Anyone here Work in Law Enforcement?

Arya · **Posted:** November 28th, 2012, 10:34 am

Is it worth getting a degree in Criminal Justice for a job in Law Enforcement?
I am planning on going into it to be a Game Warden

Market Man6 · **Posted:** November 28th, 2012, 11:20 am

When I was 18 I signed up to join the RCMP.
I went to an interview, took several tests, and ran some obstacle courses before they told me that I was younger than they were looking for and I needed more life experiences. They then suggested taking criminal justice courses, cause it would make me a better candidate than those who hadn't. But the schooling is not necessary.

So, if you want to go to school, then do it! You won't lose a single thing.
If you decide to try to become a warden first, you may succeed

...but if they, too, suggest school, then you are no further behind than if you had went straight to school.

Arya · **Posted:** November 28th, 2012, 11:47 am

Hmm. Yeah. I think I'll get a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, which by then I'll be about 23'ish?

Also I'll have 6 years experience in business if I stay with United and move up into management while I'm on the way to my goal.

Just wondering about others if Law Enforcement is worth it to them? I know the pay is less than you'd make at another job, but idk yeah.
I guess any job is worth it if you like it right? That's the main reason I wanna be a Game Warden because I enjoy wildlife, driving, and being outside. I've also hunted/fished since I was six

.

My grandma told me a long time ago that would be a good job for me and now I wanna do it because she said that, and I think I'll enjoy it

Burks · **Posted:** November 28th, 2012, 6:11 pm

Game warden doesn't pay crap and is a fairly thankless job.

Just something to think about. A buddy went into it, quit after three years of working, and now works for contractors in Iraq and Peru making big bucks.

Eadwulf · **Posted:** November 28th, 2012, 6:14 pm

Maybe talk to the local game warden's office about it?

I don't know about america, but in the UK there are a few educational programs specifically for gamekeeping. Even when it comes to being something like an RSPCA inspector, you usually get legal training as part of the job; they're more interested in people with veterinary training.

Landerpurex · **Posted:** November 29th, 2012, 4:44 am

My girlfriend of two years has a BS in CJ. She recently landed a pretty damn decent job in loss prevention (retail security, more or less). This is why we move from MI to VA.

She's already somewhat bored with the job and is having quite a few growing pains, but she's 21 years young and makes 15 bucks an hour, has benefits, and is the most upwardly mobile person in the region.

She's considering her options (law school, government, criminal psychology), but it's apparent she's going to spend some time in the industry first.

Arya · **Posted:** November 29th, 2012, 8:31 am

Burks wrote:

Game warden doesn't pay crap and is a fairly thankless job.

Just something to think about. A buddy went into it, quit after three years of working, and now works for contractors in Iraq and Peru making big bucks.

Game Wardens are one of the higher paying jobs in Law Enforcement compared to Cops and Prison guards.
Starting out pay is the same as someone who's been a prison guard for 4 years and the annual salary is about 20k more than police officers. Yeah it would be thankless since you're by yourself almost the entire time. Also they have the most authority in the state because they have to know about medic & fireman roles on top of their job.

Eadwulf wrote:

Maybe talk to the local game warden's office about it?

I talked to a lady when I went to this Career Expo with the senior class. She said she loves her job, but she wouldn't be in Lubbock if she had a choice. The state puts you where they want ( need you ).

Eadwulf wrote:

Even when it comes to being something like an RSPCA inspector, you usually get legal training as part of the job; they're more interested in people with veterinary training.

Yeah there's an academy that you have to go through, and oh yeah but Idk about getting vet training :p

Landerpurex wrote:

My girlfriend of two years has a BS in CJ. She recently landed a pretty damn decent job in loss prevention (retail security, more or less). This is why we move from MI to VA.

She's already somewhat bored with the job and is having quite a few growing pains, but she's 21 years young and makes 15 bucks an hour, has benefits, and is the most upwardly mobile person in the region.

She's considering her options (law school, government, criminal psychology), but it's apparent she's going to spend some time in the industry first.

Yeah, I talked to one of our Loss Prevention people one night and he retired from a Game Warden, and he said the academy was tough.
Yeah. Sad thing is I have growing pains too >.<. Not that all mobile unless I set my mind to something and it's usually at the most random times.
If it turns out that it's not for me I'll still have a degree in Criminal Justice, have 7 years business experience with United? I'm hoping on those for fallbacks.
Don't know til ya try right?

Nate · **Posted:** November 29th, 2012, 9:30 am

I don't know about the US, but my careers advisor told me a degree in police science is no more helpful than any other (I want to be a police officer myself). Therefore, I'm studying Politics with Spanish simply because I find it interesting.

Arya · **Posted:** November 29th, 2012, 10:29 am

Ah, yeah. Idk. I started off wanting to be a police officer, but changed my mind because I enjoy the time alone and wildlife. I think a degree is needed to be a Game Warden though.

Nate · **Posted:** November 29th, 2012, 5:55 pm

The best thing to do is speak to a career advisor in your school. Some jobs need more specialized degrees than others, and if your school's advisor doesn't know they can easily find out for you. If your job doesn't need a specialized degree, it's probably best not to do one. Degrees in broader subjects open more doors for you, giving you more space to change your mind later on.

Arya · **Posted:** November 30th, 2012, 8:36 am

Thanks. Sounds like a plan :p

Nate · **Posted:** December 1st, 2012, 1:34 pm

No problem, good luck

Arya · **Posted:** December 3rd, 2012, 9:54 am

. I have to survive my senior year first :O

Petrifiedparrot · **Posted:** February 20th, 2013, 11:30 pm

Game warden? Never heard of it before, but it sounds intriguing. good luck with whatever you do. Senior year? As in last year of High school?

Market Man6 · **Posted:** February 20th, 2013, 11:52 pm

Game warden = fish and wildlife officer.
They go after poachers and make sure people are respecting national parks.

Arya · **Posted:** February 21st, 2013, 7:52 am

Lol my bad I forgot about this post. Yeah that's what they do. Ensure all the Hunting and fishing regulations are being followed.

Now I'm kinda stuck between two things I want to do that are completely opposite. Debating on Business Management and/or Criminal Justice. Kinda thinking to get a degree in Business get stable then get a degree in Criminal Justice XD I figure I could do whichever I wanted and I'd be able to find a job in either field?

Market Man6 · **Posted:** February 21st, 2013, 11:06 am

Do you have any feelings towards one, rather than the other?

Petrifiedparrot · **Posted:** February 21st, 2013, 12:23 pm

Aside from interest, if you are good at math, i wold say Business for being more practical. For myself, i'm really bad at it, so i chose other majors.

Arya · **Posted:** February 22nd, 2013, 9:45 am

Market Man6 wrote:

Do you have any feelings towards one, rather than the other?

Business I'm good at math and I'm really specific on what I do and what I'd go into it'd be easy money :p

Game Warden Because hunting and fishing is what I enjoy I love the outdoors. Well when it's in the country in the city or around it I hate outdoors haha.

purpieman wrote:

Aside from interest, if you are good at math, i wold say Business for being more practical. For myself, I'm really bad at it, so i chose other majors.

I've always been a year ahead in math and I'm not taking a math class this year and I'm reading/learning then turning around and re-teaching it to a friend of mine. She argues with me about everything but I end up being right and I make fun of her for it. ( I'm such a nice guy ).

Frogger · **Posted:** February 26th, 2013, 11:58 pm

I have been a police dispatcher for the past three years. I've worked in a handful of departments while I was going to school for my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. In Massachusetts the average salary for a dispatcher is around $15/hr starting off. I wanted to be a Police officer since I was a kid, but realized how hard it is in Massachusetts with civil service and affirmative action. I decided stick with dispatching to take a shot in the dark and apply for a position as a Law Enforcement Dispatcher at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and after a three month hiring process I start next Monday. Long story short is the law enforcement field has more options than an officer. My starting salary working with MEMA is comparable to a police officer's. Dispatching is a great and rewarding field. And in no way do I have to risk my life like a police officer does. I've made some great connections over the years and if you have any questions let me know. You can email me at natedentzau@hotmail.com

Nate

Anyone here Work in Law Enforcement?

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