Hey guys and gals I was wondering if there are any police officers out there. I just graduated college with a B.S. degree and I applied for a few departments in the area. I can pass eery thing but the writen test. I was wondering you you have any sugestions for passing the writen test or any other info that would be helpful for a guy just getting out of college. Thanks
Police Officers
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You might want to post on the Brothers Under the Shield forum. Its in the drop down menu at the bottom of the page. Good luck though and congrats on the graduation.
My brother is a city officer here in Rock Hill SC. I will ask him about it and see what he says. He should be off tomorrow.
Thanks guys for the help.Its nice that people will take a few minutes to help out. I will try the Brothers Under the Sheild fourm Iminaquagmire.
I'm always glad to see police officers anywhere, on the street, the subways, the internet, anywhere. I grew up in some tough neighborhoods, could have gone in many directions. I was pretty much always the goody twoshoes of my crowd, but many types of people and temptations abounded in my youth.
The crowd that lived "The Life" tried to "recruit" me on more than one occasion, but thankfully, I chose to land on the side of the law. I have friends who grew up to work as cops, and today still know people on NYPD, PAPD, and some retired, as well as having lost an ex-training partner and old friend in The Towers from ESU-2.
Thanks for perusing the forums Pick, and all the best in your career. Hope to see you around here again, and please let us know how your career moves are going.
The crowd that lived "The Life" tried to "recruit" me on more than one occasion, but thankfully, I chose to land on the side of the law. I have friends who grew up to work as cops, and today still know people on NYPD, PAPD, and some retired, as well as having lost an ex-training partner and old friend in The Towers from ESU-2.
Thanks for perusing the forums Pick, and all the best in your career. Hope to see you around here again, and please let us know how your career moves are going.
pick-n-stick said:
NJ Police Officer here. I don't know what the test or tests are like in your State. Here in NJ we have whats called Civil service(State run test) and the Chief's test. They both change periodically after everyone learns how to take them. If you graduated college you really should not have a problem passing (a NJ test anyway) a Police exam. They are mostly common sense questions, with a portion of psychological questions. The best advice I have for you is to look for an exam prep school. If you can't find one in your area let me know and I'll see if I can find some info here about NJ schools that might mail you material. Generally what they do is give you questions that mirror those that will most likely be on the test you are going to take. Good luck!!
Before I took the civil service test here in AL I went to the bookstore and found one of those test prep books they have for lots of different fields ... postal workers, police and fire department, etc. I found that I really didn't need it. Like Muerte said, it's mostly common sense and general knowledge. I believe I heard somewhere that the current test for police officer here has been dropped to an 8th or 9th grade level.
Dude, just go be a fireman! Trust me, all the cops I work with are gealous of the hours! Plus, you'll get more women.... :lol:
Note: The above post is all meant in good humor!
Note: The above post is all meant in good humor!
Thanks guys for all the advise and I thought about the whole firefighter thing becasue my dad was and I would go with him on calls and what not and see how it all works. This is comming form a small town so it was ok to have your son come and watch what goes on. My fieancee would not want me getting more chicks, she already has to fight off the ones that want me hahaha. But she really wants me to get the cop uniform and a set of cuffs. 
I'm with Capt on that one. But more importantly EVERYONE loves a Fireman. Not the same for PO's.
I'm with Muerte on this one. I got pulled over in Princeton a couple weeks ago for "having my music too loud"
Better bet it wasn't a fireman who pulled me over :duh: :dunno: :lol:
Better bet it wasn't a fireman who pulled me over :duh: :dunno: :lol:
If its loud enough for them to hear in their car they can do that. I drive too fast for them to notice. :lol:
"I'm with Capt on that one. But more importantly EVERYONE loves a Fireman. Not the same for PO's." - Muerte
Muerte's quoted observation is unfortunately all too true, and one I have to deal with hearing from friends, co-workers, and catch from other peoples public conversations on a regular basis. I love my cop friends, and I have an automatic respect for all police officers. I was stopped walking home at 4 a.m. on July 8th, two miles out of New Hamburg station, and with five miles to go, carrying a total of about 35 pounds. I was glad to see them. Not for any special reason, just because they were cops and they were there.
As I always do, I returned the lead cops' query from his car with a hearty greeting of my own, my complete cooperation and respect. I pulled out my ID before I was asked, and as the lead officer engaged me in conversation, one from another car took my ID back to his car for some kind of check, I guess. The officer who had called out to me seemed to be sort of incredulous that I was on the walk I was on. He engaged me in a conversation wherein I could tell he was trying to get me to slip in relating my story.
Since I wasn't really doing anything wrong, and had no reason to be confused about my story, I was consistent, and noticed that after calling me by my correct name, having observed my ID before giving it to his buddy, he deliberately called me by the wrong name, talking fast, trying to trip me up. I pulled out two more ID's, without his asking, politely correcting him on my name, and continued to explain myself, telling him about the closing of the local taxi company, my trepidations about the new company that was taking over, and that full service had not yet been established for my area, hence there had been no one available to come get me after leaving the train.
When his partner returned, he affirmed having heard that the local company had sold out to the big company in Poughkeepsie. I also related to them the very dangerous ride that a driver from the big company had given me on the way to the train station earlier in the afternoon, on July 7th, and that I was apprehensive of the drivers this new company was going to bring in to our area. I explained that the groceries in my bags were because they had closed the local A&P, one mile down from my house. I wasn't slurring, rambling, getting off topic, and although I was completely respectful, I was not robotic with the sir, yes sir stuff, usually a sure sign to a cop that something could well be wrong. Respect is one thing, lathering on the butter too thickly is another. They knew about the taxi company being sold, as well as the recent A&P closing.
Overall, it was a pleasant encounter lasting about four minutes or so. They noted the inhalers in my briefcase, which probably added to the lead cop's incredulity about my walk, which he questioned three or four times. "You're coming from WHERE again, and going WHERE?" I guess for a soon to be 50 year old man, asthmatic, carrying a heavy load, walking seven miles and making over 1,000 feet of altitude in the process, it must have seemed rather strange. They also explained that they knew there were "walkers" in the general area, but never for that distance, and with them knowing all the rest, I was an unfamiliar walker to them.
The lead cop actually went out of his way to explain to me three or four times that they knew about walkers, but that not only was I not one of the regulars, but since my walk was rather extreme, they just had to make sure. I humorously explained that I was old, and thankful for the workout, and that I had no problem whatsoever with the stop. Cops don't need to explain anything to me unless they're putting handcuffs on me, or hitting me with something, both of which have never happened.
Throughout the entire encounter, although well within my rights, I never committed any of the cardinal sins that many people, including unfortunately, many friends of mine do when stopped for a routine check. I did not have an attitude, because I have no problem with cops, whether they're stopping me for a check, or living next door. I didn't query them as to the nature of the stop, because it's none of my freakin' business why they're stopping me, unless and until they put handcuffs on me.
It's THEIR business what I'm doing out at 4 a.m. with a bulging black tote bag, and an aluminum briefcase, in the middle of completely nowhere, in semi-rural suburbia. I also was completely cooperative and unresentful, volunteering to open my bags, pulling stuff out without being asked, handing them ID without being asked, and even asking them if they were sure they wouldn't like to check the bags more thoroughly or perform any other checks, while they were at it. I was relaxed, friendly, conversational, respectful without being suspiciously robotic, and the encounter ended with smiles and friendly salutations all around.
No problems here, and I continued storming up the hilly roads home, setting a personal record for the walk, if you minus out the time for the stop, and despite never having carried quite that much weight home before. No problem, no harm done, friendly cops, well behaved, cooperative citizen, three to five minutes out of their day and mine, everybody's happy, now they know my name, face and that I'm nuts enough so that they might find me doing this again some day.
Unfortunately, all too many of my friends will sneer, flaring their nostrils and curling their lips, even at the mention of the word "cop." Although I have worked long and hard to try and influence a different reaction, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do, even when I mention that we have a mutual cop friend, or that someone I introduced them to twenty years ago is still on the job, retired on disability, or the ex-training partner I lost in The Towers.
Cops have bills to pay just like everyone else, and don't get paid very well for what they do, especially for putting on the target every day. I don't call it the uniform, I call it putting on the target, because it invokes an automatically negative reaction in so many people in society, including many decent, right thinking people that I number among my closest friends.
It's a shame, an unfortunate fact of life, that cops can't just try to live their lives in peace, the way the rest of us do, sit down with the checkbook or watch TV with the kids, without having to think that tomorrow, they will put on the clothes once again that make them a target of so many citizens' sociopolitical frustration and bitterness, not to mention the wrath unleashed upon them by the true bad guys in society every day.
So, since Pick started this thread entitled "Police Officers," I'm voting for raising my glass to them, for having the balls that I don't have, for working at a job that I certainly don't have the mentality for, and for being there to protect and to serve, knowing that out of 300 million people in this country, very few, including the vast millions of innocents, are truly happy to see them in passing. I always am. Thank you all, those of you "on the job."
Be well, keep the belly flat and the feet quick, keep your head down and may The Lord's blessings be with you all.
Muerte's quoted observation is unfortunately all too true, and one I have to deal with hearing from friends, co-workers, and catch from other peoples public conversations on a regular basis. I love my cop friends, and I have an automatic respect for all police officers. I was stopped walking home at 4 a.m. on July 8th, two miles out of New Hamburg station, and with five miles to go, carrying a total of about 35 pounds. I was glad to see them. Not for any special reason, just because they were cops and they were there.
As I always do, I returned the lead cops' query from his car with a hearty greeting of my own, my complete cooperation and respect. I pulled out my ID before I was asked, and as the lead officer engaged me in conversation, one from another car took my ID back to his car for some kind of check, I guess. The officer who had called out to me seemed to be sort of incredulous that I was on the walk I was on. He engaged me in a conversation wherein I could tell he was trying to get me to slip in relating my story.
Since I wasn't really doing anything wrong, and had no reason to be confused about my story, I was consistent, and noticed that after calling me by my correct name, having observed my ID before giving it to his buddy, he deliberately called me by the wrong name, talking fast, trying to trip me up. I pulled out two more ID's, without his asking, politely correcting him on my name, and continued to explain myself, telling him about the closing of the local taxi company, my trepidations about the new company that was taking over, and that full service had not yet been established for my area, hence there had been no one available to come get me after leaving the train.
When his partner returned, he affirmed having heard that the local company had sold out to the big company in Poughkeepsie. I also related to them the very dangerous ride that a driver from the big company had given me on the way to the train station earlier in the afternoon, on July 7th, and that I was apprehensive of the drivers this new company was going to bring in to our area. I explained that the groceries in my bags were because they had closed the local A&P, one mile down from my house. I wasn't slurring, rambling, getting off topic, and although I was completely respectful, I was not robotic with the sir, yes sir stuff, usually a sure sign to a cop that something could well be wrong. Respect is one thing, lathering on the butter too thickly is another. They knew about the taxi company being sold, as well as the recent A&P closing.
Overall, it was a pleasant encounter lasting about four minutes or so. They noted the inhalers in my briefcase, which probably added to the lead cop's incredulity about my walk, which he questioned three or four times. "You're coming from WHERE again, and going WHERE?" I guess for a soon to be 50 year old man, asthmatic, carrying a heavy load, walking seven miles and making over 1,000 feet of altitude in the process, it must have seemed rather strange. They also explained that they knew there were "walkers" in the general area, but never for that distance, and with them knowing all the rest, I was an unfamiliar walker to them.
The lead cop actually went out of his way to explain to me three or four times that they knew about walkers, but that not only was I not one of the regulars, but since my walk was rather extreme, they just had to make sure. I humorously explained that I was old, and thankful for the workout, and that I had no problem whatsoever with the stop. Cops don't need to explain anything to me unless they're putting handcuffs on me, or hitting me with something, both of which have never happened.
Throughout the entire encounter, although well within my rights, I never committed any of the cardinal sins that many people, including unfortunately, many friends of mine do when stopped for a routine check. I did not have an attitude, because I have no problem with cops, whether they're stopping me for a check, or living next door. I didn't query them as to the nature of the stop, because it's none of my freakin' business why they're stopping me, unless and until they put handcuffs on me.
It's THEIR business what I'm doing out at 4 a.m. with a bulging black tote bag, and an aluminum briefcase, in the middle of completely nowhere, in semi-rural suburbia. I also was completely cooperative and unresentful, volunteering to open my bags, pulling stuff out without being asked, handing them ID without being asked, and even asking them if they were sure they wouldn't like to check the bags more thoroughly or perform any other checks, while they were at it. I was relaxed, friendly, conversational, respectful without being suspiciously robotic, and the encounter ended with smiles and friendly salutations all around.
No problems here, and I continued storming up the hilly roads home, setting a personal record for the walk, if you minus out the time for the stop, and despite never having carried quite that much weight home before. No problem, no harm done, friendly cops, well behaved, cooperative citizen, three to five minutes out of their day and mine, everybody's happy, now they know my name, face and that I'm nuts enough so that they might find me doing this again some day.
Unfortunately, all too many of my friends will sneer, flaring their nostrils and curling their lips, even at the mention of the word "cop." Although I have worked long and hard to try and influence a different reaction, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do, even when I mention that we have a mutual cop friend, or that someone I introduced them to twenty years ago is still on the job, retired on disability, or the ex-training partner I lost in The Towers.
Cops have bills to pay just like everyone else, and don't get paid very well for what they do, especially for putting on the target every day. I don't call it the uniform, I call it putting on the target, because it invokes an automatically negative reaction in so many people in society, including many decent, right thinking people that I number among my closest friends.
It's a shame, an unfortunate fact of life, that cops can't just try to live their lives in peace, the way the rest of us do, sit down with the checkbook or watch TV with the kids, without having to think that tomorrow, they will put on the clothes once again that make them a target of so many citizens' sociopolitical frustration and bitterness, not to mention the wrath unleashed upon them by the true bad guys in society every day.
So, since Pick started this thread entitled "Police Officers," I'm voting for raising my glass to them, for having the balls that I don't have, for working at a job that I certainly don't have the mentality for, and for being there to protect and to serve, knowing that out of 300 million people in this country, very few, including the vast millions of innocents, are truly happy to see them in passing. I always am. Thank you all, those of you "on the job."
Be well, keep the belly flat and the feet quick, keep your head down and may The Lord's blessings be with you all.
Just to put things in more of a perspective. Lets just say you were a serial killer(worst case scenario) Bloof, and those cops didn't stop you, there are those that would get up in arms"why didn't those cops stop that guy....walking down the street at 4 am in the middle of nowhere carrying bags!!!!" etc. 10 years 3 months 1 week 3 days to go to retirement!!!!
Moral to the story for Pick, get a job with UPS and get some furry cuffs from the flea market, and you and your fiancee will both be happy......LOL
Thanks for the toast Bloof, I'll raise my glass back to you on Friday!
Moral to the story for Pick, get a job with UPS and get some furry cuffs from the flea market, and you and your fiancee will both be happy......LOL
Thanks for the toast Bloof, I'll raise my glass back to you on Friday!
That's right, Muerte, it's a cop's life. It's an underpaid, thankless job, damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
If you have not found the answer to your question yet...the idea about getting a civil service book from the book store is a good one. Also, go talk to some of the officers in the towns you are looking at working for and ask them. They will be more then willing to help and can give you some good insight. Test sometimes differ from city to city so asking guys who have already taken it would help. With all of that said....Capt. is right Firefighter is the only way to go. I work with several cops who switched over and never seen it go from firefighter to cop. If it is what you want to do then go for it...you will love it.
Good call. I think I can at least get some new cuffs. i think the used ones won't be so good to buy :bigpuke: nasty.