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Main Page Any recommendations for a teen?
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Posted by: msp428

I'm 17 and have wanted to be cop for as long as I can remember. However the past couple years I've gotten serious about this and have decided that I want to become a trooper. Is there anything I can do now that would help me get ahead? Anything I should know? Thanks.

Posted by: snapbox

With the MSP? Go to college- get a 4 year degree. STAY OUT OF TROUBLE and keep your head low, and your chances get better. I'm not saying you're the type, but it wouldn't hurt getting a Vet Preference by enlisting or even better, ROTC.

Lots of people test, few get in. Just keep your head up. If all else fails, there are some great local departments in Mass and around the country with room for advancement.

Posted by: msp428

Sounds good. I haven't been in any trouble with the law and am not in a position for that to happen. I already have plans to go to college for 4 years and get a degree in CJ. I also am planning on joining ROTC. Would it help to go down to the local barracks (which for me would be Middleboro)?

Posted by: Foxy85

If youre hell bent on getting on with the MSP, then follow everything snapbox just told you, if not, there are plenty of other state agencies that hire more frequently, and are somewhat less picky...And you'll probably miss the next test because of your age, so based on the current trend you should be able to take the next MSP test when you're 22 or 23.....

Good luck....

Posted by: rhl

DON'T take CJ as a major!!! You'll work hard all your life keeping your nose clean and doing well in school and the ROTC and then do nothing but join the rest of the sheep in the pasture when it comes time to go through the hiring process. If twenty people interview for the MSP in one day, you want to be the one with something different to offer. My suggestion is a law or management degree. Both are very applicable to police work and will pique the interest of the interview board. That's how I did it. Minor in CJ, but major in something that will get you noticed over all the CJ degrees out there. One thing not mentioned earlier is stay physically fit. It's a demanding job, physically and mentally. We ride alone. And until you've tasted your own blood in the breakdown lane under a moonless sky in the middle of nowhere, it might be hard to undestand just how important it is. Good luck. rhl

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhl

DON'T take CJ as a major!!!

Yes, I'm sure the original poster will want nothing to do with an automatic 20% raise thanks to the Quinn Bill. That has to be among the worst pieces of advice I've ever seen posted here.

My advice.....join the military. You'll get veteran's preference (which will be essential for the next few years at least) and Uncle Sam will pay for your college education.

Posted by: JLT770

my advice is dont major in soc with a cj certificate from UMass amherst, the quinn bill doesn't recognize it.

does the quinn bill apply to MSP though?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLT770

my advice is dont major in soc with a cj certificate from UMass amherst, the quinn bill doesn't recognize it.

does the quinn bill apply to MSP though?

MSP has the full Quinn Bill, and is one of the few agencies (Quincy & Cambridge are 2 others) where it's figured into overtime calculations. I tell the young guys who don't have degrees yet to work details instead of overtime, as the pay rate is better.

Quinn Bill website - http://www.osfa.mass.edu/quinnbill/

Posted by: JLT770

It burns me up that UMass Amherst went off the list. i wasn't enrolled in the CJ program prior to Jan 1, 2004 but i was enrolled at UMass...do you think i might still possibly get the benefit of the doubt?

Posted by: MM1799

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Yes, I'm sure the original poster will want nothing to do with an automatic 20% raise thanks to the Quinn Bill. That has to be among the worst pieces of advice I've ever seen posted here.

The question was how to increase his chances on getting on the SP. If he gets on, he can worry about making more money then. You have to get on somewhere to get Quinn Bill.

msp428; If I was you I would listen to everyone's advice but pay special attention to the Troopers who have shared how they personally did it. Can't mess with success

I would also recommend keeping your options open. Becoming a PO is difficult. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhl

We ride alone. And until you've tasted your own blood in the breakdown lane under a moonless sky in the middle of nowhere, it might be hard to undestand just how important it is.

+1 I couldn't agree more.

Posted by: JLT770

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

I would also recommend keeping your options open. Becoming a PO is difficult. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

its true, take every test you can. submit every application you can.

Posted by: Francois

I joined the Army after high school, then went to college and applied to every department that I could find. I got hired by a small department and waited for my chance with the MSP. Veteran's preference is huge. I wouldn't be on the job without the 2 extra points.

Posted by: lpwpd722

Try the student trooper programs to test the waters to see if you like it also. Just a suggestion.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

Try the student trooper programs to test the waters to see if you like it also. Just a suggestion.

Too late for that, student trooper program is between 15-17 and it won't happen again till next summer.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1799

The question was how to increase his chances on getting on the SP. If he gets on, he can worry about making more money then. You have to get on somewhere to get Quinn Bill.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't believe the state police's decision to hire someone will be swayed by a degree in management instead of criminal justice.

If the OP's ultimate goal is to be a police officer in Massachusetts, then he/she should go with the option that will guarantee a 20% pay increase if they're hired.

Posted by: Dane

It also doesn't hurt to have a degree in a field of study that one can use to get a decent job upon graduation. As msp428 is going to find out, law enforcement isn't a traditional career path (i.e. graduate, apply for a job, get hired, make money). It involves a lot of test taking and waiting on a government bureaucracy's time table. Outside of the test taking process, there aren't a lot of great job opportunities for those with a bachelor's degree in CJ. Just plenty of crappy, unpaid internships. Or, ooooh, Loss Prevention Officer!

Consider getting a degree in something that will allow you to survive if you don't get hired by the MSP or another department. Business or engineering are great options. Show me how a background in computer science will hurt you in the Law Enforcement world. Shit, you practically need one to get get a report done on the MSP these days.

When and if you do get hired by the MSP, pick up a master's in CJ. I did it in one year. You'll get an instant 25% pay raise under the Quinn Bill. Another alternative is a law degree. A JD is also worth 25% and you can do civil work on the side and in retirement.

I agree with rhl in that a bachelor's in CJ just puts you in the same category as just about everybody else out there. When you sit down for your oral board interview, do you want to be just another faceless CJ degree or do you want something more to offer your prospective employer?

Posted by: CPT Chaos

When you get out of High School enlist in the Army National Guard as an MP.

You WILL do 1 year in the sand box and come back with a combat patch and more importantly your Vet's Pref!

Then go to college and Major in something LE related and the GI Bill & the Guard will pay for most of your education.

Then start taking tests and applying everywhere!

Good luck!

Posted by: Foxy85

"It also doesn't hurt to have a degree in a field of study that one can use to get a decent job upon graduation. As msp428 is going to find out, law enforcement isn't a traditional career path (i.e. graduate, apply for a job, get hired, make money). It involves a lot of test taking and waiting on a government bureaucracy's time table. Outside of the test taking process, there aren't a lot of great job opportunities for those with a bachelor's degree in CJ. Just plenty of crappy, unpaid internships. Or, ooooh, Loss Prevention Officer!"-Dane

----------

I would have to disagree.....Maybe in this state because there is a high demand to get into the field....But if you want to be a police officer, there are plenty of agencies that can have you on board within 3-6 months.....versus just waiting in MA 3-6 months to get your test scores back....

And there are plenty of different avenues you can go into with a CJ degree....
Correctional Officer/Probation Officer/Court Officer/Insurace Investigator/Private Investigator/Air Marshal/ U.S. Marshal/CBP Officer/ Boarder Patrol/ the list goes on.....

Some places are longer of a wait than other....Fed jobs tend to be a long wait, but go down to Florida, and they are practicully giving the jobs away to anyone who is qualified....jobs being Police/Sheriff/Correctional personnel...

Step outside the state of Massachusetts, and the country is hurting for police, states that once never took lateral transfers into the state police and highway patrols are now opening up their doors to let in certified officers....

There is a severe shortage of police officers......if you want the job, you'll get it....

Posted by: mechanixman

How much preference do you get as a veteran? Is it based on points or do you go to the top of the list? Thanks.

Posted by: Cadet101

Quote:

I would have to disagree.....Maybe in this state because there is a high demand to get into the field....But if you want to be a police officer, there are plenty of agencies that can have you on board within 3-6 months.....versus just waiting in MA 3-6 months to get your test scores back....

And there are plenty of different avenues you can go into with a CJ degree....
Correctional Officer/Probation Officer/Court Officer/Insurace Investigator/Private Investigator/Air Marshal/ U.S. Marshal/CBP Officer/ Boarder Patrol/ the list goes on.....

Some places are longer of a wait than other....Fed jobs tend to be a long wait, but go down to Florida, and they are practicully giving the jobs away to anyone who is qualified....jobs being Police/Sheriff/Correctional personnel...

Step outside the state of Massachusetts, and the country is hurting for police, states that once never took lateral transfers into the state police and highway patrols are now opening up their doors to let in certified officers....

There is a severe shortage of police officers......if you want the job, you'll get it....

I agree with the above post , I know this post was about becoming a MSP Trooper but don't put all your eggs into one basket as others have said. I took the MSP exam at 19, scored a 95 and have been waiting for the 80RTT that might never come as they once told me when I went for my interview. Im now 25 and not only is there no 80RTT but no new test has even been talked about. You could spent years waiting for MSP and never get the chance. I also believe education is important whether it be a CJ degree or other, it will only help you advance yourself through life. I also like you decided MSP would be my first choice at a young age and have been waiting for them this long. I have my CJ degree now, worked for an ambulance company, as campus police officer and now loss prevention. I've accomplished a lot while taking the civil service exams and the MSP exam but so far have not had any luck.

MA is very difficult to be a PO as many cities only hire a few cops a year. It seems they are laying off more then they are hiring nowadays. I worked my internship with MSP and the best advice I got was APPLY EVERYWHERE. It does help to have a degree but MSP won't hire you because you don't have one. Just have a PERFECT background and you will get the job as long as you score high enough on the MSP exam. The only thing that would have helped me get on with MSP was having a higher score, having college or not wouldn't have even mattered. However what would have made the difference would be if I was a Vet, you get two extra points added to your overall score for being a Vet. Military is the best way to go if you want a LE job in MA, not college. Don't join the Military just to get Vet's Pref though, do it because you want to. College will help getting the added benefits such as the Quinn Bill once you are already a PO.

Getting a chance to attend a MSP RTT is all about scoring high on the exam. Everything else you do such as college, military, etc..can only help. You might not even be old enough to take the next MSP exam which could come anytime now. If it comes in 08 and you miss it due to your age, you might have to wait another 5 + years for another chance. I know you don't want to hear that but I just want you to look at all your options and don't put all your hopes into MSP. I know that is your goal as was mine but you must consider all options especially out of state if you really want a LE career. I went out of state and just got hired with Phoenix PD. Good Luck

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanixman

How much preference do you get as a veteran? Is it based on points or do you go to the top of the list? Thanks.

MSP - you get two points
Civil Service- top of the list

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane

It also doesn't hurt to have a degree in a field of study that one can use to get a decent job upon graduation. As msp428 is going to find out, law enforcement isn't a traditional career path (i.e. graduate, apply for a job, get hired, make money). It involves a lot of test taking and waiting on a government bureaucracy's time table. Outside of the test taking process, there aren't a lot of great job opportunities for those with a bachelor's degree in CJ. Just plenty of crappy, unpaid internships. Or, ooooh, Loss Prevention Officer!

Positively not true.

Go on monster.com and look at the job ads in non-technical fields (computer science, chemist, etc.) that require a college degree. The overwhelming majority just say "a four year degree from an accredited college or university". A CJ degree is just as useful, or just as useless, as a degree in business, liberal arts, or ancient Babylonian Astrology.

A survey of HR officials nationwide showed they really don't care what field a degree is in, they're looking more for a person who has the discipline and determination to finish a course of study.

Posted by: msp428

Wow lots of responses, thanks. I'll respond more later but what I'm wondering now is how does the points system work?

Posted by: Dane

Quote:

Go on monster.com and look at the job ads in non-technical fields (computer science, chemist, etc.) that require a college degree

Since when is computer science and chemistry "non-technical?" And I'm sure the HR manager who's hiring for an IT position is going to give the applicant with the CJ degree the same consideration as the applicant with the IT degree.

The goal here was to get hired by the MSP. That doesn't come along every day. Bills have to be paid in the meantime. There's no need to slog through all the so-called "stepping stone" jobs (ambulance driver, store detective, jail guard, probation officer, dog catcher, etc) in order to get on the MSP. Get a degree that might allow you to make enough money in a career field you enjoy so you can move out of mom and dad's house and support your own family if the MSP doesn't work out.

As far as the point system goes, you take the exam and get your score. If you pass (70 or above), and have attained veteran's status, two points are added to that score. If you score a 100 and have veteran status, your adjusted score would be 102. Two points might not seem like much, but once you get into the high 90s, that two points could mean the difference between getting into a class soon or waiting another year or two until the MSP feels like hiring again. Or it could mean not getting in at all. Keep in mind that there will be a high number of veterans taking the next MSP exam.

Good luck.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane

What I meant was that for non-technical jobs that require a college degree, a degree in CJ or liberal arts is equally valuable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane

The goal here was to get hired by the MSP. That doesn't come along every day. Bills have to be paid in the meantime. There's no need to slog through all the so-called "stepping stone" jobs (ambulance driver, store detective, jail guard, probation officer, dog catcher, etc) in order to get on the MSP. Get a degree that might allow you to make enough money in a career field you enjoy so you can move out of mom and dad's house and support your own family if the MSP doesn't work out.

If one has enough determination, they can be hired by a police department in Massachusetts. Going on the job with a Quinn Bill eligible degree means an automatic 10/20/25% pay raise. Having to earn the degree while doing shift work sucks (I speak from experience), and tuition goes up every year. When I finished my Bachelor's degree, the courses were $495 each. Same courses, same school, they're now $800 each.

I can't state this emphatically enough.....get the degree as soon as possible and get it out of the way. If your fortunes turn and you don't get hired anywhere, you can always get a graduate degree in another field.

Posted by: pahapoika

a hitch in the USMC doesn't seem to hurt SP candidates. boxing or martial arts might help too. ( you have to double as your own backup )

as others have said , have a PLAN B.

lots of applicants , few jobs = alternative employment.

Good Luck

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by pahapoika

a hitch in the USMC doesn't seem to hurt SP candidates.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, veteran's preference is the same for all branches of the military, USMC vets do not get extra points. Especially ironic is that the title "trooper" is solely a US Army term derived from the cavalry. Ditto for the breeches, tall boots, and cross-strap.

Posted by: Foxy85

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane

The goal here was to get hired by the MSP. That doesn't come along every day. Bills have to be paid in the meantime. There's no need to slog through all the so-called "stepping stone" jobs (ambulance driver, store detective, jail guard, probation officer, dog catcher, etc) in order to get on the MSP. Get a degree that might allow you to make enough money in a career field you enjoy so you can move out of mom and dad's house and support your own family if the MSP doesn't work out.

Good luck.

I have to laugh at those jobs you listed as stepping stones....I especially enjoy the fact that you lumped dog catcher in with probation officer lol....

I'm pretty sure people have made good CAREERS out of those jobs as well, and not used them just as stepping stone.....FYI Probation Officers max out at 67,500

Want to be a troopers, go to a state where they constantly hire them....I'll admit none of them have as cool a uniforms as MSP, except maybe Rhode Island, but if you want the "Trooper" title bad enough, there are plenty of other states that are hurting for them....

Posted by: msp428

haha I'll wear whatever so long as I have the job. Is it easier down in Rhode Island? I'm considering going to college there as well.

Posted by: stubrie

Probation officers do sometimes double as dog catchers.
They do have to clean up other folks messes.
67,500, that must be with overtime, uniform allowance, quinn, shift dirfferential, details and a state vehicle factored in...
GO FEDERAL- You can always take the MSP exam when it's here.
Go to northeastern with the specific intention of going for the U.S marshals, through their intern program.
The pay in the feds is great, mostly 9-5 job, training is very professional at the FLETC. Your done at 57 and can live the rest of your life.
Get to where you want (location), and then settle in with the family.

I've gone 15 years of taking civil service, and have taken almost every exam since the early 90's.(still going strong).
This "career" can be very hit or miss.
If you get vets pref. than go get the cj degree or vis versa.
Good luck

Posted by: Foxy85

67,500 and thats it....there are 7 or 8 pay steps so it takes a bit, but when you factor in the step raises with contract raises, you're sitting pretty...

State doesn't pay OT, they pay Comp Time, they don't get a vehicle, they get paid for mileage, shift differential?...M-F no nights weekends and holidays....quinn doesn't apply to the trial court, and I don't believe I ever saw a Probation Officer directing traffic at a contruction site, though I could be wrong....

"Your done at 57 and can live the rest of your life." - Pretty sure you can retire at 55 in MA....

Go where you want, don't bash other professions, just know the country is hurting for police, and if you want Trooper jobs then they're out there.... Oregon now takes laterals for their state patrol....that was unheard of before....

Start looking outside New England and you'll be in uniform next summer...

To answer about Rhode Island SP.....I would say its just as hard as MSP, maybe just a tad easier....but they have such a small crew that I don't think they hire all that much....

Also, a good site if you don't already have it, very helpful when looking into Trooper Jobs....
http://www.statetroopersdirectory.com/

Posted by: SargeLorenzo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadet101

MSP - you get two points
Civil Service- top of the list

MSP - and that 2 pts does make all the difference, I've never had an interview because of only 2 pts

CS - almost top of the list, 2nd behind the DVets. And that's on the resident and non-resident lists

Posted by: JLT770

compared to say, the civil service exam (not the psych part or work skills part) how does the SP exam compare? harder?

Posted by: pahapoika

USMC vets do not get extra points.

well a little birdie told me.........................

as a side note there was a guy recruiting here this past summer for the New Hampshire State Police and had i thought of it when i was younger that would have been a very nice job

Posted by: msp428

I really want to stay in Massachusetts but if it doesnt work out are other states state police/highway patrol departments inferior to the MSP?

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

are other states state police/highway patrol departments inferior to the MSP?

The answer to that question is YES, they're all inferior to the MSP, thanks for asking!

Posted by: JLT770

haha MSP or Bust

Posted by: msp428

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLT770

haha MSP or Bust

pretty much man pretty much.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by msp428

I really want to stay in Massachusetts but if it doesnt work out are other states state police/highway patrol departments inferior to the MSP?

Anyone who actually believes that has an inferiority complex themselves.

Posted by: FightingIrish

MSP428, here's a little helpful idea while your in college. Consider a job as a police dispatcher while your in school. You can learn a little about the field, do your homework between calls and maybe even get in good with the dept that your dispatching for. The pay will be more than decent for a college kid and AGAIN you can do your school work and get paid for it. Also, while in college consider the Reserve Police Academy, good learning experience to start a career as a police officer. I can't see any of this hurting your potential career.

Posted by: Foxy85

Quote:

Originally Posted by msp428

I really want to stay in Massachusetts but if it doesnt work out are other states state police/highway patrol departments inferior to the MSP?

All kidding aside, all state agencies are going to be considered top notch, but from what I know, and what others tell me the Tri-State Police Agencies are the three best trained in the U.S.

The Elite three being...

Connecticut SP
Rhode Island SP
Massachusetts SP

Very disciplined.....Very well trained....

This isn't meant to knock any other agency.....but those three stand out ( to me anyway)...

Also keep in mind all three states especially Rhode Island and Massachusetts, don't hire/test alot, so they are tough to get on with.....

Just my opinion....

Posted by: Trifecta

Join the service. Get VET Status

Posted by: Mitpo62

Quote:

Originally Posted by msp428

I'm 17 and have wanted to be cop for as long as I can remember. However the past couple years I've gotten serious about this and have decided that I want to become a trooper. Is there anything I can do now that would help me get ahead? Anything I should know? Thanks.

Call your local Boy Scout Council office and inquire about Law Enforcement Exploring. They are off shoots of the BSA and is a program that is career orientated. The program is designed for youth ages 14-21. Check it out!

Posted by: msp428

Which ones are in your area...seeing as thats my area too (I go to coyle and live in bridgewater).

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