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.
To be a K-9 handler you will need to be in great shape. I daresay that handlers have to be in better shape than the average SWAT cop because they (the handler) is often running through the dark every night chasing his/her dog who is chasing a suspect. Then the handler has to be able to fight once the suspect is located. Imagine running three miles and then getting into a fight for your life. You need a lot of cardio work to get ready for that.
I'd suggest being involved in sports and finding a local explorer unit to join would be the best two things to do now. College classes are completely up to you. Other than certain federal agencies, I'm not aware of any department that requires any specific major or classes in college.
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It varies from state to state.
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New officers go through a period of on the job training called Field Training. Experienced officers with specialized training take new officers and teach them how to employ the things they learned at the academy in the real world. This is also a time when the new officer is closely watched in an effort to determine if they are a good officer/person or if they should be terminated because they are unfit for the job.
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Call your local police department and ask for their assistance. They will know what to do.
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Professional Gamer
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Basketball Referee
Ever get into a physical altercation with a crazed parent?
Help Desk Technician
What's the closest you've come to "losing it" on someone you were helping?
Waving is a friendly gesture, and is appreciated. If they stop, it is a perfect opportunity to get to know the officer and tell them thank you.
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The availablility and use of helicopters vary widely from area to area. Some departments have access to helicopters in a relatively short amount of time, while other departments never have access to their assistance.
At my former agency, I worked in a very urban area with dozens of cities and counties in the immediate area. We had access to a helicopter that was operated by the sheriff's department, and was normally only up during the evening hours. It was available during other parts of the day, but would often take some time to get up and to you.
For a vehicle or foot pursuit, we would generally want the assistance of the helicopter, and most often they would be enroute to us before we even asked. They monitored our radio channels and would start our way if they could be of assistance. If we had to call for one, that would be cleared through a supervisor.
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I don't know. Contact a police or sheriff's department in Texas.
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