Preparing for a Career in Law Enforcement

Do you want to make a difference in someone's life? Do you have good communication skills and self-motivation? Does doing something new and exciting every day interest you? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you may have what it takes to have a career in law enforcement. Many students obtain a degree in criminal justice because they have the drive, determination, and desire to make their communities and the United States a safe place for everyone to live and visit.

According to Abe Hughes, a recent community college graduate and police officer in the Detroit area, "Being a police officer is every exciting. I get to help make the community a better place to live by assisting those in need and enforcing laws."

Within local communities, support for police officers and other law enforcers is continually growing. In the U.S., the need and respect for federal agents in the federal government, such as the FBI and DEA, has seen a rapid rise since September 11th.

According to Dan Kearney, an instructor at Henry Ford Community College and retired Detroit Police Officer, "Police officers and other law enforcement are not just there to enforce laws, but also to solve problems and work with the community."

Even though a job in law enforcement has great pay, good benefits, and excellent job security, these jobs are not for everyone. Officers come across very difficult tasks they must perform and are constantly seeing people at their worst. If, however, being a law enforcement officer interests you, please read the different approaches you can take to become the officer you were meant to be.

The three main levels of law enforcement are local, state, and federal. Local law enforcement consists of working for a city police department or a county sheriff's office. City police officers are responsible for enforcing local and state laws within city limits. Sheriffs enforce laws within their county of work. To become part of local law enforcement, in most cases, an associate's degree is required. After graduation, potential officers enter a 15-25 week police training academy to learn hands-on what it takes to become a cop. In addition to a degree, applicants must pass a physical fitness test, an oral interview, a written test, and a background investigation.

State law enforcement includes state police and state troopers. The police have more investigative duties while the troopers are responsible for enforcing state laws on highways. The requirements for most state troopers are an associate's degree, passing a physical, written, and oral exam and being willing to relocate anywhere in the state.

The federal government is the final area of law enforcement. The government employs a large number in a wide variety of positions. Some of the more interesting jobs within the federal government are with the U.S. Secret Service. These jobs are mainly to protect the president. The Drug Enforcement Administration enforces the nation's drug laws. The FBI is responsible for terrorism, robberies, and other vicious crimes. A bachelor's degree is required to become a federal officer. A degree in criminal justice can be obtained through many four-year universities. The training is specific to each agency and takes about 17 weeks.

A career in law enforcement may be just what you are looking for. If you want to do something new and exciting every day, then look into a career in law enforcement.

Editorial provided by Jennifer Dawson, Office of Public Information at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, MI.