Congratulations for wanting to become a police officer, which is as respectable and exciting a profession as it is dangerous and physically straining. It would be just proper, then, to warn you that getting recruited would not be a walk in the park, and that you would have to exert extra effort in terms of physical training, mental stamina, as well as emotional health to survive in this field.
Police Academy Requirements in Massachusetts
Everything you need to know regarding the police academy requirements in Massachusetts could be found on the website of the state government here.
As an overview of the things you have to remember, here are some of the prerequisites: minimum age of 21 and maximum age of 35; physically fit; psychologically sound; NOT a smoker; no previous felony charges; have good moral character (there is a Polygraph test); possess a General Educational Development certificate or a high school diploma as minimum educational qualification; be a resident of the United States particularly in the state of Massachusetts.
These requirements are supposed to be general and similar in all counties within the state.
County Specifics
Bear in mind that while most counties in the state would have the same requirements, some of them might require something extra depending on the current need or unique feature of the place. If ever you are caught in this dilemma, all you would have to do is contact the appropriate authority for that county, a list for which could be found on this page.
This also applies for inquiries regarding authorized police academies per county, the services of which some aspiring candidates feel is necessary to give them an edge in the recruitment process.
Boston Police Department
The Boston police department is the authorized governing body for police academies in the county. Lieutenant Michael Chapman serves as the contact person and could be reached at 85 Williams Ave, Hyde Park, MA 02136, or by phone through617.343.4411. The county’s police academy has a website at http://bpdnews.com/ and contains more information regarding eligibility for the program.
Lowell Police Department
The Lowell police department is the authorized governing body for police academies in the county. Sergeant Thomas Fleming serves as the contact person and could be reached at Middlesex Community College, 33 Kearny Square 5th FL, Lowell, MA, 01852, or by phone through978.937.3259 or 978.656.3229. The official website of the police academy could be accessed at http://www.lowellpoliceacademy.com/.
Worcester Police Department
The Worcester police department is the authorized governing body for police academies in the county. Captain Jack Ryder serves as the contact person and could be reached at 9-11 Lincoln Square Worcester, MA 06108, or by phone through508.799.8611. Further information could be found on their website at http://www.worcesterma.gov/police.
Springfield Police Department
The Springfield police department is the authorized governing body for police academies in the county. Lieutenant Harry Kastrinakis serves as the contact person and could be reached at 50 East Street, Springfield, MA 01104, or by phone through413.750.2522. Their official website could be accessed at http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/police/acad.0.html.
Cambridge Police Department
The Cambridge police department is the authorized governing body for police academies in the county. The contact person is Lieutenant George Sabbey who could be reached through phone number 617-349-9361. Information regarding their training programs could be found on their official website at http://www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/policeunits/supportservicesdivision/academyandtrainingunit.aspx.
How to Prepare for the Police Academy
Perhaps how to prepare for the police academyis not the right question, but rather WITH WHOM should you prepare or ask help for preparation in order to maximize your chances for getting into the police force. The answer to this question would depend on the specific agency or organization which focuses on the different aspects of personal development for recruitment purposes. Being a respectable police officer requires both physical strength and mental stamina which means that you would need help in fulfilling the physical fitness test standards as well as for the written exam which serves as the first and possibly last step for every aspiring police officer out there.
Physical Fitness Test Standards
Yes, you could go to the gym and sweat the day away but keep in mind that being a police officer entails rigorous physical activities which would require specialized help from qualified people in the field. Lucky for you, there are agencies nowadays such as Prepare for the Police Academy which exist for the sole reason of guiding you for preparing for the physical agility test that most police department recruitment exams require. Their website at www.PrepareForThePoliceAcademy.com offers features such as insider’s knowledge on the physical assessment exam, criminal law exam, as well as specifics such as felony stops and take down techniques.
What Are the Perks?
After all the examinations such as the Polygraph test, the written test, and the physical agility exam, you would then be on your way to getting recruited if you successfully pass all these. What would be waiting for you as a police officer then in terms of perks and monetary compensation?
The bi-weekly salary of new recruits start at $840, which would be upgraded as you go up the different ranks of your career as a police officer. In addition, you also get additional benefits such as eleven days of paid holiday vacation, five paid personal days, 15 days of sick leave, health and life insurance, monetary provisions for equipment and uniform, as well as tuition fee assistance for those who are planning to pursue their college or university education.
You do not have to be a genius to enter the police force, but having to take the written test means that you would have to be smart in order to stand out among the rest given the test’s eliminatory nature. As for physical strength, however, there simply is no going around it because physical fitness is an essential element in your daily routine as a police officer which would include physically rigorous activities.