Policemen, trained to serve and protect the whole population, are absolutely a crucial part of the society. They are the ones who maintain the peace and order, respond to emergency situations, protect the citizens from crimes, and serve the country in good faith. As the nation’s population gets bigger, the need for trained officers raises along with it. Yet, we can not hide the fact that only a handful desire to become one for the reason that police work is rather a uniquely challenging job and a dangerous one too. Besides, achieving a position may also take a lot of time, training, and dedication—putting a damper on one’s dream of serving and protecting his own home.
But, little do people know that being a police officer provides a rewarding career that affords an individual, either a man or a woman, to actually make a big difference in their community. It will only take a particular combination of skills and abilities to perform it to the level rightly demanded by the government, and a little heart to properly carry out all the things necessary to serve the country fully. In the end, all the hardships during trainings and all the challenges of being an officer are all worth it. So, for those who are interested to become a police officer, ask yourself if you are ready and totally up for the job!
Take note that policemen should have a commitment to act ethically and morally with dignity along with the team and community. Thus, if you want to be an officer, you should enjoy working with people and engaging with the society. Also, you must have an ambition to help others, drive to serve without equivocation, and focus to do everything according to the law. Other essential characteristics one should also possess are sound judgment, honesty, integrity, resiliency, and strong sense of responsibility. While, the general requirements for becoming a police officer depends on the rules of the country, most civil service regulations require the following to be a candidate: must be a citizen of the country where the person wants to be an officer, must be at least 20 years of age, must pass physical fitness examination, and must have a high-school diploma.
The mentioned qualifications are regarded to be the usual minimum requirements. Other related prerequisites basically depend on the agencies. There are those agencies who look for some college coursework and those who include physical and written exam; interview; background check; credit check; and a drug test. Some agencies also insist upon a lie detector or personality test, and/or be interviewed by a psychologist.
It should be noted that police work can be very dangerous and stressful that can put one’s life at high risk. Because of the nature of work, almost all officers witness death and suffering—resulting from criminial behavior or accidents. If you think you are not up for such kind of work, or comfortable with that kind of risk, then a career in law enforcement is not the right one for you. But, if you think you are prepared for all the challenges, trainings, and such, then go for it. Everybody has the right to serve and protect the society, it only takes a heart to do so.