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Posted by: pixy01357

I'm thinking about becoming an auxiliary cop till I am of age to become a real police officer. When I do become an officer I would like to work in waltham, I live in Natick, should I go to waltham and be an auxiliary cop to see what the department is like, or should I just stay in Natick. Also how long is do you have to be a cop before you can go into the k-9 unit?

Posted by: speccop

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixy01357

I'm thinking about becoming an auxiliary cop till I am of age to become a real police officer. When I do become an officer I would like to work in waltham, I live in Natick, should I go to waltham and be an auxiliary cop to see what the department is like, or should I just stay in Natick. Also how long is do you have to be a cop before you can go into the k-9 unit?

If you want to be a cop in Waltham, why would you volunteer at any other department?!

Weigh out the pros and cons of both cities before making your decision, but its your decision - not ours to make for you! Goodluck with where ever you may end up.

Posted by: Vader

Get your foot in ANY door you can. Don't hold out of Waltham and pass on Natick, or any other department for that matter. Get in the fight and get some experience. That counts for EVERYTHING.

Good luck.

Posted by: DodgeRam

Just like an earlier post you had, you can't really just pick which department you would like to work for. The background/ hiring process for auxiliary's is the same for regular officers; And on another note Auxiliary's write a lot of reports. You might want to look into an writing class because what you wrote above is damn confusing.

Posted by: speccop

Quote:

Originally Posted by DodgeRam

The background/ hiring process for auxiliary's is the same for regular officers; And on another note Auxiliary's write a lot of reports. You might want to look into an writing class because what you wrote above is damn confusing.

Umm, what?? Since when?? What department is THAT?

1. I NEVER wrote an incident report, arrest report, or any other report for that matter, as an Auxie.
2. The hiring process was no where near the same for auxiliary police as it was for the fulltime guys. I never went through a PAT, or a psych exam, or just about any other process F/T guys do. It was just an oral board consisting of the Auxie Chief, Auxie LTs, and Auxie Sgts.
3. Their post wasn't that confusing, I understood it without a problem...

Posted by: MA218

Quote:

Originally Posted by speccop

+1 agreed Mike.

Ive been an auxie for 2 different departments over the last 3+ years, and I am currently a Lieutenant, and I have written maybe 10 reports in 3 years.

Granted, maybe some departments require you to do reports for certain in-house tasks and the such, but im willing to bet regulars do alot more reports than any auxie I know.

Just my .02

Posted by: pixy01357

SPECCOP, what were your duties as an auxiliary cop?

Posted by: speccop

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixy01357

SPECCOP, what were your duties as an auxiliary cop?

Every Sunday we were posted at one of the churches downtown directing traffic during the morning masses. Basically a crossing-guard with a gun, LoL!

Every Saturday evening we went on a 5-hour ride-along with a F/T P.O. I know most Auxiliary units have their own patrol car with a dedicated patrol - be it school patrol, park patrol or whatever, but ours was different. We didn't have our own car, so we patrolled with a F/T'er and came along for all the calls, MV stops, and such.

We also assisted with traffic during parades. Worked unpaid details during the Carnival weekend and during Town Meetings, along with various other special functions in the town. If any major disaster hit the town (like a flood a few years back which wiped out half the town!) we would assist the regulars however they needed us. But the main thing - it was all volunteer work. The training is free and the experience and knowledge is abundant and well worth the time. You can really learn a lot about police work as an Auxiliary.

Posted by: Gil

Five years as an aux and I think I had one PI report...

Posted by: Mortal knight

Two years as an AUX, only reports Idid were ones for IA justifiing or explaining my actions.

You never mentioned your age, but most Aux has a minimum age of 21, the same age to be a PO.

If you can pick a PD and get hired YOUR AWESOME. 99.9% of the time they pick you, you don't pick them. You only choice you have is where you DON'T WANT TO WORK, then apply everywhere else.

As for K-9 unit, I guess it's like SWAT, and alll the other specialized unit:
1) depends on the PD
2) depands if the PD has a unit
3) depends if you are certified and trianed
4) depends on if the administration likes you
5) you get the point

Policing is a career, Get as much education possible, get hired, and enjoy your time. Its good to want to specialize, but first find out if you enjoy being a cop before you go and by the dog cage for your Kia.

Posted by: stm4710

Being an auxiliary is a good way to start. You get a taste of the good and bad/boring aspects of the job( ie: traffic control). Being a auxiliary you need to know your role. Depending on the department, you really can learn ALOT from full timers.

Posted by: jeh2005

I worked in Waltham for 6 years and it was great. I did not become a full time police officer after that, but my resulting knowledge of law enforcement helped me get to my current career.

One thing that you may consider when evaluating departments. Waltham has a police academy in house and the Auxiliaries get training every two weeks from these instructors. The training I get with my current department doesn't compare. Not even close. And since you are volunteering with the goal of preparing yourself for a police career, I think this should rank high on your list of criteria. Just my $.02.

Good luck!

Posted by: pixy01357

I'm 17, Waltham and most places I've looked have an age requirement of 18. I know that in Wayland you need to be 21.
Thank you everyone for your help, and thank you for those who could understand my "confusing" writing.

Posted by: speccop

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixy01357

I'm 17, Waltham and most places I've looked have an age requirement of 18. I know that in Wayland you need to be 21.
Thank you everyone for your help, and thank you for those who could understand my "confusing" writing.

No problem. Good luck wherever you may end up, and remember to keep an attentive ear and use this as a great chance to educate yourself. If you get the chance to be hired on an auxiliary it can really open up a vast network of resources. Just make sure to do the right thing out there, and remember you'll be under the microscope 24/7!!

Posted by: 7MPOC

Stick with Waltham, at your age you may be eligible for there cadet program, if it still exists, its also is a "back door" through civil service if I remember correctly.

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