How do i become a police detective?
To be a police detective one must start out as a police patrol officer. A patrol officer must pay his or her dues before moving up the ranks to a police detective. As spots become available a police patrol officer can test for those positions. Many agencies allow a patrol officer to test after 2 to 3 years with the department. Some departments require 5 years. The promotion from police patrol officer to police detective is not a quick one. Larger departments require applicants to possess 60 units of college credit or an associate degree. Smaller departments may not require college credit but a college education makes for a much more well-rounded police detective. Keep in mind that the higher paying police officer and detective jobs are in more affluent areas and are therefore much more competitive jobs to apply for. Make sure you can set yourself apart from the competition by earning a college degree before applying or during the application process. A college degree will also start yo
