Question for the LEOs on POST academy and hiring

[Ronin13]

So as some know, I tried for the JCSO process earlier this year and was not selected (I assume due to 900+ applicants and I just didn't quite make it maybe due to my not having a BA/BS). An army buddy just informed me yesterday of an idea and I wanted to check the viability. He had an employee at his security company in FL apply for a deputy position with Dade County Sheriff (from what I heard one of the hardest SO's to get on in FL- something like avg. 800+ applicants per process for only about 20 deputy positions- sounds familiar), despite being fmr Army he didn't make it very far into the process. Then he applied to a community college LE Academy, went through, got POST certified, and hired on with a different agency. My question is, would that work here? If I were to go through the Red Rocks Community College LE academy, get my POST certification, would it be possible to be hired on with an agency somewhere in/around Denver/Colo Spgs? Current, active LEOs, does your department do this? I understand some agencies like Lakewood require 3 years as an active LEO for POST transfers, but perhaps with another agency I might have luck? I kind of gave up on the trying for JCSO due to A) I'd be working where I grew up, and recently realized that that line of work in this area would be a bad idea, and B) JCSO is, from what everyone is telling me, a very hard and very competitive agency to get on.
And please no speculative answers, if you don't actually know then please don't speculate. Thanks.

[OneGuy67]

The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.

All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.

[Ronin13]

The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.

All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.

Awesome, thank you... that's what I was thinking. And I just got an email back from the RRCC VA person and she said yes my post-9/11 GI Bill will pay for the academy, books, POST Exam, AND BAH! My buddy who owns the security company in FL said I should get on with Vail PD- he heard they offer discounted ski passes for city employees- as one of the perks of the job.

[OneGuy67]

Awesome, thank you... that's what I was thinking. And I just got an email back from the RRCC VA person and she said yes my post-9/11 GI Bill will pay for the academy, books, POST Exam, AND BAH! My buddy who owns the security company in FL said I should get on with Vail PD- he heard they offer discounted ski passes for city employees- as one of the perks of the job.

The ski company offers the officers discounted passes only if they perform a certain amount of days as unpaid ski patrol monitors. The cost of living there is too high compared to the base salary paid for entry officers. You will end up living well outside the Vail valley and commuting or living with a bunch of roommates.

[JM Ver. 2.0]

The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.

All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.

Rural agencies get something stupid like 8-10 applicants.... of that something even more stupid like 1 or 2 is actually qualified for the job.

Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.

[Ronin13]

The ski company offers the officers discounted passes only if they perform a certain amount of days as unpaid ski patrol monitors. The cost of living there is too high compared to the base salary paid for entry officers. You will end up living well outside the Vail valley and commuting or living with a bunch of roommates.

That's what I was afraid of- our friends have a vacation home up in Vail, 1200 sq ft- $780,000- in Lakewood, that same house would be mid 200's.

[King]

Go through an academy to get POST certified. Many agencies wont even look at you if you aren't. Academy is like a college degree, you pay for bullshit. Good Luck

[Stone83]

Agree with all above- If you can get a college degree, or at least P.O.S.T. certified=MAJOR advantage
Good luck....

[copfish]

Having been both an Academy Director and Police Chief, it would help to have the POST if you are applying to agencies that do not send you to an academy. Small to medium municipal agencies, sheriff's offices, etc. Denver PD, Colorado State Patrol, large municipal and county agencies will run you through their in-house academy. But, most of these will accept a lateral transfer. Meaning you are with an agency and "transfer" to the other agency. Go for it!

[MrPrena]

Becoming a Police officer has more process than getting hired at a Microsoft.