government cops?

[red]

Being somewhat unhappy with my current job, i've been giving serious thought to a career change. Law enforcement is currently a top runner, but i'd prefer something a bit more specialized. I don't want to work patrol nor do i really want to be a part of a city police force (though i have the utmost respect for the guys and gals who do.) I'm really leaning towards some type of government agency - FBI/DEA/etc... Maybe even getting a law degree and joining that way. Any suggestions/advice on which avenues to look at/pursue?? Detective work, investigation, even prosecution seem like the most interesting aspects... any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Hemtt]

Do you have a degree? What is your current job. Have any interesting Qualifications? Married? There's government jobs ranging from Airport security to FBI. What's your flavor

Will Coy

I like Vanilla.

[FLLawdog]

These days, the Feds are hiring all sorts, not just LEO's. However, by serving time on a municipal PD, your chances go up.

With a municipal PD, you WILL have to go on the road. Chances are excellent that you won't march in and get a specialized unit. In the case of my agency, you're looking at 2 years non-probationary before you can apply for anything.

That said, don't knock patrol. Too many in the general public view the guys pushing the cruisers around as menial servants. That is far from the case. In patrol, you'll be the first one on scene for anything that happens and when the guys in the specialized units need intel, they go to the unies. All reports are initiated by patrol so you still learn about other areas of LE besides checking doors and writing tickets.

I spent two years in CID and just got out. It was a great gig and I learned a lot, but it wasn't for me. I'm a road grunt and I need that in my life.

[Deputy Joe]

FLLawdog is right. I have also read somewhere that patrol gets more drug arrests on average than narc officers. Like hemtt was saying, it is hard to recommend anything without knowing anything about you.

I hear the FBI is looking for engineers.

[retdetsgt]

Any federal job is going to take nearly a year to do the background. My niece's husband applied with DEA and FBI. Both are taking forever due to the airport screeners, etc. FBI has a culture different from any other I have ever seen in my life. You might look at ATF. They're the only ones that have a union.

[red]

I'll be perfectly honest.... i'm a member of the media, and the stories i really enjoy covering all have to do with cops. i have a lot of respect for the men and women that wear a badge and could see myself enjoying that line of work quite a bit. But my interests lie more towards the intellectual aspect of police work versus the SWAT and JUMP type teams. Don't get me wrong - i enjoy the physical (though being a rather small-framed female - i doubt i'd be much use busting in through doors...)i just want to find something that will constantly challenge me intellectually as well as physically. Any suggestions on which avenues to look into??

[notoriouspig409]

Many states offer entry level positions into investigative aspects of law enforcement. Where I am, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (G.B.I.)offers entry level positions as Special Agent or Drug Enforcement.

Prepare yourself for a lengthy training process though, because investigative work is not something that you just jump into. This is the reason that most local agencies require minimum times in patrol and that state and federal agencies give preference to prior law enforcement. It's impossible to duplicate the "seasoning" that one receives in patrol in dealing with people, the criminal justice process and interviewing techniques in a classroom.

Most state police agencies have websites and you can review the job descriptions and minimum qualifications online.

Good luck.