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Appropriate age for hiring LEO's

idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
I understand that we have a rather wide representation from the LEO community here. I am curious about the age group from which most LEO's in your area are hired onto the PD. I just talked to a 21-year-old kid who is off to the South Dakota State Police Academy next weekend. It blew my mind. Most PD's with which I have had contact have expressed that they prefer to hire people that have at least achieved the ripe young age of 25. What is your experience and opinion on the matter? I ask this because I will be 29 when my current contract with the Army is up. I am still debating several options. The choice I make will ultimately determine the path that I take until retirement. I have considered Officer's Candidate School, Warrant Officer Flight Training, continuing the path of the Non-Commissioned Officer and getting out to work for South Dakota State Police or Sioux Falls Police Department. I figured 29 would be the perfect age for this. A friend of mine was recently hired by the Conneticut State Police at the age of 31. He is currently the youngest guy on their books to be hired.

Any thoughts?

SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY
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    leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just turned 21 years old on the 15th of march, I've been in the Jefferson County Sheriffs Acadamy for almost 3 months now. The minimum requirement for the age was that you turn 21 years old before the end of the first 3rd of the 10 month acadamy.

    Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee
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    leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I should also mention that its pretty hard being the youngest guy in the class, the next person up is 23year old. I get joked around with alot about my age from my classmates.

    Not only that but I've sacrificed alot. Most of my old friends won't have anything to do with me anymore, because they are afraid that they do something wrong in front of me by accident. People are always asking me abunch of legal questions, advice, and to get their tickets dismissed for them. I tell them I can't do anything for them, and they get mad at me. Some people are nicer to me that normally wouldn't have been, with fake smiles. Some people hate me just because I wanna be a cop. My old lady and I are having more problems and getting into more arguments over pointless stuff. Money's a little tighter because I can't work all the hours I used to.



    Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee
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    niklasalniklasal Member Posts: 776 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yeah, it really varies from state to state and county to county.

    The county I live in now, Pima County AZ, has a minimum requirement of 21 years of age.

    In Montgomery County Maryland, the officers are required to have a college degree.

    Sorry if this offends anyone out there, but I think it would be a good idea to make extra education a requirement, at least in AZ. It's just that I've seen a lot of fresh officers out there who got jobs as LEO's because they were tired of manual labor, and now that they have a badge, they feel as though they have something to prove.

    I know that even if they are more educated, a couple will still be jerks, but still. I figure if an officer has a 2 or 4 year degree at least they will pick law enforcement because it's something they want to do, and not a last resort.

    NIKLASAL@hotmail.com
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A college degree is a requirement for some agencies. This is so that when the rookie gets into the car with an FTO he doesn't have to spend the entire training time teaching writing skills, and correcting spelling. Besides having a degree shows all employers that the person is a finisher.
    I believe that federal law requires that the age of 21 be obtained before the person can be sworn.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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    simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
    edited November -1
    Ids, weren't you a 95B?

    Lee, Jefferson County where?

    We only have a few special years with our children in which they desire our time, attention, and love. After that time is over, it is gone forever, and we will be the ones that desire their time, attention, and love. Make those few, short years count -
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    PelicanPelican Member Posts: 1,061 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don't know if they are getting younger or if it's just cause I am getting older. Went fo court with idiot step-son last week. All the cops there looked like they should be wearing high school uniforms.



    The Almighty Himself Entrusted the Future of All Living Creatures to a Wooden Boat.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"Audemus jura nostra defendere"
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    mcneely77mcneely77 Member Posts: 411 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When I went through the academy, I was 21. In our county 21 is the minimum and 34 is the maximum. I have to tell you, I think they should raise the age. I was a punk when I went through, as so were a large number of others that went through with me. I guarantee we had alot of guy that would feel safer in a gun fight than in a fist fight. I got out of it, only because I was embarassed to be associated with most of the people I worked with. They were far worse than most of the people they arreseted or ticketed. Young cops feel they have something to prove. I know, I was one. It is not a good situation. They don't understand that just because you have a badge does not give you the right to treat people the way most do. Bottom line, it is still just a job, it doesn't make you a better man than the factory worker that slaves away to put dinner on the table for his family. Just an experienced observation.

    IALEFI, ASLET, NRA and all around good guy.
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    PelicanPelican Member Posts: 1,061 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You right Mc, lot of these kids (not all but a lot) pin that badge on and think their gonads doubled in size.

    The Almighty Himself Entrusted the Future of All Living Creatures to a Wooden Boat.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -"Audemus jura nostra defendere"
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    n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Age requirements are pretty standard at 21 YOA for Certification. In many jurisdictions you can enter the Basic Academy at 20 YOA as long as you reach 21 by graduation.

    As I get older (and wiser?????) I seem to notice the rookies look younger and younger. Is there some connection? However having been in the business for some time I have seen that those who enter the profession at a later age (25+) seem to have developed at least some of the maturity nesessary to handle the stresses, and more importantly, the authority that goes with the job.

    As for the College Degree some have spoken about as a requirement, I have seen "some" benefit come from degree holding personnel. However there are some issues with this as a rule i.e.

    #1. There are alot of "educated idots" out there.

    #2. The philosophical (generally leftest) learning environment has a definate influence on a large number of graduates. This is a problem when dealing with the constitutional judgement calls we make on a daily basis and in applying "discretion".

    #3. It seems as if those who enter Law Enforcement soon after college have no practical life experience and this is a real problem.

    Conclusion, give me a reasonally mature adult who has some practical life/work experience (preferrably military) then let them get a degree.

    Enough said and i'll climb down off my soapbox now.
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    XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    Idsman....the reason for the older age of Connecticut State Police trainees is that CSP prefers college graduates who also have experience as a local or military police officer.
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    idsman75idsman75 Member Posts: 13,398 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    simonbs--Yes, I was (and still am) a 95B3OV5 working in that capacity for four years. Now I'm working as a recruiter and can't wait to be done with it. You can pin on a badge at the age of 19 in Iowa. Hell, the security guards at Dairy Queen can carry a gun at the age of 19. They just can't be bonded until they are 21.

    SSG idsman75, U.S. ARMY
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    TeamblueTeamblue Member Posts: 782 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    idsman75,

    I started on my department at age 25 after being a radar technician in the USAF and then getting a BS in Criminal Justice, SCL. After 6 years on and being an FTO for three, I can tell you that I believe my departments minimum age of 21 to be too low. I have had 21 year olds as recruits and felt frustration from the fact that they lacked the invaluable "life experience" mentioned here. If you would e-mail me at ruger7@dtgnet.com, I can offer some insight about the SD Law Enforcement Academy and about being a SD LEO, particularly in Minnehaha County.

    Justice through Valor 1*
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    AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,064 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    21 is a little young. However rarely do you find someone that have the street sense to do the job effectively anyway. The organization I worked for had the jails, and that is where you went straight out of the academy. The time spent working in the jails, was valuable, you learned how to talk and act around crooks.
    So when you went to the streets you could spot someone that had been in prision a mile away. Spot and learn how to determine if someone is under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or combination thereof. And determine if a person was just crazy.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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    njretcopnjretcop Member Posts: 7,975
    edited November -1
    In NJ, the age for being a law enforcement officer is 18 to 35 (not counting service time).

    -Charlie

    "It's the stuff dreams are made of Angel"NRA Certified Firearms InstructorMember: GOA, RKBA, NJSPBA, NJ area rep for the 2ndAMPD. njretcop@copmail.com
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    instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lee: Jefferson Co. NY?

    Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed
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    simonbssimonbs Member Posts: 994 ✭
    edited November -1
    ^ for Lee

    We only have a few special years with our children in which they desire our time, attention, and love. After that time is over, it is gone forever, and we will be the ones that desire their time, attention, and love. Make those few, short years count -
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    William81William81 Member Posts: 24,635 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I work with many law enforcement officers from several different agencies. I believe the life experience of most twenty-one year olds does not equip them to effectively and safely do the job. I realize I am getting older and this may play into my opinion.

    I believe there needs to be more follow up one on one field officer trainning time for officers who have just finished the academy.

    A young officer was recently killed in a small rural town near where I live. My information was he was sent out to arrest a well known
    individual who had threatened many people in the town. He was killed as were two other towns people before the individual was wounded and arrested. My understaning was the young officer had approx. one year on the job....

    JMHO....
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    bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    I was just short of 24 when I went to the Police Training Institute, most of my class was around 25-28 and only one cadet younger than me. I think it varies alot from state to state and from one dept to the next as to what is concidered ideal age for hiring. I know alot of the brass thinks younger guys are too immature and often overly aggressive. I wish I could have got on a department when I was 21, think of having the option to retire at only 41 or getting a really good 30 year retirement at only 51.
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    ADfreeADfree Member Posts: 188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I might be biased being I am young, but I think that an age limit would not do much good. The younger people should just be scrutinized more. Some people never grow up, others are mature by 15. All new LEOs should spend more time with the experienced in continual training than they currently do.
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    nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,017 ******
    edited November -1
    The age limit is only to have a place to start. In Texas, it is 21. Very few 21 year olds have the maturity to start a career in law enforcement. Not to say they don't exist, but they are rare. Most of our new hires are in their late 20s to early 30s. Our newest is only 22, and he is still in training.

    For the record, I started as a dispatcher when I was 24.



    Certified SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of the General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the premier gun auction site on the Net! Email davidn
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