• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Becoming a LEO 101

Motorman thanks for the mature 30-40s. Im 41 mature is alot better the called old.
 
Eeks, just got done with the sfpd oral. It was pretty interesting, they basically give two situations and base your rating on how well you interpret your course of action. What was challenging was the fact that you were only given two decisions, arrest or no further investigation.

I thought the scenarios could have been better chosen or written, because it was difficult to pull out reasons why one would chose to arrest or not. Aside from that, all the previous steps of the sfpd process do not factor in on candidate rankings; rankings are based solely upon the oral. It sucks because I scored pretty high on the written portion.

Now I'm on to the background packet! Thanks again for the advice mm4l, I won't forget the rounds on me. =)
 
oral, huh? hopefully that's true for the santa cruz sheriff's dept.

i just did the written yesterday, but i kind of screwed up and left some blank thinking i had more time and i could go back to them. they had this string of paragraphs where you have to think of words that best fit in the sentence and have the correct number of characters...that took me a while.

anyhow, hoping for the best. having lunch out there at the dolphin on the wharf just makes it that much more desirable to work in that area! oh, each time i've been there, there are some xxxtremely hot gals working there! :blush
 
What is the proper attire to wear for a background seminar?

Business suit or business casual? Any examples please? thanks
 
Background seminar? Is this where they have tons of applicants invited in to tell them how to prepare to become a cop? If so business casual because they likely will not be tracking who you are.

If it is an interview with a background investigator and you are the person getting ready to be backgrounded, you better be in a suit and tie.
 
Yes sir, it is a group thing to prepare us to be backgrounded. Suit and tie it is!
 
Jig, If it is for any decent size group, there is no need to go in a full suit and tie. Business casual will suffice, but to each his own. I know when I went to my background seminar for SJ there were around 150 of us in a huge room, and no one was looked at twice! When it comes to the Oral Boards and Background meeting a full suit is a must.

Just my .02
 
silversvs said:
Getting a job as a police officer has never been so easy.
Click to expand...

...Getting a Job as a Deputy Attorney General on the other hand...

The above post proves my point - kinda tough to find smart people willing to get shot at for relatively low wages
 
Last edited:
ouch! that's harsh. thanks for your appreciation...



LilDusty said:
...Getting a Job as a Deputy Attorney General on the other hand...

The above post proves my point - kinda tough to find smart people willing to get shot at for relatively low wages
Click to expand...
 
Hey guys! So it looks like I'm coming back Stateside and going to continue with the hiring process.

Actually I've decided to put myself thru the San Mateo academy this coming March. Everyone tells me I'm crazy since all the depts are hiring at such a high rate, but I want to make sure it's something I want to do, and financially, it's not taxing for me. Also, I've been told that this gives me a wider range of options as a lot of recruiters will pick up people mid-academy. Is this true as well? Thanks guys!

Annabelle
 
Before you put yourself through, make sure your background is good.

I've been testing for over a year now, and I was recently dropped in the background. I was thinking of putting myself through too, but I needa figure out what they DQ'd me first.

Does anyone have tips for me? I have a good/ decent financial and driving record, some MaryJ +1.5yrs ago, and four honorable years in the service. I'm also well-mannered, what gives?
 
duc996girl said:
Hey guys! So it looks like I'm coming back Stateside and going to continue with the hiring process.

Actually I've decided to put myself thru the San Mateo academy this coming March. Everyone tells me I'm crazy since all the depts are hiring at such a high rate, but I want to make sure it's something I want to do, and financially, it's not taxing for me. Also, I've been told that this gives me a wider range of options as a lot of recruiters will pick up people mid-academy. Is this true as well? Thanks guys!

Annabelle
Click to expand...

I would put in for entry level when you get back, but keep in mind you have to have something to stand out amongst the crowd (Speak another language, degree, ect) but there are a lot of agencies hiring. If you put yourself through, keep applying and give them your progress. A lot of departments will pick you up through the academy and not only finish paying for what’s left might also pay for the whole thing.
 
ShowerBabies said:
some MaryJ +1.5yrs ago,
Click to expand...

I would say this is it, a little too soon after last use. Check the department’s drug use policy that you applied for but I know my department would not even look at you.
 
JPM said:
I would put in for entry level when you get back, but keep in mind you have to have something to stand out amongst the crowd (Speak another language, degree, ect) but there are a lot of agencies hiring. If you put yourself through, keep applying and give them your progress. A lot of departments will pick you up through the academy and not only finish paying for what’s left might also pay for the whole thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for. I have almost a year of overseas experience. I speak Vietnamese and Trieu Chau (Chinese dialect) fluently. I have my BS degree from SJSU in Business Management. Hate to play the female minority card, but hey..it works. Jobs in hospitality industry so good interpersonal skills. Done research on the depts I would like to work for and brushed up on info...

Hopefully this goes well...*crosses fingers*
 
JPM said:
I would say this is it, a little too soon after last use. Check the department’s drug use policy that you applied for but I know my department would not even look at you.
Click to expand...

Could you give me an idea which agency is this, so I don't waste my time? :)
 
ShowerBabies said:
Could you give me an idea which agency is this, so I don't waste my time? :)
Click to expand...

If ya enjoyed a little weed in the last two years I would imagine that you will be hard pressed to find an agency willing to take you with open arms. You would have to have a lot of desireable qualities to outweigh your recent drug use.

We have all been telling you guys that every agency is hiring because they are all shorthanded. Some agencies are getting deperate for good candidates. But none are going to drop their standards in order to fill positions.

My advice to you is to make an appointment with the recruiter or better yet the background investigator at any agency you are interested in. Tell them how long its been since you inhaled and find out what their policy is. You will save yourself and them a lot of time and effort.
 
silversvs said:
If ya enjoyed a little weed in the last two years I would imagine that you will be hard pressed to find an agency willing to take you with open arms. You would have to have a lot of desireable qualities to outweigh your recent drug use.

My advice to you is to make an appointment with the recruiter or better yet the background investigator at any agency you are interested in. Tell them how long its been since you inhaled and find out what their policy is. You will save yourself and them a lot of time and effort.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan.

And about the weed, it was only for experimentation :)
 
I'm very interested in going into Law Enforcement (most likely the CHP or SFPD), and i plan to apply to both when I turn 20. Now that I have read more about becoming an LEO, i most likely will apply to Daly City, Burlingame, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Milbrae, San Mateo, San Jose, San Carlos, Redwood City, and maybe more deparmtments if it's a good idea.

I read that Police Departments aren't looking for people who are really young. And that they need more "life experiences". I know my chances are slim at becoming a LEO at a young age, but I am determined, and will NOT give up until I am apart of a department.

Just reading about how difficult it is to become an officer makes me want to try even harder to become one.

What things should i do NOW to get myself ready for applying?

any advice would be appreciated
 
So how does one become a motorcycle LEO??

I've always wondered what qualifications and experience most MC cops have.

Are they usually normal patrolmen (who happen to have a lot of motorycle riding experience) for several years before they move up to MC status?

Sorry if this has been answered... I am waaayyy too lazy to read all of the responses so far. :blush :laughing
 
dvsdesigner said:
So how does one become a motorcycle LEO??

I've always wondered what qualifications and experience most MC cops have.

Are they usually normal patrolmen (who happen to have a lot of motorycle riding experience) for several years before they move up to MC status?

Sorry if this has been answered... I am waaayyy too lazy to read all of the responses so far. :blush :laughing
Click to expand...

My neighbor is currently a Motor Officer. He spent ~3-4 years as a regular patrol officer and then put in for motors when positions became available.

He rides and his personal bike is an '00 Buell X1 - although I've ridden it more than he has. He really didn't have much riding experience before becoming a Motor Officer.

Brian
 
dvsdesigner said:
So how does one become a motorcycle LEO??

I've always wondered what qualifications and experience most MC cops have.

Are they usually normal patrolmen (who happen to have a lot of motorycle riding experience) for several years before they move up to MC status?

Sorry if this has been answered... I am waaayyy too lazy to read all of the responses so far. :blush :laughing
Click to expand...

I talked to an SFPD officer, and he said that waiting list for being a motorcycle cop is 20 years long right now. And that is for both the Harleys AND Kawasakis (enduro motos)
 
mk4ce said:
I talked to an SFPD officer, and he said that waiting list for being a motorcycle cop is 20 years long right now. And that is for both the Harleys AND Kawasakis (enduro motos)
Click to expand...
This used to be true. SFPD instituted an S-2 program a little over a year ago. S-2's are selected from district stations and work out of those stations instead of 850 Bryant (where the Solo Platoon is located). The S-2's ride the Kawasaki KZ-1000-P's and are on a an assignment rotation. I believe it is a 5 year rotation.

S-1's generally ride the Harley Road Kings and they are assigned indefinately. The waiting list is about 16 years right now.

The "Hondas" (as they are called) are the off-road guys and I think most of them are riding street-legal Suzuki and Yamaha dirtbikes... no Hionda's anymore. They primarily patrol Golden Gate Park. Their waiting list is 12-15 years and I believe their assignment is also indefinate.

I don't work for SFPD, but I know many of their Solos and I have trained with them in the past. If anyone has any corrections, please feel free to update my information.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top