I NEED HELP!!

[Rambo2]

I have been out of college for 2 yrs. now and I am trying to get into Law enforcement. I applied to the Broward County Sheriffs Office and was offered a position for Detention Officer...I have not seen much positive feedback on work behind the walls..Do you guys recommend I start in the jail for 2 years and try and cross over to the road??? Does anyone have any info. on this department?? Any feedback will be appreciated. the academt is in two months so please help me out.....

[Tackleberry]

Rambo,

I can't say I know anything about the department you mentioned but as working both fields of law enforcement I can say you will learn a great deal from working corrections. What experience and knowledge you learn will assist you greatly as a police officer. This will also look very good with applying and interviewing with police departments. The department will know you have experience and knowledge and by your interview you will prove it to them. If you work a few years in corrections you will be able to defuse most situations tactfully and quickly by just talking. Although you might be a gung ho police officer at first your years of corrections experience has taught you that rolling around with a suspect means hours of paper work so you will learn to be an expert communicator. When the time comes to roll with a subject on the street you will be very comfortable with yourself and most likely handle a subject with the least amount of force. Your fellow police officers will soon see that you aren't the usual take no action shaking in his boots rookie, your years of corrections experience has taught you how to deal with the most hardened person and get respect from them. You will not tense up in a life and death situation and will be honed from years of experience to make those life saving split second decisions which may save your life your partners or a citizen. I can tell you from experience that your new partner will be at ease when he knows you were a former corrections officer. Besides all that I have mentioned you may have the possibility of joining the prison's CERT or ERT or SWAT team which trains right alongside most law enforcement agencies in the training only reserved for those exceptional people. Don't think that this doesn't add to an already impressive resume for a police department to consider. I say give it a try because you have nothing to lose. If you find corrections is not for you and alot of people it isn't then you haven't lost much. Many, many police officers were once Correctional Officers and this goes to show that police departments do look at quality people when hiring potential officers. I wish you luck!


Tac

[Rambo2]

Tac,

I thank you very much for your reply. Many people have been telling me the same thing. As a rookie working in a jail, is there a lot of testing going on between the inmates and you. I am sure that there are some officers that have a much tougher time in the jail then others...what is the reason for this? Does this happen to those officers that come off as a hard a**? I am sure they teach you all this in the academy..The other thing is pay that I was concerned about, BSO starts at 28,659 in FL. is that too low in your opinion? Well I will catch you later!

Thanks!!!
Rambo

[Don]

Rambo,

I'd like to add just another thought to Tac's post. I agree with him 100%, but in addition, working the slammer gets you acquainted with your local dirt bags. This can really work in your best interest when you do get out on the street. Just the fact that you may recognize that a--hole who throws the beer bottle at your cruiser then runs is a good feeling. Waiting at his house to hook him up, an even better one! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Knowing these guys from the inside can help you turn them into snitches, and gives you some idea of whether they are half way straight with you, or trying to lead you down the "primrose path."


there are some officers that have a much tougher time in the jail then others...what is the reason for this? Does this happen to those officers that come off as a hard a**?


There can be a LOT of reasons for this. First and foremost, is how you handle YOURSELF. They are always going to try the FNG. But if you come off as

[Don]

Rambo,

I am moving this to the Ask a Cop forum. We ask that only officers who are already sworn or retired post in this section.

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"Red meat is not bad for you. Fuzzy green meat
is bad for you."- George Carlin
6P1 (retired)