LEOs: At what age did you start your career?

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Started when I was 26.

I'll be 52 when I retire in three years with a combination of 26 years of service plus 4 years credit for military service.
 
Started at 19. Couldn't buy my own handgun ammo til I was 21.
We have many people join the dept. in their 30's & 40's....being a Sheriff's dept. there is no incoming age limit.
 
I started my reserve career and my Humane Law Enforcement career at the age of 30. As a matter of fact, it was the same month I turned 30 and about 2 weeks after my birthday.

What sparks your interest and the reason for this question?
 
What sparks your interest and the reason for this question?
Click to expand...

Well, I'm 40 years old. When I was 22 I was hired by a large Department here in S. CA. Soon after I was hired I was injured in an unrealted traffic accident. While I rehabed I had a lot of time to think and I decided that being in LE here in S. CA was going to make having a wife and kids easy and I walked away from it. Never been a day I didn't regret the decision.

I'm now divorcd and the call to LE has never left me. If I went back, I'd have to start all over again. It's really nagging at me. There are many variables that would affect my decision, but I'm wondering how others, who may have started out later in life, faired?

I would be going to LAPD or LASD.
 
I had just turned 23, but we did hire several deputies at around 30. They all excelled in their training and went on to have great careers.
 
I decided in highschool i wanted to do LE - was 19 when I started doing private security/investigations - became LEO at 22yrs - I went through the acadamy with several who were around 30 yrs - know several others who were around 40 when they started - it really depends on what you want out of your career and how bad you want it - most of the older cops i know are starting to slow down - not a knock on them - just how it is with life - hell, im starting to slow down a little myself - maybe it comes with maturity - i dont know you and maybe im wrong - but most of the people who start LE later in life tend to do better in a smaller setting - i dont think i would want to start over in a place LAPD - and im still under 10yrs on the job - but then again maybe it would work out well with you - i worked for a small department for a short time and it was still better then doing any other job - personally i needed to get back to something bigger - if thats what you feel you need to do then go for it - but otherwise i would say go with a dept that is going to respect you for your age and wisdom - alot of the bigger agencies iv had contact with are looking for young guys who are on fire - theres alot of competition in some places - i dont think i could beat out some of these fresh rookies who are applying now-a-days - but then again who knows - alot of depts are hurting for good honest cops - But hey - my 2 cents for what ever its worth - Good luck and I hope you find what your looking for!!
 
I know an officer who went to work lockdown at 69. That's not a typo, he was sitxy nine years old, will retire at 76 with full bennies. Darn good staff member, too.
 
Im 26 and thinking of applying for the CHP. At 21 I applied for the LAPD passed 3 of my tests then got my arm run over by a car while working on it (not my fault). The cabinet buisness was good from then to now so I didnt go back but now I really would like to. I have a friend who's with CHP who tells me I should apply all the time. I always seen myself as a peace officer first and a carpenter second. It seems like a bigger decision now with the wife and two kids.
 
Two retired CHP just went through the local Sheriff's academy last year. I would poop my pants having TWO nice paychecks every two weeks. :eek:

I was 24, but had a 45yo marine go through same class as me. I see many retired .mil breeze through training for their second career. Short women have it the hardest here. There are two walls that have to be cleared before hiring, and after academy or your DQ'd. Seen a lot of good ladies fail there. My closest partner in training was a 42yo hisp female that had no problems with hurdles and works for a local PD.

Justin
 
I've gone back to school to get a crim justice degree so I can work in LE.
I'm 35.
A lot of the glamorous federal agencies, SWAT, etc, aren't interested in older applicants, according to their guidelines. However, if you make an effort to be fit and capitalize on your strengths, you'll find many are willing to at least talk about bending the rules to let you apply.

What I'm finding is that if you show an aptitude for the job you want, have an active willingness to build your skillsets, and are not the average person of your age, you will have a very good chance at doing what you might like to do in LE.

Granted, you may not get a position in the Secret Service because of your age, but as mentioned, many are hurting for good applicants just like every other job out there.
 
I started working at a police department when I was 25. Didn't get certified until I was 27. The previous two years do count towards my retirement though, so I'll be able to retire when I'm 50 if I want.
 
I have no desire to work of the feds. My record is spotless and I've been a director of operations with a company for over 15 years. I have a great deal of aptitude for LE and the law in general. I have friends who are LE and they are always telling me I should be working with them. I had no problems passing the tests back 20 years ago and I'm smarter now so I don't think that's an issue. The PT has me just a bit nervous, but I can hit the gym during the application process and it shouldn't be a big deal.

I'm encouraged to hear how many guys here know older guys who joined later in life. I'm going to have to give this some serious thought.

The main reason I'd join LAPD or LASD is that they are hiring like crazy right now. If I went local, it would be much tougher. There are often 300 applicants for 1 open position where I live. I work in L.A. now, so it's not that big a deal to move a few miles to get in L.A. County. Once I've been on a few years a lateral position would be much easier to get in my current home county. Around here LAPD can write their own ticket for lateral positions.
 
I started when I was 24. Two of my classmates "cheated" by falsifying their ages....one was only 20, and the other was 36 (at the time, you had to reach the age of 21 before you graduated from the academy, and the maximum age was 35). Neither of them got caught!

I trained a "rookie" that started at age 59, when the maximum age limit was dropped!

I may be mistaken, but one of the "corrections officers" that was recently killed was 74 years old, and had only been on the job for 4 years. He joined when his son did.
 
I started my reserve career and my Humane Law Enforcement career at the age of 30.
Click to expand...

What is humane law enforcement? Is that where you don't taser subjects if they aggravate you?
 
Started at 24 and there were plenty of guys in my academy over 30. I'd say 30% or so?
 
I started out as a Law Enforcement Explorer at 16. I became an Armed/Unarmed Security Officer at 19 and a Private Investigator at 22. I started my current job os a civilian Police Officer for the U.S. Dept. of the Army Police at 34, went to FLETC at 35.
 
I started in LE in the military at age 30, and went into civilian LE at 36. I breezed through the academy. I am a 4'11" female, and I had little trouble getting through the physical portion. The wall was tough, but I got over it the first time without assistance.....we had to do it in the military LE academy....with quite a bit more gear on (helmet, flak vest, two weapons, etc...), I needed a sandbag to get over that one!!:banghead:

If I had thought about it sooner I would have started out much sooner.
 
I started at 24. The youngest in my academy class was 19 and the oldest 54.

ilbob, go find a cop bashing thread to post on.
 
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