Do you want to join one of the police academies in Missouri? Whether you want to be part of the Kansas City police department or join the Saint Louis police department, there are minimum requirements that you have to comply with. First, you should be a U.S. citizen and have at least a high school diploma. You should also be in excellent physical condition, and did not use any illegal substances in the past three years.
There are other requirements that you have to meet. For one, there should be no felony and DWI convictions in the past three years, and not more than three moving violations in the past year and a half. You should also have no visible tattoos, and your vision and hearing should be normal.
Aside from these requirements, you should have completed 60 semester hours in any accredited higher education, or 30 semester hours of accredited higher education inclusive of three year service as a Springfield Police Cadet. If you have neither, you should at least hold a Class A Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification or Class B Post Certification plus two years of full-time law enforcement.
Tests
Should you all meet the abovementioned requirements, fill out an application form and submit all mandatory papers and signed forms. In Springfield, for example, it is the local HR department that will evaluate your credentials, and you will be scheduled for a physical test as well as a written exam.
The physical assessment test is designed to stimulate the physical demands of the job. The tests may vary depending on the police department you are applying with. For instance, if you are applying to be part of the Springfield police department then you’ll be asked to do a 100-meter sprint, push a police car to a distance of 15 feet, and climb over a wall that is six feet high. You’ll also be asked to drag a dummy weighing 165 pounds to a distance of 50 feet.
If you are applying to be part of the Independence police department, you’ll then go through an 11-part physical abilities test. Among the numerous tasks you’ll have to accomplish is jumping through obstacles as high as 4 feet and a half, drag a dummy weighing 145 pounds, and do push-ups. You’ll have to complete the entire course in just three minutes and 36 seconds, or less.
Aside from grueling physical agility tests, you’ll also have to go through a written exam. This part of the application process will determine if you have the reading, writing, and comprehension abilities that are so vital in police work.
Panel Interview
If you pass the written exam and physical agility test, next up would be the panel interview conducted by the Missouri police officials. The interviewers will scrutinize your personal background and employment history. It is also during this part that your communication skills will be brought to the fore. You should show that you can understand their questions well, and express yourself clearly.
During this part of the application process, the interviewers will check if you have basic law enforcement knowledge. It pays if you are familiar with the criminal statutes in Missouri, and how these apply to certain situations. It also helps if you use the correct titles when addressing your interviewers. Avoid calling them with the generic ‘officer.’ Instead, be more specific like calling one ‘deputy sheriff’, or ‘sheriff’ as the case maybe.
The interviewers will also delve into your personal background. Be truthful, as giving them an untruthful reply will haunt you later on, particularly during the background investigation. Make sure you remember the names of the companies you previously worked for as well as the names of the schools you attended. You should also be honest when asked if you have had any previous criminal conviction.
Another way that the examiners will detect if you are telling the truth or not is by subjecting you to a polygraph test. During this part, the examiner will visit issues that were raised during the panel interview as well as the background investigation. Issues like previous use of illegal drugs (if any), instances of dishonesty, illegal activities that you may have engaged in, and the number of times you reported to work late are some of the things that may be brought up during the polygraph examination.
Medical Exams
Before you are admitted into the academy, you must pass the drug test. Your application process will be terminated right away if you fail the drug test. Once you passed the drug test, you are then to undergo a medical and psychological examination to be administered by a licensed physician and registered psychologist.
The medical examination will consist of medical physical, lab tests, EKG test, cardiovascular evaluation, respiratory evaluation, vision and hearing test. You will also be examined of any pre-existing conditions.
The psychological examination will determine if you have the ability to make quick and objective decisions under duress, and if you can handle stress well.
Training Academy
Passing all these rigorous tests means being accepted into the Missouri Police Academy, the final step towards your new career in the law enforcement field. Training will last for several months, with focus in the various subjects of legal procedures, first aid, report writing, crime scene investigation, self-defense, firearms training, and human psychology. You’ll also be thought how to drive cars while in pursuit of criminals as well as how to intervene in family issues and domestic violence.
How to Prepare for the Police Academy
Applying for the police academy is no easy task as most people might think. Police officers are not only physically fit, but they are also mentally tough, emotionally ready, and intellectually sharp in order to help maintain peace and order in their respective communities.
However, it helps if you will read a guide on how to prepare for your once-in-a-lifetime journey towards being a Missouri policeman. Pick up the “Prepare for the Police Academy” guide that will teach you how to fare well in the physical tests and written exam. You’ll also learn a lot of things that will help you jumpstart your law enforcement career. So whether you intend to join Independence police department or Columbia police department, make sure you visit http://www.prepareforthepoliceacademy.com/.