John Douglas's Guide to Landing a Career in Law Enforcement

Overview

The ultimate insider’s guide to pursuing a career in one of the hottest, fastest-growing career sectors in America

In a departure from his usual edge-of-the-seat coverage, New York Times bestselling author and legendary FBI profiler John Douglas draws on his 25 years of experience to offer this unique career guide. Written for those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement but unsure which agency is right for them, John Douglas’s Guide to Landing a Career in Law Enforcement is a treasure trove of insider information and step-by-step instructions that arms you with:

• A comprehensive overview of law enforcement agencies and career opportunities— from park ranger to air marshal to NSA code cracker
• Guidance on finding and winning the ideal job in law enforcement
• Work sheets, checklists, and self-evaluations
• Websites, contact information, study guides, and other valuable resources

Table of contents

Part One: GETTING STARTED 1
Chapter 1 PERSONAL ASSESSMENT 3
The Truth 4
Strengths and Weaknesses 6
Personality 7
Goals 9
Intangibles: What Are They Looking For? 11
Equal Opportunity 20
Chapter 2 CIVIL RIGHTS: THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND MIRANDA 23
Bill of Rights 24
Miranda 26
Chapter 3 PREPARE YOURSELF 29
Oral Interviews 29
Written Tests 32
Physical Fitness or Physical Abilities Test/Medical
Examination 35
Psychological Test 37
Background Check 38
Polygraph Examination 39
Criminal Records 40
Disqualifying Convictions 41
Other Disqualifiers 42
Chapter 4 ASSOCIATED CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 45
Examiners and Experts: The Crime Scene to
the Laboratory 46
Forensic Scientists 47
Coroner’s or Medical Examiner’s Office 48
Sketch Artists 49
Polygraph Examiners 50
Probation and Parole Officers 50
Other Careers in Criminal Justice 51
Chapter 5 LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF CONDUCT 53
Law Enforcement Code of Conduct 54
Part Two: OPPORTUNITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL 59
Chapter 6 GENERAL INFORMATION 61
Minimum/Maximum Age 62
Educational Requirements 62
Categorical Preference 63
Salary and Benefits 63
Chapter 7 JOB DESCRIPTIONS 65
Patrol Officers 65
Traffic Officers 66
Detectives 66
Correctional Officers/Detention Officers 67
Specialized Units and Assignments 68
Municipal and County Departments 68
Chapter 8 REPRESENTATIVE DEPARTMENTS 71
Boston Police Department 73
Columbus Police Department 80
Albuquerque Police Department 86
Bozeman Police Department 92
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 95
Nassau County Police Department 101
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office 106
Part Three: OPPORTUNITIES AT THE STATE LEVEL 111
Chapter 9 GENERAL INFORMATION 113
Chapter 10 JOB DESCRIPTIONS 115
Highway Patrol Officer or State Trooper 115
Correctional Officer 116
Special Agent/Investigator 116
Chapter 11 REPRESENTATIVE AGENCIES 117
Oklahoma Highway Patrol 118
Oregon Department of Corrections 123
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation 126
Texas Troopers 131
Texas Rangers 136
Part Four: OPPORTUNITIES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL 141
Chapter 12 GENERAL INFORMATION 143
Working for the Federal Government 143
The Office of Personnel Management 146
USAJOBS 146
Minimum/Maximum Ages 148
Veterans 148
Women 149
Minorities 149
Noncitizens and Federal Employment 150
Chapter 13 FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS
BY DEPARTMENT 151
USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations 153
Pentagon Force Protection Agency 157
National Institutes of Health Police Branch 159
Department of Homeland Security 163
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center 167
Customs and Border Protection 171
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 176
Office of Inspector General 183
U.S. Secret Service 185
National Park Service 192
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 198
Drug Enforcement Agency 204
Federal Bureau of Investigation 211
Federal Bureau of Prisons 223
U.S. Marshals Service 228
Naval Criminal Investigative Service 238
Bureau of Diplomatic Security 244
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation 248
U.S. Mint Police 252
United States Capitol Police 255
United States Postal Inspection Service 258
Office of Security and Law Enforcement 264
Appendix A: ALBUQUERQUE (NEW MEXICO) POLICE
DEPARTMENT CADET WRITTEN ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 267
Section 1: Overview 268
Section 2: General Instructions 269
Section 3: Observation and Recall Cognitive Abilities 270
Section 4: Personal Maturity and Integrity 273
Section 5: Technical Skills 274
Section 6: Written and Oral Communications 275
Appendix B: AUSTIN (TEXAS) POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLICANT
INFORMATION PACKET 279
Shotgun 280
Handgun Trigger Squeeze and Direction Control 280
Driver/Vehicle Compatibility 280
11/2 mile run 280
Obstacle Course 281
The Importance of Core Fitness Components to the
Physical Examination 281
Test Preparation 283
Description of the Obstacle Course 283
Criteria for Passing the Exam 284
Test Components 284
Appendix C: COLUMBUS (GEORGIA) POLICE DEPARTMENT
APPLICANT BACKGROUND BOOKLET 287
Personal Data 289
Family History 290
Residences 291
Education 291
Employment History 293
Financial 296
Military 297
Illegal Drugs 299
Criminal Activity 301
Index 307
About the Author

Biographical note

John Douglas, Ed.D., is one of the most respected lawmen in the world and has tracked down some of the most notorious and sadistic killers of our time. He is also the author of six bestselling books recounting his adventures in the FBI and one other career guide. He is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Mindhunter and Journey into Darkness.

Back cover copy

Get on the inside track to a challenging and thrilling career

Law enforcement is one of today's hottest growth careers. But with so many agencies and jobs to choose from, where do you start? In this comprehensive guide, bestselling author John Douglas taps his twenty-five years of law enforcement experience to help you find and land the perfect job for you. This book is your first step to an exciting, rewarding career that lets you make a difference in your community.

From beat cop to air marshal to FBI agent, Douglas details almost every position in every agency, giving you the information and tools you need to discover which job is right for you. Once you know where you're going, Douglas helps you get there with step-by-step guidance for excelling during interviews and tests. Full of inside information and helpful resources, this one-of-a-kind guide includes:

A complete overview of law enforcement agencies and job opportunities
Self-evaluation tests that match your personality with the ideal position
Salary and benefits information for various departments and agencies
Physical and psychological job requirements
Proven job-hunting tips and tactics
Web sites, contact numbers, study tips, and other helpful information