Careers: Page 16

Veteran Cop as New Recruit

I recently received a question from a department's Field Training Officer program coordinator. His department just hired several new officers. Great, except these are not academy-fresh officers; these are veteran officers from other departments. What now?

Learning to Dot the I's

I've seen numerous glaring errors on job applications. Just one clouds the best applicants' chances and it is time for this madness to end.

Don't Call Me a Rookie

Names do not make you a cop. If you mature and conduct yourself as a seasoned officer, the title will eventually disappear from around you.

What Should I Join?

Join organizations that pique your interest and become actively involved to gain the greatest benefits.

Make Learning the Streets a Game

We are riding around; you hear a street name go out on the radio. Tell me where that street is now! Give me a landmark close to the call as well. No, your grandmother's house does not count either.

National Police Week Traditions

This May 11–17, 2008 every officer should plan on attending a local or state police week memorial service if you can't attend the events in Washington, D.C., where the national law enforcement officers memorial stands.

Why Wouldn't They Hire Me?

An aspiring police officer I recently spoke with was bemused over not getting hired time after time. Let's look at common reasons why chiefs and sheriffs don't hire certain applicants.

Hazing

You have been warned in the academy that you will be picked on or hazed. Are we in this profession above such rituals? Most often not. It comes with the territory.

Police Applicants Gone Wild

What really stops or derails applicants in the first few steps of the application process? It's not just testing or backgrounds.

True Community Policing

We have used technology to make us work more efficiently and faster, but have left the citizen standing.

Cop as Social Worker

Being a police officer is not always about chasing down a bad guy, guns blazing. If you remove an intoxicated or aggressive driver from the highway, you have performed a social service to the motoring public.

How Much is on Your Duty Belt?

The other day I stopped and performed a visual inventory of just how many "things" officers can carry on their duty belt. There are times I worry that some have too much on their belts. One worries if they fall on their backs, they could be trapped like a turtle.

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