What is the best route to becoming a law enforcement officer?

Many police departments in the USA do not require an education beyond high school. No matter where you are located, each degree requires a P.O.S.T. course, which may vary in length based on your location. If you can check all the requirements for your location, apply. What you see here are the minimum standards for a city in my neighbourhood:

To apply, an applicant must be at least 20½ years of age. To be eligible for this job, applicants must be United States citizens, with no felony convictions or convictions for misdemeanour offences of violence or moral turpitude. If you have a valid Alabama driver’s licence, you must provide proof of it. Qualified applicants must possess a high school diploma or a GED certificate.

Applicants must be able to get to the police department within an hour after they finish the academy. Honorably discharged veterans only. Peace officers in the State of Alabama and the Montgomery Police Department must both be met before consideration. PAT consists of the following:

• Scale 6ft fence
• Drag a 165 lb. dummy 5 yards
• Crawl through a 2 x 2 window opening
• Run 1 ½ miles (within 15 minutes and 28 seconds)
• Push a car 15 feet

Test that measures basic abilities

Other than applicants who have previously APOSTC certified and who are required to complete the Lateral Refresher training for reinstatement of certification, or applicants who hold an Associate’s Degree or higher from a college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), or its regional equivalent, all other applicants must take the ACT WorkKeys Assessment Basic Abilities Test (BAT).

Before taking the test, you must pay $45.00 to the community college administering the ACT WorkKeys Assessment. For an additional $15, applicants who fail any segment of the three-segment test may re-take that segment for as many times as necessary. The ACT WorkKeys Assessment (BAT) is available throughout the country. Any community college should be able to assist with the application process.

Compensation:

Trainee salaries: $38,236 when in training and $39,456 when on the job (after academy graduation)

officer in charge of law enforcement (Lateral Entry) a yearly salary range of $39,456 to $51,661. (salary for Lateral Police Officers based on years of experience)

Vacation: There are 13 weeks of vacation per year. The number of weeks of vacation increases with age.

Sick: Every year, on average, for 13 days.

Holidays: Eleven holidays are celebrated annually or more at the Mayor’s discretion.

Comprehensive health insurance.

Annual salary is estimated to be around the amount of life insurance purchased.

Retirement occurs at age 62.5 percent with at least 10 years of creditable service, which could be accrued prior to the age of 62. You can begin your retirement earlier between the ages of 55 and 62 if you take a smaller monthly payment.