Becoming a police officer may be a life long dream or a goal made as an adult because of an experience that prompted interest in the criminal justice career.  It is an ideal career for people who are detailed oriented, physically fit, enjoy challenge and diversity in their daily routine, can think on their feet, have good communication skills and a strong sense of duty and responsibility.  When researching on how to become a police officer, it is wise to know that you will have to take part in demanding police officer training and tests.

How to Become a Police Officer

Becoming a police officer is not always easy, but with careful planning, determination, and self-discipline a criminal justice career as a police officer is attainable.  There are a number of things that can be done to make you a competitive candidate for police officer job openings.

• Education: First, graduate from high school with good grades in math, science, phys ed, computer science, English, and psychology if it is offered. It is also an added asset if you can converse in Spanish or a second language common to the area. Next, graduate from college with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice – work hard and get the best grades you can. Your grades and other positive strengths will help you go to the top of the interview list.
• Moral life style: Make the right choices, stay out of trouble, and participate in community organizations such as the fire or first aid departments, little league,  and scouting to exhibit your good character and interest in people – especially youth. Remember, as a police officer you will be a role model and a representative of your community 24/7. Background checks will be made. You must have lead a clean life to become a police officer.
• Know the area: Familiarize yourself with the town or city with the opening for police officer, including the layout, ethnic diversity, and politics. You’ll also need to know who’s who in the department, the size, how shifts are run, and expectations of the department’s members.
• Related experience: Many people interested in becoming a police officer first work as a police dispatcher. It is a great way to learn codes, terminology, procedures, and other skills needed first hand…and a foot in the door.

Police Officer Training

Because the job market for becoming a police officer is highly competitive, there are several ways you can train to become a police officer to give you an edge over the next candidate.

• Police Academy Training: If your state allows it, before you are hired attend a police academy and finish near the top of your class – at your own expense.  The duration of the police officer training at the academy is for three months and includes everything a rookie officer needs to know. At the police academy, you will be instructed in firearms, traffic control, investigation of accidents and crimes, first aid, and high speed driving, among other skills needed to learn how to become a police officer.
• Physical Training: Visit the gym several times a week to stay physically fit. You will be tested in agility, strength, and stamina. It is recommended you develop a police physical training program before you enter the police academy. While you are at it, maintain a healthy diet, too. The healthier you look at your interview, the better the impression you will make.

Police Officer Tests

There are many forms of police officer tests to be taken before you are hired.

• Civil Service Test: Buy a study guide at your local book store or you may even be able to find one at your local library. The study guide for the police officer test will give you samples similar to the civil service test you must pass and tips to help you be successful.
• To become a police officer, you most likely be required to take other forms of police officer tests, such as a lie detector test, physical exam including vision and drug tests, and a psychological test in addition to a civil service test which includes a written portion. Tests and other requirements may vary from department to department and level of law enforcement you are applying for. You will also definitely have to participate in an oral interview.

If you plan ahead, make the right life style choices, and stay mentally and physically fit, you will have a good chance of becoming a police officer.

Criminal Justice careers are now among some of the hottest careers of the 21st century. The increasing complexity of safety and welfare has created more challenging crimes which, in turn, have created an increase in the need for specialty criminal justice careers.  The influence of the latest TV shows, movies, and even the news all sensationalizing criminal justice careers have caused an increase in the desire to pursue an intriguing career in criminal justice.

Hot Careers in Criminal Justice

Today’s criminal justice professional must have specialized analytical and interpersonal skills and an extensive knowledge of modern technology. In addition to careers in law enforcement such as police officer, private investigator, security officer, and immigration agent, the following criminal justice careers are among the top currently searched on the Internet.

• Economic Crime Investigation – detect credit, tax, and related crimes such as fraud, corporate crime, and computer crime in a number of settings, and combat internal and external threats within private corporations and government agencies.
• Crime Scene Investigation – technician: safeguard the crime scene, sketch and photograph the scene, collect and preserve potential evidence samples to be used by the lab in reconstructing the crime; analyst: identify the crime and criminal while taking into consideration the legalities that must be followed for it to hold up in court, understand the processes involved, and later, testify in court.
• Forensic Anthropology – analyze and identify human remains in criminal cases
• IT-Network Security/Computer Forensics – investigate and identify sources of data theft and security breaches often threatening our national security and our citizens’ daily lives.
• Homeland security – protect citizens and critical infrastructure on local, state, and national levels to the greatest extent possible by preventing and investigating acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other catastrophic events and emergencies.

Criminal Justice Salaries

Today’s criminal justice degree disciplines offer a wide variety of choices to students interested in pursuing a criminal justice career. Just as there are numerous careers to be found in criminal justice, so is the range of criminal justice salaries. Here is a chart showing the average criminal justice salaries for some of the popular criminal justice careers:

Methodology Jobs ranked by popularity among graduates. Annual pay for Bachelors graduates without higher degrees from all colleges. See full methodology for more.

Homeland Security is an executive federal government department (DHS) designed with the purpose to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, and also respond to natural disasters. The development of a Homeland Security Department ranked in importance as a top priority for the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks and includes minimizing the damage from natural disasters from the outcome of Hurricane Katrina.

What is the Purpose and Importance of Homeland Security?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has one purpose which is to protect our homeland. The purpose for homeland security and the importance of homeland security are very closely one in the same. Homeland security is a responsibility intended to be shared across our entire Nation by governmental agencies at all levels and by the citizens it protects. The important purpose of homeland security is to be accomplished by the DHS through direction, coordination, and collaboration of the accessible tools available for the on-going successful security of the citizens and government of the United States.

Purpose of Homeland Security Divisions

To accomplish its important purpose, the United States Department of Homeland Security unifies nonmilitary government agencies responsible for issues of importance related to our American security.

• The Border and Transportation Security division, which is the largest division of DHS, includes the Transportation Security Administration, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.
• The Emergency Preparedness and Response division, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Strategic National Stockpile and the National Disaster Medical System. oversees disaster preparedness training and coordinates the government response to disasters.
• The Science and Technology division, including the Environmental Measurements Laboratory, is charged with researching and organizing scientific, engineering, and technological resources to protect the homeland, and the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection division analyzes intelligence and information involving threats to homeland security and evaluates vulnerabilities in the national infrastructure.
• In addition to these divisions, DHS also includes the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Homeland.html)

Importance of Homeland Security Effective Strategies

From the outcome of the United States’ important homeland security strategies developed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security with the main purpose of protecting us all in every effective way possible through cooperation, communication, technology, preparedness, and training at all levels of society. The importance of developing effective strategies to homeland security challenges is one of the most vital issues our nation must address.  With everyone’s commitment and involvement as stakeholders in our nation’s safety, the homeland security of the United States will experience ongoing success.