I'm in the process of going into the police academy and wondering once all is said and done is the transition to becoming a full time officer difficult? Are they actually hiring?

With departments facing lingering budget woes, some places are doing without. Vacancies are going unfilled and programs are being cut. However, it's not doom and gloom all over the state. Our agency has weathered the economic storm over the past several years quite well. How? We are lucky in a sense as a major part of our county consists of a high-end golf community. With home owners who actually pay their taxes and support local business, the money to support our budget is there. While the housing industry has been in the dump, our area continues to grow and that's another solid financial advantage.

We did go without pay raises in 08,09, and 2010. But most of us realized that it was just part of the BIGGER problem facing the nation. We're doing good now and have money for personnel, training, and equipment.

I'll go even further and sign praises to our administrative leadership that led us through the tough times. No... I'm not sucking ass, I'm just calling it like it is. I work for a great agency filled with great people... it's that simple.

My advise to you is DO NOT limit yourself to a specific geographical area. You may have to put applications out all around and wait for a response. Don't under estimate the power of diverse credentials. Having a HS Diploma when others have AA degrees or BS degrees is going to cost you. Having no significant work place experience when others have been in management positions may hurt you. Having no military training or experience when matched up against those who do will more then likely hurt you. Other than the academy, what else do you have to offer an employer?

Getting a job is a fine combination of credentials, persistence, and luck. Where are you located? We are still hiring as needs arise... we may be taking over the local PD which will require eight more officers.

You are in the process of starting the academy but dont know who is hiring?? This sounds a little weird!!! Are you sponsoring yourself? Did you not do any homework?

Stand down... I'll take your watch.

As far as I know the only agencies that are sponsoring people these days are corrections. And that is only because no one would bother to go to the academy if they were not being paid.

I remember snipers, IDF, and explosions in Iraq. Not a lot of that in LE work in my area of FL. I will take gangbangers that shoot sideways over Shiite assholes trained by the Quds force and packing real military hardware anyday.

I can't go with MORE respect, but I can say they BOTH deserve the utmost respect. I give it to them anyway!

Where are go to school?

What part of the state are you looking to work in?

Different jobs, each with different dangers. As a LEO who was never .mil I have a lot of respect for our military and feel no need to compete over respect, they have mine.

To the OP, jobs are available but there are a lot of applicants for a few jobs, at least at the more desireable agencies. You will want to make yourself as marketable as possible (ie, do you have a degree/military service experience/other characteristics that make you stand out?). It always helps to know someone with influence in the agency. You may need to work somewhere smaller or less desireable initially until you get experience. That said, if you have a specific place you want to work, try to get hired there before you "shotgun" applications everywhere. Many places want to hear that you want to work for them and not just whoever will take you.

This is the case with me and I agree very much with this statement.

That is the most ignorant statement I think I have seen posted on the internet.... Both jobs deserve equal respect, along with the other professions that serve their community and country.

Plano Tx is the safest city in the US, do the Police there deserve less respect compared to the Police in Detroit the most dangerous city? You should also look up some numbers to back up your ridiculous assertion.

2011- 418 US Deaths in Afghanistan, 5183 wounded Afghanistan and how many of those wounded have life altering wounds, loss of limbs or are permanently disfigured. compared to 173 Law Enforcement Officer deaths.

BOTTOM LINE, each LEO, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, or First Responder ALL deserve our respect, and they have 100% of mine.

Could be a double edged sword depending on who you are applying/interviewing with. Could be viewed as a plus that you are seeking safe firearms training on your own, or could be viewed as a yahoo looking to shoot something at the first chance.

Personally I might be a tad reluctant to list firearms training courses that I've attended short of say, range safety officer, that sort of thing.

Nothing wrong with being a "gun guy" but avoid bringing it up as an applicant. Firearms are a crucial skill for law enforcement when needed, but are only one skill set of many that you need. Same goes if you have taken martial arts/fighting classes. The stuff you would want to bring up is language skills training, medical training, or any training or volunteer type work (like big brothers-big sisters, guardian ad litem or whatever) you may have that could be a benefit to the department. When you get to the firearms class in the academy, dont bring up the firearm classes either. Just go with the program, do it the way they teach it, hopefully ace firearms class and get a "top gun" award.

^^^Agree with all this.