Down Economy Bringing Older Recruits to LE Agencies

reservewannabe @ 4/13/2010 9:50 PM

Seems like it's nearly impossible to be hired as an older recruit. I received my Reserve certificate, but as a 46 year-old white male all my applications go into a black hole.
I asked the chief of a major Bay Area police department why I see only 21-year olds when I do academy simulations as a role player. He said "it's because it's easier to do their backgrounds."
That's also called "age discrimination". It's pretty disheartening, that my training is wasted, that I can't even work for free, because it's not worth doing a background check on an older person.

Don @ 8/16/2012 11:47 AM

Reservewannabe, Hang in there. I joined the academy at 47 years old and after applying for over 2 years and 15 or so agencies within a hour drive, being turned down, turned down, turned down... reapplying at the same agencies, discouraged, mad, aggravated but never giving up, I was finally accepted by a small department when I was 49. After a few months, they offered and I accepted a full time position at 50 years old! The key was "never giving up". Let me say that louder "NEVER GIVE UP" Do ride alongs at agencies that you are applying for ,send them letters, reapply, Let them know that you are serious!