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Becoming a Police Officer in Baltimore
Derrick
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Greetings merry gents and ladies.
As the thread topic reads, I am currently working on my paperwork for becoming a police officer in Baltimore, specifically for the Baltimore Police Department. I'm currently out-of-state, which adds another wrinkle to the process (I live in Kentucky presently, but have lived in Alexandria for around a year, so I'm familiar with the basic area).
So first of all, I'd like to ask for any tips and advice in order to reach that goal. As I said, I'm working on my paperwork, and looking to put it in after July 4th. I'm in good shape (though I do need to work on my running, which I'm doing currently.) I have a degree (BFA in graphic design), I'm 27 and I don't think any of the physical requirements will be a problem. My record is spotless aside from one speeding ticket ages ago that I went to driving school for, and I believe my credit is decent.
Questions-
Anyone have tips for getting better at running quickly? I believe I need to do a 1.5 mile run in 15.5 minutes.
Civil Service exam-> Tips? Study guides? I've seen some sample questions and while it doesn't seem difficult it can't hurt to get a leg up.
Living areas- I have a friend helping me here but any tips or experiences on the great places to live? If I do get into the academy, it will be a paid venture so I don't have to scrimp too much here.
Acceptance- considering I pass the tests, is it more or less a sure thing to get into the academy? The website makes it seem like it is, but with budget concerns across the great 50 states it makes a body wonder.
Plan B.
I'm really getting into police work to help people. I feel like I have a calling to do that kind of work. Something to help my community and my fellow man (rather than say, sell something). If the police venture falls through, or I find I don't like it, what are some other good options here. I was thinking EMT would be a good back-up choice. What kind of training is involved and how much more or less difficult a process is that? What are some other ideas for careers working in civil service?
As the thread topic reads, I am currently working on my paperwork for becoming a police officer in Baltimore, specifically for the Baltimore Police Department. I'm currently out-of-state, which adds another wrinkle to the process (I live in Kentucky presently, but have lived in Alexandria for around a year, so I'm familiar with the basic area).
So first of all, I'd like to ask for any tips and advice in order to reach that goal. As I said, I'm working on my paperwork, and looking to put it in after July 4th. I'm in good shape (though I do need to work on my running, which I'm doing currently.) I have a degree (BFA in graphic design), I'm 27 and I don't think any of the physical requirements will be a problem. My record is spotless aside from one speeding ticket ages ago that I went to driving school for, and I believe my credit is decent.
Questions-
Anyone have tips for getting better at running quickly? I believe I need to do a 1.5 mile run in 15.5 minutes.
Civil Service exam-> Tips? Study guides? I've seen some sample questions and while it doesn't seem difficult it can't hurt to get a leg up.
Living areas- I have a friend helping me here but any tips or experiences on the great places to live? If I do get into the academy, it will be a paid venture so I don't have to scrimp too much here.
Acceptance- considering I pass the tests, is it more or less a sure thing to get into the academy? The website makes it seem like it is, but with budget concerns across the great 50 states it makes a body wonder.
Plan B.
I'm really getting into police work to help people. I feel like I have a calling to do that kind of work. Something to help my community and my fellow man (rather than say, sell something). If the police venture falls through, or I find I don't like it, what are some other good options here. I was thinking EMT would be a good back-up choice. What kind of training is involved and how much more or less difficult a process is that? What are some other ideas for careers working in civil service?
Steam and CFN: Enexemander
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I've had two brothers become emt, one did an intensive training which was a month or so long(might have been emt and wfr though) and the other went to school for a year semi-part time.
Also do stretches.
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As for living and policing, Baltimore is loosely 3 sections. There's east baltimore, where it's "bad" but there's a strong police presence due to Hopkins, Patterson Park, etc. There's west baltimore, which is largely ignored by everyone if possible, and then there's the middle, which is a strip from downtown up to Towson, where it's nice. For living purposes, I'd suggest somewhere in that strip (which includes the downtown areas of Canton, Federal Hill, and so on, up through Mount Vernon, Charles Village, Roland Park, and so on).
I've found that the cops in Baltimore are generally nicer than your average stereotypical officer. I don't think this is something unique to the hiring, but rather a realization that in baltimore there's typically bigger fish to fry. Drug crime is high, and a high murder rate associated with it (and the poor sections of east/west baltimore don't help).
I agree that it is easy, but I would recommend some interval training. i.e. warm up by walking 2 minutes, then run 4-5 minutes, walk 2, run 5, walk 2, run 5, walk at least 2 back home. This is easier on your leg muscles and especially in the beginning helps build up muscle better/faster. Stamina should follow suit.
And yeah, stretch.
Holy Shit...
I specifically came into this thread to recommend exactly that.
Although I do have TV to thank for passing the bar and my medical degree.
I'm guessing you had the same reaction as me then.
Becoming a Police Officer...
In Baltimore o_O oh you poor bastard.
The watching The Wire advice is less about helping him becoming a police officer and more about highlighting the problems with Baltimore as a city and its reputation as not-a-nice-place tm.
the end.
There are bad areas spread throughout baltimore city, with nice areas speckled within. Bmore is a very strangely laid out place. Most cities have a line you don't normally cross, because that's "the bad part". usually in baltimore, 5-10 blocks after that "bad part" is another nice part.
In terms of the police civil servant exams I have taken 2, NYPD and Westchester County. Honestly If you find an older version of the test, Id just look it over for format, they are mostly the same. If you are a college grad you'll be A-OK. I would say, take as many tests as possible. Also get your stuff in as soon as possible.
I dont know if baltimore is anything like the NYPD, but expect to have to return to the city mid week to take medical and psychological exams
[edit]
This is not true. Most organizations have separate highway units, and urban areas generally have their own traffic enforcement peace officers, as denoted by the lack of gun. Generally assume that you'll be standing on a street corner until you find a niche in the dept to get into. When I get into the NYPD Im going to do everything I can to get into ESU (SWAT/HRT/Rescue)
Anyway, as DrFrench points out, if you do end up here, spend some time getting to know the neighborhoods. There's a ton, and knowing where they start and stop will not only make patrols significantly easier, it'll help you fit in with coworkers and locals much faster. Knowing where Waverly, Pigtown, Butcher's Hill, Hampden, Highlandtown, SoWeBo, Canton, etc., are, will help you far more than just knowing a certain area is "safe" or "bad." For example, Hampden isn't rich, but because it borders Roland Park and Wyman Park (which are neighborhoods), most of the crime is petty. A lot of it is pushed up from Remington (which it borders to the south) and which is a far sketchier neighborhood, despite only being 2-3 blocks away. Numerous friends have seen big drug busts go down on their street (and usually end up moving after a year or so). Hampden doesn't even have bars on their windows, though.
Being a police officer who functions responsibly and within the law, you may often end up feeling like a jerk who has done less to help people then you have to inconvenience them. But at the same time, Baltimore is a horrible city riddled with social ills, and every good cop there helps. Seriously. Baltimore is a shithole. Being a cop there would be the extreme end of police work. It'll be dangerous, people will hate you, you'll do a lot of beurocratic shit, but at the end of the day you have the capacity to do a lot of good.
The same thing goes for EMTs/Firefighters, only they have less buerocracy and less general hate for them. Though my uncle talks about how some of the stuff he's seen has sorta fucked up his perception of human society, since apparently, as a firefighter (which is first response+++) he's spent as much time with overdosees and their terrified families then he has fighting fires. That stuff can take a lot outta you, psychologically.
Most local and state agencies do not polygraph, they rather have a verbal psychological. Polygraphs are more of a federal thing. BI will find most if not every blade of grass that you stepped on and for the most part they dont care, they dont want to give a shield and a gun to someone who is a liability, or will be a wash. Just answer honestly and essentially right down the middle. You dont know how many people admit to lighting dogs of fire and stuff to the Psychs.
Example: Score 95% List # 300 Exam 8000, meaning I got a 95% on the test and there are 300 people ahead of me on that test that will or wont be considered depending on their personal situations, keep in mind Prior exams have priority unless they have Super high list numbers (not bright people).
So a person with list# 500 exam 7010 Would generally be attending an academy class before you, or at-least get the phone call first if the class is big enough, as long as he passed the credentials.
Right now I am waiting as long as next july for the NYPD to get to my exam #. The economy fucking did a doozie on civil servant hiring and pensions.