SO I'm still considering career options and I wouldn't be here if i wasn't mad about law enforcement so what would a 18 year old college student do to get into a police department in the US? Whats the pay like? How would one go about getting citizenship? whats the best choice to make of where to sign up? 

 

Thanks 

Tom.

Well for starters, all but 5 states require you be a US citizen.

I don't know a lot about citizenship, but I do know it takes a long ass time. I can tell you a little bit about an LEO job. For pay, it really varies everywhere. In my state, we have the some of the highest salaries and pensions. My towns starting salary is 87k. But then again it depends, because the cost of living in NY is not exactly cheap. So in my eyes 87k, in NY is equivalent to say 45 or 50k in Mississippi. I believe in most places you can't start the process until your 21, but I think some allow corrections officers to be 19. And the best place to sign up is wherever you get the opportunity. Good luck!

Age limits and pay vary across the country, I know the average pay for a new police officer in my state is about $35,000 (in NC) and like blackjesus said, his state gets about $87,000....

 

I suggest if you're interested in moving to a new country (from Ireland to US) think about what kind of city/town you want to move to....what region....what state....think about the climate there for example Alaska gets a average -30F in the winter and Texas gets a average 115F in the summer. Think about where you want to move, then think about different departments. Afterwards, look at state requirements for becoming a police officer...all in all, just do a little digging on the internet, and use google earth to look at the region and everything.

 

Good luck!

My towns starting salary is 87k. But then again it depends, because the cost of living in NY is not exactly cheap. So in my eyes 87k, in NY is equivalent to say 45 or 50k in Mississippi. I believe in most places you can't start the process until your 21, but I think some allow corrections officers to be 19. And the best place to sign up is wherever you get the opportunity. Good luck!

 

Jesus, 87k? Here's my county's salaries, directly from this year's exam application announcement (which I applied for :D):

 

Deputy Sheriff: $50,425 (2010 Salary)

Police Officer:

$44,571 - City of Beacon

$41,479 - Town of East Fishkill

$47,278 - Town of Hyde Park

$49,608 - City of Poughkeepsie (amended 10/2/14)

$48,575 - Town of Poughkeepsie

$39,500 - Village of Red Hook

$43,492 - Village of Wappingers Falls

Edited October 5, 201411 yr by willpv23

 

Jesus, 87k? Here's my county's salaries, directly from this year's exam application announcement (which I applied for :D):

 

Deputy Sheriff: $50,425 (2010 Salary)

Police Officer:

$44,571 - City of Beacon

$41,479 - Town of East Fishkill

$47,278 - Town of Hyde Park

$49,608 - City of Poughkeepsie (amended 10/2/14)

$48,575 - Town of Poughkeepsie

$39,500 - Village of Red Hook

$43,492 - Village of Wappingers Falls

Yea I'm pretty sure that's normal. The things is I talked to a lot of cops for my town( I'm in explorer's) and they all said there's a super low chance of even getting in the department. You have to score extremely high on the test 90s or a perfect score. And I think you have to be a resident of the actual town, not county for my department. 

 

Edit: My bad the starting is around high 60s and mid 70s, high 70s and 80s if you have military or previous police experience

Well, it was stated above that in a majority of the states you have to be a US Citizen, and to do that, you have to come to America, fill out an application to become citizen, take a test, if you pass the test, you still have to wait 5 years to fully become a US citizen, but I think if you get married to a US citizen, they shorten the waiting period to 2 years.

 

Jesus, 87k? Here's my county's salaries, directly from this year's exam application announcement (which I applied for :D):

 

Deputy Sheriff: $50,425 (2010 Salary)

Police Officer:

$44,571 - City of Beacon

$41,479 - Town of East Fishkill

$47,278 - Town of Hyde Park

$49,608 - City of Poughkeepsie (amended 10/2/14)

$48,575 - Town of Poughkeepsie

$39,500 - Village of Red Hook

$43,492 - Village of Wappingers Falls

 

why you complain...lol

 

why you complain...lol

 

 

Well like BlackJesus said, the cost of living in NY is a lot higher than other states, especially so in my area. Granted I have no idea what it would be like to live on a police officer's salary since I have never had to, but there are definitely a lot better paying jobs. A lot of people live "upstate" (usually as far as Orange County, but probably Dutchess County or farther as well) and work in New York City because the jobs pay more, since the cost of living in the city is extremely high.

 

Here's New York State Police salaries just for more information:

 

Starting Base Salary

Effective April 1, 2010

• $50,374 - Starting salary (during Academy training)

• $66,905 - Upon graduation from the Academy

• $71,261 - After one year

• $84,739 - After five years

Salaries do not include: Longevity compensation; hazardous duty compensation; expanded duty pay or additional location compensation for New York City and the following counties: Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Promotion

There are numerous promotional opportunities from Sergeant to Superintendent through competitive and appointive processes for both the Uniformed Force and Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A few examples are provided below:

• You may apply to be appointed as an Investigator in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation after 4 years of service or after 2 years of service with a Bachelor's Degree. Base Salary: $94,335

• You may compete in the promotional process for the supervisory rank of Sergeant after 4 years. Base Salary: $99,849

• You may compete in the promotional process for the middle management rank of Lieutenant after serving 2 years as a Sergeant. Base Salary: $119,365

 

Notice this part: "additional location compensation for New York City and the following counties: Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester." Meaning the cost of living in these areas is higher than the rest of the state.

Don't do that stupid tactic of marrying just to quicken the adjudication process. That shit kills America.

 

But 87k is a ton for the majority of PDs in the US. 

 

National average is 55k, I believe. 

I know of cops from the UK and Australia in the LAPD

Well for starters, all but 5 states require you be a US citizen.

Which ones don't? When I still believed it'd be possible for me to stay in America I researched this and didn't find any state that wouldn't require citizenship for government service

Well for starters, all but 5 states require you be a US citizen.

 

 

I don't know a lot about citizenship, but I do know it takes a long ass time. I can tell you a little bit about an LEO job. For pay, it really varies everywhere. In my state, we have the some of the highest salaries and pensions. My towns starting salary is 87k. But then again it depends, because the cost of living in NY is not exactly cheap. So in my eyes 87k, in NY is equivalent to say 45 or 50k in Mississippi. I believe in most places you can't start the process until your 21, but I think some allow corrections officers to be 19. And the best place to sign up is wherever you get the opportunity. Good luck!

 

 

Age limits and pay vary across the country, I know the average pay for a new police officer in my state is about $35,000 (in NC) and like blackjesus said, his state gets about $87,000....

 

I suggest if you're interested in moving to a new country (from Ireland to US) think about what kind of city/town you want to move to....what region....what state....think about the climate there for example Alaska gets a average -30F in the winter and Texas gets a average 115F in the summer. Think about where you want to move, then think about different departments. Afterwards, look at state requirements for becoming a police officer...all in all, just do a little digging on the internet, and use google earth to look at the region and everything.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Well, it was stated above that in a majority of the states you have to be a US Citizen, and to do that, you have to come to America, fill out an application to become citizen, take a test, if you pass the test, you still have to wait 5 years to fully become a US citizen, but I think if you get married to a US citizen, they shorten the waiting period to 2 years.

 

 

Don't do that stupid tactic of marrying just to quicken the adjudication process. That shit kills America.

 

But 87k is a ton for the majority of PDs in the US. 

 

National average is 55k, I believe. 

 

 

Hey guys! Thanks for the great feedback! 

 

I am in college now so this could happen in maybe 5 years so the 21 y/o age limit will be cut out, I was thinking California with my preference being the LAPD so if anyone has any honest views or facts about ife as a PO in LA I'd love to hear it, Google just feeds loads and loads and loads of shit so LAPD is a dept. I've really been interested due to the location near the coast along with the climate!

Anyone have an in depth, honest interesting view of working in the LAPD?  

There are all different kinds of restrictions. Many agencies require you be a citizen, many are (in my area at least) are looking for people with military time or college, and some places want you to live there before applying. For example I wanted to be a Boston cop for a long time but they require you live in the city for at least one year before applying. All things to consider.

 

As far as pay goes it usually starts around 45-47K a year for probationary officers. But again, it depends on the agency.  

Edited October 21, 201411 yr by xmusicman92x

I researched a little bit and it seems like Colorado is your best bet. The resources are like 3-7 yrs old but it seems as though many departments in Colorado only require a greencard and not full citizenship.

Why would you even go to another country to be a cop there? What's wrong with your own country?

And I can assure you in certain European countries laws and enforcement are way better organized and better educated than some American cities. Not to be offensive by the way. I've checked some New York footage where I see people faint on the streets and surrounding citizens start helping and a cop within one meter grabs his belt, looks down and continues walking around "badassly" or whatever it's supposed to represent. Not professional anyway. I had a phase where I was obsessed by the U.S. Not anymore I am afraid, and with reasons I am not gonna name because patriotic Americans could be offended.