How do I become a police officer?
The first thing that you have to do to become a police officer is make a few personal decisions.
1) A career in law enforcement is a lot different then portrayed by the entertainment industry... and rightfully so. Very few people would want to sit in a movie theater for hours and watch you handle: alarm calls, investigate accidents, arrest someone on a "failure to appear warrant", have lunch, process a burglary scene, and then write two hours worth of reports. It just doesn't make for good ratings. Even the show COPS ™ is edited and spliced to give viewers only the most exciting aspects of several days of filming in 30 minutes of TV.
2) Accepting and understanding the responsibility as a public servant. It has been said that being a police officer is a selfless profession where sacrifice is at a premium. We could not agree more. Working all hours of the day and night, holidays, special events and any emergencies that may arise. Demands that could cause you to miss birthdays, your kid's first t-ball game... their first steps... a school event. You will also be exposed to conditions and situations that most people would not want to experience. Dealing with disastrous events involving homicides, traffic fatalities, and the subsequent death notification that follows. Responding to situations that involve incomprehensible tragedies regarding child abuse, domestic violence and the elderly. Situations, which will evoke heart felt emotions, images, and the realities of life – and death.
Your new field of endeavor will also place you in and out of the spotlight. It will increase your responsibilities and obligations and raise the mark on a professional code of conduct that holds you to a higher standard. From the exhilarated feeling of doing something right, to the demoralizing impact of something gone terribly wrong. Law Enforcement is a profession where people are involved in a process of judgment and reason, where successful result’s is not a guarantee, but professional behavior (no matter what the outcome) is a must. It is an arena of change where premiums are placed on result driven expectations that can vary from day to day, month to month, and year to year.
Our ranks (for the most part) are made up of individuals who joined under the belief that they could make a difference in the world. They were not interested in creating a dynasty or for that matter, a way of life for their heirs. You will make an honest living, but you will have to know that for these personal sacrifices, you will never be paid enough. Your reimbursement will be the knowledge that you are part of a special profession, a part of those chosen few who have been given the privilege to represent the noblest of causes. A demanding profession that will measure your courage, your toughness and your ability.
Moving forward to attend a police academy. This can either happen while you are employed by a police department (as a law enforcement trainee), or you can put yourself through the police academy. The police academy lasts about 22 weeks and encompasses topics from constitutional law to patrol techniques. The academy for this area is the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy.
The police academies in Florida are run independently by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A candidate can get hired by an agency and be sponsored through or put themselves through the training.
What is a Community Service Aide?
A Community Service Aide (C.S.A.) is a non-sworn (which means they don't have arrest powers) member of the police department who respond to calls in which there is no known risk of violence. Because they are not armed, they are never sent to calls where a suspect is known present. The C.S.A. investigates traffic crashes, generates delayed theft reports, directs traffic, conducts parking enforcement, etc. The C.S.A. staff is an essential augmentation to the sworn police effort because they free up patrol officers so that they can handle situations of greater known risk in larger numbers.
How do I become a Crime Scene Technician?
When a position becomes available within the Police Department for Crime Scene Technician, the position is posted in the Human Resources division. If you desire to work in forensics you will need to apply at a State or Federal agency that has full-time positions in this field.
What does the employment process consist of for Police Officer?
The candidate must first fill out a City of Fort Myers Application and turn it in or mail it to the City of Fort Myers Human Resources located at 1820 Hendry Street, Fort Myers FL 33901. The application is logged and screened at Human Resources and then forwarded to our agency if applicable.
Applications of those candidates not selected for further processing are sent back to Human Resources. These individuals may reapply in one year from the date of their original application.
The best-qualified candidates are selected from the City Applications received. Those qualified individuals are scheduled for an interview within the next 2-3 weeks.
A panel made up of 2-4 members of Police Department Staff conducts the interview of the
best-qualified candidates. At the conclusion of the interview, the candidate is advised whether they are moving forward in the process or not, depending on how well they did during the interview. Those candidates not moving forward may reapply in one year from the date of their original application.
The candidates that move forward from the staff interview will be required to complete a Personal History Questionnaire. This questionnaire must be completed in its entirety as soon as possible in order to prevent a delay in the hiring process. All information contained in the Personal History Questionnaire will be used as an investigative tool during the employment background investigation.
At the conclusion of the employment background, the Background Investigator will detail their findings and forward the information to the Fort Myers Police Department senior staff for review. All members of the senior staff must review and sign off on the Background Report as “recommended” for the applicant to move forward in the process. There are occasions where the department may request an applicant to return for a re-interview to resolve an issue that was brought to light during the background investigation for clarification.
The following are the required tests that must be successfully completed by the applicant before being hired by the Fort Myers Police Department:
1) City Application (Pass/Fail)
2) Staff Interview (Pass/Fail)
3) Background Questionnaire and Investigation (Pass/Fail)
4) Physical Agility Assessment consisting of the following:
30 Situps
21 Pushups
1.5 mile run within 14:46 minutes
300 meter run within 50% of age/sex group according to the Cooper Standards
Vertical jump within 50% of age/sex group according to Cooper Standards
You may retake those portions of the test in which you fail to meet the required standard. This re-test will only be administered one time after failing to meet the guidelines.
5) Polygraph Exam
This is a pass/fail exam. This exam will not be the determining factor for an applicant being removed from the hiring process.
6) Psychological Examination (Two Parts)
The first part of the psychological exam assesses the candidates’ fitness for a job in Law Enforcement. If the candidate successfully completes the first portion of the exam, a second exam will be administered at a later date after a conditional offer is made to determine the candidates’ emotional stability. The entire test is rated as Acceptable, A, B, C, Marginal, or Unacceptable.
*Acceptable, A,B,C candidates:
These candidates will be moved forward in the hiring process
*Marginal candidates:
Marginal candidates are moved forward, but are reassessed by the Psychologist to make sure there is nothing in the background investigation that matches those issues that made a candidate Marginal. If the Psychologist is satisfied with the background investigation in comparison to his/her findings during the psychological exam, he/she will rate the candidate as acceptable at the conclusion of their assessment.
*Unacceptable candidates:
If you are deemed as an unacceptable candidate, you will be taken out of the hiring process.
At the conclusion of all required testing, the candidates’ background investigation is again reviewed by Fort Myers Police Department Senior Staff and the determination is made whether to hire an individual. Please remember that preference is given to those candidates that are certified in Law Enforcement in the State of Florida or possess an Out of State certification that allows them to take the FDLE Equivalency of Training class (2 week course).
Once a final decision is made to move forward with a candidate, the candidates’ file is sent over to Human Resources for final processing. Personnel from Human Resources will extend the final job offer to the candidate and set up a physical exam and other related tests.
Please do not call Human Resources unless you are advised to do so.
Probationary Period:
During your probationary period (lasting one (1) year), you are considered to be an "at will employee" and have no property rights to the position. In other words, you can be terminated without cause. During the probationary period, you will be subjected to frequent and additional training and evaluations. Probationary officers who cannot meet the department’s standards will be dismissed from employment.
How do I get an application for employment?
You can pick one up at Human Resources, 2200 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901, or you can click here to download our application for employment.
How should I turn in my application for employment?
You should turn your application into the Office of Training & Recruiting. You may drop off your application to Human Resources or mail your application to:
Recruiting
c/o the Fort Myers Police Department
2210 Peck Street
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
With whom do I need to speak about employment opportunities within the department?
Any member of the police department will be glad to assist you in your desire to join our team.
When do you test applicants and where?
Generally, testing is conducted at the Fort Myers Police Department. Directions to the department as well as a map can be accessed by clicking here. Testing generally occurs at various times throughout the year.
What is the protocol for officers certified in another state as police officers?
Visit the Police Applicant Screening Service for specific information on whether you qualify for Equivalency of Training.
Generally, you must have one full year of full-time law enforcement experience (not counting academy time) to qualify for the two-week Equivalency Training. The training can be done prior to being hired or we may put you through the training as an employee.