Anyone in local/state/fed law enforcement?

So, after wanting to be in the Marines for almost all of my life, I just found out I'll have to lay that dream to rest. I've got two medical conditions that disqualify me from service in the military. The sad part is - it's simply due to precaution. I can function just as well as anyone else who would be in.

Now that I know that won't be possible, I've been looking at some other possibilites in law enforcement. I've looked at anything from local, state to federal agencies. Given that I've still got two years of high school left - I still like to research this kind of thing. I'm also debating on whether I want to stay living where I am now, or move to the NYC/North Jersey area. I say this because, if my education plan plays out as I want it, I'm going to get my general education done here, then the degree-specifc stuff done at a criminal justice college in NYC. Depending on whether or not I like it there would determine if I stay there.

With that said, I wanted to see what those here involved in LE have to say. As I said, I'm not sure whether I want to go local, state, federal, etc. There are a ton of organizations that interest me.

Of all the research I've done, I've pretty much summed up a list of federal and local organizations (in both areas I'm looking at living). If anyone has any personal experience (other than being arrested by them ) - I'd love to hear it!

Federal
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Immigration & Customs Enforcement
United States Border Patrol

DoD
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Including all subordinate service's investigative services - e.g. Army & Marine CID's, AFOSI, NCIS, etc.).


Local (San Diego)
San Diego Police Department
San Diego Harbor Police
San Diego County Sheriffs Department

Local (NYC / North Jersey)
New York Police Department
Port Authority Police Department of NJ-NJ

I realize it's a big list, but I know we've got a few LEO's here who'd have at least a bit of knowledge. Thanks all!

 

For a young kid like yourself you sure have your head on straight and know what you want. its always good to have a back up plan like yourself law inforcement is always good my buddies that did the time in the marine corp went straight to being a cop i say stay in school go to college and get that degree!

 

Oh, I plan to - and I plan on getting an advanced degree, too.

My hopeful plan in the education area right now is getting my two years of general ed done here in San Diego at one of the universities here (UCSD, SDSU or USD), then going on to John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC to get my bachelors. My masters (when that happens, hopefully) will either be at John Jay or back at San Diego State (they offer a pretty cool M.S. in Homeland Security program).

I wouldn't not go for college.

 

Cool im 27 and barely getting a degree wish i would have stayed in school and been in my profession for a while but shit comes up. Good luck to you man sdsu is nice the wife went there.

 

We have a border patrol office in my area and they live pretty good and get all the new toys, 4x4's, boats and aircraft, looks like they could do anything they want.

 

FBI...if that is what you want do not get a degree in Criminal Justice. They are looking for people with a degree in psychology or something in that matter...best if you get ahold of them and speak to them directly.

As for NYPD....they are now paying better than what the have...but do not ignore New York State Police. They get great pay and benefits. If that is important with a good job. Last time I checked they pay 55,000 while in the academy and when you graduate you get a raise to 66,000.

My advice is to test...test...test...even if it isn't the job you necessarily want. Getting you foot in the door will lead you to the right job.

 

San Diego Sheriffs do pretty well (A friend of mine is scheduled to start the academy in August). They have a great retirement (you can get your full pay at retirement if you have enough years in). You'll go in with more money if you have a degree. They also have two tracks: prisons and patrol. Patrol is harder to get into but it pays better. The academy for prisons is shorter too. You can transfer between them but you'd have to go through the patrol academy if you got in via the prison track.

Does your medical condition allow you to run? I know in the academy, she'll have to be able to run 3 miles. They also have a fitness test (not too demanding) and medical exam that you have to pass before you can join.

If you go with a federal agency (aka, the FBI) you'll need a degree and high grades and you'll have to relocate from where you join (based on the needs of the FBI). Retirement is not as good for federal services as the local sheriffs (it's the Federal Government plan: 1% of your pay for every year you work based on the average of the highest three years).

Remember there's CHP too. And like what was mentioned above, if you get rejected by one, keep trying the others. It's odd but people have been known to be accepted by one after being rejected by another.

 

That's no problem for me. As I said, I can function just as well as the next guy in any of these areas.

I appreciate the info, everyone!

 

NJ state police pay well you need a 4 year degree. (that and you get to drive up and down the local tunrpike and parkway at the speed of light.)

My cousin just retired from the NYPD. I think you need a 2 year degree and/or military service. You also need to be a resident of NY state.

 

First of all thanks for your desire to serve. America needs warriors like you to protect us. As far as where, California has the highest paid public safety workers and one of the best retirement systems ("3%@50/55=3%of your salary for each year of service at age 50/55). Law enforcement is a thankless profession primarily dealing with an overwhelming difficult population of our society. The desire to serve must be strong knowing this. As a firefighter I have the utmost respect for LE, we don't go in until LE has secured questionable scenes. I would much rather go into a burning building than face someone that may or may not hold a weapon capable of killing me instantly. I considered a career in LE but found the schedule, working conditions, overall satisfaction of the fire service must more agreeable for me. My LE friends are jealous of my schedule and laugh when I show up with them and the suspect that was verbally abusing them, calls me "sir", thanking me for the help. For an "objective" look about the differences of LE vs Fire check out http://www.policemanvsfireman.com/ Check out the "Webisodes"


With all that said finish High School first and live your life knowing that careers in public safety require extensive background checks and lie detectors tests. Live a life you are proud to tell, take all the job tests you can, and don't give up. The earlier you start the earlier you retire.