[Till]

So I am thinking of becoming a Fire Fighter or Police Officer (think some things may rule me out for Police Officer tho lol)

The more I think about it, I dont know if I want to become a Fire Fighter

any thoughts/ideas

I really dont want to go to work and do the SAME thing EVERYDAY I dont think I could sit behide a desk all day long

[HMUSN]

Join the Navy. You can be a cop and a fire fighter at the same time! lol

[TheUNZippee!]

As tough as it is, there are reasons I enjoy driving a truck for a living.

[HMUSN]

YouTube - Funny Navy recruitment video

YouTube - Funny Navy recruitment video

[Till]

lol now HMUSN

[KingChronic]

i agree with you 100% i cant do the same job every day either. CERTAINLY cant sit at a desk, i'd go nuts.

being a cop is a pretty awesome job, ride around most most of the day, not much time behind a desk, but there is paperwork. you see some fucked up stuff too, so just be ready for it.

go to your local PD and sign up for a ride along. it will give you an idea of what an officers job consists of.

[Till]

bumpty bump dumb a hump crump tunk zunk sunk wunk tunk punk lunk kunk gunk hunk junk dunk funk bump

[mustanginky]

I want to get into law enforcement. I am 25 and spent the last 2.5 years working for the KY Dept. of Corrections. I actually got hired on a lexington, ky PD about a year ago then due to budget they cancelled their academy classes. I'm testing next weekend for a local PD here where i live.

do some ride alongs you will probably enjoy it. I love what I'm doing now (parole officer) and i've had some awesome internal affairs and gang investigator positions within the prison system, however i still have a desire to do something different. good luck

[Onemanzu]

I just want to throw this out their, My friend graduated from SCC (community college) through the fire fighter college about 3 years ago, he has yet to find a job anywhere in this field. Just consider that, just consider that their might not be as many jobs as you think in these fields... do some research and see if people need these spots filled near you.

[Till]

Originally Posted by mustanginky I want to get into law enforcement. I am 25 and spent the last 2.5 years working for the KY Dept. of Corrections. I actually got hired on a lexington, ky PD about a year ago then due to budget they cancelled their academy classes. I'm testing next weekend for a local PD here where i live. do some ride alongs you will probably enjoy it. I love what I'm doing now (parole officer) and i've had some awesome internal affairs and gang investigator positions within the prison system, however i still have a desire to do something different. good luck

How old were you 21? I tried to get into the correctional here but I was denied im 20

WTF dont understand why I HAVE to be 21 your not carrying a gun inside the facility just a taser

[Till]

Originally Posted by Onemanzu I just want to throw this out their, My friend graduated from SCC (community college) through the fire fighter college about 3 years ago, he has yet to find a job anywhere in this field. Just consider that, just consider that their might not be as many jobs as you think in these fields... do some research and see if people need these spots filled near you.

See that really bothers me, and concerns me I was JUST thinking that the other day

I called the Dept while thinking that and asked a few questions my major one was how many applications do you have on your desk right now?

He said over 100, and they are on a freeze...

[mustanginky]

Originally Posted by Tiller88 How old were you 21? I tried to get into the correctional here but I was denied im 20 WTF dont understand why I HAVE to be 21 your not carrying a gun inside the facility just a taser

you have peace officer powers as a CO in most states. also in most states to be a peace officer you must be 21 years old. I started when I was 23. I loved it. If you work in a local jail, it'd make it easier to get into a PD. Since i went for the state correctional system, I didn't get to know beat cops in my area
fwiw i absolutely miss the yard. it's hard to understand. Most people didn't even want to consider doing the job I did. I guess i've always been a people person and that job is all about dealing with people. Even if it's dealing with Convicts it's still extremely enjoyable. Every day I went home with a different story about my day and I love that. Most people come home and talk about TPS reports or sales numbers and I got to go home and talk about the fight I had to break up or the guy i got to lock up because of some good detective work and finding contraband in his cell.
nothing was more satisfying to me than listening to hours of phone conversation just to hear that little piece of information i needed to hear to stick it to him. all the work was worth it when i looked someone in the face and said "I gotcha" and them realize exactly what i knew.

[Whiskey11]

Originally Posted by Tiller88 So I am thinking of becoming a Fire Fighter or Police Officer (think some things may rule me out for Police Officer tho lol) The more I think about it, I dont know if I want to become a Fire Fighter any thoughts/ideas I really dont want to go to work and do the SAME thing EVERYDAY I dont think I could sit behide a desk all day long

Each PD is different, I know the min requirements for the Omaha Police Department are as follows:

No Felony Convictions
Valid Drivers License
GED or High School Diploma
No DUI's for 2 years prior to application
No Drug use in the past 3 years
No Punitive discharges from the Military
No Domestic Violence offenses

There are a few other things too but not really major things and they are not guarenteed disqualification.

Do you know where you want to live later in life? If so, consider a PD in that area. There are some PD's that require residency of at least a year (maybe more) so plan ahead. Then do a ride along with that Police Department ( Most PD's in the US have some sort of program ). The better way is to know someone on the force and ask if you can go specifically with them. Thats what I've done for my last 3 ride alongs. Just because you've done one doesnt mean you should not do more. Policing changes drastically with the weather. I plan to do another once spring hits full swing and that will complete my four seasons tour!

I say go PD. I will quote one of hte trainign officers at the OPD academy: "If you want a civil service job that hands out bandaids and blankets go Fire Department, but if you want to seriously make a difference in peoples lives every day, then the Police is really where you want to be"

NO offense to Fire/Resque at all intended. Unlike my fellow applicants I actually respect all branches of the military and civil service.

For those who care, I applied in January to OPD, passed the written test and have the Physical Agility test this tuesday. I cant friggen wait. So far their preliminary background checks have come up clean on me, (as they will, I have 1 speeding ticket and a 1 written warning in a different state, nothing else!) so it's just a matter of jumping through the hoops. I hope I make it in, but with 1650 applicants for 50-60 spots, who knows where I'll end up. (Keep in mind not all of that 1650 make it past each test, although I cant see how you could fail any of the tests so far). After I pass the Physical Agility test, it's a long wait till the week of April 20th before the next test I wish OPD's application process was shorter. Ohh wait, thats right our Mayor is a dumbass and wants to cut academy classes......

Originally Posted by Tiller88 See that really bothers me, and concerns me I was JUST thinking that the other day I called the Dept while thinking that and asked a few questions my major one was how many applications do you have on your desk right now? He said over 100, and they are on a freeze...

I can haz 100 Applicants? Put yourself in my position, 1650!!!!!!! for 50-60 slots.... oi....

[Till]

yeah I would like to be a CO for now untill I can figure out what I want to do and if I do want to be a LEO then its alot easier

Didnt know a CO has LEO powers though

but yeah I would like to work in a Jail




P.S. The reason I think I might get thrown under the bus is the polygraph test, I have been in and around stolen property (I never stole it) but was aware of what it was and what not I have done drugs when I was 16 and 17 only did it twice (pot) (now 20), I was told from officers it could and it couldnt so its a mixed review

[mustanginky]

most places, like KY, don't have general leo powers. however you have the responsibility to take someones freedom away and the ability to make arrests during an escape situation. I can't write a traffic ticket or anything like that. My powers were limited to the yard unless theres an escape or something like that. hard to explain. I wasn't a LEO by police officer standards.

[mustanginky]

btw tiller didn't know you were in lexington ky. I was hired by Lex PD in May of 08 and told afterwards they weren't hiring due to budget. There are however other opportunities, Louisville Metro, Danville, Fayette Det. Center hires alot of people. keep your head up and stay out of trouble. montior your credit and keep it in check. One day it'll come your way. FWIW if you're in college, after you get done try and do the Probation and Parole Officer job. I also know there's blackburn correctional complex down there. They're minimum security though so i would have never considered working there, it's more Hug-A-Thug than anything.

good luck and PM me if you want any career advice.

[Till]

Hell yeah son thanks for the info considered PM, also how do I check my credit? its prob junk

[Whiskey11]

Originally Posted by Tiller88 P.S. The reason I think I might get thrown under the bus is the polygraph test, I have been in and around stolen property (I never stole it) but was aware of what it was and what not I have done drugs when I was 16 and 17 only did it twice (pot) (now 20), I was told from officers it could and it couldnt so its a mixed review

I know that OPD doesnt care about it so long as you are honest about it. Most PD's are very strict on the honesty thing (as it's the basis of the job) but much more lenient on juvenile things. The Backgrounds officer that spoke at one of the prep classes stated out right that "we dont give a flying fuck if you did pot when you were 15 so long as you write it down on that peice of paper, we understand that not everyone is perfect and that people DO and will make come arounds for jobs" I'd ask specifically what the requirements were. If you are worried about a polygraph then I wouldnt let it hold you back. You have to pass a polygraph test anyway to be a Corrections officer dont you? Besides, if you can be honest, thats all that matters to them, regardless of the situation. You dont live with any felons do you?

[Till]

Oh yeah I can be honest and straight tell them I have driven stolen property and been around it.
Then was made aware that it was stolen after I drove it I was like WTF!!!! DUDE!!!!

But yeah Im honest about everything lies stack up on more lies which stack up on more lies and eventually it'll get so bad you'll be in ALOT of trouble

Lol no I dont live with felons, I used to know a Felon and stayed there awhile but to my knowledge he wasnt doing anything of illegal nature

[mustanginky]

Originally Posted by Tiller88 P.S. The reason I think I might get thrown under the bus is the polygraph test, I have been in and around stolen property (I never stole it) but was aware of what it was and what not I have done drugs when I was 16 and 17 only did it twice (pot) (now 20), I was told from officers it could and it couldnt so its a mixed review

most PD's will accept your mistakes to a certain degree so long as your honest. trust me i was scared to death about the polygraph with Lexington and felt like i had failed although i had told the truth. Afterwards the lady said i did very good on it and no signs of deception. It's not always what you've done, but what you're willing to be honest with them about. Everyone has made some mistakes and done some things that were illegal. I smoked pot when I was 20, and used to do alot of drugs when i was a minor (mushrooms, etc...) and was honest about it and it wasn't a big deal. The guy who did my drug information questionnaire for the polygraph was like "Umm, you're making that out to be a big deal, it's not that big od a deal" It depends on the dept, however, you should be fine.