Describe the requirements for a recruit based on your state police as well as your local law enforcement agency.
The recruitment process is an imperative part of law enforcement given the level of responsibility that officers are expected to exhibit. Additionally, the recruitment process is reason for concern due to the high costs that are associated with recruiting individuals. The recruitment process for the State Police begins with the application submittal which entails submitting transcripts, police certification, and verification of military service among other requirements. Furthermore, recruits are subjected to entrance examinations (CJDS, 2019). Furthermore, recruits are subjected to an agility test where the state ensures that individuals are in optimum condition to perform duties (CJDS, 2019). Moreover, candidates are subjected to a psychological evaluation and a medical evaluation (CJDS, 2019). Candidates then have to complete police academy in addition to field training and a year of probation.
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On the other hand, the recruitment process of a local law enforcement agency begins with an application process which is followed by a physical ability test (NYPD, 2019). Recruits are then submitted to a background check which may feature a polygraph test (NYPD, 2019). Individuals are then subjected to an oral interview which is then followed by a psychological evaluation to assert perfect mental health (NYPD, 2019). Before the recruitment process is completed, individuals are expected to complete police academy training in addition to 3 months of field training before one can be sworn in as a local law enforcement officer.
Contrast the recruitment requirements between your state police and local law enforcement agency and rationalize the additional requirements at the state level.
For recruitment as a state police officer, an individual must have attained 21 years of age or could be 20 years old but must have either been a member of the armed forces or discharged from military duty (CJDS, 2019). Similarly, recruitment for local law enforcement jobs requires an individual to have attained 21 years of age or 19 in some states even though prior military experience is not required as long as training in the police academy is complete or an individual possesses relevant working experience (NYPD, 2019).
Recruitment of individuals as a state police officer further dictates that an individual should possess a bachelor’s degree for them to be admitted as a state police officer (CJDS, 2019). Alternatively, candidates are required to have an associate’s degree accompanied by three years of service to the country either as a police officer or as a military officer (CJDS,2019). On the other hand, for recruitment as a local law enforcement officer, individuals are expected to have completed high school education and obtained a high school diploma (NYPD, 2019). Additionally, certification in professional knowledge and skills proves vital for officers who want to be given better consideration over their peers.
Prior to recruitment both as state officers and as local law enforcement officers, individuals are expected to prove that they have never been convicted of a felony in addition to being a citizen of the government of the United States in addition to possessing a driver’s license (CJDS, 2019). It is evident that there exist differences in the recruitment requirements for one to be admitted either as a state officer or a local law enforcement officer (NYPD, 2019). For instance, differences are easily discernible in the educational requirements. The differences in education level required could be due to the fact that state officers are expected to handle a larger jurisdiction as compared to local law enforcement officers.
A local law enforcement officer’s jurisdiction extends to city and town demarcations while the jurisdiction of a state officer extends across cities to cover the whole state (CJDS, 2019). Additionally, the difference in requirements in terms of skills and level of military experience can be additionally attributed to the type of crime that either law enforcement officer is expected to deter (NYPD, 2019). Furthermore, more strict requirements for state officers may be due to the small size of state police departments as compared to local law enforcement agencies.
Evaluate the positions to determine which a more challenging career is and which you would prefer. Explain your decisions.
It is evident from the research findings that state police are tasked with handling a larger jurisdiction as compared to local law enforcement officers. Given that the state officers exercise their powers across city lines bestows more responsibility on the job as compared to local law enforcement agencies (CJDS, 2019). Additionally, the requirements for being a state officer require more skills and knowledge in the form of a bachelor’s degree as compared to a high school diploma for local law enforcement (CJDS, 2019). This points out to the fact that the career of a state police officer may prove to be more challenging given that they are expected to have more skills and knowledge than local law enforcement officers.
It is more preferable to be a state police officer than to be a local law enforcement officer. Despite the relative ease of recruitment into local law enforcement as compared to state police, working for the state police has advantages over local department for instance higher stipends (CJDS, 2019). Additionally, working for the state police may be accompanied with perks in cases where state agency may be established as its own entity.
Give one (1) suggestion of a new requirement that is not currently included in the recruitment requirements for both your state police and local law enforcement agency.
Both local law enforcement agencies and state police agencies should require candidates to take an ethics course in addition to a race and sensitivity course. This is due to the prevalence of cases of abuse of power that have arisen in the recent past. It is vital for both state police and local law enforcement to ensure the rights and privileges of citizens are protected in addition to facilitating adherence to rule of law and order.
References
Criminal Justice Degree Schools (CJDS) (2019). New York State Trooper Requirements. Retrieved from https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/state-trooper-requirements-by-state/new-york-state-trooper-requirements/
New York Police Department (NYPD) (2019). Hiring Process. Retrieved from https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/careers/police-officers/po-hiring.page
