As a former police officer who had a successful 21-year-long career with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Laura Motes knows what it takes to become a member of the force.
Basic Requirements
In the United States, the basic requirements include meeting an age limit, having a driving license, and being a legal resident of the country. When these three prerequisites are all present, one can officially start the process. It’s important to note that some police departments have additional requirements, like a higher – the applicant has to be at least 21 – age limit.
Education
In order to become eligible for the training, one has to have a high school diploma, or alternatively, they can also pass the GED (General Education Development) exam. While having a college degree is not necessarily a must, having one definitely provides a competitive advantage over other candidates. While attending a college, one can also take courses that are either directly or indirectly related to law enforcement, which can be another crucial advantage.
Police Academy
Any aspiring police officers must attend police academy in order to earn their certification. A lot of police departments have their very own academy. The overall length of the training is usually 3 to 4 months, and it includes learning about constitutional law, civil rights, subject apprehension, firearm use and self-defense, among others.
Laura Motes took her training extremely seriously while attending the police academy; and those results led to a very long and successful law enforcement career with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
Sources:
Laura Motes 