need opinions from Federal LE officers/agents

[wdr2]

To the federal law enforcement officers/agents in this forum....

If 2 applicants were trying for a special agent position in a fed. agency such as FBI, DEA, ICE, ATF, etc., and both people were similiar in character (clean background, physically fit, etc.) but applicant #1 had a bachelor degree and a few yrs of experience in local law enforcement, and applicant #2 had a bachelor and masters degree, but no real law enforcement experience, in your opinion, which applicant would have a better chance of getting into a fed agency?

Thanks!

[SoCalFed]

To the federal law enforcement officers/agents in this forum....

If 2 applicants were trying for a special agent position in a fed. agency such as FBI, DEA, ICE, ATF, etc., and both people were similiar in character (clean background, physically fit, etc.) but applicant #1 had a bachelor degree and a few yrs of experience in local law enforcement, and applicant #2 had a bachelor and masters degree, but no real law enforcement experience, in your opinion, which applicant would have a better chance of getting into a fed agency?

Thanks!

Applicant #1 is the better applicant IMHO - Local LE experience never hurts. Not knocking the folks with advanced degrees, but without police experience you have no idea how they will handle themselves in high stress LE situations. I was local LE prior to getting picked up as a Special Agent, and it not only helped me in my interview, but also has been a big plus when I deal with local LE agencies as a federal agent (Many times you deal with local LE agencies they will ask if you have any "real" LE experience, as in local LE experience. Once I say yes, it really breaks the ice. Apparently some have had negative experiences with federal agents with no prior LE experience.).

Also remember that unlike the movies, many federal agents rarely make arrests. I met a Special Agent from an agency that had not drawn his gun in over five years! And this is not a guy stationed in podunk, rather in Southern California. Some folks may only make an arrest once a year or every couple of years. Being a local police officer gives you the ability to hone the basic skills you learned in the academy. In federal LE , especially for 1811's, that isn't necessarily going to happen...

[MPSoldier84]

Depends on the agency. If it's Famous But Incompetant, or the IRS, or if an agency is currently looking for more academic agents, than Number 2. The DEA, ATF, and ICE do a lot of foot work though too so they may want someone who is also street saavy.

[SoCalFed]

Depends on the agency. If it's Famous But Incompetant, or the IRS, or if an agency is currently looking for more academic agents, than Number 2. The DEA, ATF, and ICE do a lot of foot work though too so they may want someone who is also street saavy.

With you being a Veterans Affairs police officer (surmising by your prior posts) i'm not sure of the level of contact (or frequency) you have with the bureau on criminal investigations or if you're basing your post on hearsay?

Every organization has its winners and losers. But I have worked numeorus cases with the FBI. They are not as bad as some people make them out to be. The agents I have worked with were hard chargers and quite competent. No, i'm not going over to the FBI, rather I am basing my opinion as a working 1811 who cuts through the hype and likes to get a job done...

[SA13]

To the federal law enforcement officers/agents in this forum....

If 2 applicants were trying for a special agent position in a fed. agency such as FBI, DEA, ICE, ATF, etc., and both people were similiar in character (clean background, physically fit, etc.) but applicant #1 had a bachelor degree and a few yrs of experience in local law enforcement, and applicant #2 had a bachelor and masters degree, but no real law enforcement experience, in your opinion, which applicant would have a better chance of getting into a fed agency?With no other information you might as well consult a Ouji board.

Most agencies like to see LE experience in their applicants, and "street time" is something that may be considered. HOWEVER, I've seen several applicants who only had time working patrol and little or experience conducting complex felony investigations. Due to the lack of investigation experience they did not compete well. I've also seen people with advanced degrees who didn't compete well.

However, an applicant with a Masters degree in Fire Protection Engineering might have a better chance than a guy with a few years working patrol when applying to ATF or the FBI. On the other hand a guy with a few years on patrol and a couple years with the gang unit might have a better shot with DEA or ICE than a guy with a Masters in English.

None of which takes into account the many intagibles out there which can set applicants apart. The resume may help get you into the process, but there is a lot more that's needed to get you into the academy and on the job. I've seen guys with great resumes, both work experience and academic, that for a variety of reasons did not do well in the hiring process. I've also seen people who on paper met the min qualifications to apply, but not much more and got hired. Interviews and background investigations are the make or break for many applicants, and a guy who looks good on paper may have problems in the interview or issues that pop up on a background investigation.

The advice I was given was to do things, both with school and work, that I wanted to do even if I never got hired by a fed agency. That way I'd have a backup even if I didn't hired, plus you're more likely to be successful at something you are really interested in than something that might look better on a resume. Being good at whatever you are doing will look better than being mediocre at a job that allegedly looks better on a resume.

Good luck.

[wdr2]

Thank you to everyone who replied!