Posted: 8/3/2009 2:20:50 PM EDT
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Well, tonight I am notifying my current employer that I am moving on to pursue a career as a LEO. I have been in a PhD program for the last two years. In the process the university has employed me as a teaching assistant and recently an instructor. I received my MA a couple months ago and I have decided to move on. Academic work is NOT for me.
I am going to follow the family tradition and get into LE. I am still young (25) and I am in a decent position to take some career risks. Given the economy I know it is not going to be an easy transition and there may be a super market job in the near future to get me by, but I will get a sworn position eventually. I am going to bust my but to do so. I just feel like am built for it. I would be 4th generation LE if I get in. The plan is to try Maine first. That is where I am from originally and I have lots of family there. Plus it is a great state, if you can get over the taxes. I am going to take their 2.5wk law enforcement pre-service class in September so I can at least be eligible for a part-time position. Hopefully I will be able to prove myself to a department so they will be willing to send me to the full academy. Just wanted to share my thoughts and hopefully get some encouragement. Although, some of you might think I am nuts to leave a cushy academic gig. That is basically the reaction I expect from the current employer. |
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You have to make sure, or try to at least, that all you do is directed towards BEING HAPPY in life. If working in LE is something you want to do, and you think it will make you happy... GO FOR IT!
Other than going back active duty Army (can't as I already retired), I can't imagine myself doing anything other than LE work. Don't wake up 20 years from now playing the "what if" game... ETA: With your education/teaching background, you should go far fast... |
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Go for it, Bro. Might help to get another job in the meantime to pay the bills.
I got about 80% of the way through the hiring process for my agency while living 100 miles away. At that point, my apartment lease was up, and while I didn't have the job locked up yet, my job prospects where I was living sucked. I jumped, and took a filler job with a local TV station (news research) until I started the academy. |
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Quoted:
Well, good luck. If it's a family thing I'm sure you know enough about it to know thats what'll work for you. Have you figured out what agency? I hear the D&R up there is a good one to work for. Thanks, I don't know what department or agency yet. A lot of the basics in the hiring process are handled centrally at the state academy so I am going to knock a lot of those out first (test, PFT, pre-service training, ect.). Then I am going to put apps into anything that comes open. Many of the departments up there are very small and I would start anywhere, but long term I would really like to get in with a mid-size (by Maine's standards) to large SO or city department. Possibly even something with the state. I don't really know what you mean by "D&R" but you may be referring to the Maine Warden Service. If so, you are right, they're top notch. They are very difficult to get in with though. My cousin was with a town PD for a while and just got picked up by the Warden Service a couple months ago. He loves it, but I don't know if it would be my thing. I hunt and fish, but I would not call myself a big hunter or fisherman. He is so its a great fit. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, good luck. If it's a family thing I'm sure you know enough about it to know thats what'll work for you. Have you figured out what agency? I hear the D&R up there is a good one to work for. Thanks, I don't know what department or agency yet. A lot of the basics in the hiring process are handled centrally at the state academy so I am going to knock a lot of those out first (test, PFT, pre-service training, ect.). Then I am going to put apps into anything that comes open. Many of the departments up there are very small and I would start anywhere, but long term I would really like to get in with a mid-size (by Maine's standards) to large SO or city department. Possibly even something with the state. I don't really know what you mean by "D&R" but you may be referring to the Maine Warden Service. If so, you are right, they're top notch. They are very difficult to get in with though. My cousin was with a town PD for a while and just got picked up by the Warden Service a couple months ago. He loves it, but I don't know if it would be my thing. I hunt and fish, but I would not call myself a big hunter or fisherman. He is so its a great fit. I did mean the Warden Service. I've lived in so many states I can't remember what they are all called. I went to a class at UMass Amherst and they spoke very highly of them, and Vermont too. If conservation LE is your thing and you'd be willing to go federal, drop me an e-mail. I can send you some info that my help you out. One thing I can tell you for sure is that state or federal conservation jobs, having a First Responder certification, or EMT will help you out a lot. |