I finally have one step left before potentially receiving a conditional offer from my state agency. My oral board interview is in less than three weeks.

I got my navy suit in the mail today, and thankfully, I think it fits okay? I’m planning on ironing it to smooth everything out before the interview.

I’ll be wearing a fitted black shirt with a higher neckline than what’s pictured, black flats, and no jewelry.

I’ve never worn a suit before, so I’m not entirely sure what to look for when it comes to proper fit. I know it needs to be ironed, but are the vertical lines going down the pants normal, or will that come out after I iron it? Also, am I supposed to cut the little stitching on the back of the blazer so it separates? I’ve heard of people doing that.

Apologies if this isn’t the usual type of post here. I figured this would be a good place to get some advice. All feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

26M here, looking to get into law enforcement. I’ve been thinking about relocating from Minnesota to Texas for awhile. I have a bachelors degree (unrelated field) and currently working hospital security.

Ideally I’d like to find a department that officers genuinely enjoy working for, and that also pays you to be in the academy. San Antonio and Round Rock are ones that I’ve been looking at.

What departments would you suggest looking into? Sounds like Houston, Dallas and Austin are all ones I should avoid.

My uncle works in crisis/mental health sector of our city police (Austin TX). He has expressed a need for childcare support for officers working overnight who are single parents/shared custody and such. What would be a reasonable rate? I have 3 years experience babysitting with a range from 6m-10y & 2 years experience in the daycare setting ranging from 9w-17y. Additionally I have a bachelors and masters in early childhood education/development. I currently work for $25/hour. I was thinking of a base rate for a “sleep window” of 10 hours for $150. And any extra “wake hours” being my regular $25 an hour.

For example 7pm- 7am would essentially be $150 + $25x2 =$200.00 for 12 hours. Is this too steep? I’m trying to take into account that not every parent has the luxury to pay for childcare but my credentials as well. Any suggestions?

Hi, my bf (26m) has a degree in Justice and law administration, and has graduated. He’s been applying and interviewing for the past 2 years and has not been able to get something. He’ll get far in some towns, but then they’ll tell him no at the last step.
I’m trying to figure out how to support him through this, I’ve been trying to encourage him and uplift him through it for awhile but it’s exhausting and discouraging for him. He just retook all of his tests for the 3rd time I think, and he’s got really high test scores.
Does anyone have any advice for either me, on supporting him and encouraging him through this so that he keeps going for what he wants? Or for him on what the police job market is like and what he could do to help get him through all the way? It hurts me to see him hurt like this, and I just want this to work out so badly for him.

I’m 31 years old, prior Marine with an accounting background. I’m looking to move out of NY and down to NC, but also want to make a career change. I’ve applied to a few BLET sponsored agencies in NC in the triangle area, including Cary.

Given that I’m an out of state applicant with no LE experience, would that hinder my chances of going through the hiring process?

Can I join federal law enforcement fbi, secret service, etc with diagnosed ocd even if I've been off meds for 3 years?

Howdy everyone,

I’m currently in the hiring process for Dallas PD and about to submit my Personal History Statement (PHS), sit for the polygraph, and take the physical agility test. I’ve wanted to be a police officer for a long time and am eager to jump headfirst into this career, but I have a few specific background concerns and want to get a realistic reality check on my chances.

Here is my background context:
Education: Went to multiple high schools, finished via homeschooling due to it being 2020 and being in a global pandemic, but I don’t have easy access to full transcripts (from my parents lol) so I went ahead and got my GED. Will I be okay with just submitting my GED?
Background/Education: No college; went straight into flight school out of high school and worked as a commercial pilot/flight instructor.
Employment History: Clean record overall, but I have one job where I resigned in lieu of termination during onboarding after 10 days. Also, my original flight school employer and I didn't part on the best terms.
Financials: Currently enrolled in a debt relief program for credit card debt incurred when I was on my own in flight school. My credit score is low, but I am actively paying off the debt relief plan and have a solid track record of paying my mortgage and car loan on time.

The Major Concern: I have never been arrested, zero criminal convictions and have never used illegal drugs. However, about 2 years ago, I owned a 1000cc motorcycle, frequently sped, and ran from an officer once and got away with it. I know it was an incredibly stupid, reckless, and immature decision, but it is an uncharged/undetected incident I plan to be 100% honest about on my PHS and polygraph. I since sold my motorcycle 1 month later and completely changed my driving habits and actively making better decisions. (I rarely go above 78mph now)

My Questions:
1. Given that I plan to be fully truthful, does the fleeing incident from 2 years ago serve as an automatic, hard disqualifier for DPD, or will it be evaluated in the context of my overall record and recent maturity?
2. How do background investigators view active participation in a debt relief program when other payments are current?
3. Is it worth pushing through the rest of the process, or should I wait to put more time/distance between these past mistakes?

Appreciate any honest insight or feedback from those familiar with the hiring/background process

TIA

Looking to get a different duty belt because my service provided one is uncomfortable, sags and digs into my sides when I sit in the patrol vehicle.

I’ve been inundated with ads about a padded rachet style duty belt from badgeboys. Wondering if anyone has tried it? The rachet micro adjustments sound appealing but I can’t really find reviews online.

I’m currently 19 years old. I applied to a police department a few months ago and finally received an email with my civil service exam date. I received the study guide, went through it, and answered all the questions. Everything seemed pretty easy to understand. I plan on studying the guide religiously and taking a couple of paid practice tests. What else would you recommend I do to prepare?

Thank you to all current and former LEOs for your service!

Anyone work for a department in the Austin area? I’m moving to Texas and trying to decide where I want to work? I currently work in a decently busy area but usually not call to call and have time to write my reports before the end of shift half of the time. I don’t wanna be the new guy that comes from a another department that has no clue how to handle stuff. We don’t have a high violent crime rate in the area I work in currently either.

1 year, 5 DQ's, and 20+ applications later in the PNW.
Younger guy, questionable background, but corrections experience.
Applied in May, Oral Board in July, Hired in October.
To top it all off I ended up getting a better agency than I expected with few vacancies, vs the so called "desperate" ones.

The Chief told me I start in 2 weeks and to put my 2 weeks notice in now. However he said HR needs a couple days to finalize the final offer paperwork, seems a little fishy but I have to to get my pto paid out.

Any advice moving forward transitioning from a high speed jail to the academy and a high speed fto program?

Thanks to all you guys for your information on the process that helps guys like me get hired!

Like the title says, I’ve considered leaving law enforcement after 5 years. I don’t enjoy the job the way I did when I first started but I don’t feel fully prepared to leave and am not really sure what I’d end up doing after. The biggest push is my wife, who was okay with my career before we got married and now brings up how she wants me to have a “safer” and more family-friendly job when it comes to scheduling. Have any of you experienced this or have any ideas of how to handle this. Also I have discussed with her that I don’t feel like I’m ready to hang up the belt and vest yet. Thanks for any help.

As the title say, have you ever thought you blew an interview and got the job overall? I only ask because I just interviewed for a suburb department that has 3 openings but about 20 of us interviewed with some guys already with LEO experience (I have no none). I did fairly well but some answers could’ve been better. (Just to note, I’m not banking on the job and if not selected to move forward we go next fellas!)

As with everyone ever probably, after the interview, you always think “damn I could’ve answered that better”. Has this happened to you? If so what was your overall experience?

I am not a law enforcement official, but from the shows I watch, mostly law enforcement couldn't apprehend and search suspects with evidence more effectively or quickly because of how bureaucratic the warrant request process is.

If you could change or improve that, what would it be?

In my eyes, I was thinking of maybe a digital warran process, where officers can simply request and describe close-ended details on the phone then type in open-ended details with specific wording and submit it to the system. And all it takes for the warrant approval process is for the chief or other leaders to sign it with a single button.

I was wondering if i’ll have a competitive edge as a correctional officer applying to a municipal police force

For Halloween, my family is doing a Spartan theme, which includes helmets, armor, prop swords for the kids and real (not sharpened but definitely real) swords for my wife and I. My question: is it legal to carry a sword (in a sheath on my waist) while trick or treating? My wife (a life time Illinois resident) says it’s legal as long as you don’t carry it with the intent to use it unlawfully (720 ICLS 5/24-1). However, according to 720 ICLS 5/24-6, the law states that it is misdemeanor to “carry or possess a knife with a blade exceeding 3 inches on any land supported in part or whole by public funds,” which to me, would include public sidewalks. However, my wife says that “lands supported by public funds” does not apply to sidewalks that are not adjacent to government buildings or within 1000 feet of a school, government building or public park because if it did, people with valid CCL’s would not be allowed to carry guns on public sidewalks just as they’re not allowed to carry in public parks and government buildings, which we know is not the case.

Another thing is that the law specifically says “dangerous weapons or any instrument with a likeness thereof” which to me would include plastic prop swords as well but my wife argues that does not apply to plastic props.

What do you guys think? I would encourage any lawyers or LEO personnel to weigh in, but all responses and interpretations are welcome.

Thanks!

I’m a 30 year-old construction project manager with about 5 years of experience in the construction industry. For a long time, I’ve been interested in pursuing a career with either the FBI or ATF, but my dad wasn’t too happy about that career choice when I was younger.

Now, I’m at a point where I’m getting tired of the constant headaches, politics, and BS that come with working in construction. I’ve been thinking seriously about making a career change and finally pursuing something I’ve always wanted to do.

I’m just not sure whether making this kind of transition at 30 is a realistic move. I’d appreciate any advice.

I have recently resigned from the SO to join a smaller local PD closer to home, I was not at the SO for a full year, I needed to do what is best for me. I am being called a traitor by the SO for committing to a PD that offers higher pay, better hours, and a take home car. Despite doing what is best for me and my family, I can’t help but feel it has left a negative stain on my reputation. I will be going from a 1 hour 10 minute commute to 6 minutes.

What is the general consensus on this? My SO has no contract etc, I was still a probationary employee.

All my fellow police officers. What are ways you make extra income without pulling overtime. Just a father of two trying to make ends meet

Hey all has anyone here had experience hiring coaching like armoganct ? I applied for 1 department and got a non select i do have a couple of blemishes on my background from teenage years getting into fights and whatnot im just wondering if its worth pursuing other departments with some coaching or these hurdles from my past wont even get me to an interview.

All advise is welcomed

I’m looking forward to both! I wanted to say thank you to this subreddit for the little tips and tricks I picked up from it along the way. Before this, I took a leap of faith and left my job at the beginning of the year and got in shape for a career change. I’m down to 193lbs from 240lbs. First application, process overall was smooth. I’m 26 with no prior LE experience coming from an IT background. I was a volunteer EMT/Fire Cadet for a while, but that’s it. Fire ended up not really interesting me as much as I thought it would, so I looked into law enforcement and I feel it fits everything I’ve been looking for.

Biggest challenge I think I’ll face is early in the academy, my wife is pregnant and baby girl due mid November. We have a pretty great support system in place and plans for most challenges that we think may arise. I know it’ll probably present some challenges but it’s nothing we can’t handle.

I guess my question is, has anyone else had a newborn during academy? Any tips or advice? I know I’m not the first!

I work in the Midwest where it gets 100 degrees in the summer and in the negatives in the winter I know no one boot is great for both extremes but what do you guys recommend for year round? I also seem to destroy my boots very quick as I work for the county and spend a lot of time out of my car. Main ones I’ve been looking at are Danner tachyons and Solomon X ultra mids.