Elvatoloko

Hi everyone.

I will confirm that virtually all state and local US police departments typically require US Citizenship in order to apply for sworn positions. Probably 99% of US police departments require US Citizenship, a few accept permanent residents whose naturalization application is pending with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service. In contrast, ALL federal jobs require citizenship, may they be law enforcement related or not.

Unless you have an independent way of getting a green card such as family or employment sponsorship, your chances of landing a police job in the United States are nil. No police department sponsors anyone from abroad to be a police officer in the U.S. It is still possible to become a police officer in the U.S. even if its difficult for a foreign born individual not in the U.S. with a green card in hand for a few years. It took me 12 years in the U.S. to obtain my green card and become a citizen to be able to apply for a police job, which I eventually got. Good thing I got here when I was 18!

If you do become a U.S. Citizen, you then have a good chance of getting the job, especially if you fit in more than one of the categories below:

1) Have a college degree
2) Speak a language other than English (in addition to English of course).
3) Have military experience
4) Have previous police experience
5) Are a member of a minority
6) Have a stable employment history
7) Are physically fit
8) Have no criminal record
9) Have a good driving record
10) Can pass a polygraph and background investigation.

I know many foreign born officers in my department and all of the others in the Washington DC area. There is no preferential treatment given to 'native' US citizens over naturalized citizens in the hiring process. I would even say that most foreigners have a leg up over native applicants because they usually speak a language other than English, especially if they speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Amharic, Arabic, Urdu or any other language heavily represented in the area where they will work. I speak Spanish and French and use Spanish daily in my work.

The military has occasionally taken advantage of a special immigration program to recruit foreign individuals with special skills such as uncommon languages or healthcare personnel in short supply. This was called the MANVI program if I recall. I have never heard of such a program geared to recruit law enforcement officers of any kind in the U.S. ( You can google US Army MANVI to get all the details of this program which now defunct). The US Armed forces are still getting green cards for foreign translators and foreigners who have helped the US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Elvatoloko

The law of each state dictates who may become a law enforcement officer within that state. Most states require that all law enforcement officers be U.S. Citizens. Some do not. Even in those states, each individual department can decide to require U.S. Citizenship if they so wish.

Some departments within those few states, usually in large metropolitan areas with a diverse population, accept applicants who are permanent residents (green card holders) who have a pending application for naturalization with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
One of these departments is the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, another is the San Diego Sheriff's Office in California.

Some departments only require permanent residence for corrections officers whose duties are limited to a jail.

All jobs that are not of a sworn nature are typically open to permanent residents or to anyone holding an unrestricted work permit.

The state of recruitment varies widely from one department to another. Some departments are experiencing high rates of attrition due to waves of retirements, low morale, or better pay in neighboring departments. This leads to recruitment binges such as the one that took place in Washington DC with over 300 officers to be hired by next October. Some departments are laying officers off due to the dismal financial situation of the jurisdiction they belong to.

The requirements for entry into the profession are pretty standard across the country. Most departments require the equivalent of a high school diploma accompanied with some post-secondary education, military experience, or previous law enforcement experience.

Few departments have an age restriction. I have seen people nearing their mid-forties getting hired. The federal government has a 37 year old maximum age for entry into a Law Enforcement position with age exceptions for veterans of the armed forces and individuals already employed by the federal government in law enforcement covered position.

The physical standards vary from department to department. Some places such as the DEA have very stringent physical standards that only an accomplished athlete can meet and some have very low standards. Those usually are small departments in the middle of nowhere. Most mid-size to large departments are competitive to get into and have pretty stringent physical standards that become difficult to meet after 45 years of age for most people.

Most large departments attract hundreds, if not thousands of applicants for each vacancy. This is especially true now that the economy is at best lukewarm. In the late 1990's to mid-2000's police departments had trouble finding quality applicants due to the fact that people found much better paying jobs in the private sector. Now, police jobs are looked upon as stable jobs that offer benefits and some sense of job security which is more than what the private sector can offer to people entering the job market without advanced degrees or special skills.

Many large departments recruit continuously to make up for retirements, officers leaving for other departments and firings of inadequate officers. Generally, those hire 10 to 20 officers at a time to maintain their current levels. Many large departments have had to institute hiring freezes due to lack of funds to hire new officers. Generally, the hiring freezes never last beyond two or three years as attrition makes it difficult to maintain service levels. Generally, these departments go on hiring binges after going a few years without new hires. One of these departments will undoubtedly be Miami-Dade County Police. Their force is below 2900 for a population of over 2 million. In contrast, Washington DC has 3700 officers for a population of half a million and is trying to bring the force to 3907 officers by the end of October.

Elvatoloko

Generally, the most competitive departments are state police agencies, large metropolitan departments and large suburban departments as well as specialty departments such as Airport Police, Port Authority Police, and Department of Natural Resources/Conservation Police.

Many of these agencies draw the best candidates due to the higher salaries and better work conditions and career prospects they offer. Many officers get their foot in the door with those agencies who do not offer very competitive salaries and move on to a better department after a few years.


The recruitment process for any squared-away police department usually looks something like this:

1) Submit an application
2) Schedule and pass a POST test. (Police Officer Selection Test) – Google for more info-
3) Pass a PAT (Physical Ability Test) –Google for examples-
4) Receive a conditional offer of employment
5) Submit a Personal History Statement/ Background Packet – Google for examples-
6) Interview with background investigator – Background investigation can take up to a year -
7) Pass a medical examination
8) Pass a polygraph examination
9) Pass a written psychological test
10) Pass an interview with a psychologist
11) Pass a panel interview/oral board
12) Pass a final review of file by superiors/Pass the background investigation
13) Receive a final offer of employment
14) Attend a police academy - Usually between 15 and 36 weeks-
15) Pass a Field Training Period with an FTO- Usually 6 weeks to 3 months-
16) Successfully complete a probationary period – Usually six months to a year-

One really hasn’t secured the job until all these steps are completed, even if you do get paid your salary upon entering the police academy.

Should you wish to join the fire service, a work permit is sufficient in most cases, permanent residence is accepted almost everywhere. Some places such as the FDNY and the Washington DC Fire & EMS department require U.S. Citizenship.

Do not hesitate to ask me any question you may have regarding law enforcement recruitment in the U.S. If I don't know the answer, I can certainly find out.

Take care
JJ

boshwaggle

basically though you cannot join a US police service unless and until as a minimum you are a Permanent resident of the US. This is the same for Canada, and for the UK.

Elvatoloko

Yes, at a minimum a permanent resident who has a pending application for naturalization. Seeking US citizenship is a requirement. In contrast Canada does not require that. This means that you must have been a permanent resident for three to five years, depending on how you obtained permanent resident status, before you can apply for a police job. Few police agencies accept applicants who are not U.S. citizen.

Some Canadian police agencies have sponsored foreigners at different times to immigrate to Canada whereas this never happens in the U.S.

I don't know about the UK.

PMac

Well,

I have been looking through your website and it seems to offer a great range of advice. I'm 28 years old and have been serving in a UK Police Force for three years. It's always been a dream of mine to move to either the US or Canada and join the Police Force there?. Can anyone offer me any advice?. My knowledge of immigration legislation isn't great so bear with me !. I understand that to join a US Force you need citizenship or permanent residency?. Would the fact that I have relations in the US help me?. Would they be able to sponsor me or would I have to be physically working for that person?.

Any info. would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Paul

SDDep

You will want to look here for Immigration questions.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=34

Elvatoloko has covered the other bases. Stay safe brothers and sisters in blue.