Is Age An Issue?

[jaaxo]

I'm seriously considering a career change into law enforcement. Ideally, I'd like to find a small to medium-sized town and work in local law enforcement - preferably in the mid-west somewhere. I served 23 years in the Coast Guard - part of which was as a Special Agent with Coast Guard Investigations, their internal law enforcement program - same as Army CID, Navy NIS or AF OSI. I had a lot of good training while in that position and am hoping that will translate into an advantage when moving into the local LE position.

My questions are:
(1) Will this military and investigative experience help in the hiring process?
(2) I'm 53 now. How will this be viewed by the hiring departments?
(3) How difficult will it be to move into LE at this point in my life?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Jack

[copter]

I'm seriously considering a career change into law enforcement. Ideally, I'd like to find a small to medium-sized town and work in local law enforcement - preferably in the mid-west somewhere. I served 23 years in the Coast Guard - part of which was as a Special Agent with Coast Guard Investigations, their internal law enforcement program - same as Army CID, Navy NIS or AF OSI. I had a lot of good training while in that position and am hoping that will translate into an advantage when moving into the local LE position.

My questions are:
(1) Will this military and investigative experience help in the hiring process?
(2) I'm 53 now. How will this be viewed by the hiring departments?
(3) How difficult will it be to move into LE at this point in my life?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

Jack
(1) Yes it will help.
(2) I'm 54 and start next Monday training as a Federal Police Officer.
(3) I'll let you know shortly. I think if your in reasonably good shape you should not have a problem.
Start filling out applications and see were it goes, I saw on the news Wilmington NC recently hired a few Officers in their 50s so they are hiring us oldies.

[jaaxo]

(1) Yes it will help.
(2) I'm 54 and start next Monday training as a Federal Police Officer.
(3) I'll let you know shortly. I think if your in reasonably good shape you should not have a problem.
Start filling out applications and see were it goes, I saw on the news Wilmington NC recently hired a few Officers in their 50s so they are hiring us oldies.

Thanks for the response!! Congrats on the new job too! What dept will you be working for?

Happy New Year!

[Akhunter]

We hired a 52 year old retired Marine Col. who sailed through the academy & fto, is one of our strong leaders on mid shift and doing a slam up job. To some degree age is in the mind. Go to www.joinapd.org

Generally with age comes wisdom!