detective work? What would be the process for you to become one? If you could expand a little on the "stepping stone" aspect (for your particular situation) that would be great!

I know this has been hinted at several times in the thread, especially wrt the size of your town, but if you had an offer right after graduation to work in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia (in any part of the department), for example, would that interest you?

[ItalianFX]

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I have wanted to be a police officer for as long as I can remember. I'm still in school now so the police job is a stepping stone. I'm not sure where I'll end up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any interest in detective work? What would be the process for you to become one? If you could expand a little on the "stepping stone" aspect (for your particular situation) that would be great!

I know this has been hinted at several times in the thread, especially wrt the size of your town, but if you had an offer right after graduation to work in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia (in any part of the department), for example, would that interest you?

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I could possibly be interested in detective work. I am slightly intrigued by the work of a homicide detective and may end up there in the future.

The stepping stone aspect is because my town is small, the department is laid back, and we don't have any dangerous crime happening. Sometimes it can get hairy, but it's usually not too bad. Experience is experience though, and it's a great opportunity to be a police officer and eventually move onto something else. Given that I'm still in college, I can work on the weekends and it's a very good opportunity to make money and gain experience at the same time. There are no time requirements to be met and I can basically work as little as I want to. I also grew up in the town I work in so I can still live at home. I didn't need too much training because I already knew all of the streets.

If Pittsburgh offered me a job, I'd most likely take it. My g/f is in medical school at the U. of Pitt and so it would get me closer to her. Philadelphia would be a definite no. I've never been to Philly, but I've heard bad things. Plus, I don't really want to end up there. It's either Pittsburgh, around my area, wherever my g/f gets a residency (if we stay together), or if we don't stay together, then I'd like to head out to San Diego or Las Vegas.

[ItalianFX]

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Does your station have an Internal Affairs specialist? How does he get along with the other officers?

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No, my dept is very basic. The only thing we have other than police officers and the chief is a lady who is our secretary who also fills in as the parking enforcement.

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No dispatchers/call takers?

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I forgot to respond to this.

We have dispatchers, but they are at a central location. They handle calls from the surrounding areas, including ambulance and fire departments. We don't have specific dispatchers for our department.

Call takers, well, our secretary does that when she works during the week. If it's after her hours or the weekends, then we take the calls over the telephone if we are in the station. If someone calls when we aren't there, then they can call our dispatchers and they will contact us to call the people.

[wiper]

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I'm not really sure what to do about that. I'm not sure if you should contact your local police department or sheriff's office and see what they say, but then if that is a bad idea, then you could be arrested? I don't know. Seems like a touchy situation. If you're really unsure, take it out to the woods and bury it as deep as you can. haha Or call a lawyer and get some free advice from them and see what happens. I honestly have no idea.

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who said it was me? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

that said, say 'this person' has had this burner for 8+ years, and knows for a bloody fact that if he/she were caught with it, they would surely get into trouble..

being a person with a decent background in this kind of thing, what would YOU do?

'this person' has envisioned totally wiping it down, putting on gloves, and putting it into a baggie, possibly even in pieces, and throwing it out the window on a highway, as there'd be no way to trace the gun..

'this person' would rather have it on him/her for the shortest time possible, as 'this person' has no idea of the history of said pistol...

advice?

[stabn]

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I'm not really sure what to do about that. I'm not sure if you should contact your local police department or sheriff's office and see what they say, but then if that is a bad idea, then you could be arrested? I don't know. Seems like a touchy situation. If you're really unsure, take it out to the woods and bury it as deep as you can. haha Or call a lawyer and get some free advice from them and see what happens. I honestly have no idea.

[/ QUOTE ]

who said it was me? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

that said, say 'this person' has had this burner for 8+ years, and knows for a bloody fact that if he/she were caught with it, they would surely get into trouble..

being a person with a decent background in this kind of thing, what would YOU do?

'this person' has envisioned totally wiping it down, putting on gloves, and putting it into a baggie, possibly even in pieces, and throwing it out the window on a highway, as there'd be no way to trace the gun..

'this person' would rather have it on him/her for the shortest time possible, as 'this person' has no idea of the history of said pistol...

advice?

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