What Is The Purpose Of Auxiliary Police?
In my state and most that I know of they are called Reserve Police, they are sworn Police Officers with powers to arrest and are armed. Some states have levels of Reserve Officers, the higher the reserve certification the more the Officer can do. The Level 1 reserves act just like normal police except they are not paid. But in some states I know reserve officers can actually get paid… 50 different states in the US, 50 different ways of doing things. Oh, and New Mexico has a whole State Police Agency (New Mexico Mounted Patrol) that is only reserves, kind of cool, but weird. In England, they are called Special Constables, who aren’t paid, although they are bestowed with the same powers as Regular Officers and carry out a varied role which could include foot and vehicle patrols. In Canada, at least with the Ontario Provincial Police, members of the Auxiliary have no police authority/power and must rely on the same arrest provisions afforded regular citizens. The Police Services Act does, however, provide for instances when the Auxiliary Member may have the authority of a Police Officer. This can occur in an emergency situation where the O.P.P. requires additional strength to cope with a special occasion or event. RCMP- Duties that an auxiliary constable may perform under direct supervision of a regular member of the RCMP are widely varied; routine general duty patrols and traffic patrols; operational ride-a-longs; and routine crowd, traffic or parade control. Auxiliary constables have peace officer status when on duty and under direct control of a member of the RCMP
Can you join the SWAT team after being in the military with no police experience?
In order to join a SWAT TEAM, first you will need to join the Police Department that has the SWAT TEAM. With the department I was with, two years experience with the department as a sworn officer. Then you can apply for a position. Then you are ‘invited’ for try outs for a particular position open. For me I was with the DVU and a friend (a Detective) ask me to join him and the others on the SWAT TEAM to come out to shoot at our training facility. “SURE!” I went and was introduced to the members and the TEAM Commander. I shot the bad guy targets. Conducted ‘entry’ exercises. My friend was #2 on that exercise [#1 uses the ‘ram’ and # 2, first one in-first one shot… they call him ‘RAMBO’]Well, I was having a blast when the Commander [Lt] ask me if I want to shoot a Sniper rifle? Well, I was a Sniper in the army, spent time in Vietnam and been years since I held one. He said, “I got a sweet .308 Winchester Remington 700 in my trunk!” He got it out. “Sure, why not, Lt!”It was like riding a bike. Once you learn, you NEVER forget!Well, I hit every target from 300 meters to 1600 meters.He came up and said, “Report to my office Monday!”I turned and said, “Why should I???”“Cause, I just found my new SNIPER for 4th Platoon!… Hendricks is retiring, you're my new shooter! …Oh, by the way, I seen your Military jacket-Army Sniper, you fired .308 Winchester. I told Detective Thomas…Rambo, to get you out here today! OH, that Remington is mine, you’ll qualify with a .308 AR-15 Armalite .The like the one I shot that day: .308 Winchester Remington 700/Leopold ScopeThe DVU gave me the nickname; WOLF this was on my SWAT VEST:My SWAT Helmet :Bottom line join, apply and enjoy… I was on the SWAT TEAM for 12 yrs and NEVER regretted that Lt’s look in my Army records!THANKS ‘RAMBO’ [Thomas] and ‘POPS’ [ the Lt.]
Should I accept a position in corrections if I want to become a police officer?
My personal opinion is no, but I am not speaking as an expert, just as someone who has family who are police. In my extremely limited experience, the police look down on corrections officers in many cases. They have a reputation as being police-wannabes and their close association with criminals taints them. Is this true? Probably not, but it’s what I hear, and as I said my experience is limited.If you have the goal of becoming a police officer then work towards that goal. My brother started as an auxiliary police officer, then took jobs as a summer-time police officer in a sleepy Cape Cod town that would boom in the summer and become a ghost town in winter. From there he joined the military police and then getting a job as a full time policeman was much, much easier. He did not follow the CO role because of what he heard and advice he received from other officers. You will need to consider taking college courses in Criminal Justice, if not getting a degree. In many places, having that degree gives you a leg up when applying for police roles. Becoming a police dispatcher is along the same lines as a CO and may have greater benefits.Note that I am not disrespecting COs here. They have a tough, often tedious and often dangerous job. I am just suggesting a different and what I think is a better path. If you can see a path from CO to PO and it seems rational and logical then do it for a time - but make sure you set a time limit and work towards your real goal. Keep your eye on that goal and you will achieve it. Do not get bogged down in the role of being a CO and don’t get comfortable at that role.
Do you Salute Civil Air Patrol or Coast Guard Auxiliary Officers and why?
I know its not a requirement, but why do you is it out of respect for the rank or something? My friend is in the Civil Air Patrol and I see enlisted people saluting him all the time. I'm thinking about joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary but I don't want to be saluted.
What benefits are there for joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary?
As far as pay goes, zero. No commissary or exchange privileges at DoD facilities either. The tangible benefits to joining the CG Auxiliary: 1. Reimbursement of fuel costs for patrols. When you're using your boat or aircraft to patrol (generally make the rounds and be sure everyone is doing OK), the Coast Guard picks up the fuel tab. As most boaters just generally cruise around anyway, doing so under the umbrella of a CGAUX patrol is a great way to get your fuel costs covered. 2. Fellowship. The Auxiliary is as much a social organization as a service organization (like Lions, Jaycees, etc), a lot of people do it for the networking and social events. 3. Free training. The Coast Guard offers training, also extending to the Auxiliary, to be competent at whatever it is we ask you to do. Depending on how active you are (and how much you're willing to do), the training will occasionally also come with a travel and per diem allowance to cover meals, lodging, etc, while undergoing the training. ] 4. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance eligibility. Mutual Assistance is the "taking care of our own" program of the Coast Guard, which offers small zero interest loans (and the occasional grant) for emergencies. CGAUX members are eligible too. 5. The occasional "in" for a paying job. The Coast Guard also employees civilians, in addition to the military personnel. If we already know you, know you do good work and are familar with your abilities, it certainly doesn't hurt your chances when a full time paid position comes available. Again, this only really applies to very active Auxiliarists. I recently was involved with filling a temporary position to backfill for a civilian employee that was called to active military duty for a year. We chose an Auxiliarist. Particularly since the position was a temporary one for a year, it was extremely helpful (and important to the hiring selection) that the person already had familiarity with our organization and people. I'm sure there are others.....these are a few that come to mind.
Is it possible to become a part time police offer/ highway patrol while in college? How much would I be paid and what would I need to do to get in?
The answer is 100% dependent on your location and the policies of the departments in your area. None of the law enforcement agencies that I have interacted with have had part time officers per say, most preferring to cover open shifts by hiring off duty officers from other departments. That's not the rule though, I am sure there are departments somewhere that hire officers part time.The issue that you will run into, is that there are significant expenses associated with hiring and training a new police officer (training, equipment, classes at a police academy, etc.) and few departments are going to be willing to lay out that cash for a part time employee. It's more likely that you would be able to find part time employment with a law enforcement agency in a non-sworn role such as records or dispatch. Many agencies have police aids or police assistants and parking/traffic enforcement officers who not sworn law enforcement officers.What you may be able to do if you are interested in law enforcement and want to receive the training and experience of a police officer is volunteer with a reserve or auxiliary unit if a department near you has one. Phoenix police department has a reserve division with volunteers who attend night classes at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy and become full authority sworn police officers. I believe Arizona DPS and LAPD have similar programs, and those are just the ones I know off the top of my head, I'm sure there are others.If your university has its own police department, I would look at what positions they have open. They likely would understand your school schedule a little bit better and you may even receive a discount on your tuition as an employee.
Will becoming an auxiliary Police officer generally help you become a real police?
As Tim mentioned, it depends on where you are from. Auxiliary officers, from my experience, are more prominent on the East Coast. NYPD has Auxiliary officers, and you aren't a cop. Not even close. You wear the same uniform, but you have zero police powers and don't carry a weapon.Reserves are generally in the South, Midwest and West Coast. Generally speaking, reserves are "real cops" with a modified commission. For me, my commission was only valid while on duty. I served as a reserve officer for eight years.And yes, being a reserve generally will help you becoming a "full time" officer. And saying full-time vs. real cop is more appropriate. Where I came from you had a modified academy. Meaning our academy was about 240 hours vs. the 450+ hours for full time. In Georgia, even as a reserve, you have to take the full time 450 hours.Some agencies you will do limited duties as a reserve. For example, I hear Los Angeles County you work in the jail serving food to prisoners. I don't know how accurate that is. In Washington where I was a reserve our agency, you could earn your way to be a solo patrol officer. Which I was. There was 0 difference between me and a full-time officer except they had an assigned district and I could roam the entire city.The other thing about being a reserve is you go through the same background and testing as a full-time officer. So the agency is more apt to hire you because you already went through background.
What if I go through the police academy and then quit?
I'd love to be a cop, but they just don't pay enough. So I was thinking about joining the force so I could go through the academy for the fun of it. I can't think of anything they could do to me if I quit after graduation. Am I missing something? God bless America!
Have I lost all chances of becoming a police officer?
Certainly, you stand a chance. Most police applicants have experimented with illegal drugs. The more crucial factor is how recently you did this, and that you're truthful about it. You'll be asked about the previous polygraph exam, so just tell them what happened. It's a plausible story, although you'll still have to pass a polygraph exam to be hired. Lots of people have bad breakups with spouses. References from them tend to be taken with a grain of salt, as revenge motives are common. Your larger and more immediate problem is your credit record. Cops and aspiring cops with poor credit are often just bad at handling money and living within their means. This can be exploited to compromise the cop and force him to do extra-legal "favors" for people. You might want to rehabilitate that before you apply. Your best resource is a recruiter for whatever departments you want to apply for. Be candid with them, and they can tell you whether you are a viable applicant, or if you shouldn't bother. Every department decides where to draw the line for their recruits, and there can be considerable variability.