Where are you looking for colleges?  Just asking, because my brother went to Alexandria Technical College for Law Enforcement. [url]http://www.alextech.edu[/url] or [url]http://www.alextech.org/lawenforcement/index.htm[/url]  There is only 1 other school in the state that has better graduates, and that is the official police academy.  Alexandria Tech has other majors, but about 90% of its budget goes to its LE program as it's a GREAT program.  Costing about 2500 per year for 2 years is not expensive.  That's only about 5000-6000 dollars for SH!TLOADS of hands-on training with class sizes about 1:20 teacher/student ratio.  Being taught by other LEOs/Sherrifs in shooting, judgement (shoot/noshoot) scenarios, high speed driving, tactical driving, tactical rescue, quick-draw, etc...  Running 6 miles per day, obstacle courses, weight training, and phys ed stuff.  Burning through 100-200 rounds per day paid for by the school in weapons training.  Also learning tactical shotgun & AR15 shooting...  That's quite the technical college!

I was given the priviledge of following him around a whole day once.  The day started with a 3 mile run (winter time, shortened distance), then a weightlifting class.  Shortly followed by constitutional law class.  Then tactical driving (60mph in reverse, spin the wheel & pop it into O-Drive to whip the front end around, all within a driving course/track area).  Then we went onto handgun training, quick drawing at targets from 2 to 25 yards out.  After that they broke out some Stainless Steel Beretta 92's for SIMUNITION training in simulated traffic stops.  Students get 2 rounds, teacher (bad guy) gets 2 full 15 rd mags!

Check around your area for a good technical college, perhaps in a more rural are of IL, they may have a good LE program like this one.  I know PDs from around the country call for recruiting some of ALEX Tech's students after ONLY 1 YEAR of training, LAPD is one of the top recruiters too.

Tayous1, I believe that if your heart is set upon becoming a police officer, I don't think you should join the military.  Did you see "We Were Soldiers" in the theater?  I almost cried watching a nice young soldier just die, leaving his beautiful wife & newborn baby alone.  I'd recommend serving your country be being one of the GOOD PEACE OFFICERS in Illinois!

Anything is possible if you put your heart into it & work hard for it.  I worked my a$$ off in a cheese factory & skimped/cut as many corners as I could by living off Ramen noodles, canned food, etc...  I was able to save enough to go to a UNIVERSITY by doing this.

Stick with it, try hard, and good things will come your way eventually.  Keep looking & never give up.  It may get worse before you life gets better, as my family has been through hard times in the past, but now we're doing GREAT.  Give it two weeks, if life still isn't going well, try/look/work harder & wait another two weeks.  If it's still not going well, give it another two weeks.  Eventually you will see everything in your life improving, I did.

iNuhBaDNayburhood,butattendingagoodschoollivingofframennoodles&cannedfoodwithbarelyenough$$togoshooting