BlueSheepdog
10 Years Experience
Around the Way, FL
Male, 40
Cheating death and fighting communism: that is how a fellow officer once described our job. It was meant to be funny, but as time went on it seemed all too true.
I spent more than ten years in law enforcement, all of it on the street in uniform patrol. I've been a patrol officer, instructor, sergeant and lieutenant.
Do not report crimes here. Nothing here should be considered legal advice. All opinions are my own.
Yes, you will need to attend a police academy. Every state's academy is different in length of time, course of instruction, residency requirements, etc.
Some departments run their own academy that meets the state's requirements and then adds additional course material specific to the department. For example, a state highway patrol is likely to add in-depth accident investigation courses that go beyond the basics.
I am not familiar with the requirements for Ohio, but it looks like your state requires a minimum of 568 hours (14+ weeks) to obtain a peace officer certification. Check out http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/OPOTA for more information.
Good luck!
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Only you can make the decision on how much it affects you. If you have passed the physical, then the department does not seem too concerned about it.
I will say that I have serious concerns for your safety if you are unable to hear in one ear. If you have a radio mic plugged in your "good" ear, how will you hear anything going on around you? At night when it is difficult to see, and you rely more on your hearing, how impaired will you be? If someone is walking up behind you on your deaf side, will you be able to hear them?
These are questions I cannot answer. I do not want to discourage anyone from getting into police work that has a genuine interest, but I don't want to see you get hurt or killed because of the deafness. FYI - If it is only partial deafness and your hearing can be enhanced with a hearing air of some kind, I don't see any problem.
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I'm not an expert on voice stress analysis or traditional polygraph testing. They are useful, but not foolproof according to my reading. I'd suggest hitting Google or Bing with any specific questions or research information on the machines and testing processes.
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Depends on your state law, and it may not be legal. I'd definitely say to keep the proof of insurance, bill of sale & title paperwork with you if you do drive it.
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Mailman (City Letter Carrier)
Are postal workers more disgruntled than other workers?
Toymaker
With all the high-tech kids toys, is there still a demand for traditional ones?
Beauty Queen
Is there truth to the stereotypes of “pageant parents?”
The ownership, possession and carrying of firearms is part of our natural right to self defense and codified in the US Constitution. There should be a minimum of restrictions placed on those rights. Keep in mind that "gun control" has nothing to do with "crime control." Gun control is about control.
I have no problem with any citizen acting in a lawful manner, including teachers, to be armed on school grounds.
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The best bet is to contact the recruiter at the agency you are most interested in applying to. He or she can give you the exact details of what they require.
Every state and department is different. There are some generallities.
A background check will be conducted to ascertain the general nature of your character, job history, military service, drug use, criminal history and financial history. Depending on the department, an agency may interview your neighbors, former employers, former co-workers, relatives and other people with knowledge of your work ethic, demeanor and character.
Things like poor credit, large debt, unstable work history, etc. are not automatic disqualifiers, but they can be red flags.
Past criminal activity is a problem. Felonies, domestic violence, DUIs and other crimes can be automatic disqualifiers. Misdemeanor, non-violent crimes may not automatically disqualify you, but they are significant red flags. Mitigating circumstances, the nature of the crime, and other factors can help. (For example, you passed a bad check your freshman year in college at age 18. You are now 28 years old, graduated college, have had a stable work history, and are an officer in the US Navy reserves. Those factors will go a long way to show the prior criminal act was a one-time event.)
Hope that helps.
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Many departments would still be willing to hire you if your vision is corrected to 20/20. However, this will vary from department to department, so make sure you ask about vision requirements with the agencies you apply to.
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