I wanna be a police officer

[Booseman]

It's okay! My "overreactive bitch button" has been stomped to death by a perfectly fine functional set of girlie hormones… all… week… long…

You and my wife both.............. what baby? No...... I am not writing about you!!!!

 

[lilshaunsdad]

I was told by some friends who are deputies that if you don't want to go to corrections you can go in as a reservist. Go thru all of the training and get post certified and then it will be alot easier to get on with a PD or you can stay with the SO. But that's just what I've heard, I have no experience in this but have thought about doing it.

 

[JWG223]

I lived with a guy who became a police officer. He got his Baccalaureate in criminal justice and declined a job in my town because he didn't want any part of what was happening here, and moved down to south LA. I am not sure what he does, but I believe his is a local PD. I wish I had more practical advise, but this is my only experience with it, although everything seems to require a degree of some sort now days. I had no idea becoming a police officer was that difficult in this state.

 

[OtterBob]

What ever you do, Do Not Waste your time and money on a degree in Criminal Justice. If you want a degree that would help you, get a degree in Spanish.

 

[sailem]

Alot of people here and LEOs I know are telling me the same thing about criminal justice, that its a waste of time. And i was under the assumption PDs and SOs where all the same thing. Right now im thinking im going to go for my local SO (St. Charles parish sheriffs office) as a deputy. I got the application today gonna try to turn it in tomorrow. Thanks for all of your advice. If yall have anymore keep it coming. its good stuff

 

[charlie12]

I've heard the same thing about a CJ degree from LEO's all over the country.
My Trooper buddy called me tonight and I asked him about how hard it was to get on. He said they told him LSP had about 1000 apps to choose from and they had about 85 started and about 70 finished his class
and became LSP Troopers.

 

[Booseman]

I've heard the same thing about a CJ degree from LEO's all over the country.
My Trooper buddy called me tonight and I asked him about how hard it was to get on. He said they told him LSP had about 1000 apps to choose from and they had about 85 started and about 70 finished his class
and became LSP Troopers.

Exactly, there is no shortage of people wanting to become LSP. Besides the best starting pay in the state, from what I have seen, they have great beni's as well.

 

[lilshaunsdad]

I have a cousin that's LSP. I know the details that he pulls make some serious money.

 

[JWG223]

I have a cousin that's LSP. I know the details that he pulls make some serious money.

http://laspc.dps.louisiana.gov/lasp...c8a1ca531b9b6d97862573a20067d7ab?OpenDocument

 

[Booseman]

http://laspc.dps.louisiana.gov/lasp...c8a1ca531b9b6d97862573a20067d7ab?OpenDocument

Details are completely different than that. That is just the basic salary. I know my Parish SO's details pay $30 an hour with a minimum of 4hrs. They actually have a team that is dedicated to just sending out the details available to the deputies. A good friend of mine that works as road dog said he made an additional 40k one year on details alone, over doubled his salary. He busted his ass, but paid off his boat!!!

That is a great document if you are becoming an LSP Trooper, but if the OP was just now applying it would be 6-7yrs of steady cadet classes before he was even selected. As Charlie12 stated, they have over 1,000 applicants waiting for an academy.

 

[JWG223]

Details are completely different than that. That is just the basic salary. I know my Parish SO's details pay $30 an hour with a minimum of 4hrs. They actually have a team that is dedicated to just sending out the details available to the deputies. A good friend of mine that works as road dog said he made an additional 40k one year on details alone, over doubled his salary. He busted his ass, but paid off his boat!!!

That is a great document if you are becoming an LSP Trooper, but if the OP was just now applying it would be 6-7yrs of steady cadet classes before he was even selected. As Charlie12 stated, they have over 1,000 applicants waiting for an academy.

From what you and others in this thread are saying, if money is the only thing on your brain, this is probably not the job for you. That's a lot of invested work/time to make $80K a year.

 

[Booseman]

From what you and others in this thread are saying, if money is the only thing on your brain, this is probably not the job for you. That's a lot of invested work/time to make $80K a year.

I agree, you do not become a LEO to get rich!! You become a LEO to serve a higher calling, something from the heart. One of the most important things people can do in life to be happy is to work a job that they love and enjoy. Or just be independently wealthy!!!

 

[sailem]

ya , I didn't join the army NG for the money, And becoming a LEO isn't about the money for me either. Both are things I've wanted to for as long as I can remember, and now that I've accomplished one goal I want to get started on the other.

 

[SGT_Kramer]

ya , I didn't join the army NG for the money, And becoming a LEO isn't about the money for me either. Both are things I've wanted to for as long as I can remember, and now that I've accomplished one goal I want to get started on the other.

Sounds like a rich young man to me! Keep going and you'll get there. Getting off your butt and being proactive puts you past the first 500 in that 1000 man list

 

[t-train]

LSP....... good luck!!! They have not had an academy for almost 2 years, I think.

and they aren't going to have one for at least 2 more years. Trying to get a 20 man class through for the past 3 years...

 

[LEO]

I’ve been frequenting this site for awhile so I figured I’d register and hopefully help answer some questions for the OP. Sailem, I was in your same shoes so I know how it is. I am currently a patrol deputy at a large sheriff’s office here in Louisiana (I’m in the process of changing law enforcement agencies so I’d rather not say which one). The first thing to know is that every department is different. They all have their own way of doing things (policies, procedures, etc...). There are a number of sheriff’s offices that do not make you start in the jail. However, I had to and hated it. Decide what you want to do (i.e. patrol, corrections, etc...) and find a department that suits that. I’m not sure why every keeps talking about state police (troopers are great by the way) but they are not hiring anyway. You have the right idea with starting local. I’m actually relocating to your area for my new job!
You don’t need college but it helps in most cases (again, every dept. is different). I became a reserve right after college and then went full time. Military experience is not necessary but if definitely doesn’t hurt you. In my experience it is looked at very favorably by most departments. Generally, large depts. have a higher turnover rate and hire more often. Get started now. The hiring process can drag on for weeks and months, but a brief overview of what you can expect (this will vary dept. to dept.)
Written test
PT test
Panel Interview
Medical exam
Polygraph exam
If you apply to a city department you will need to take the civil service exam. It’s a common knowledge test. You took the asvab, the civil service test is not any more difficult than that. You have the right idea about pay. I could definitely make more money elsewhere. However, once you get in and established money will come. Currently, I work 10 hours a week at an off duty detail and it pays $25 an hour ( thats pretty standard for off duty work and I could work way more than that). Again, do some research online about the departments in Louisiana. YOUR MAIN GOAL AT THIS POINT IS TO BECOME P.O.S.T certified. After your first year of employment you’ll get $6000 per year in state supplemental pay unless it’s a state law enforcement job. It doesn’t matter if you work in the jail. If you are post certified you’ll get the pay.
Sorry for the long post. I had all of your same questions and couldn’t get any answers so I hope I’ve helped you. If you want to know anything just ask. There is way too much to type so send me a private message and you’ll give you my phone number if you have anymore questions.

 

[ajt2341]

http://ose.louisiana.gov/testing_entrancepolice.asp Go there and find a test on a date you can take the civil service test. For me this was the longest part, applying for the test, waiting, taking the test, waiting on results, etc. Otherwise the LEO got it right, every department is different but that's a good guideline to follow.

 

[sailem]

thanks for the advice guys!