How does one become a cop?

[Tsar]

So i was wondering what do i have to do to become one? Do i need a degree? where do i "apply"? and all that sorts of stuff. please no need to guesstimate your answer. thanks

[GrandmasterCow]

So i was wondering what do i have to do to become one? Do i need a degree? where do i "apply"? and all that sorts of stuff. please no need to guesstimate your answer. thanks

police academy for law enforcement. check local county college

[BigAls87Z28]

You must hunt one down, rip out his or her heart and drink all of its blood.
At least thats what I heard.

[qwikz28]

:stupid:

[Mike]

So i was wondering what do i have to do to become one? Do i need a degree?

some departments require a 2 or 4 year degree and some only require a hs diploma, you will find what needs what as you start to apply.


where do i "apply"?

new jersey has whats called the "civil service test" and basically you apply to take this test and check off all departments you would be willing to work for. if you score high enough you get put on the "list" for different departments, if they make it to your spot on the list, you start the interview process.

some departments have whats called a "cheifs test" i dont know how the particulars work in this area as i havent personally applied to any of these departments.

and all that sorts of stuff. please no need to guesstimate your answer. thanks

anything else you want to know post it up

[Tsar]

new jersey has whats called the "civil service test" and basically you apply to take this test and check off all departments you would be willing to work for. if you score high enough you get put on the "list" for different departments, if they make it to your spot on the list, you start the interview process.

some departments have whats called a "cheifs test" i dont know how the particulars work in this area as i havent personally applied to any of these departments.Do you know what kind of questions there're on the test, and do i get to study for it or anything? also where do i take this test?

[Dark_Knight7096]

Check your area, most local PDs only require a HS Diploma, the State Troopers require at the least a Bachelors degree. Once you find the requirements out in your area you must sign up to take either the Civil Service Examination or the Cheif's Test (depending on the area you live). Your score on that will put you on a list. Your position on that list is your chances of becoming a LEO. If you are not in the top 5% chances are you are not getting hired within the next 2 years. Your scores stay on file for 2 years at which time you have to test again. Then, even if you get a high enough score on the test, pass the interview, pass the background check, and pass the psych eval, you still have to be physically fit enough to make it through the acadamy.

I'm workin on becoming one right now :D

PS To take the test you have to sign up. I know in my area the sign up deadline is long gone, IDK if it is different where you live or not, but here you have to wait 2 more years until you get another chance to test. Yes you can study for it, I suggest taking the Bernstein Prepatory course for it. The offer a free 2 hour seminar every single year to get you accustomed to what they teach, and then they offer a 2 day seminar for 400 some odd dollars, but VERY well worth it if you ask me. They teach you how to answer the psych questions to get the highest scores, they teach you tips and tricks for how to read more critically and other things of the like, there is also a study guide that the NJDOP (Department of Personnel) actually publishes, definatly a recommended read!

[Mike]

all kinds of common sence, law related, and psych type questions.

they have online study guides, practice books, or classes you can take

you can get the information on the njdop website or jobs4police.com, and you usually take it in big groups at local schools on a saturday morning

im retaking it on june 17, i scored a 94 last time and it got me the job i have now, but i want to see if i can do better

[Tsar]

Check your area, most local PDs only require a HS Diploma, the State Troopers require at the least a Bachelors degree. Once you find the requirements out in your area you must sign up to take either the Civil Service Examination or the Cheif's Test (depending on the area you live). Your score on that will put you on a list. Your position on that list is your chances of becoming a LEO. If you are not in the top 5% chances are you are not getting hired within the next 2 years. Your scores stay on file for 2 years at which time you have to test again. Then, even if you get a high enough score on the test, pass the interview, pass the background check, and pass the psych eval, you still have to be physically fit enough to make it through the acadamy.

I'm workin on becoming one right now :D
How hard is the test, and whats on it? i'm not really worried about the physical stuff - i think im good to go there. its the study for the test part i guess. thanks for all the good responces so for.

[Tsar]

all kinds of common sence, law related, and psych type questions.

they have online study guides, practice books, or classes you can take

you can get the information on the njdop website or jobs4police.com, and you usually take it in big groups at local schools on a saturday morning

im retaking it on june 17, i scored a 94 last time and it got me the job i have now, but i want to see if i can do better
both websites didnt come up...

would a local community college, as the first poster suggested, know about where to take it and give me all the study guides? what do u think?

[Mike]

i took a online practice test, lemme try and find it again

[Dark_Knight7096]

They test math skills, reading comprehension skills, critical thinking, spatial reasoning, psychological and emotional stability, things of that nature.

OK list of websites:
www.bernsteintestprep.com
www.state.nj.us/personnel (study guide and orientation guide for multiple choice exam)
www.publicsafetyrecruitment.com (it says in the study guide for additional exam orientation and prep materials)


And right in front of me from the dept of personnels website: "Applications must be postmakred on or before March 31, 2006." So not to sound like a jerk or burst your bubble but you can't test for another 2 years man. Oh well, look on the bright side, you have 2 years to study your ass off for this thing. I take the test next month, and I'm TOTALLY not ready, lol.

[Tsar]

thanks dude...both dudes :lol:

[Mike]

your local ps's front dest should have everythig you need, and if your cc has a criminal justice program the professors should have information as well

[Tsar]

your local ps's front dest should have everythig you need, and if your cc has a criminal justice program the professors should have information as well
ok im gonna to cc and check with them, kinda scared to go to a police station tho :lol:

[BigAls87Z28]

I think my idea is better

[Firebird67dude]

Right no u need atlest 60 college credits, which is an ASs. in CJ, Law enforcement or Corrections. Once u have that u take the test for state county or which ever one you want. Im taking the L.E.E. test in 3 weeks. Its done every two yrs. So ur too late for this one. U gotta wait another 2 yrs. After that you are put on a list. Once a P.D. calls you then ur off to Police Academy. I think the city u need 60 credits and they are strict on residency.

[Rich189]

Do you know what kind of questions there're on the test, and do i get to study for it or anything? also where do i take this test?


im taking my test june 17th so ill let ya know

[Firebird67dude]

Eh im taking it June 3rd.

[Rich189]

Eh im taking it June 3rd.

well then i know who to come ask for the trick questions if ya dont mind helping me a bit.... my dad isnt a ton of help cuz he took it so damn long ago but he got me the books ect to study for it

[Koll]

Best way is to get your foot in the door. IE dispatching. Go to the local PDs and ask for a Dispatchers application.

[Mike]

foot in the ddoor only matters on chiefs test departments....

iretaking on june 17 at lawrence high...

[jimmyboy8301]

what kind of cop do you want to become? municipal, county, state, corrections officer, campus police, ranger, jv corrections? For most of these you have to sign up for the civil service law enforcement test. The test comes out every 2 years and your put on a list based on your score. The apps for the test were just submitted this past March 31st so you missed the deadline. This test is only good however for civil service departments. This is how I got hired, my department NJDOC is civil service. There are 3 types of civil service lists: town, county, and state. Municipal departments pull of the town and county, county departments such as sherriff's pull off county and sometimes state, and state departments such as NJDOC, NJJJC, State Rangers all pull off the state list (this excludes NJSP as they have their own completely seperate test). The selecting department will pull the top people off the list as they need them. THen it goes to each individual department for their hiring process. For me, i had a video test related to the job for my phase 1. My phase 2 was a psych test, my phase 3 was a home interview, and my phase 4 was a physical. After successful completion of that i was invited to the academy in Sea Girt, NJ for 16 weeks.

For those departments that are not civil service they usually post job openings in the paper or on police websights. Monmouth county however has the Monmouth County Chief's Test which is for all the departments in Monmouth County that are not civil service. The signup is May 30th to I believe June 6th. You signup and are given 1 of 2 test dates. Upon completion you are put on a list as well. Understand that for departments that are not civil service there is always a VERY LARGE amount of people that take the test. New Jersey is a law enforcement state, meaning that everyone and his brother wants to be a cop. Most departments in this state DO NOT require any kind of college degree and those that do just require a degree not neccessarily a degree in criminal justice. My experience for my hiring was a associates degree in criminal justice and 4 years of police dispatching with numerous certs. Good luck to you and if you have any questions for me feel free to contact me.

My aol sn is: WildChevys

[Rich189]

foot in the ddoor only matters on chiefs test departments....

iretaking on june 17 at lawrence high...


ill cya there mike thats my test date/location too

[jimmyboy8301]

i'm taking the civil service test at notre dame high in lawrenceville june 17th at 12:15

[11 Bravo]

What kind of salary do officers start out at in NJ?

[jimmyboy8301]

thats a very very very varried question. every department is different. I've seen departments that start out in the high 20's and i've seen departments like NJSP that start out in the mid 50's and top out in the mid 90's. My department starts out in the mid 40's and tops out in the mid 70's and thats just for an officer, sgt's, lt's and so forth are even more.

[Dark_Knight7096]

I know one department, I can't remember which one it is, but the person I had in my course about the civil service test was a Lt. in that dept and he said base pay is low 40s and within 3 years you are making around 70. Where I live it's like 32K, I think it's about that, maybe a little less, in Trenton.

[Rich189]

i'm taking the civil service test at notre dame high in lawrenceville june 17th at 12:15


mines the same time at lawrence high... and mikes prolly is too.... maybe after the test we can all meet up and hit up lunch somewhere or something

[jimmyboy8301]

sounds good to me, let me know when it gets closer.

[Rich189]

aight will do.... maybe the ewing crew will join up to since its withen 15 mins of thier houses pretty much but either way me u and mike are all taking the test same day same time i beleive so we'll def do it

[Dark_Knight7096]

I'm taking mine on 6/17 at Notre Dame too.

[BigAls87Z28]

OMG ME TOO!! No, Im not...I lied.

[Dark_Knight7096]

lol

[jimmyboy8301]

hey you big biotch i'll see you there!

[Dark_Knight7096]

You know it!

[Tru2Chevy]

aight will do.... maybe the ewing crew will join up to since its withen 15 mins of thier houses pretty much but either way me u and mike are all taking the test same day same time i beleive so we'll def do it

Notre Dame is only a 10 minute bike ride from my house. Due to the way roads are layed out, it's also a 10 minutes drive. If you guys are all testing at noon on June 17th, you should all meet up afterwards and drive straight to Atco. That's the first day of the F-Body Clash.

- Justin

[Dark_Knight7096]

You won't see me at Notre Dame. My test starts at 330.