What could I do in Law Enforcement with Computer Science?
I live in Minnesota. I was cultivating my options with computer science. Among being a code monkey or a CIS manager, I thought after I get a degree I might become a police officer of some sort. For Minnesota, you have to go through a professional peace officer education program for about a year, if you have already received a degree in another subject. I don't want to only do Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice as a degree because I heard that you can only get jobs as a patrol officer and perhaps then some. And also, I could apply to Federal L.E. after. I was wondering what could I do in a big city police department (ie. Minneapolis-Saint Paul) with a degree Computer Science in Law Enforcement. Any help is appreciated.
What's the difference between a park ranger and a forest ranger?
A park worker works in a national park but a forest ranger works in a forest.
How can I become a law enforcement park ranger?
I'll try to make this as brief as possible. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History from a fairly well known college. Additionally, I am finishing up a post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies (I needed a job that wasn't flipping burgers, and that would allow me to support myself). I really have no interest in becoming a paralegal; too much of the week is sitting at a desk doing extremely boring paperwork. I have looked at over 12,000 jobs and have seen the good and bad in a vast majority of them. One of the jobs that have always stood out to me was as a park ranger. Now, I realize that there are part-time jobs for history majors in parks. However, I was always interested in law enforcement as a park ranger. I believe it goes without saying that I have a love for nature and helping others. After looking at several websites, including the NPS website, I was wondering how I could go about becoming a seasonal and then full time law enforcement park ranger. More to the point, the NPS website said that they would prefer someone with a degree in parks and recs. management, forestry, conservation, or something along those lines. Would it be wise to work as a city police officer and then apply to one of the seven training schools? If you’re wondering why I didn’t pursue my masters in history, I was actually accepted. However, I could not see myself making the same mistake that so many fellow millennials make by going 65K+ in debt just for a job that, if hired, would pay around 40K a year. Thank you kindly for your insight.Best,R.J.
Why doesn't the Menlo Park Police Department enforce traffic laws?
The salary has no bearing on traffic enforcement. Traffic enforcement is often done as a request from the mayor or city council. Some cities have a high threshold for traffic violations because they have wealthy residents who harass the city for too much enforcement. I can imagine how often a traffic stop in Menlo Park starts with , “ Officer, do you know who I am ?”With the median 1600 square foot home value at close to $2,000,000 with a $25,000 annual property tax bill, you get some very uppity residents
How do I become a Park Ranger?
I'm interested in becoming a park ranger. I'm 36 years young,served in the armed force, sponsored my self through the basic police academy and I'm in very good shape.I don't have a college degree but plan on going to college. Would this be helpful in becoming a park ranger or do I need a college degree? how about my age? Am I too old to become a park ranger?
Law enforcement jobs that will help me get my foot in the door?
You might be able to get a jail guard or correctional officer job. You could consider security jobs such as loss prevention officer jobs. I would consider trying to get a job you that you would enjoy that involves interacting with many people and that can help improve your communication skills and people skills. Having good communication skills and people skills can be very important when trying to get a job and when doing law enforcement work. You could consider joining the military. Along with other benefits, joining the military would provide you with ways of paying for college. You could consider trying to become a MP in the Army or Marines, an MA in the Navy, or a Security Forces Specialist in the Air Force. You could also consider trying to join the Coast Guard. You could try to become a Maritime Enforcement Specialist. Also, being a veteran can help you get law enforcement officer jobs. Veterans get extra points on civil service tests and preference for federal jobs. Some agencies that require applicants to have college will waive some or all of their college requirements for veterans. Also, for different reasons, some people simply like to hire qualified veterans whenever they get the chance to. Whatever job you get, keep a good record and reputation at work. It is great that you are planning on getting a college degree. Getting a college degree is one of the best things that you can do. Best of luck!
How's being a park ranger?
Its a fun job, but it doesnt pay well for a career if you lack higher education. You need a BS (bachelors in science) to get anywhere good, and if you want really good pay, you need to get up in the ranks into the management. I thin think the pay starts at 30000 or so, and tops out at around 75000 after a millennium. There are three branches that I am familiar with. Its National park, BLM, and state park. Each pay crappy for low level workers. I think of state workers as the most unstable in terms of a career, BLM has the best career choice if you have degrees, but you wouldn't exactly be a park ranger. National park is secure, but low paying unless you are higher up. I am strongly considering a career in the BLM, because it pays well, works with the environment well, and will always be there due to the vast expanses of public lands. They aren't evil as the other posters said, but people have differing experiences. Mine has always been very positive. That being said, I have never seen a park ranger that hated their job. Even the one who told me the pay was crap said that the experience made up for it.
Is a park ranger a good career?
State or federal? I'd guess feds pay better, but wildlife is generally the states' purview so they have more jobs. I've worked with many rangers over the years and they...mostly...love their jobs. Not sure about pay, I'm thinking mid-30s to get started but I know that can go much higher as you progress. There's demand in remote rural locations which you'd probably have to accept just to get your foot in the door unless you know the president or a governor. That said, the number of applicants has also dropped off dramatically over time. If I recall, in the 70's, Colorado DOW positions attracted 100+ applicants, but now it's usually under 20, or even 10. Also gotta be comfortable with not being the most popular person around. I worked with a lot of ranchers in my area where the bush pig (I promise I use that word affectionately) was handing out tickets for killing rattlesnakes out of season, and the feedback wasn't exactly positive. Keep in mind it can be rather dangerous just in the sense that you'd spend most of your time in the middle of nowhere confronting people who are usually also armed (and drunk) so you gotta be good at independently taking control of bad situations. But the officers were often involved in our conservation/land management projects as well, so you get both sides of it. I've seen a few of these positions offer free housing in the remote locations so the officers didn't even have a rent/mortgage payment...that's a huge monetary benefit. But, if it's really a good match for your personality and interests, you won't be too concerned about the pay. You can sometimes volunteer to assist the rangers with specific things like opening day of a hunting season, then you could get a taste of what it's actually like. I did that while getting my wildlife B.S. and found I didn't like it :)
What’s it like being a park ranger?
Here is my long drawn out boring answer for the National Park System.Josh Evans's answer to What is it like to work for the National Park Service as a Ranger?The short answer is it is a very different job depending on your what park system/agency you work for my job working for state systems was different than working for a local park system and they were both different from working for the National Park system.Beyond that in the National Park system it depends on what type of ranger you are (job description wise), and what type of park you are working for (urban vs. rural). It also simply depends on what park you work for. Yellowstone is way different than the Everglades and they are both way different then Independence National Monument These parks, and every park, have very different environments. They have different weather, different topography, different types of people visit, different attitudes of the people living near the park, different staff cultures within the park, and different management—which means very different ways of operating. There are similarities but between agencies and even within the NPS parks are very different and it may take a while to find a park you match with.