Careers In Law Enforcement?

February 5, 2002

My question is: what do the Physical tests that are required to pass the

Law Enforcement requirements entail? And would my current lower back problem

be a problem?

I've been thinking about Law Enforcement as a career. Its always something

I've been fascinated with and my degree was in Psychology and Criminal

Justice. Plus I enjoy helping people. I'm unsure whether I'm cut out to be

an actual agent or officer but I do know I'd really enjoy working in the

Crime Lab Unit. I've looked into requirements for joining the SBI and FBI,

but right now I don't qualify. For SBI I'd need some type of special

training in forensics (Ballistics, Fingerprinting, etc...) and the website

said degrees in Chemistry are especially valuable. For FBI, I could go in

under the diverse degree route, but I lack the full time work experience, (3

full yrs) or a masters and 2 yrs work experience. I also checked into the

ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) which I'd qualify for if I passed all the

prelim tests but they deal vastly with Alcohol related crimes. Then there is

the local PD, which Chapel Hill is hiring in Spring for BLET recruitment.

But then I'd be a rookie officer (and I don't know if I am cut out for that

work).

Anyhow, the sky is the limit right now as to what I can do.

1)I can go to school for Masters in something like Exercise Science and then

work in the filed for a few yrs and then decide whether I'd like to apply

for the FBI or some other law enforcement agency or continue in the health

field.

2)I can go to Forensic Identification School (like at WVU) and get a degree

in some forensic specialty like fingerprinting (but I'm told that would take

4 yrs b/c I have no science background) unfortinately they dont have a MA

program yet.

3)I can go back to school and get a degree in Chemistry or Biology (which

I'd beleive would take only 2 yrs) and then apply for work in a crime lab

for the SBI or FBI?

4)I could apply for local PD and go through Basic Law Enforcement training

and work as a Police Officer for 3 yrs and then apply for a crime Lab or

other special unit?

Are there any members of this forum in Law Enforcement that would be willing

to talk to me privately and answer some of my questions and concerns?

Craig Rifkin

Chapel Hill, NC

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