Training is required but furthering education from high school is optional. Though, there is a higher chance that you will be hired quicker if you have some form of criminal justice degree. Most departments actually recommend getting an associates degree before attempting to join the force. Just to get ahead of others. Also knowing different languages will set you at a different bar then some other who are not bilingual. Before being officially hired there are a few more steps in the process rather than just going back to school. You must under go multiple interviews, written exams, a psych evaluation, background checks and drug tests. To even qualify, you must: be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and have no felony convictions. And some but not all departments even require you to be financially responsible. You also need to be able to pass medical tests, vision and hearing test, as well as physical test. And by physical test they mean, pushing yourself in all ways (including training) until you can 't push anymore. Training includes: learning of defensive tactics, driving, laws and regulations, and firearms. Usually, this training lasts anywhere from twelve to eighteen months. Before becoming a police officer you 'll start out as a probationary officer. Being one, you 'll have to be constantly supervised while supervising your assigned person and only have limited …show more content…
They don 't have a shortage of things to do. If they 're not patrolling their assigned areas, which can sometimes be entire jurisdictions. They are enforcing the law as always, responding to calls or issuing citations. It really is a never ending list, but they primarily focus on protecting people and property. They also occasionally testify in court cases, provide first aid to someone in traffic accidents or injured in domestic disputes until paramedics arrive. As well as, act as official escorts for funeral processions or firefighters. But, being someone who knows officers of the law, the biggest part of the job is identifying and pursuing suspects, making arrests and processing prisoners. When processing a prisoner they have to prepare and maintain in great detail the records of prisoners bookings and pretrial processes. Prisoners are photographed, fingerprinted, palm printed, and given an I.D. number with a card to match for identification. Prisoners are most often processed and sent into the prison system within a week to a week in a half. Most get moved around sometimes having to go through all that all over again. That 's a lot of work for one officer, three officers