Questions about civilian LE

[Abn5-0]

Im thinking about getting into LE when I retire from the Army. Some LE schools that Ive attended so far since being an MP are K-9 and SRT (Special Reaction Team kind of like SWAT). I was wondering how, if at all, that would translate into a civilian LE department. From what Ive been told getting into K-9 is hard. Ive heard rumor there are some departments, that if you have a dog already trained it makes it that much easier. Also would it hurt me since I already have some experience? Im not the kind of guy that thinks I know everything so I would listen to what those with more experience had to say. Also would age be a factor? I'll be about 45 when I retire.

[retread]

Almost all agencies are going to want you to pay your dues first. In fact
there may be some resentment from your co-horts if you dont.
If you go to a large agency, especially a county agency such as a sheriffs office you can be assured that you will in all probability start in corrections( Can you say Gate on 3?)---a municipality you will probably start on patrol untill you make your bones. K-9 and Swat are usually reserved for more seasoned officers who have proven themselves. If they are Civil Service you may have to reach several milestones before they let you transfer to special or perferred assignments-- But there are always exceptions ---Good Luck!

[Broke Hoss]

I've never heard of bringing your own dog with you, but I could see that in a very small agency. With a larger agency, I'd say they would own the dog & be responsible for the training as a liability protection.

Will your training help you? Yes, some. While I was in, I was MPI for like 3 yrs, the last being NCOIC of a 5 man section. The experience was probably more valuable than anything to me when I went CID with my department.

I figure most agencies are like here. We have a selection process for specialized positions. All have requirements of at least 2 years on; favorable reviews/recomendation from supervisor; no diciplinary action in previous year; and at least an interview board. SWAT includes a physical torture test now that I'm glad wasn't there back when I applied. CID has you include examples of cases you've worked to show the quality of your investigations.

[Abn5-0]

My body is too beat up for SWAT. I did that when I was younger. K-9 is a better choice IMO. From the research Ive done I see most departments have a 2yr time frame.

[Feet]

In my dept, K9 is hard to get into. Like many positions, it is a political thing but your experience should not count against you. A word of advice though, military experience will count for nothing to fellow officers. Of course it means much to you and your experience is invaluable but even if you were the Sergeant Major of the Army, when you become a rookie you will still be fucked with and have to do the shitty jobs.

The guys who come in with expectations of preferential treatment will get throat-chopped.:shiner:

[Abn5-0]

I understand Id have to start at the bottom and prove myself. I was just asking if having experience would help get into some of those positions. As I said before Im not a know it all and dont claim to be. If I have to go through more training then so be it. Im sure I'll learn a different way or even a new way of doing something.

[DD78]

I understand Id have to start at the bottom and prove myself. I was just asking if having experience would help get into some of those positions. As I said before Im not a know it all and dont claim to be. If I have to go through more training then so be it. Im sure I'll learn a different way or even a new way of doing something.

Just like any other job, two factors can mitigate your experience.

1.) How important seniority is to getting positions you want.
2.) Politics and the good ole' boy network.

For example. I have five years in the Army as an airborne infantryman. I was a team leader. I have been deployed twice. That being said, though I meet minimum time in service standards I don't have enough seniority to get on the SWAT team. I can be trumped by guys with no experience but more time on the job. Regardless of qualification so long as they meet the minimum standard. It's an asinine way of doing things.

However, my brother's department isn't such a slave to seniority. His department is starting a dive team. He's a certified open water commercial diver and used to do work on the side before becoming a cop. They asked him to lead the team even though there will be ranking officer's and senior officers who want it. The reason? He has the knowledge and experience and they don't.

That being said, his SWAT team runs a little different. You get picked by the Lieutenant who runs it. If he wants you, he takes you. This of course leads to buddies of his being picked who really don't belong there while those who do sit by the wayside.

On a neighboring department they have a SWAT team full of themselves. It's based in tryout but they have an unwritten rule that you don't get picked the first time you go out, and you'd be lucky to make it your second try. They had a relatively new officer go out of the team many moons ago and though he crushed their tryout, they said "not good enough" and didn't select him based on the unwritten rule.

Then word got around the department. "Did you hear about Ofc. So-and-so (name changed of course)? He didn't get selected. Why wouldn't they take him, he's a Green Beret?"

That's right. He was SF Qualified and had done time on an ODA. When the team leader heard about this (being a quiet professional he didn't tell them) he came back begging and apologizing.

A myriad of factors at work.

[Feet]

Good info.
It will depend where you will go. I work with retired E-8's and guys who were in the CIA and FBI. There experience is important to bettering their job but my department does not look much at what you did before.
Other depts may hook you up based on your knowledge but you start over from scratch in my hood.

[TPD1407]

As I am in the next county over from Feet, I have to agree with him. While the officers with any brains will respect the experience you bring from your first career, you will be pretty much starting from scratch. However, what several other posters said is also (and always) true to one degree or another - there are exceptions to everything. Find a department that you will be happy in and can feel like you are doing good work, and don't let the rookie BS get you down. Just as when you were a boot in the military, you won't be a rookie for long, and that is where your previous experience will really come to bear. In the higher quality of the work you do. At the end of the day, and once you get past the politics and politicians that every department seems to have, it is good work and professionalism that wins the day, and wins respect. Good luck!