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| What it takes to be a Police Officer | ||||||||||||||||
| What does it take to become a police officer.Only a select few are qualified to become a police officer because the credentials are so high. To become a Hampton police officer, the applicant must be twenty-one years of age, must have no prior felonies and must be able to successfully complete a physical agility test. The physical agility test consists of running activities, pull-ups, sit-ups and a number of other physical challenges. Before being sworn in, the cadet must successfully complete the police academy and under-go a complete background check. Although a person may meet these qualifications, the Hampton police department only hires twice a year. In those two times, they receive about five hundred applications in which only ten can be accepted. | ||||||||||||||||
| During the officer's first year, he or she is placed on probation and can be fired without a chance to state a grievance appeal. A grievance appeal is a procedure taken by the former officer to overturn the dismissal. Although the credentials are high, a police officer is not paid well until he or she is promoted in the ranks. The starting pay depends on which department you join and is also based on what type of degree you obtain. The Hampton police department's starting salary is 27,500. A two-year degree obtains a salary of 29,500 and a four-year degree obtains 31,750. All police departments offer excellent benefits-medical insurance, dental insurance and life insurance. Some local departments offer a plan that allows the officer to retire at fifty years of age. | ||||||||||||||||
| A police officer's job is very dangerous as well as stressful. The suicide rate for police officers around the country has risen in the past decade. During an officer's career, he or she comes in contact with everything from homicides to mere car accidents. An officer's job consists of many different tasks. A police officer may be assigned to patrol and respond to calls on a certain day and another day he or she may have to be present in a courtroom to testify as a key witness in a hearing. | ||||||||||||||||
| Law enforcement is very demanding in certain cities. Locally, positions are open regularly. If one is interested in police work, and meet the criteria, he or she will find an opportunity for employment. The future for upcoming officers is very assuring, because one thing is for sure, there will always be crime in our streets. | ||||||||||||||||
| Works Cited | ||||||||||||||||
| Sgt. Davis, Tommy, Personal Interview, 10/29/2000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sgt. Williams, Thomas, Personal Interview, 10/29/2000 | ||||||||||||||||
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