Are there any short police officers here?

I'm 15 and 5'3 and I worry that if I become a police officer, I might be easily overpowered, I hope to grow to at least 5'9 but that's just wishful thinking now.

I'm fit and healthy, but I mean come on.. If I were to take on a 6'0 guy I'd probably get smashed, I guess in that situation you just have to be smart about what you're going to do right?

I hope to join the LAPD.

Do you think height really matters when you're a LEO?

That isn't always true, if height or weight meant anything, alot of officers out there shouldn't be cops, some can throw down.

Know to fight and when to fire your taytay(taser) lol

The LAPD has no minimum height. Even when they did, it was 5 feet, so you'd be tall enough. (Source)

There is no height restriction any more, but I know you don't want to hear the truth but here it is. The LAPD is one of the hardest police departments to get into to, every time they open a position hundreds of people apply for it. Now think if they all had great interviews, the LAPD use to have a minimum height was 5.5 (Dont know where CP702 got his number.. But the LAPD still kind of lives by that still even though there not post to. If they get lets say 10 people on a list and they don't know what one to pick they will start by how fit and big they are....

By the way, if you think cops are all just smashing people to the ground and arresting that's just a small part of there job. The real fact is about 70% of the time they are stuck doing paper work in the office. A signal traffic stop is about 30 minutes of paper work, just think how much arresting someone would be.

Do your research on the PD you want to join, for the LAPD you have to live in LA for at around 2 years to even be considered for hiring, also most police officers are hired out of the police academy, I would say 3/4 are hired out of the police academy and or college class's than the rest are from interviews.

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by Darkangel

I posted my source.

I posted my source.

A book about a SGT in the police department of LAPD for 24 years says other wise... What would you trust, some website that can post anything or a cop on the LAPD thats been on there for 24 years and also made SGT? Thinking i'm going with the cop...

Before the book was published, it had to be verified by the Chief of the LAPD, LT, CPT, Ast Chief and also other officers that were involved in the book...

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Update:

My bad the book says 5 feet, but they never hired under 5.5"

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by Darkangel

My High Schools SRO is only 5'5, but he can easily bench over 300 and intimidates all of the wanna be gangsters in my school. My best advice is to get fast and get muscle bound

A book about a SGT in the police department of LAPD for 24 years says other wise... What would you trust, some website that can post anything or a cop on the LAPD thats been on there for 24 years and also made SGT? Thinking i'm going with the cop...

It's not just "some website", it's the LA Times.

It's not just "some website", it's the LA Times.

Oh so its the news, even better... -.-

Today, I turned on the news and saw this as a headline "Cop shoots man 6 times"

They didn't even bother to tell the full story just to say the cop shot him 6 times on a college grounds...

Did the police shoot him 6 times? If so, that doesn't prove anything. The news gets facts right, generally. They can distort things, but that doesn't really apply to "height minimum is 5 feet" vs. "minimum is 5 foot 5".

Also, this is a stupid argument. Back to the topic!

There is no height restriction any more, but I know you don't want to hear the truth but here it is. The LAPD is one of the hardest police departments to get into to, every time they open a position hundreds of people apply for it. Now think if they all had great interviews, the LAPD use to have a minimum height was 5.5 (Dont know where CP702 got his number.. But the LAPD still kind of lives by that still even though there not post to. If they get lets say 10 people on a list and they don't know what one to pick they will start by how fit and big they are....

By the way, if you think cops are all just smashing people to the ground and arresting that's just a small part of there job. The real fact is about 70% of the time they are stuck doing paper work in the office. A signal traffic stop is about 30 minutes of paper work, just think how much arresting someone would be.

Do your research on the PD you want to join, for the LAPD you have to live in LA for at around 2 years to even be considered for hiring, also most police officers are hired out of the police academy, I would say 3/4 are hired out of the police academy and or college class's than the rest are from interviews.

Just a question, where do you live?

I've lived in L.A all my life. I'm good friends with sheriffs and I know what they do and stuff, but from time to time, especially in Los Angeles, you will probably get attacked some point or another, especially in L.A.

I've seen some short cops ( Not to be racist or stereotypical but there's a lot of Filipino cops in L.A ) so I have no clue what you're talking about on the hiring part.

EDIT: I noticed your page says you live in Wisconsin.

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by gp327

I'm 15 and 5'3 and I worry that if I become a police officer, I might be easily overpowered, I hope to grow to at least 5'9 but that's just wishful thinking now.

I'm fit and healthy, but I mean come on.. If I were to take on a 6'0 guy I'd probably get smashed, I guess in that situation you just have to be smart about what you're going to do right?

When I did CQC and Hand to Hand Combat in the Army, they paired me up with this 5'0, 90 pound Asian girl. I'm 5'9, 140 pounds; needless to say she dropped me on my a** in five seconds.

When I worked for the law enforcement agency in my city, my partner was a 5'2, 130 pound South Asian. He's nicknamed the Crazy Indian for a reason.

So no Size and Height doesn't matter, it's how you conduct and analyze the situation. Training also helps, and it also helps to be confident. Not arrogant but confident.

Do you think height really matters when you're a LEO?

No; You'll be doubted and underestimated, people may take advantage of the fact that your 5"3 but ultimately it's how you handle the situation.

Take it from a guy, whose worked in both law enforcement and in the Military.

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by Comm

When I did CQC and Hand to Hand Combat in the Army, they paired me up with this 5'0, 90 pound Asian girl. I'm 5'9, 140 pounds; needless to say she dropped me on my a** in five seconds.

When I worked for the law enforcement agency in my city, my partner was a 5'2, 130 pound South Asian. He's nicknamed the Crazy Indian for a reason.

So no Size and Height doesn't matter, it's how you conduct and analyze the situation. Training also helps, and it also helps to be confident. Not arrogant but confident.

No; You'll be doubted and underestimated, people may take advantage of the fact that your 5"3 but ultimately it's how you handle the situation.

Take it from a guy, whose worked in both law enforcement and in the Military.

Thanks for the advice, I'm just going to suck it up and train harder.

Thanks for the advice, I'm just going to suck it up and train harder.

One piece of advice that I give to anyone who doubts their abilities.

Never doubt yourself, always be confident and believe that you can attain whatever it is your searching for; in the context of working in either Law Enforcement or Military. Always strive to push your body and mind (especially mind) to it's limits, especially when it comes to physical training, perfecting the art of war or training to overcome your fears, adversaries or martial arts.

Again I have to reiterate this state; SIZE AND HEIGHT DOES NOT MATTER. It's a matter of how hard your willing to go, how bad you want to succeed and how hard you push yourself. A 5'0, 100 pound person can be as dangerous and as tough as a 6'8, 240 pound person.

My advice to to bulk up if you don't end up growing anymore. Police fighting techniques are supposed to teach you to use your opponents weight and momentum against them during attacks. But it won't allow you to overpower a 6'4 guy on a meth rage who doesn't feel pain. You need raw strength for that.

Just a question, where do you live?

I've lived in L.A all my life. I'm good friends with sheriffs and I know what they do and stuff, but from time to time, especially in Los Angeles, you will probably get attacked some point or another, especially in L.A.

I've seen some short cops ( Not to be racist or stereotypical but there's a lot of Filipino cops in L.A ) so I have no clue what you're talking about on the hiring part.

EDIT: I noticed your page says you live in Wisconsin.

. Yes I live in Wisconsin, I'm just saying what you need to be hired and also what they looks for I'd they don't know who to hire....

But it won't allow you to overpower a 6'4 guy on a meth rage who doesn't feel pain. You need raw strength for that.

You'd be surprised.... This is where training and using your mind kicks in.

I've seen 5 foot something officers and soldiers beat the cr** out of 6 foot something individuals. Comes down to training and your own abilities.

I'm just saying what you need to be hired and also what they looks for I'd they don't know who to hire....

I have to disgaree, that's not exactly what they look for if they are deadlocked between two applicants nor is you being a big the number 1 attribute in 21st century law enforcement/military.

I'd rather have a 5'3, 130 pound person who is proficient in their job, who is confident (not arrogant), who uses their brain more than they use their fists than a 6'4, 250 pound arrogant, cocky and aggressive watch my back.

You also have to factor in, who is going to drag your 250 pound, 6'4 a** if you get hit.

Again it comes down to training, assessing your tactical footing, confidence and your own abilities that win the day.

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by Comm

As pointed out above, a good cop is one that can resolve a situation through non-physical means. Ideally you want to be in a position where you can manipulate people through a whole arsenal of non-physical techniques, rather than just relying on force. While having an imposing build and height can help in some situations, it might actually do more harm than good as any sort of public official needs to be approachable for the public they serve and some tall guy that looks like he belongs in a boxing ring isn't exactly the definition of approachable. I think that if an agency had to choose between brains or bulk, they'd go for brains every time.

In general, I'd imagine (and hope) that that would be the case. A bigger officer might have more presence, all else being equal, but presence almost certainly depends more on how the officer acts than on their size. And, of course, the ideal for police is *not* using force.