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There is much more to being a police officer than running around chasing bad guys. Police officer requirements are extensive and include everything from your personality traits to your educational level. In order to become a police officer, you must possess or strive to develop certain skills which are used on a daily basis:
Physical/Biological requirements: For most police departments, all applicants must be a U.S. citizen and at least 20 years old. Police officer requirements include several physical tests such as a physical exam by a doctor, hearing, vision, agility and strength tests. While there are no specific height requirements, you must be physically fit and capable of doing the work the job entails.
Background requirements: As part of the application/interview process, all departments will run a background check on officer applicants. Many divisions will only accept applicants who are drug free and have absolutely no criminal record. As part of this requirement, they also conduct psychiatric interviews to assess the applicant’s character and overall suitability for pursuing a career in law enforcement. Often, applicants are asked about community service and community interaction experience. It is usually a good idea to make some sort of contribution to your community to show your desire to serve and protect the public.
Personality Requirements: There are a variety of personality attributes that may attribute to being a successful police officer candidate. Listening, obedience, judgment, reasoning and common sense are all important attributes to possess. Most of these skills cannot be learned, they are inherent or instinctual. They might not be asked about or directly referenced in your interview, but they will be sensed and noticed as a contributing asset. Perhaps the most significant personality trait is a basic foundation of ethics and values. As a member of law enforcement, you will be entrusted by the public to uphold the law and can be seen as a moral compass. When dealing with criminals, contraband or everyday citizens, officers need to have self-discipline, loyalty and ethical guidelines.
Education: Most police departments will accept officers with a high school diploma or the equivalent, but more and more often they are beginning to require a two-year or four-year degree in order to join the force. Once you are hired as a police officer, continuing education is a major emphasis and many police officers on the job will continue to earn a degree in law enforcement or criminal justice in order to advance their careers. Another great educational skill to have is to know and understand a second language. Today, the ability to speak a foreign language, especially Spanish, is definitely a plus. High educational scores in writing, typing and verbal skills are also necessary to be a successful police officer. Officers must have good communication skills because police officers are required to spend much of their time completing records, speaking with victims, suspects, and citizens as well as writing various kinds of written reports.
