Posted: 2/5/2007 9:11:55 PM EDT
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Hi my name is Chris and I'm from New Zealand. At the moment I am only 16 but I am looking at studying in the US in a few years followed by applying for a green card or citizenship. My long term goal is to become a police officer in the US and I have a few questions I hope some of you can help me out with. 1. If I have a green card can I work as a LEO or do I need to be a citizen? 2. Will type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant) stop me from obtaining a position as a LEO /swat officer? 3. Are there any good subjects/courses I should take to help with law enforcement while at college/university in the states? I would like to be a police officer in my own country but the diabetes means I do not pass their good general heath policy or so a recruiting officer told me. Thanks in advance for any help Chris |
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Is your diabetes able to be controlled? You have to be honest with yourself and set obtainable goals, and remember it's not just your life when you chose a public safety profession, the public and your fellow officers lives can depend on your actions Is there a medical waiver process in NZL.... that may be amuch better route to go God Bless and good luck |
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Yes my diabetes is controlled and has been since i got it. Aside from 2 injections in the morning and night I'm the same as everyone else. I don't know exactly about the waiver, I know I needed to get a letter from my doctor to get my firearms license but when I inquired about joining the police I was told that I am automatically disqualified from becoming a cop because of my diabetes. |
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Do you only have a national police force or do you have city/county/state some may have less strict requirements. From the public info http://police.govt.nz/recruiting/assessment.medical.html Asthma is the only one mentioned Health Questionnaire The Health Questionnaire assesses your physical ability to perform the frontline duties of a constable. Key areas of concern are physical agility, asthma, eyesight, hearing and mental health. Where appropriate, you must provide specialists' reports (again - at your expense) to verify your fitness to join the Police. Looks like you find a doc to say you can perform the duties you might have a chance |
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Q1. You have to be a U.S. citizen Q2. It will be a concern but I don't think it will disqualify you from becoming a police officer. Q3. In the states, a person only needs a high school diploma or GED. A college degree helps in some states-incentives in pay scale but not necessary. But in college, look into a Criminal Justice degree if that's what you're interested in. Another note: Keep your record clean, study hard, stay healthy (fitness) and follow your goals. Good Luck!!! |
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Info not to be taken as factual but here you go: Alaska - Can work in just about ANY department with just a Green Card • Alabama – Citizenship required by state law • Arkansas – Citizenship Required by state law • Arizona – Citizenship required by state law • California – Will take you on a green card provided you are eligible and have already applied for Citizenship • Colorado – Can work in MOST departments with just a green card, no POST type requirement for citizenship. • Connecticut – POST requirement for Certification • Washington DC – POST requirement for Citizenship • Delaware – No State requirement for citizenship, however I cannot find any department that doesn’t require it. • Florida – State law requires Citizenship • Georgia – POST requirement for Citizenship. • Hawaii – Can work in any department with just a green card • Iowa – ILEA (POST) requires citizenship. • Idaho – POST requires Citizenship • Illinois – No State requirement for Citizenship, SOME departments will take you on a green card (Incl. Chicago PD) • Indiana – POST type requirement for Citizenship • Kansas – State Law requirement for citizenship. • Kentucky – POST type requirement for Citizenship. • Louisiana – No state requirement for Citizenship, about 50% of departments will take you with just a green card. • Massachusetts – No state requirement for citizenship, several departments available that will hire with green card. • Maine – No state requirement for Citizenship, about 75% will take you (including state police) with just a green card and the state police academy doesn’t require citizenship. • Maryland – State law requires Citizenship • Minnesota – State POST requirement for citizenship. • Michigan – MCOLES (Post type thingy) requires Citizenship. • Mississippi – State Dept of Public Safety requires citizenship • Missouri – POST Requirement for Citizenship • Montana – POST requirements state that Quote “Must be a US citizen, but MAY be a lawful resident alien” whatever that means. • Nebraska – State law requires Citizenship. • Nevada – POST requirement for Citizenship. • New Hampshire – State requirement for Citizenship. • New Jersey – State requirement for Citizenship • New Mexico – State requires citizenship • New York – State requires Citizenship • North Carolina – POST requires Citizenship • North Dakota – POST requirements state that they will take you with just a green card – See the following link http://www.iadlest.org/ndakota/POSTS2.html • Ohio – No state or post requirement for citizenship, Spoke to several departments who stated over the phone that they would hire Green card holders. • Oklahoma – Will take you on a green card – see the following CLEET standards link - http://www.oscn.net/applications/os...p?citeID=91596/ • Oregon – Will take you on a green card – BUT you HAVE to attain Citizenship within 18 months else your certificate will be revoked. • Pennsylvania – Citizenship required by state • Rhode Island – Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement. • South Carolina - Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement. • South Dakota – Will take you on a Green card but you must “declare intent to become a naturalized citizen as soon as eligible” • Tennessee – State law requires citizenship • Texas – Recently changed law means that In order to be certified by the TCLEOSE (POST) agency you have to be a US citizen. Previously there was no Citizenship requirement. • Utah - State requirement for Citizenship • Vermont – no Citizenship Law - Will take Green card holders, Incl. the State Police • Virginia – POST requires US Citizenship – BUT will waive the Citizenship requirement if good reason is shown and such a waiver is filed on form “DCJS Form w-1 application of waiver for minimum qualifications” Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs have the authority to approve this application for waiver – as does the POST agency. • Washington – No legal requirement for citizenship, nor any POST type requirement, however I only found two small departments that will take you with a green card. • West Virginia – No state requirement for citizenship, several major departments will take you on a green card • Wisconsin – Cannot find any information as per a state requirement for Citizenship. Most departments websites require it – however the State police DOES NOT. • Wyoming – Citizenship required by state law. • Washington DC – Citizenship required by state law. |
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uwcopper- Thanks for the nice short answer he VRW- thanks for that list |
Depends, nut not likely.. If you answer truthfully and are not guilty yourself then nothing to worry about, if you tyr to hide it the poly examiner will get you Another note the poly is junk science... always tell the truth and you will be golden |
as for keeping the record clean, are other family members records taken in and used to judge you as well? Because well my brothers been a little troublesome at times. They used to do that here but its since changed. |
I would say getting a minor in criminal justice would be best and a major in something else like administration or anything you could fall back on. I have a in-law who has a CJ degree and is in sales now because the LEO thing never worked out, basically a wasted degree. He still is able to land good jobs but admits he wasted his major. We have a few diabetics with no problems, only ones they get concerned with is applicants with epilepsy/seizures. Good luck and just stick to it, you'll make it happen if you want it bad enough. |
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Actual citizenship is a requirement of many departments - however, the mention of a certain act of legislation that prohibits discrimination against lawful immigrants (green card holders) can usually open the gates. (Our City had a deal with this a few years ago. The guy filed a lawsuit and the City "acknowledged no wrondoing, but agreed to change its previously implemented employment policies"  He then realized that he'd be lucky to place 38 on a 35 person list. |
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Some departments require College. It helps during promotion too. Some agencies require citizenship. I know a Canadian who just got naturalized and is a muni. Cop. Know a couple of guys who have diabetes. Know a guy who's brother is a felon. Like others have said. Keep your nose clean and study hard. You may get lucky some day. They might change the requirements in NZL and you can serve your fellow KIWIs |