CoreyLipa

Mr.Piatak

EnglishIII

February23,2015

Thebestcoursetopursueacareerasapoliceofficerinvolvesknowingtheirhistory,

learningwhatittakestobecomeapoliceofficer,andtoseewhatapoliceofficergoes

throughonadaytodaybasis.Firstofallitstartswithdesire.Apersonwhodesiresto

becomeapoliceofficerfeelscompelledtoprotectandservepeopleandthe

communitiesinwhichtheylive.Onemusttaketheinitiativeandstartaworking

processtoachieveagoalworkingonthelocalpoliceforce.Anindividualmustperform

acomplexinterviewprocessandseriesofbackgroundchecksjustforconsideration.

Whenacandidateachievesapprovalfortheprogram,thatpersonentersthepolice

academyforasixmonthperiod.Theacademyconsistsofclassroomtrainingandother

activities,includingphysicalfitness,gunhandlingandshootingaccuracy.Analternative

courseofactionforpoliceofficercandidacy,consistsofanindividualchoosingtoattend

collegeandmajoringinCriminalJustice.

ThroughoutthehistoryoftheUnitedStates,ourpoliceforcesmanagedissuesrelatedtothe

Americanpoliticaleconomy.Theyhavedealtwithantiimmigrantbashing,tostrikebreakingin

th
the1800stomassivecorruptionintheearly20
century.Policeresponsibilityeventually


changedtodealingwithothersocialmovements.

TheactualbeginningsofpoliceofficercareersdateallthewaybacktotheAmerican

Revolution.TherolloutofpolicingintheUnitedStatesfollowedthatofEnglandasitwas

highlyinformalandinvolvedthecommunity.Thefirstpoliceofficersconsistedofabunchof

townsfolkwhovolunteered(volunteersinthesensethattheydesiredtoavoidmilitaryservice,

forcedintoservicebythetownsinwhichtheylivedorperformingdutyasaformofpunishment)

tostayupallnightwatchingforanysuspiciousactivityandreceivedorderstowarnthetownof

thesame.Thismethodprovedineffectiveonoccasionduetocrimestakingplacewhileselected

personsservedwatchduty.Reasonsforsuchattributedtopeoplegettingdrunkorfallingasleep

duringtheiractiveshift.ThesegroupofpeopleidentifiedasTheWatch.Thefirstwatch

startedinBostonin1636,followedbyNewYorkin1658andPhiladelphiain1700.Thecity

ThecityofPhiladelphiahadbeenthefirsttoestablishadayshiftwatchin1833.Constables

latersupervisedtheactivitiesofthenightwatch,servedwarrantsandreceivedpaid

compensationastruelawenforcementofficers.In1838,thecityofBostoncreatesthefirst

centralized,allaroundpolicedepartment,followedbyNewYorkandChicagowithothermajor

citiesstartingoverthenextthirteenyears.Thesemunicipalpoliceofficersreceivedactual

compensationandreportedtolocalgovernment,usuallytothecitythatemployedthem.

Attheendofthe1800s,policedepartmentshadbecomefirmlyinvolvedinthedaytoday

politicalaffairsofbigcitypoliticalorganizations.Policehadbeguntoprovideservices

andassistancetothealliesofthepoliticalorganizationsarrestinganyoneinterferingwiththe

activitiesofthepoliticalorganizationopponents.Duringthistime,thesetightlywound

organizationshappenedtobetheprimarymethodthroughwhichcrimewasorganizedinurban

areas.Politiciansranorsupervisedgambling,involvedthemselvesinprostitution,drug

distributionandracketeering.Politicianswouldhirewhitemobstokillorseverelyharmanyone

whodidn'tvoteforthemandpoliceofficerswouldsupportthisaction.Policefraudcontinuedto

lastuntilthe20thcentury.

Inthe1900santilaboractivitycausedmajorchangestopolicedepartmentsallacrossthe

UnitedStates.Alarmboxesweresetupthroughoutcities,trustworthycitizensreceivedthe

opportunitytocallthepoliceatanytimeofanemergency.Policeofficersneededtobeprovided

uniformstohelpidentifythemselvesaswellasfirearmstoassertthemselveswithdeadlyforce.

Unfortunatelytheuniformsmadeiteasytospotpoliceofficersmakingthemeasytargetsfor

criminalsandviolentmobs.Finally,in1929PresidentHerbertHooverappointedthe

WickershamCommissiontoexaminetheamountofcrimerateandpoliceforcesunableto

performtheirjobscorrectly.Thisfirstofficialgovernmentalbodyneededcreationtoformally

investigateorganizedcrime.

Aspoliceforcesspreadthroughoutthecountry,businessesandpopulationadditionally

increased.Thegovernmentfeltobligatedtomaintainasafeenvironmentatfactoriesfor

productionandprotectthepublicfromriotersandpublicdrunks.Inthe1950sthematterof

policeprofessionalismencouragedallpolicedepartmentstocreatebettereffectivenessandto

reformpolicingasaninstitution.Duringthe1960smanychangestookplaceinourcountry,

bothsocialandpolitical.Intheearlypartofthatdecade,numerousuprisingsresultedfromthe

CivilRightsmovement.Inthelatterpartofthedecade,demonstrationsagainsttheVietnamWar

formed.Ineachcase,riotserupted.ManypolicedepartmentstriedtopreventtheCivilRights

movementfromspreadingandresortedtobruteforceagainstpeople.Inordertosuppressthe

demonstrationsagainstthewar,policeofficersusedothercontroversialtacticsthatmademany

peopleveryangrytowardthem.Americancitizensblamedmuchofthesocialtensionthat

existedonpoliceofficers.Asaresultofthetensionandproblems,policedepartmentsalong

withourcriminaljusticesystemimplementedchangeandnewlaws.Theintentwastofurther

changetherelationshipbetweenthepoliceandcommunitiesacrossthecountry.Eventual

changesincludedthecreationofSWATteamsscienceandtechnologyeventuallyledtocitizen

surveillancealongwithcommunitypolicingtakingplace.Inthe1980spublicdrinkinghad

becomeamajorissueduetothefactitwaswidelyconsumedconsideringittobeacrimeanda

publicoffense,thisproblemwashardtocontainduetothelargesaleofalcoholinpublicplaces.

Inthe1990sPoliceofficerswouldbribecriminalstoretrieveintelofanysortofillegalactivity,

thishadbecomeaproblembecauseitgavepoliceofficerstoomuchpoweroverthepeople.

Readingandlearninghowthehistoryofpoliceforcesactuallystartedhadbeenaninteresting

thingforme,consideringtheybeganaswatchsystemsbyvolunteereffortthenprogressingover

theyearsintoapaidservicejobalongwithadvancingtheirtacticsandspreadingalloverthe

countryishighlyinterestingandprovideduniqueperspective.

Communitypolicingisanimportantaspectoflawenforcementcareers(1).Manypolice

forceshireprospectivecandidateswhodemonstrateanininterestinservingthecommunityin

whichtheyliveandprotectingtheresidentsthatlivetherein.Thehavenointerestinpersonsthat

appeartobethrillseekers.Theconsensusistohireindividualswhopreferserviceover

excitementandadventure.Thereasonforsuchisbaseduponresearchconductedwhichshows

mostcallstothepolicearenotcrimerelatedbutofanothernaturewherepeopleseekhelpon

variousdifferentissues.Thepreferredcharacteristicsofpotentialpoliceofficersmustknow

rightandwrong,makegoodjudgements,theymustbealsoshowtheabilitytobecourageous,

takeresponsibility,toberesourceful,showinitiative,demonstrateassertiveness,showintegrity

andbewillingtobepartofateam.Anindividualcandeveloptheseskillsinavarietyof

differentwaysanditisrecommendedthatonevolunteerwithalocalpolicedepartment.Another

waywouldresultfromgainingasignificantamountofactualworkexperienceinacapacity

wheresomeonecouldfocusoncommunityenvironmentandculture.Lastly,onecouldtake

relatedcollegeoreducationalcoursesfocusingoncommunicationandcriticalthinking.The

criticalthinkingaspectwouldpromoteproblemsolvingabilities.

Themaindutiesofpoliceofficersmandatestheyenforcelawsandprotectcitizensinlocal,

regional,stateandfederaljurisdictions(2).Actualjobdutiesvary,butincludeperforming

administrativework,apprehendingcriminalsuspects,makingarrestsandassistingvictimsof

possiblecrimes,accidentsordomesticissues.

Thereareseveralrequirementsthatapersonmustmeetinordertobeconsideredasapolice

officerwhichvaryfromstatetostateanddifferingpoliceagencies.AcommissiononPeace

OfficerStandardsandTrainingdemandpoliceagenciesrequireminimumselectionstandardsfor

lawenforcementofficers.AgenciesrequireapplicantsbecitizensoftheUnitedStates,or

permanentresidentalienswhohaveappliedforcitizenship.Someagenciesmandatepolice

officersresidewithintheareainwhichtheypatrol,somedonot.Mostpoliceagenciesrequireyou

tobe21yearsofagebyacademygraduationdate,sometakecadetsasyoungas18yearsofage

andtheactualmaximumagecanvarywidely.Somehavenomaximumagerequirementso

becomingapoliceofficecouldpossiblehappenatanyage.Potentialwouldbepoliceofficers

mustalsomeetseveralphysical,behavioralandotherregulationsinordertoobtainemployment.

Asalwaystheserequirementsvarybyagency.Sincemanypoliceofficerjobdutiesareofa

highlyphysicalnature,applicantsmustbephysicallystrongwithnohearing.vision,orother

impairments.Somepolicedepartmentsmandatetheirofficercandidateprospectshave

psychologicalorliedetectortestingduringtheapplicationprocess.Apoliceofficercandidate

mustpossessavaliddriverslicensesincemostofficersstartoutonpatrol.Apersonsdriving

historywillalsobereviewedduringacriminalbackgroundcheck.Theeducationalrequirements

forpoliceofficersvaryfromonetowntoanotherbecausetheyareestablishedbyeachcity,state,

regionalorfederalpolicedepartment.Ahighschooldiplomaisalmostalwaysrequiredfor

entrylevelemploymentasapoliceofficer,sometimesaGEDcanbeaminimumrequirement.

Policeofficersincertaincitiesrequireabachelorsdegreeoraminimumnumberofcollegecredit

hours.Officersemployedbyfederalagenciesmusthaveabachelor'sdegreeinsomecases,

federalofficersmustalsohaveagraduatedegreeandseveralyearsofworkexperiencewitha

policeforce.Afouryearcollegedegreeorotheradvanceddegreeisabenefittoanindividuals

careerprogression.Itisespeciallysowhenseekingapromotionorspecialassignment.Criminal

justicestudiesoraBachelorofSciencedegreewithprogramsinpolicesciencearetraditional

pathsalongwithpursuitsinsociology,psychology,andsocialworkareotheracceptableareasof

study.Mostofthesedegreeprogramsalsorequirecoursesincriminalinvestigations,crime

prevention,policeadministrativeclerkingandcriminalevidence.Coursesinthesemajorshelp

studentsgainanextensiveunderstandingofthebasicfoundationofcrime,criminalsandvictims.

Eventhoughmanyrequirementsexistinordertobecomeapoliceofficer,manydisqualifiers

alsoexist.Manyitemscandisqualifyyoufrompoliceservice.Policeagenciesusediscretionwhen

reviewingpastinfractions.Somehaveaslidingtimelimitthatmayadjustbasedontheseverityof

thecrime.Eachpolicedepartmentmaintainsdifferentrequirements.Ifsomeoneisfoundtobe

unsuitableforonedepartment,theremaybeotherswhichfindyouacceptable.Disqualifiers

includeafelonyconvictionasanadultorjuvenileamisdemeanorconvictioninvolvingdomestic

abuseorasexualcomponentillegaldruguseapoordrivingrecordincludingrecklessdriving

convictionaDWIorDUIconvictionpoorcredithistoryorotherfinancialproblems.(3)

Regardlessofthepolicedepartmentorjurisdiction,allnewhiresarerequiredtoundergo

extensivetrainingpriortoofficiallybeginningpolicework.Policeacademytrainingvariesin

lengthandintensitydependingonthesizeofthehiringpolicedepartmentandjobduties.Police

academyprogramsconsistofbothrigorousphysicaltrainingandextensivestudiesinalllegal,

ethicalandproceduralregulationsrelevanttopolicework.Traineeslearnaboutlawsintheirarea

ofjurisdictionandbecomeproficientinthemethodsforconductingimportantjobduties,like

makingtrafficstops,conductingsearches,makingarrestsandfingerprintingsuspects.

Unlikemostjobs,becomingalawenforcementofficerinvolvesmorethancompletingan

applicationandinterview.Agenciesrunapplicantsthroughaseriesofcomprehensivetestsand

exams,eachdesignedtonarrowthefieldofapplicantstoadvanceonlythosewhoarebest

qualified.Theinitialapplicationandprescreeningquestionnairedetailanapplicantsinterest

andeligibility.Basedonareviewofthismaterial,candidatesareinvitedbacktotakethewritten

exam.Thewrittenexamistypicallyastandardizedtestusedtoassessgeneralaptitudeandisnot

relatedtolawenforcement.Someagenciesofferstudyguidestoassistapplicantspreparingforthe

exam.Duringvideoexams,applicantswatchascenarioandprovideaverbalresponsethatisrated

andscored.Someagenciesusevideosimulationstoassessanapplicantsinterpersonalskillsand

judgment.Lawenforcementhasphysicaldemands,andemployersneedtoensuretheirrecruits

arefittoserve.Applicantscanexpecttotakesomesortofphysicalabilitytestduringthehiring

process.Agenciestypicallyuseafitnessandjobsimulationtest.Afitnesstestmeasuresa

candidatesoverallleveloffitnessthroughstructuredactivitiestoassessstrength,endurance,and

cardiovascularhealth.Jobsimulationtestsaredesignedtomeasureapersonsabilitytoperform

jobspecifictaskssuchasrunningstairs,draggingaweight,orclimbingawall.Abackground

checkwillbeconductedtoensurethatyoudonothaveanypersonalorprofessionalissuesthat

wouldpreventapersonfrompoliceservice.Backgroundinvestigatorswillreviewyour

employmenthistory,characterreferences,academicrecords,residency,criminalandcredithistory.

Abackgroundinvestigationtypicallyincludesafingerprintcheckandinterviewswiththosewho

knowyou,includingpreviousemployers,schoolormilitarypersonnel,neighbors,andfamily

members.Drugtestsareroutinelygiventocheckforthepresenceofillegalsubstances.Each

agencyestablishesthetypeoftest.Justasagencieswanttoensureyouarephysicallyfitforthe

job,theyalsowanttoknowthatyouarementallystabletohandleitaswell.Thisevaluationis

typicallymadethroughwrittenpsychologicalexamsandmaybesupplementedwithaninterview

byapsychologist.Psychologicaltestingservestwofunctions:toevaluateyourcharacterand

emotionalmakeupandtoensureyouarewellsuitedtothejobfromapsychologicalperspective.

Manydepartmentsuseapolygraph,knownasliedetectortest,toverifyinformationsubmitted

throughouttheapplicationprocess.Anoralboardisachanceformembersofthehiringauthority

tomeetandtalkwithyoufacetoface.Oralinterviewsserveasachancetodiscussyour

qualificationsandgaugeyourmatchtotherespectivepoliceagency.Generallyonlythose

applicantsgivenaconditionalofferofemploymentwillbesubjecttothemedicalexam.This

physicalexamwillevaluateifyouaremedicallyfittomeetthephysicalrequirementsofthejob.

Acandidateshouldbeabletoperformtheessentialjobfunctionslistedbytheemployer.Mostlaw

enforcementagencieshavevision,hearingaswellasothercriteriabasedonspecificdiseases

orconditions.Thespecificrequirementsvarybyagencyandwhatisacceptablebyonedepartment

maynotbebyanother.

Completionoftheacademyandfieldtrainingprogramwillbethefinalhurdletobecominga

policeofficer.Eachstateandjurisdictionhavedifferenttrainingrequirements.Insomeareas,

youcangothroughbasiclawenforcementtrainingatthelocalcommunitycollegeorother

statesponsoredinstitutionfirstandthenapplytotheagencyofyourchoice.Othersmayrequire

youcompletetheirinhousetrainingprogramaftersuccessfulcompletionoftheirhiringprocessor

sponsoryoutoattendanacademyelsewhere.Regardless,youcancountonreceivingextensive

trainingpriortostarting.Themajorityofyourinitialtrainingwillbeclassroombased,

supplementedbypracticalexercisesandscenarios.Youwillholdtherankofcadetorpolice

traineeduringthistime,andifsponsoredbyahiringagency,receiveyourfirstpaycheck,andbe

eligibletoreceivebenefits.Aftercompletionoftheacademy,fieldtrainingwillbethefinal

componentoftraining.Duringthistimeyouwillbeteamedupwithatrainingofficerandtravel

withthatindividualonaroutinepatrol.Manyagenciesmakeanefforttorotaterecruits

throughdifferentshiftssuchasday,night,weekendandweekdayindifferentareasofthe

jurisdictiontoensuremaximumexposure.Trainingdoesnotstopwithgraduationfromthe

academyandcompletionoffieldtraining.Moststatesrequireanumberofcontinuingeducation

hourstomaintaincertification.Aftergainingafewyearsofexperience,youmaydecidetoapply

foraspecialassignmentwhichrequiresmoretraining.Advancementinrankwillinvolvetraining

onleadershipandsupervisoryskills.

INTERVIEWWITHMIKEYELTON