Becoming Police Officer
 

I scanned the forum topics and didn't know where else to put this so I'll put it here and hope it's not against any rules lol

So a few friends and I are interested in working for the vancouver police. I'm just wondering what are the steps one should take to get in. Like are there internships to get police training experience ect. I'm thinking of switching my education and taking criminology at SFU, would that be a good idea? I know it's not a direct road to being a police officer, but having a degree should help me get a job right - and I don't see any other degrees that relate.

I'm also curious about the job itself. Obviously there is a lot of stress. I heard most cops are not concerned about the physical stresses but more so with the mental/emotional stresses (working odd hours, missing a lot of family life, ect).

I'm aware being a cop is nothing like how they portray it in the movies. I'm also aware putting on the uniform is going to change how others look at me (more of an authority figure, if a crisis happens they will turn to you and expect you to tell them what to do). I also know police get a lot of shit from people eg. f*ck the police ect.

If there are any police officers or people who know some, please give me some advice and information about the career. Thanks :)

for the longest time, since i was 5, until about last year all i ever wanted to be was a police officer. But as of now, im not pursuing it anymore, just for personal reasons. Anyways, my whole plan was this

go to post secondary for crim, get the degree, and then apply. BUT , from what i hear you need a LOT of volunteer experience, because they look into that very very very much lol The other route i was thinking off was just going straight into the justice institute in new west after high school and take police courses. just remember that you need a lot of volunteer in your resume before you apply for policing! sorry to emphasize that a lot, but everyone seemed to do so when they told me so i'm just sharing what ive been told haha

Just remember this when you do apply or think of applying. you need to be drug free for at least 3 years, if you have any connections/friends who are into the whole drug scene (whether its only weed or as hard as coke) they will find out who you hang out and will probably ask these questions when you are put under the lie-detector test. so be prepared to lose friends lol i decided some things i just couldn't give up (wow that sounds bad, its not LOL) or friends i couldnt lose, so i left that route and got into business.

ps : everything i said is what has been said to me by others who are either already in the force or are going through the requirements to be, but i could be wrong :badpokerface:

This is a forum I checked out religiously when I was going thru the process for my job:

Blue Line Forums • View topic - RCMP APPLICANT GENERAL CHIT CHAT

The RCMP applicant chit chat thread will answer all your questions.

Sign up for the RCMP Auxiliary, it's pretty much volunteering for the RCMP and you get hands on experience. Average hiring age is also 25, and as XplicitLuder said there will be a polygraph test for the VPD where they ask you lots and lots of personal questions

by volunteer experience, does it have to be sort of related to police work or just volunteer stuff in general (like daycamp supervising lol)

You don't have to take Criminology an education of some sorts does help and is a requirement in most cases. Volunteer work is huge, do lots of it and all kinds of it. The obvious stuff, stay out of trouble don't break the law obviously. Don't do drugs of any kind. Have good credit it does matter. Don't associate with people who are on the wrong side of it.

I don't know how old you are but keep in mind they generally like to higher people with some life experience. There are exceptions but age and experience does not hurt you and youth may hinder. I'd actually also recommend getting a job where you deal with people. Having past experience with the ability to deal with different people and situations can only help you.

If you get further in the process they'll have you fill out this questionnaire with a huge range of questions. Have you done drugs? When and where is the last time? Have you been in an at fault accident? When and where? Have you ever committed a hit and run? When and where? Do you associate with anyone with a criminal record? Who? Have you ever solicited sex from a prostitute? List all your tickets, where they happened and when. Have you ever stolen anything?

This questionnaire has tons of questions. So you'll fill it out and go in for an interview and then they'll ask you all the questions. Get you to go into detail about some of the things like what you were thinking why you did it or whatever. If you get further in the process they'll ask you the same questions again except this time you'll be hooked up to a polygraph. If they find out you lied about anything the process is over.

There is more to it then that but that is one of the things to expect.

After talking to a few recruitment officers / friends they all tell me what is to be expected/preferred as a police officer. They look for people with: life experience(work/travel), independent(moved out, don't rely on parents), post secondary education, volunteer work(related and not related to police work), second language, no drug use for the past 2 years and no association with friends that do drugs (not too sure how flexible they are on this, I've heard different stories), physically fit (must be able to complete an obstacle course and run under an allotted time), Healthy (good vision and what not). These are just some of the things I can remember off the top of my head, I'm sure there's more

I remember hearing from others, and a reading on RS here that getting a criminology degree does not necessarily help/give a huge advantage in becoming a police officer, or border guard. They actually look for people who are more "well-rounded", and it's better to major in something else. Could anyone chime in on this?

Now that you bring that up I think I've heard something similar. I was looking through the new recruits the transit police just hired, and they have people who were like working with dogs before and people who got a degree in biochemistry. Not really related to law enforcement

^ So , as you can see, everything that everyone posted is VALID.
Id like to add a few more things for you to think about.

1. Hit and Miss. Even if you do everything that is mentioned above, and what recruiters tell you to do, you are still not guaranteed a job with police forces. The recruiting process is such a gray area, that if you mess up on one aspect in your life, you're done. For example, no amount of volunteering, education, fitness or test scores will help you, if you did something stupid in your past. You must be extremely well rounded.

2. Related to #1 - Depends who picks up your file and reads it. This could make you or break you. Recruiters are humans. Just because one person likes your file, don't mean the next one does, or the next department. Don't take it personal. Right time, right place.

3. Have a back up plan. Not everyone makes it. VPD gets like 20,000 applicants per year or something like that. They hire like what? 20 people per year depending on funding? Go figure.

4. Don't compare yourself to others. During your process, you'll find out things about people who are absolute SCUM and they get in, while you don't. You'll find phone salesman, and superstore cashiers get in, while their work history has absolutely nothing to do with Policing, and they get in.You'll find that you and other friends would make absolutely GREAT Police Officers, but because you guys were too honest, and had integrity, and told the truth, recruiting uses it against you. You'll find that you have more education, better scores, more life experience, better everything, and someone 19 or 21 years old gets in before you. (read next tip)

5. Its all about who you know.

6. Be prepared. Study the process. Nothing is worse than failing a test when they TOLD you exactly what to prepare for. And of course. Don't lie. You F@#$ this up, and you're done across Canada. You will never be a PO.

GG GL HF. If you get in first try, you are BAUSE.

20,000 applicants and only 20 get in a year. LOL...
I don't have much volunteer experience at all so I guess I should start. I just turned 19 so that's not too bad, I have time to do these things :D

why do you sound like someone i know. are your initials SS?

20 applicants is an over statement. They were hiring this number prior to the Olympics. Now that it's over, the economy still in a bad state, inflation is skyrocketing. Many police officers that were considering of retirement is now staying with the force. The VPD's budget also haven't had much wiggle room in recent years, forcing to tap into its contingency fund (Stanley Cup riot) and will tap into that fund again if the Canucks make it to the final.

The reality is more like they are hiring 10 or less for the next year or so.

Me? Nope lol

If I were you, I'd get any post-secondary degree, join an auxiliary RCMP position, or military reserve after, get your hands a lil dirty, then you will be heads above most applicants, cause if you're capable of getting into the reserves or an auxiliary position. You can pretty much get into any police agency in Canada.

Seems like most points are covered but there's a VPD career info session on April 14 (don't have rest of info handy but a quick search can cover that). Also, VPD are at most (if not, all) career fairs at SFU.

Made it to the poly a few years back. Honestly, it's a fucking interrogation. Not a police officer now for personal reasons.

Sounds like a plan :)
do you know if the auxiliary thing is hard to get into?

I believe VPD is hiring 60 some PCs this year.

The most important point here that has been brought up is don't lie. If they find out you lie on your polygraph, you are not going to be a PO anywhere across canada.

Other than that, just be a good law abiding citizen (dont dl anything illegally, traffic tickets etc) + a well rounded individual.

don't download anything illegally.. omg that's going to be hard lol

The process is similar to applying to the RCMP. You go through a Polygraph and everything. Also, RCMP Auxiliary requires a minimum of 2 years commitment. I'd join the Military Reserves instead if I were you.

Where did you get the number 60? Last time I spoke with a NPO, a sergeant from Traffic Enforcement, and a Business Liaison officer, the number was around 10.

Just stream all your copyrighted material. It's good to never lie, but who's to say you cannot deceive? the truth can be bent, as long as you know how to effectively apply it.

Incorrect. It is quite the opposite. The Auxiliary has everything except polygraph. Its quite similar, but still thorough. Its not any easier. Initial screening, panel interview (1 member, 2 aux members), Security Clearance interview, Background Investigation, and newly included PARE.
Auxiliary Constable Program Recruiting Information

60 is about right for this year. Seems like you've spoke to everyone except recruiters heh. Sgt. Elson and his team seem to be on a huge campaign for recruits this year.

So, I missed out on a polygraph. That makes me entirely incorrect.

I am not an applicant, so there's no sense of me to purposely speak with recruiters. The numbers thrown at me were from my friends. It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't accurate, not like they would be in the know nor would care how many rookies would be entering the force. They've already made it.

60? That's what they said in their last batch of hires a few years ago before the Olympics then ended up hiring like 20. I wouldn't get all hung up on that number. It constantly changes. The RCMP does the same thing, overstate a large hiring campaign, then hire a few.

I heard something back in high school like you need to be able to fluently speak french. (If you're becoming a police officer in Canada). Reasons being french is our second language and if you are transferred to Montreal, etc either for training or stay.

If this isn't true, knowing the french language I think will better your chances at getting the job by a lot.

No need get so politically correct.:rolleyes:
So all your info is from what you "hear." Last time I checked, when people are looking for facts, they go to the source.