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.
One of the functions of a police officer is to enforce traffic laws. So, while on patrol I would be looking for both criminal and traffic vioations. Since most criminals use a vehicle in some way (to get to a crime, to flee a crime, to move stolen property, etc.), making traffic stops will frequently result in the discovery of criminal activity.
I have made major felony cases by stopping people for relatively minor traffic infractions. Folks like Timothy McVeigh, Ted Bundy and others have all been located on traffic stops. I can't tell you how many terrorists, murderers, rapists and others have been arrested after a seemingly small traffic violation.
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Working the road. Where else?
Until you've had to make decisions on when to deploy a dog in a real-life, volatile use-of-force situation, and then justify those decisions to your chain of command, an internal affairs investigation, a city attorney and (probably) a court, how exactly do you figure you will have the credibility to tell others what they need to know?
It's one thing to know the law from reading a book or attending a training class, its another to apply it appropriately in the field. It is a bit like training in the dojo vs. a street fight. Or perhaps a better analogy is the guy sitting on the couch watching a football game who has never stepped onto the field, yet thinks he knows better than the players.
Reality is a harsh, unforgiving mistress. Until you've danced with her a while, you simply don't know what you don't know.
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I'm not familiar with Colorado law in that respect. If you call the local Sheriff's Department, they should be able to tell you.
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Carrying a fake gun may or may not be illegal depending on your jurisdiction. You should either contact a criminal defense lawyer for your area or the local law enforcement agency.
I'm not sure what kind of "protection" a fake gun provides. If attacked by a criminal, a fake gun isn't going to offer you any protection. The notion that you will see a known criminal approaching you and that you will have time to draw the weapon AND that the criminal will suddenly be struck by fear upon seeing it is not a realistic one based on my experiences with both violent encounters and the mentality of predator criminals.
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Correctional Officer
Why does gang formation and racial segregation happen so much in prisons?
Toll Collector
Do you think there will be a time where all tolls are automated?
School Bus Driver
If your bus is in an accident that was ruled your fault, would you lose your job?
Get good grades, stay physically fit and stay away from drugs/alcohol/trouble. I was in high school too, but all of those things will play a role in your hiring process.
If your local department has an explorer program, check on joining that. It will give you a good amount of experience around police officers and get you some training (plus a foot in the door when you apply for a job.)
Personally, I'd avoid any kind of criminal justice/criminology degree. Stick to some kind of degree that can make you money - business, computer science, etc. Don't waste time and money on an expensive degree or go into debt for it. College debt is a trap.
Can you take college classes while in high school? I know here in Florida, juniors and seniors can often take college classes and get dual credit: high school and college for the one class. I managed to get several of my college classes done for free before I ever left high school that way.
Joining the military (any branch) will help you get hired later and will help pay for advanced education.
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Sounds like he did, so I guess so. Is it in good taste? Maybe or maybe not - I wasn't there.
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In a nutshell, the injured intruders would be transported to the hospital under police guard. When released, they would be arrested and transported to jail pending trial.
The homeowners would be interviewed on scene but not arrested or charged with any crime based on the facts provided.
If the intruders were killed, pretty much the same as above, but the deputies would be in the house a lot longer and the M.E. would respond and take custody of the corpses.
There are a lot of minute details that go into any investigation, especially major felony cases like this, but that is the quick and dirty.
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