Most people could never handle a law enforcement career effectively. Either stress or criminals would kill them. Truth is, a timid police officer can be as big a liability to an operation as an overly aggressive one. Most officers never have to shoot anyone, but they must be prepared to do so, if necessary. Whether they cannot pull the trigger when they need to, or pull the trigger unnecessarily, innocent victims could die. Even when police action is necessary, someone is bound to criticize and second-guess. Many people would buckle under the pressure.

Tests show that most police officers have above-average intelligence. Members of other professions usually have minutes, hours, weeks or even months to assess a problem and find a solution. That is rarely the case in law enforcement. Officers must reason, evaluate and act within seconds. Lawyers, jurists and judges may take weeks to evaluate an officer's spur-of-the-moment decision. Are you ready for that kind of scrutiny?

1. Obtain essential training to become an effective law enforcement officer.

2. Take pride in your body.

3. Take specialized courses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an education before starting a police career

Good police officers are in demand. Although a high school diploma or GED is essential for the job, a few agencies also require a college degree. Even if a degree is not required, most agencies prefer candidates who have them. A college education is required for promotion in most police departments.

I recommend: Get your education from a college with an acknowledged and accredited studies program. A few online schools are nothing more than diploma mills. The paper they issue is as good as no degree at all. One excellent school for an online criminal justice degree is the University of Phoenix. The University of Cincinnati offers a master's program of study.

Contact any police department for specific fitness requirements

Police agencies throughout the country have trouble hiring qualified officers. Factors such as illegal drug use and criminal records prevent many otherwise-qualified applicants from becoming certified officers. Physical fitness is a problem for many applicants. A daily workout regimen is a must for anybody wanting to pass the physical agilities test. Fitness requirements differ from department to department, but most law enforcement agilities testing includes running, push-ups, sit-ups, flexibility and weightlifting.

I recommend: If you are interested in joining the Mesa Police in Arizona, you can go to their page for a list of physical agilities and other hiring requirements. Information about physical testing for the Miami Police Department is available at attached link.

Get a foot up on the competition by signing up for specialty law enforcement classes

Any law enforcement classes you take can do two things. They may help you get a job, and they can help you enter certain specialized police investigatory fields. Many officers apply to become investigators in specific fields, but know relatively little about them. If you know your stuff, you might beat out other applicants. For example, motorcycle officers need advanced training in traffic accident investigation. Most officers apply for the position and expect the police agency to pay for the training afterward. With your specialized training, you are way ahead of others with no training or experience.

I recommend: If you want a traffic accident reconstruction class, Northwestern University is the premier traffic accident investigation and reconstruction training center in America. The Collision Safety Institute also provides accident training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Laugh at yourself and the world around you if you plan a police career. Too many officers take things personally. People lash out at the police because the uniform represents authority. Although the police have little influence on government procedures, they are more visible than are other government representatives. Confrontation is often inevitable, but you can learn to laugh off insults. If you can't, you should find a different career path.