Young guy looking to get into LE.

[The Cable Guy]

So I'm currently 19.5+ years old. I've held a steady job for over a year. My question is, which agencies have a more lenient age limit that are still hiring?
What should I prepare for mentally and physically? I live in Rowland Heights in LA County, I wouldn't mind commuting up to 30 miles.


I was originally looking at LASD, but I want to know if there are any other options. I also would not mind working corrections for a few years before actual street patrol.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated!
I'm sick and tired of the same desk job for the past year or so. I need to do something different and actually interact and help people.

[BossMan1364]

You might want to try looking into a Police Cadet type job. It is great experience to see if you like the Law Enforcement atmosphere. That way if you don't like it you are still young enough to look into another career.

[CPDLEO]

The Cable Guy,
It's good to see that you know what you want to do and that your anxious to get started. In my opinion, its my experience that 19.5 yoa is too young to be a police officer. You may be very qualified and have an excellent head on your shoulders. However, what you lack is life experience. I highly suggest you find a job as a CSO, loss prevention, or security to get a feel for this field of work so in 2-4 yrs you can apply and have some experience to help you get hired. I feel anyone that has to add .5 at the end of their age is way too young to carry out the duties required.

[The Cable Guy]

The Cable Guy,
It's good to see that you know what you want to do and that your anxious to get started. In my opinion, its my experience that 19.5 yoa is too young to be a police officer. You may be very qualified and have an excellent head on your shoulders. However, what you lack is life experience. I highly suggest you find a job as a CSO, loss prevention, or security to get a feel for this field of work so in 2-4 yrs you can apply and have some experience to help you get hired. I feel anyone that has to add .5 at the end of their age is way too young to carry out the duties required.

I add the .5 because the lowest age requirement I've seen, at least in my area, is 19.5 (at the time of the written test IIRC).

Otherwise, I think I stopped using the "and a half" phrase when I was 7.:p

As far as life experience goes, I've been living by myself since I was 18, no financial backing other than the job I still hold today. My parents died when I was younger, and trust me, you grow up really fast when stuff like that happens. Not saying I've got enough life experience, but everyday is a new day, and I hope getting into LE would also give me more life experience.

[The Cable Guy]

You might want to try looking into a Police Cadet type job. It is great experience to see if you like the Law Enforcement atmosphere. That way if you don't like it you are still young enough to look into another career.

I was thinking that too, but I would really like to stay away from another desk job, if you know what I mean.

[The Cable Guy]

And by the way, thanks for the replies and suggestions, I've been checking on this thread all day waiting for an answer, haha :)

[SDPDApplicant]

In all honesty, don't bother right now with the current economy situation. Like the other poster said, grab a lower end job and stick to it until this whole recession thing blows over.

Some advice as a former applicant: Because of your age and life experience, you're going to have to try building a competitive edge over other applicants. Holding down stable employment, volunteering, learning another language, military/college experience are good ways to do this. Be mindful to stay out of trouble, and in good physical shape. Best of luck to you.

[SDPDApplicant]

I disagree with the "don't bother" statement. If it's not costing anything to apply, why not apply now? 19-year-old LEO's are the exception rather than the rule, but they exist, and who's to say you can't be one of them?

Why not try being realistic? Especially here in California, how many 19 year old LEO's do you see out working the streets? I would think the smarter route is to wait and gain as much of advantage against those who just want a paycheck, than applying and loosing opportunities because you thought it would be the good idea to be the eager beaver.

[avalon42]

If you don't want a desk job, try to get a position as a Community Service Officer or Police Services Officer. Most of those guys go out in the field, take accident reports, cold crime reports, etc. You have to check with each individual agency to find out what their CSO/PSO duties are.

I hated my desk job (IT) but it paid very well that I keep using it as a crutch every now and then. I feel your pain.

Good luck in your process.

[SDPDApplicant]

What opportunities will he lose?

I would think he'd probably get non-selected or DQ'd, depending on where he applied, probably for the same reasons over and over. Which in result, could delay him more rather than just waiting for the right opportunity.

[IronBruin]

Most places won't even let you apply until you are 20.5 years old, so there's that. Even LAPD, which is one of the very few agencies still hiring recruits, won't even let you test until you are 20.5. I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but even if you were 20.5 you are competing with people who have college degrees and/or military experience, you likely don't stand a snowballs chance in.... well, you get my point. As people have said, go to school and get a degree(NOT in criminal justice!), join the military, or if neither of those are appealing to you decide what department you would like to work for and see if they have a cadet position.

[ExSDSO]

If read all these responses and ive seen a lot of good advice, but I havent seen anyone say, "How bout the military?".


Bro if your 19.5 years old, I would consider joining the military any branch that would appeal to you.

They can also help you become more stable and give a great deal of life experience. Imagine all the hands on training and physical training you'll receive while getting paid for it. PLUS they can help you go to college.

I wouldn't scrap working security all together, depending on what company you work for and what you do you can get a lot of experience with dealing with the public and listening to the community.....which police officers do EVERYDAY.

You could possibly apply with a Sheriffs Department, but work on the detentions side, great experience as well.

Good luck bro, I was a little younger than you when I started taking the steps to getting into LE. Its a long tough road but once you get there its well worth it.

I had several departments tell me I lack life experience, but seriously who can really judge your life and what you've been through seen or done? PD's can...lol...so pad that resume and stay hungry.

[ExSDSO]

Most places won't even let you apply until you are 20.5 years old, so there's that. Even LAPD, which is one of the very few agencies still hiring recruits, won't even let you test until you are 20.5. I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but even if you were 20.5 you are competing with people who have college degrees and/or military experience, you likely don't stand a snowballs chance in.... well, you get my point. As people have said, go to school and get a degree(NOT in criminal justice!), join the military, or if neither of those are appealing to you decide what department you would like to work for and see if they have a cadet position.


get a degree(NOT in criminal justice!)


Whats wrong with that degree? Any degree is great study something that interests you. Unless you want in with the FBI, CIA, DEA then yea maybe a CJ degree wouldnt set you apart from the rest.

[yournicked!]

i heard someone say though, police are now not so fond of military personal with active duty experience......those who have been in conflict, and been free to shoot the enemy are usually those who flip out, and are more likely to shoot when in civilian situations!!

just keep applying..never give up!

[0341]

how many 19 year old LEO's do you see out working the streets?

None. Every agency I've seen in my area requires the candidate to be 21 years of age at the time of appointment. CA POST stipulates minimum age is 18, but in reality departments require 21 for the most part. If a person applies at 20.5 (like others have mentioned in this thread), they should be able to complete the Academy after their 21st birthday.

I don't know any department that would actually hires a 21 year old though, due to lack of life experience. I think most departments prefer candidates over the age of 25 from what I've seen. I'm sure there are exceptions to the norm. That 25 year mark gives the candidate enough time in life to complete an undergraduate degree, enter the work force, and live on their own in the world for a couple of years. The life experience enables an Officer/Deputy to relate to situations encountered while on patrol. For example, a 35 year old Officer/Deputy who's married with children, owns his home, has a degree, and has years of work experience...will be more suited to identifying with problems causing domestic situations, or just people's lives in general. Through being able to relate, the LEO can then use that to his/her advantage when dealing with people or situations while on a call.

To the original poster:
Complete your degree, then do whatever interests you. Make sound lifestyle decisions while preparing for LE in the future. Gain a competitive advantage (special skills, etc.) over other applicants who might be older than you. Gain more life experience by volunteering in many different capacities (soup kitchen, veteran outreach, seniors, community watch, Police Cadet, etc.). Wait until you have accomplished these things before applying. Or, if you're OK with rejection then apply now and learn from whatever the selection process can teach you (testing, oral boards, etc.). You never know, you might get hired. Then again, you might get stonewalled and treated as if you were a kid not worthy of the position. Whatever you choose, stay motivated and follow through with your dreams. Only you can limit you.

[BossMan1364]

I was thinking that too, but I would really like to stay away from another desk job, if you know what I mean.

Yeah I know what you mean. But not all Cadet positions are desk positions. For example, I was a cadet for 2 years and worked in Records (desk Job), Traffic (writing T/C reports, working DUI checkpoints, riding with accident investigators), and the Jail (booking of inmates and jail operations). All of those positions gave me great experience working in a police department and getting my foot in the door with an agency.

Just food for thought.

[erik18]

Just so you guys know it is possible to get hired on at 18 by a Sheriff's Department. For a Police Department it is 21 but since you go to corrections for a Sheriff's Department (for the most part) their age is 18.


One of my best friends from the academy (OCSA) graduated as a sworn Deputy Sheriff at 19 years old.

[avalon42]

CJ degrees *may* help with local PD's (according to hiring panel officers I once worked with), but I'm not so sure about federal agencies. But in any case, CJ degrees won't help you very much in the private sector, unless you are looking at loss prevention or security.

CJ degrees are good for Customs and Border Patrol (according the latter, they prefer that degree over all others when it comes to promotion time).

Won't help a scratch when going to FBI, SS, or DHS. There's just too much competition.

[The Cable Guy]

Thanks for all the replies, both good and bad. It never hurts to hear it for what it is.

Anyways, I'm currently in school at CSUF for a degree in, you guessed it, Criminal Justice.

Its good to know that there are some people even younger than me, that have succeeded through the LE field, but I'm not going to bring up my hopes based on a few exceptions, or lucky draws.

Anyways, I'll take all of your views into account when I decide anything. As I said before, I would not mind working corrections/detention for a few years to build up a decent LE based background. How would I go about applying for a CO position in OCSD or LASD? Anyone have a clue?