Posted: 7/4/2009 11:28:35 AM EDT
| I have a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and I am just finishing up skills in Alexandria, MN. I will be taking my MN POST test in August. I have been looking around at what jobs are available in MN and basically there just are not any jobs (unless I want to go out to the boonies and work very small towns). So, my question is how would it work if I wanted to become a cop in Colorado if I had a MN POST license? |
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don't count the small towns out,, that's where you learn community policing.. been at it for 17 years. love it.
I've seen many officers start with me and go on to large departments, mpls, stp, Roch, and even the state patrol. they became a more well rounded officer because of working small towns... and at least it'll get your POST license activated. that's the big thing. maybe not right now, you don't even have your POST yet. but it will become an issue sooner than you think.. I agree, there aren't many cop jobs right now.. I haven't heard of any layoffs, but they aren't hiring replacement cops for retired ones either.. good luck |
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If you contact Colorado POST (Christine Mack is a great contact/303 866-5692), they can provide with dates and specifics on what the skills tests will be like. Plus they can give you more information about the POST exam.
From the POST website at http://www.ago.state.co.us/post_board.cfmMenuPage=True.html: If I was a certified peace officer in another state, how do I become certified in Colorado? First, you must have been employed as a certified peace officer in that other state for at least 1 year and not more than three years must have passed since you served in that position. Colorado P.O.S.T. requires that you pass a background check and possess and submit current First Aid and CPR certifications along with proof of high school graduation or its equivalent (GED). A Form 3 - Application for Provisional Certification - must also be submitted. A letter will be sent to the other state requesting information which will verify the information given to us by the applicant. Once all aspects of the provisional process have been completed, a letter granting a provisional certification will be sent to the individual. This certification will give the individual 6 months to complete the provisional process with testing in arrest control, firearms and law enforcement driving. Once all aspects of the provisional process have been completed, a basic certificate will be issued. How long is my certification valid? Once you have received your basic certificate, you must become employed by a P.O.S.T. recognized law enforcement agency within three years and work for a minimum of six months within that three year period. Once you leave employment, you will have three years from the date of the separation to find another position at a P.O.S.T. recognized law enforcement agency. If you are not employed within that three year period, your certification will automatically expire. Can anyone just take the P.O.S.T. Certification Exam? No. To be eligible to take the certification examination, an applicant must complete and submit to P.O.S.T. an appropriate application (provisional - Form 3, renewal - Form 4, or basic - Form 1), a copy of an approved Basic Academy diploma, a copy of their high school graduation or GED certificate, proof of current First Aid and CPR certifications, proof of submission of their fingerprints to CBI and payment for administration of the test.. What if I take the P.O.S.T. certification exam and fail? An applicant is given three opportunities to pass the exam. If an applicant fails to pass the exam after three attempts, they must successfully complete another basic training academy in accordance with Rule 10(a) before they will be allowed to take the test again. Each time an applicant takes the certification exam, they will be required to pay the appropriate fee. Can I renew my certificate if I have not served as a peace officer for more than three years? Yes. An individual that has not served as a peace officer in Colorado for more than three years is allowed to renew his/her certification by following the steps in Rule 13. Colorado POST conducts several of these "test-outs" every year. I served on the POST Firearms committee for 11 years, and participated in many of these test-outs. The firearms and act/baton stuff seemed pretty easy, driving seemed to be the most difficult. Good Luck. |