Ask a Police Officer anything

615 Questions

Last Answer on October 29, 2014

is it true in Washington state you can hit a kid any way you want as long as you don't kick them with a shoe on, with a closed fits, or block there airway?

Asked by Bobbi Jo Hoover almost 12 years ago

Not quite.

Hi. I'm 15 and I'm really interested in becoming a police officer. But I have straight-As in school and I hate to say it but I feel like no one with my grades would become a police officer. Any advice? Have you known officers that were very academic?

Asked by Phillip over 12 years ago

I'm not sure why you would think that. Getting good grades is very important if you want to be a police officer.

I went to a well known university to be an aerospace engineer (you know, a rocket scientist.) I determined engineering wasn't much of a challenge and discovered law enforcement was a far more challenging career.

Fortunately, I am not the only guy to make good grades to go into law enforcement. In the states I have worked (Georgia and Florida), most of the officers I have met/worked with are much brighter than the general public. You have to be intelligent and quick thinking to do the job. Idiots should not apply.

Do morons get into law enforcement? Sometimes. But, most of them are weeded out during training. The few that are left tend to get promoted rapidly.

I'm a bit perplexed by anyone who thinks that no one smart goes into public safety (or the military.) I guess it is watching too many movies.

864 Votes

What are some reasons to not go into law enforcement?

Asked by Emily about 12 years ago

Getting shot. Getting stabbed. Getting broken bones. Getting killed in an accident. Being strangled. Acquiring incurable diseases. Dealing with rotting bodies. Telling people that their loved one has been killed. Horrible hours. Working weekends. Working holidays. Dealing with defense attorneys and other scum. Low wages. Poor opportunity for advancement. Getting sued. Being rained on. Being snowed on. Working in a hurricane while all sane people have long since fled. Wrestling drunks in the mud. Dealing with unrealistic expecations of the public. Dealing with the unrealistic expectations of pencil pushers in city hall. Stress and related health problems. Chronic back problems from wearing a duty belt. Not being able to have normal relationships with non-cops. Hyper vigilance. Not being around for your family. Did I mention rotting bodies? Polyester uniforms. People throwing feces and urine on you. Being spit on. Fighting for your life as a regular job function. Dealing with other people's children. Going to the funerals of your friends.

<sarcasm>Oh, but the paycheck makes it all worthwhile.</sarcasm>

862 Votes

During the police officer application, if a person admits to a past crime they were not caught doing would they get arrested?

Asked by InquiringMind about 12 years ago

It depends on a number of factors including jurisdictional authority and the statute of limitations.

861 Votes

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Are the police that respond to 911 calls usually patrolling before they are called to a scene, or do they sometimes leave from the police station like firefighters do?

I'm assuming that smaller departments might do the second one more often?

Asked by Roger almost 12 years ago

Officers respond from whereever they are at the moment. They might be eating lunch, driving down the street or submitting evidence at the department. They do not sit around at the PD like the firefighters do.

860 Votes

If minor auto accident & both parties agree payment resolution w/o insurance. Exchange bus cards..Later call police to report it. Must the fault party days later report also to police? No proof of accident occurred

Asked by BurnedBentley over 12 years ago

Depends on state law. Different states have different laws, so contact a local law enforcement agency.

860 Votes

When a police officer takes a civil service test to be promoted, does it take passing the test AND an appointment to the new rank, or is the test hard enough for anyone who passes it to reach a new rank?

Asked by Eagle about 12 years ago

No idea - I didn't work at one of those departments.

I would sincerely hope that people were not promoted based on a test score, but when you mix government and unions and there is rarely any room for common sense.

Promotion should be based on ability. Most tests are only analyzing a person's ability to memorize a set of facts.

860 Votes

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Police Officer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

is it true in Washington state you can hit a kid any way you want as long as you don't kick them with a shoe on, with a closed fits, or block there airway?

Hi. I'm 15 and I'm really interested in becoming a police officer. But I have straight-As in school and I hate to say it but I feel like no one with my grades would become a police officer. Any advice? Have you known officers that were very academic?

What are some reasons to not go into law enforcement?

During the police officer application, if a person admits to a past crime they were not caught doing would they get arrested?

Also on Jobstr...

Are the police that respond to 911 calls usually patrolling before they are called to a scene, or do they sometimes leave from the police station like firefighters do?

I'm assuming that smaller departments might do the second one more often?

If minor auto accident & both parties agree payment resolution w/o insurance. Exchange bus cards..Later call police to report it. Must the fault party days later report also to police? No proof of accident occurred

When a police officer takes a civil service test to be promoted, does it take passing the test AND an appointment to the new rank, or is the test hard enough for anyone who passes it to reach a new rank?

Police Officer

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

is it true in Washington state you can hit a kid any way you want as long as you don't kick them with a shoe on, with a closed fits, or block there airway?

Hi. I'm 15 and I'm really interested in becoming a police officer. But I have straight-As in school and I hate to say it but I feel like no one with my grades would become a police officer. Any advice? Have you known officers that were very academic?

What are some reasons to not go into law enforcement?

During the police officer application, if a person admits to a past crime they were not caught doing would they get arrested?

Also on Jobstr...

Are the police that respond to 911 calls usually patrolling before they are called to a scene, or do they sometimes leave from the police station like firefighters do? I'm assuming that smaller departments might do the second one more often?

If minor auto accident & both parties agree payment resolution w/o insurance. Exchange bus cards..Later call police to report it. Must the fault party days later report also to police? No proof of accident occurred

When a police officer takes a civil service test to be promoted, does it take passing the test AND an appointment to the new rank, or is the test hard enough for anyone who passes it to reach a new rank?

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Are the police that respond to 911 calls usually patrolling before they are called to a scene, or do they sometimes leave from the police station like firefighters do?

I'm assuming that smaller departments might do the second one more often?