Training High School Students for Careers in Law Enforcement

摘要

After a 26-year career with the Pasco Sheriff's Office in the Tampa area of Florida, I retired and entered my second career: teaching. I teach criminal justice in a high school in Florida. While valuable, this program did not provide an industry certification. As it stands, the students leave high school and head to work or to college, and many students who want to start a career in law enforcement join the military, instead. Since many police agencies do not hire 18-year-olds as officers, the students look to other alternatives. About two years ago, I was introduced to a former chief in south Florida who teaches a telecommunications course at a high school. She said that 100 percent of her students get hired at local police agencies. Clearly, students trained in telecommunications were attractive candidates.