Jake's+Classification+Essay

My classification essay was written on the different career options in the police department. Being interested in becoming an officer myself it was great to be able to break down each department that I was interested in. My basic categories were the County, State, and Park Police. With researching each of the departments it was interesting to find the difference between each of the forces and the opportunities presented by each.

Who is Who in the Police Force

There are many different forms of police officers. They range from small local correction officers in jails, to the widely known state troopers. Police come in all forms as a nationally based organization that employs thousands of officers. Maryland and the DC area has three different types of officers. These officers consist of county, state, and park police officers. In order to see how these officers compare we must look at what each department really does. However what I would like to find out is what is the difference between these three departments. As men and women that are assigned to protect the people what department are assigned to protect who? Who are the State Troopers? To start we will look at the minimum qualifications it takes to become one. The main requirements are that the officer must be a united states citizen and posses a high school diploma or a GED. You must have a valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record. You must have 20/20 vision and be at least 20 years old and no older than 59. There are many tests that the new recruits are expected to go through. These tests include a fitness test, a written exam, an oral interview, poly graph test, and mental exam. A State police officer is subjected to train at an academy for 6 months to gain patrol status. State troopers are assigned a multitude of tasks. As a trooper you are to carry out the tasks of patrolling the united states highways. You are assigned to criminal investigations and to run and report automobile accidents. In the case of urgent need they are trained as medical technicians, able to administer medicine on car accident scenes. The next department for discussion is the county police officers. The qualifications for a county officer are far less. To become a county officer to start you must be a united states citizen. You must be at least 21 years old by the time you graduate from the academy with a high school diploma or G.E.D. A 60 college credit hour term is preferred, and you must have a valid driver’s license and a minimum of 6 months driving experience. As for any physical test most of your physical training is done during your time in the academy. Officers are subjected to a general background check before you are allowed to be admitted. While you are in the academy you will be tested on all protocol and physical endurance. County policemen though are not allowed to administer any type of medication on scene. The biggest difference between many departments and the county are the county officers are assigned only to the county as patrol. For example in a high speed chase if the criminal was to cross into the next county an officer must get permission from the next county to continue on the chase. Many criminals are lost this way when counties deny the chase into the next county. Park Police are a very different force. They are only stationed in three cities around the world. They are located in the District of Columbia, New York and Los Angelos. As for qualifications as all other forces you must be a united states citizen. You must be at least 21 years of age and not 37 by your appointment. You are to have 20/20vision and posses a valid driver’s license and two years 60 semester hours of education outside of high school education. As for a testing field officers are subjected to a written, physical, medical exams as well as a background check. Park officers come in many forms. They are trained as mounted cops, bike cops, and monument guards. They are also in charge of guarding the national grounds for presidential campaigns, and any other events. Police officers are the backbone of our nations criminal justice system. All the branches are subject to uphold the law. The way the officers get there or what they are subject to endure are different, as well as what they are hired to patrol. But in all they are all here to help serve and protect the people of this great nation. Without these officers there would be no way to keep the people that undermine our nations laws and cause harm and damage to us or the ones we love.