Down Economy Bringing Older Recruits to LE Agencies

Technology workers, mortgage-industry refugees, and even those with advanced degrees are arriving at police academies hoping for the stability and benefits of a law enforcement job, especially due to the challenging job market.

Technology workers, mortgage-industry refugees, and even those with advanced degrees are arriving at police academies hoping for the stability and benefits of a law enforcement job, especially due to the challenging job market.

Where the average age of a police recruit was once 23, it's now 29.5 at the Alameda County sheriff's academy, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

One 24-year-old police recruit with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said older recruits struggled with physical training that required hopefuls to scale a 6-foot wall, drag a 165-pound dummy 30 feet, and complete a 500-meter run in less than 1 minute, 45 seconds.

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