DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Question regarding police force

I have been thinking for a while about going into police training and becoming a cop. But I have one problem, about 7 years ago I got a dui and I don't know if I would be able to be a cop.

Does anybody know the restrictions on becoming a police officer in Ohio or have any web sites where I might be able to find out about it?

Don't quote me on this, but my friend is trying to become a cop, so I asked him. He said you'd have to wait, he thinks 7 years, after your DUI.

*Edit- I just read where you said your DUI was about 7 years ago, so this would be a good answer for you lol.

I dunno man I know 2 cops and I believe they only had to go to school for like 6 months.

I'll have to double check cause one of my friends just became a cop but I know the other one who is actually a cop at the station across the street from my house told me he only had to go for six months.

Not sure if you want to move to the Toledo area, but if you do, you'd probably be just fine. In the last 2 weeks, 2 officers have been cited for driving while drunk. While ON DUTY, no less.

Plus, I believe it was whitehouse - a small town near Toledo anyway......the police chief showed up at a town council meeting, IN HER cruiser, drunk....even had the vodka in a cup in the cup holder.

Heck, around here policing while drunk seems to be the norm. You may even need to update your dui status to get a job in Toledo.

Well that sucks. Theres no way I can go to school fulltime and if I didn't go full time it would take me forever. Plus If I was gonna go get a bachelors degree it sure as hell wouldn't be to be a police officer. Not for they're salary around here.

Yeh seeign as how your from Chicago I can understand why she wouldn't want you to become a cop. Me on the other hand I live in a town like Mayberry, so the job wouldn't be quite as risky.

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Theres no way I can go to school fulltime and if I didn't go full time it would take me forever. Plus If I was gonna go get a bachelors degree it sure as hell wouldn't be to be a police officer. Not for they're salary around here.

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So let me ask you a question and I'm not meaning to pry.. but are you considering becoming a cop because that's what you REALLY want to do or just because it sounds neat and has some benes with it? Based on your post above it doesn't sound like your heart is really in it. If you can go to school if you want to.. and if you do then you want to do something else... then go figure out what it is you want to do AND GO DO IT!!! Nothing sucks worse than going to a job you don't really like every day.

See right now I am trying to figure out what i''m going to do with my life. I recently got fired from my job for BS reasons, having a hard time finding a job so I have filed for unemployment until I find something. But seriously considering just taking a part tiem job and going back to school, for what i'm not sure yet.

Gotcha... think long and hard about what you like to do and what you see yourself doing in 5-10 years...

I have always had an interest in becoming a police officer. The problem is that I have a son and have bills so I don't know how i'm going to manage going to school, taking care of my son and working, theres just not enough hours in the day. So going to school for that amount of time is going to be extremely hard but not impossible.

But as far as the bills are concerned my car is set to be payed off in about 3 or 4 more months so that is going to be a big relief. And that will help.

i've been back in school for a few months now. trying to better my situation.

we plan on moving back to cleveland at some point (i know, who goes back, but i seriously love that town to death, but realize i will have a better chance at landing a job with some schooling and experience)

the cj backround will help bigtime though, i play on one hockey team with a bunch of cops from various departments, and i also play hockey with a ton of lawyers. so if i look to go into paralegal, i have some contacts who could help me along.

you can't go wrong with school though. even if you're like me doing the technical school.

i thought i'd dread school and homework, ests, etc.. but i've really done well with it. i enjoy doing homework, going to class, i definitely had second thoughts when i started but am really glad i got back into it.

I absolutely HATED school when I was in high school, never wanted to have anything to do with any more education after I got out.

I was an idiot.....

It pains me to think that if I had half of the brain I do now back then, I could have already been graduated and doing something I love right now.

You don NOT need a bachelors degree to become a cop. Hell you can have a GED and become a cop as long as you pass the tests and get through academy. If you want to become a officer in Cleveland you take the exam and wait your turn to go to academy,if you want to get hired in the smaller forces you take the peace officers training program at Tri C.


KING

Thanks....I have never heard of a place where the police were required to hold a degree.

Well he does live in Chicago, it's probably different there.

And King thx for the info, I'm going to look into this and see what all I have to do.

This is from Columbus PD website:

Minimum Qualifications


1. Completion of the twelfth school grade. Substitution(s): A certificate of high school equivalence (GED) will be accepted in lieu of the educational requirement.
2. Applicants must be at least 20 years old when applying, and at least 21 years old at the time of appointment. (There is no upper age limit or maximum age restriction.)
3. Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license when applying and a valid Ohio motor vehicle operator's license at time of appointment.
4. A citizen of the United States.

In addition, the City of Columbus is looking for police recruits who: (1) are honest, (2) are safe drivers, (3) respect the rights of all individuals, (4) respect the law, (5) have a satisfactory employment history and (6) have demonstrated good judgment. A background investigation will be conducted of all candidates prior to appointment, including a polygraph examination covering honesty/falsification, family history, employment, military history, traffic, gambling, criminal activity, substance abuse, and credit history.

A complete list of Police Officer Background removal standards may be viewed by clicking here http://www.csc.columbus.gov/Pages/Uniformed/PDF/B15BackgroundRemovalStandardsP.pdf

The Selection Process


The responsibility associated with a law enforcement career is significant; however, there is tremendous benefit and pride in serving and protecting others. Not only will you ensure the safety of citizens, but you will also uphold the law, and ensure that the rights of citizens are preserved. These responsibilities make this profession among the most important in maintaining the integrity of the laws created on the local, state, and federal levels.

The City of Columbus Division of Police has a strong focus on the initial training as well as continuing education of police personnel. The Division of Police dedicates itself to providing the finest service possible to the citizens of Columbus. Since 1999, the Columbus Division of Police has been one of the largest police agencies in the country to be both CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) and ASCLD/LAB (American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation
Board) accredited.

Prior police experience is NOT required, so if you are ready for a rewarding career that will provide life-long skills and continue to be a challenge, please consider this career!

To qualify for the position of Police Officer, you must complete the following steps in the testing, background, and selection process:

Step 1: YES!! I want to be a Police Officer!!
The first step in the testing process is to file an application and Abbreviated Background Questionnaire (ABQ) with the Columbus Civil Service Commission for the Police Officer position. The requirements for filing an application are: 1. You must be at least 20 years of age at the time of application and 21 years old in order to be appointed (no maximum age restriction applies); 2. You must have a valid driver’s license; 3. You must have a High school diploma, or GED equivalent; 4. You must be a U. S. citizen.

Prior police experience is not required.

Please note: Application-filing periods are announced by the City of Columbus Civil Service Commission on an as-needed basis. You may contact Civil Service at (614) 645-0800 or online at http://www.csc.columbus.gov.

Step 2
If your application and ABQ are approved, the Civil Service Commission will notify you of the time and place to report for the examination. The phases of the examination are: Phase I - Multiple Choice; Phase II - Writing Sample; Phase III - Oral Board (BPAD) and Phase IV - Physical Test. Phases I and II are administered on a pass/fail basis only. Candidates who pass all four phases of the exam will be placed into one of three bands (90, 80, or 70 band) on the eligible list wholly on the basis of their Phase III scores and approved Veteran’s Preference Credit. Information sessions will be offered by Civil Service prior to testing, and we strongly urge you to attend one of these classes. There is no appeals process for the Civil Service test.

Step 3
Beginning with the 90-band candidates, a personal history questionnaire will be provided by the Columbus Division of Police Background Investigation Unit. You will then be required to appear at Police Headquarters for a pre-interview with a background investigator. Pictures, fingerprints, and waivers will be completed to assist in an extensive background investigation.

Step 4
The candidate will be given a polygraph examination to verify the accuracy and completeness of all the information (e.g. Questionnaire, References, and Employment) provided to the Background Investigation Section.

Step 5
The Civil Service Commission will review your
entire package to make sure there are no violations of the background removal standards for Civil Service employment with the Division of Police.
http://www.csc.columbus.gov/Pages/Uniformed/PDF/B15BackgroundRemovalStandardsP.pdf.

Step 6
Your background investigator will conduct a thorough check of your employment history, references, and criminal record and then visit you in your home and speak with your spouse, significant other, or family. This interview usually lasts 2 to 3 hours.

Step 7
Information is compiled concerning your background and polygraph results. This information is sent to the Oral Review Board, which consists of 3 veteran officers. You will be required to interview with this board and questions will be asked regarding your background investigation.

Step 8
Oral Review Board recommendations and background investigations will be reviewed by the Police Administrative Subdivision chain of command. Summaries of each candidate will be forwarded to the City of Columbus Public Safety Director for consideration. The Safety Director will decide if you will be sent a conditional letter of appointment.

Step 9
This step involves a rigorous medical examination designed to evaluate your fitness. You will be given a cardiovascular stress test and a psychological evaluation. The vision requirements state that your vision must be correctable to 20/20 BINOCULAR and no more than 20/125 uncorrected in each eye. (Most laser surgery corrections are now acceptable). The medical exam, including vision, physical, and psychological tests, must be passed before a Final Offer of Employment is given. A Stress Test Training Manual (http://www.csc.columbus.gov/Pages/Uniformed/PDF/Stress_Test_Training_Program.pdf) is available from the Civil Service Commission.

Step 10
Candidates will be notified by letter of an appointment date for the Police Academy.



Frequently Asked Questions:

How many people will be hired?
The number of individuals hired will depend upon several factors, such as the budget, the number of retirements, and the overall need of the Division of Police. Since these factors vary annually, it is difficult to identify the number that will be hired in any given year.

When will the next class start?
This question is similar to the previous one, in that it is determined by the needs of the Division.

What are my chances of becoming a Police Officer?
Many individuals express interest in employment with the City of Columbus Division of Police. Since the selection process is competitive, with a limited number of individuals that will be successful, those numbers can be overwhelming. However, the number of individuals who are truly committed to becoming a Police Officer drops dramatically. There are a great number of individuals who do not commit themselves to what is required for this process. We realize it is a process requiring a great time commitment; however it is an extremely important position with great responsibility that must include a rigorous selection process. When you consider this position, you should also consider the many rewards that come with this position. We encourage you to commit yourself to this process - you will NOT regret it!

Important TIP!!


Keep your address current with us!!! You will miss
important information unless your address is kept current while you are on our mailing list. Address changes may be provided to the Division of Police, Minority Recruiting Unit, by phone, or in writing via Email, fax, or U.S. mail as follows: Columbus Division of Police-Minority Recruiting Unit, 120 Marconi Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215. (614) 645-4642 or toll free (800) 837-4642. Fax: (614) 645-4144. Email: jobs@columbuspolice.org

If you have also completed a Job Class Interest form or application or had other contact with the Civil Service Commission, it is necessary for you to contact them with address changes as well, in addition to the Division of Police. Address changes with Civil Service need to be done in writing, on-line with an address change form, by visiting http://www.csc.columbus.gov, and clicking on the 'Public Forms,' then Change of Personal Information-Address Change Form https://www.csccmh.net/SSL/Address_change_form.htm links. Address changes may also be made by mail to The Columbus Civil Service Commission, 750 Piedmont Road, Columbus, Ohio 43224, or by fax at (614) 645-0866.



Residency Requirement: You must reside in Franklin County or an adjoining county once you begin the 28-week course of training at the Police academy.

As noted, you don't need a degree to be a police officer and/or sheriff's deputy.

My brother is a Sergeant with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department, and he is a high school/police academy graduate only. He never attended a day of college.

Now, he would require a degree if he wanted to run for Sheriff.

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i believe you need a bachelor's to be a police officer now

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Not here, all you need is a gun! ...worst cop's ever!!!

Does anyone remember the cop in Akron a few years back who was married and killed his preganat girlfriend? He didnt have much education and had prior history of violence. Akron police are horrible. I know someone who had something stolen from his truck and the 2 Akron stations kept telling him that he needed to call the other one. They kept giving him the run around and nobody wanted to do thier job. He told them "do I have to kill someone to get a damn cop" and hung up.

I was also watching this show on A&E called "American Justice". It was a recent crime about a girl that was raped and killed and found in her trunk a week later after she was called missing. People called the Akron police about the car and they didnt check it until a week later and found the body. They messed up the case bad and nobody was convicted. The guy who was last seen with her and had her clothes outside his apt. was let go from a hung jury. Just bad police work in Akron.

ps, the hockey team that i have been helping out for the past few months is called skatin bacon' most hilarious sh ever

all but like 2 dudes are cops.

Reamin silent and get a good attorney......wait a minute, I thought Tyler started this thread.....nevermind.
But good luck in you field.