how Old were U when U Joined The Department, I'm Thinking of a Career Move - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

MILSAPS118 · 03-23-2008, 07:50 PM

Just wondering if it's to late for me to become a LEO. I'll be 31 this year. I own a small business and for the last couple years I have been thinking about going to school for my Associates in CJ. Ever since Jr high I wanted to become a police officer, when I was 13 I even joined the Explorers program at the local PD and only did that for a year. At the time as a young adolescent I ran with the wrong crowd and it lead me down the "not so straight and narrow". Thank god I never committed any serious crimes, I just ran with the wrong people and never really focused on what I wanted to do when I got older. I always had/have great respect for LEO's and one cop in particular made a huge impact on me (as a teen) while he was Sgt. (now chief) and kind of took me under his wing.

Anyways....to make a long story short, I'm on the fence. What kind of holds me back in my decision is...am I to old to start a new career in LE? I also have a wife and 2 young boys. My wife supports the idea, but at first she didn't. And I'm also wondering if I'll still be able to manage running my business I've built from the ground up for the last 8 yrs.

Thanks in advance for any input.

UtahConcealer · 03-23-2008, 08:02 PM

well, I'm 27 and just starting mt career. BUT, we have two guys in the academy that are over 40 and many that are early 30's. I think you'd be fine. also, I've been doing mtgs for about 6 1/2 yrs and so far have been able to keep doing those on the side for some extra cash. I think it depends on what type of business you have and how involved it is as to if you'll be able to keep doing it or not. good luck with your decision!!

ElJimmyStrappo · 03-23-2008, 08:04 PM

I started at 23 in the academy and I am 24 now. LE is a great job, go for it.

Terry · 03-23-2008, 08:11 PM

23 years old Now i am 57 and retired.

I have seen men and women start out in the mid 50's and do just fine.

UNLTD1487 · 03-23-2008, 08:15 PM

I am in the Background check phase right now. If everything goes well, I will be a sworn in police officer at age 22. I am 21 right now.

Some Police department don't have age limits, like San Francisco. As long as you can do the job well, you are just as equal as the guy that's 20 years younger than you.

Good Luck.

nonova0074 · 03-23-2008, 08:18 PM

I started at 22 and I am going to be 25>.

danp · 03-23-2008, 08:21 PM

I put myself through the academy at 33 and got hired at 34. I was the oldest in my class. We just hired a new officer who is 35. Older guys seem to be easier to work with, having (usually) more common sense and life experiance than younger recruits.

MILSAPS118 · 03-23-2008, 08:36 PM

Thanks to all for the positive reinforcement. I'm really leaning towards pursuing this. It's good to know that my age shouldn't restrict me from starting a career in LE. I was just unsure if I was to late being in my 30's.

FYI...I own a landscaping and snow plowing business and I'm very much involved in the "day to day" operations. I plan on pushing more responsibility towards my lead foreman this year and slowly hand him the reigns, so if I make my final decision to do this I can start school in the fall of '08.

The Tengu · 03-23-2008, 08:39 PM

Started when I was 28.

**Bycyclist** · 03-23-2008, 08:42 PM

Well, I'll be 43 and going to academy this fall, going into the local PD reserves first to check it out. I certainly don't think I'm too old and can more than hold my own physically vs. guys younger than me. Experience and guile make up for youth and strength (hopefully

)

03-23-2008, 07:50 PM	#1
MILSAPS118 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: LAND OF 10K LAKES Posts: 27	how Old were U when U Joined The Department, I'm Thinking of a Career Move Just wondering if it's to late for me to become a LEO. I'll be 31 this year. I own a small business and for the last couple years I have been thinking about going to school for my Associates in CJ. Ever since Jr high I wanted to become a police officer, when I was 13 I even joined the Explorers program at the local PD and only did that for a year. At the time as a young adolescent I ran with the wrong crowd and it lead me down the "not so straight and narrow". Thank god I never committed any serious crimes, I just ran with the wrong people and never really focused on what I wanted to do when I got older. I always had/have great respect for LEO's and one cop in particular made a huge impact on me (as a teen) while he was Sgt. (now chief) and kind of took me under his wing. Anyways....to make a long story short, I'm on the fence. What kind of holds me back in my decision is...am I to old to start a new career in LE? I also have a wife and 2 young boys. My wife supports the idea, but at first she didn't. And I'm also wondering if I'll still be able to manage running my business I've built from the ground up for the last 8 yrs. Thanks in advance for any input.

03-23-2008, 08:02 PM	#2
UtahConcealer XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: So. Ut Posts: 3,565 Blog Entries: 4	well, I'm 27 and just starting mt career. BUT, we have two guys in the academy that are over 40 and many that are early 30's. I think you'd be fine. also, I've been doing mtgs for about 6 1/2 yrs and so far have been able to keep doing those on the side for some extra cash. I think it depends on what type of business you have and how involved it is as to if you'll be able to keep doing it or not. good luck with your decision!! __________________ UtahConcealer Husband, Father, and LEO Classics, not textbooks Mentors, not professors Inspire, not require Structure time, not content Quality, not conformity Simplicity, not complexity You, not them -unknown

03-23-2008, 08:04 PM	#3
ElJimmyStrappo XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SE Idaho Posts: 1,300	I started at 23 in the academy and I am 24 now. LE is a great job, go for it. __________________ The Carry: Springfield XD 9 Service - Crossbreed Supertuck & DGR with #16 and #22 springs. The Tack Driver: Sako Vixen L461 .222 Rifle with Bushnell 4X Scope A real tack driver! The Fun Gun: Marlin .22 LR with Bushnell 7X Scope The best weapon anyone can have: a brain. "The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." -John Steinbeck "Beware the man who owns just one gun, he will know how to use it." Last edited by ElJimmyStrappo : 03-23-2008 at 08:06 PM.

03-23-2008, 08:11 PM	#4
Terry XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NorthPole, Alaska Posts: 415	23 years old Now i am 57 and retired. I have seen men and women start out in the mid 50's and do just fine. __________________ Be safe and always watch your back trail Last edited by Terry : 03-23-2008 at 08:15 PM.

03-23-2008, 08:15 PM	#5
UNLTD1487 XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 59	I am in the Background check phase right now. If everything goes well, I will be a sworn in police officer at age 22. I am 21 right now. Some Police department don't have age limits, like San Francisco. As long as you can do the job well, you are just as equal as the guy that's 20 years younger than you. Good Luck. __________________ - 2008 SA XD-9 Service 4" Bi-Tone w/Trijicon - Streamlight TLR-2 - BlackHawk Serpa Level 2 Holster "It's not where you're from, it's where you're going..."

03-23-2008, 08:18 PM	#6
nonova0074 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jersey Posts: 12	I started at 22 and I am going to be 25>.

03-23-2008, 08:21 PM	#7
danp XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 1,251	I put myself through the academy at 33 and got hired at 34. I was the oldest in my class. We just hired a new officer who is 35. Older guys seem to be easier to work with, having (usually) more common sense and life experiance than younger recruits. __________________ God made cops so that firefighters could have heros too. "There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter." - Ernest Hemingway

03-23-2008, 08:36 PM	#8
MILSAPS118 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: LAND OF 10K LAKES Posts: 27	Thanks to all for the positive reinforcement. I'm really leaning towards pursuing this. It's good to know that my age shouldn't restrict me from starting a career in LE. I was just unsure if I was to late being in my 30's. FYI...I own a landscaping and snow plowing business and I'm very much involved in the "day to day" operations. I plan on pushing more responsibility towards my lead foreman this year and slowly hand him the reigns, so if I make my final decision to do this I can start school in the fall of '08.

03-23-2008, 08:39 PM	#9
The Tengu XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,707	Started when I was 28. __________________ The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. United States Code, Title 10, section 311, paragraph (a)

03-23-2008, 08:42 PM	#10
Bycyclist XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NorCaliforneeya Posts: 1,814	Well, I'll be 43 and going to academy this fall, going into the local PD reserves first to check it out. I certainly don't think I'm too old and can more than hold my own physically vs. guys younger than me. Experience and guile make up for youth and strength (hopefully ) __________________ =============================================== BYcyclist - the worst day on a ride (or at the range) is better than the best day in the office ===============================================

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