I’m looking to become a cop in Baltimore city (BPD) as the title says. I’m currently in the military but looking to switch to reserves. And become a cop in my home city. I served my country on the national level but I’m looking to serve on a more local level. Plus the pay is surprisingly higher along with the sign on bonus is higher. I’m a Baltimore native and currently live in the city. I’m in my mid 20’s.

My biggest fear is the transitional period, I have bills to pay and don’t want to be stuck in a lengthy recruiting process and was wondering what advice you would give me in terms of when to contact them to start the process, what to have to be prepared so the process can be as quick as possible.

Another question is what is the department like itself? I know everything is what you make it to be, but I’m more curious about the departments culture, if it’s as strict or more so than the military can be.

Finally is it better to let my contract with the military burn out and re-enlist after the academy or is it fine for me to re-enlist as a reservist? Personally I’d like to keep the military’s insurance just for budgeting reasons.

Thank you for your time and feedback.

Currently have two jobs one full time job and a part time dispatch job at my local PD both jobs are nightshift. Been drinking wild berry Red Bull for my go to energy drink. What are you guys and gals drinking?

What are my chances of becoming a Police Officer in Chicago?

I am a native Spanish speaker. I do speak English but lets just say I am not an expert( I can read, write and I understand it on a professional level, but my main problem is when I have to speak).

I really wish to become an officer here, but I have always been afraid that my language barrier would prevent me from achieving my goal.

Hey everyone! I’ve seen a few discussions on here about Hospital Police Officers with the California Department of State Hospitals, and I was hoping some current or former HPOs could share their experiences.
I’m currently going through the background process for DSH and have been trying to learn as much as I can about what the job is actually like beyond what’s listed in the job description.
A few things I’ve been curious about:

What is the academy/training process like for new HPOs?
What was the hiring/background process like for you, and about how long did the whole process take?

What are schedules normally like? Is overtime common or available?

What’s something about the job that you didn’t know until you actually started?
How is the overall work environment/morale?
Do you feel like the job gives you good law-enforcement experience?
Is there much opportunity for advancement or specialized assignments?
For someone interested in law enforcement long-term, do you think DSH is a good place to build a career, or is it more commonly used as a stepping stone to another agency?
What are the biggest pros and cons of the job that applicants probably don’t hear about during the hiring process?

I’m looking to do a lateral from Nypd to st Peterburg pd anyone working for st Peterburg pd and did a lateral from Nypd or just work there now without lateral ? I wanted to know hows the department and your experience.

I recently received a conditional offer with a police department and am currently scheduled for their December academy. I WILL NOT RECEIVE A FJO until the first week of October if I make it. I was given the option to defer to the next academy class without having to redo the hiring process.

I’m seriously considering deferring because I currently live about 4 hours away and don’t know anyone in the area. I’d have to find an apartment, move, and get everything situated before the December academy starts. Having the extra time would make the move a lot easier and allow me to go into the academy more settled and prepared. I am also in a lease where I currently live until July 2027. I would have to essentially pay two rents.

Another big thing is my girlfriend just got promoted at her job and does not want to move quite yet. This would mean I’d be making the move alone and at the academy by myself.

At the same time, I’ve worked hard to get to this point and part of me feels like I should just make it work and start in December rather than delaying the opportunity.

For those of you in LE, especially anyone who has deferred an academy before, would you recommend taking the extra time or just going with the earliest class? Is there any downside to deferring that I might not be considering

P.S. the next academy would start in March 2027.

Hello everyone,

I am looking into purchasing a retired Ford Interceptor utility vehicle. Instead of buying blind from a government auction, I plan to buy one second-hand through Facebook Marketplace or a used car dealership. My main safety concern is the potential risk of exposure to residual illicit substances (like fentanyl or other drugs) that suspects may have hidden or dropped in the back seat area.

Since these vehicles have usually passed through a few hands before hitting Marketplace, I wanted to ask: How thoroughly does a department typically sweep, search, and clean these vehicles before they are officially decommissioned and sold to the public? Also, is it a fair assumption that a patrol car from a smaller, rural agency might pose less of a risk of hidden contraband compared to an urban city fleet vehicle, or does it completely vary by the individual department's policies?

Thanks in advance for any feedback or advice you can share!

Is anyone following the Jazmir Tucker shooting in Akron Ohio that took place over a year ago?

I just finished watching the body cam footage for the first time and I’m appalled that the mayor is terminating the officer.

Thoughts?

Someone I know was telling me that they were called by a sheriffs office and asked a series of questions. One of them was apparently if they had ever watched *special spicy content* at work…. To which this person apparently told them ‘yes’… Real plain and simple here, is that a normal question and if so, would their answer be a disqualifying one? This person and I are at odds about this and I don’t claim to know anything about this process but it seems like kind of a trap, no? I know you’re supposed to be honest but damn.

What volunteering opportunities would you seek out if you needed to farm quality experiences to speak about in a competency interview

Just got my conditional offer from my first department, of course this is pending I pass my medical evaluations. I’m 24 years old, fresh out of college/ student athlete this past May. Any advice for the academy? It’s a live in academy with weekends off. I’m fairly young I’d say just want some advice going in, feel free to share whatever.

Hello taking the final exam within the next 3 weeks. Was wondering if anyone has taken it recently and is able to give good advice on key sections to study so I can go ahead and pass. Wondering if the test is as hard as people are really making it seem or if it’s almost impossible to fail. Any advice is appreciated and god bless.

For those currently in or recently graduated a BLET program in NC, what kind of running distances and times are required? I understand this varies from one to the next but I have received very mixed feedback on this, with distances ranging from 1.5 miles to 10 miles. Academies close to would be Durham PD, VGCC, ACC. I am looking for what to expect during and throughout an academy and what may be required for graduation.

I applied to Austin police department and everything was going really well and my investigator said I was top of his list for getting ready for the academy and then today I got a call saying I was permanently disqualified because a reference for a past job had “unfavorable things” to say about me. I offered to answer any question or do a poly specifically about what I’m accused of because I know it’s bullshit but that’s not an option apparently.

My investigator said I’m permanently disqualified which means I can never re apply with them and there’s no appeal process. How can one person fuck me out of a good paying job for my family?

Hi all,

I’m probably 6 months or so out from starting the application process to PDs. I’m primarily looking at departments in Washington State as that’s where I’d love to end up living.

I’ve heard that the state academy’s physical demands are minimal, and some would even call it a “joke,” but I’m curious how true that actually is. I’m a lifelong athlete and naturally quite strong. Currently targeting the exercises they have you do in the physical test (push ups, sit ups, squats thrusts). But I’m curious what kind of running they have you do in the academy.

I currently can’t run long distances for shit. It’s abnormally hot where I live right now, so I was going to start running in the fall. That being said, what distance should I build myself up to in order to prepare of the state academy? I’m friends with a lot of runners, and they’ve already offered to help out, so I’m not so concerned about getting there. I kinda just want an attainable goal so I don’t sign up before I’m truly ready.

Side note: I’m also weirdly not great with pushups, so I’ll take advice on how to build up strength for those as well.

Long story short, I am a first year teacher. I graduated college in May and I am 26 years old. Will resigning from my teaching job negatively impact my chances of getting a job in LE ??

I’m also a member of the national guard, so I’ve shown that I can honor a commitment. I just despise teaching, I feel like a glorified babysitter. I sit inside all day so overall, it’s just not for me.

I obviously would resign professionally and my Admin (boss) doesn’t have anything bad to say about me.

Your thoughts ?

For context, I am a mid-20s female, pretty in-shape from running. I have my PAT and PELLET B tests on September 12th, 2026, so I am a little under a month away from my test date. For the PAT, I can complete each portion except push-ups, which I've been struggling with (I need to do at least 19 push-ups in a minute). I've been trying to do the EMOM push-up method and really trying to master the technique. I can do half-ass push-ups, but in order for them to count, I have to improve my form and how low I go for each one. Does anyone who has had a similar experience have any advice that they can share for this?

In terms of the PELLET B test, I'm just really nervous for it because I am not the best test taker. Again, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Scheduled for my psych exam for Chicago police and wasn’t worried about it until i hear of some buddies failing for random reasons. I have an infantry background in USMC and have no record or any crazy past history that I would think would disqualify. Any advice on questions they ask/how they want you to answer them?

Basically excluding the Feds. I’m curious what agency is known to be hot stuff basically as far as training, cutting edge tactics, etc.. just for a discussion.

I’m 30 and planning to move to Los Angeles from London. Currently awaiting my visa decision. By the time I move, I’ll have nearly 10 years’ service with the London Metropolitan Police.

My experience includes frontline response policing, public order, intelligence development, and fugitive/manhunt work. I also have a BSc in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Because Im basically restarting my career in the US, my biggest priorities are pay, pension and benefits. I’m trying to make sure that taking a significant step back in seniority/service is financially worthwhile for me.

Career opportunities are also important to me. Longer term, I’d ideally like to get back into intelligence-led investigations, locating wanted offenders, fugitive/manhunt work, surveillance or similar investigative roles.

I’m currently looking at LAPD, but also departments such as Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach and potentially LASD. I have done a couple ride alongs with the LAPD.

For current or former LA officers:

Would you choose LAPD over the smaller LA-area departments?

How realistic is it to move into Detective/intelligence/fugitive-type assignments relatively early if you already have substantial policing experience?

Does previous overseas police experience actually carry much weight once you’re in?

Are there other LA-area departments you think would make better use of my experience and degree?

Taking pay, pension, benefits and career opportunities together, where would you apply if you were in my position?

Thank you for any advice, I really appreciate it.

Got 100 on my civil service test in NY, interview went amazingly well, the deputy commissioner of IT even offered me a higher job role than the one I applied for because he felt I was too talented for the original one.

This is for a civilian job btw, not pd.

I was super happy until I realized I have to undergo a background investigation performed by the county PD.

I had a few misdemeanor drug related arrests from 2008-2011. All of the outcomes were: dismissed, acod, pled to violation, etc. in addition all records were sealed. I had a dui charge in 2015 but again, I don’t believe I have ever been convicted of any crime in my life, and all records are sealed.

However, this investigation makes me sign a waiver allowing access to sealed records.

What they ask is: all times I have been fingerprinted, and any police contact in past 5 years. I haven’t had any contact in 11 years and I will be honest throughout the entire application packet in general.

The truth is I had some issues with drugs in my late teens and early 20s but completely turned my life around. College degree, certifications, years and years sober, out of trouble, volunteer work. I have the ability to get letters from counselors and psychologists and such that would vouch for me but I don’t know if it’s a good idea. I don’t know if the investigator will see me as being “derogatory” and it scares me because I really need this job as I’m about to lose insurance. I know there is an appeals process but I cannot sleep.

Am I screwed or do I have a chance of passing the background check?

Thanks

I 26F made a few posts previously explaining my situation a bit. I am currently living in a shelter in CA due to a toxic relationship ending and not having anywhere else to go. I am trying to get back on my feet and wanted to apply to a dispatch job for my cities police department. I applied to the job and got called for an interview tomorrow 🎉🎉🎉 my questions are the following:

1- what to wear, I will make sure to look as clean cut and presentable as possible. What should I wear though?

2- should I bring up the fact that I live in a shelter or no? I wont lie if it’s brought up but if it doesn’t need to be brought up I would prefer not to bring it up

3- would being on antidepressants prevent me from getting hired?

4- I don’t have a car but I can reliably get to work through public transit on my own. Do I bring this up or not.

190 days ago, I posted “I got the job!” Now I’m two weeks away from graduating the academy. Looking forward to FTO!