Lateral Department Transfers for Police

Lateral Department Transfers for PoliceLateral Department Transfers for PolicePolice recruiters are often asked, especially by those withcareers in criminal justice and criminology, about the possibility of lateral transfers from agency to agency. That is, can polizze officers, corrections officers, and other certified officers easily move jobs from one department to aelendher, one jurisdiction to another or even from one state to another? The idea seems simple enough in the private sector, plenty of people can find another job in their chosen field with another company or a new location with relative ease. Even for most government jobs, workers can easily get hired in a new city, county, state, or sometimes even country simply by showing theyre the best candidate for the job. Transferring to the United States If youre thinking about transferring from another country dual citizenship may be a requirement. In most cases, youll be required to be a U.S. citizen to work in certified criminal justice careers, which means youll have to spend some time in the U.S. working in another job and working toward naturalization before you can even be eligible to get certified Challenges The situation is not so simple when it comes to law enforcement and many other criminal justice fields. The difference is that, like doctors, lawyers and other regulated industries, policing and like careers are considered a profession. And like any other profession, professionals must be trained and perhaps more importantly - certified to perform their job. Certification requirements for criminal justice workers often differ slightly from state to state, so that law enforcement or corrections certificates do not easily transfer. Minimum age and other basic requirements may be differentso that just because youre eligible to be certified in one state does not mean you can get certified in another. That also means that if you want to move to a new state, you will have to receive more tr aining and pass that states officer certification exam to be able to work. Many certifying entities offer equivalency-of-training programs, which can allow you to demonstrate proficiencies in the high liability areas of Defensive Tactics, Firearms, First Aid and Vehicle Operations (driving) and then challenge the state officer certification exam. Some jurisdictions or agencies, however, may require you to attend an entire police academy all over again. In-State Transfers Moving to a new department is somewhat easier, if only because you wont have to get re-certified. Just because you dont have to get certified, though, doesnt mean it will be a seamless transfer. With an estimated 17,000 plus law enforcement agencies in the United States, each department has its own set of rules and policies in which youll need to be trained. Before you can even get to that point, though, you can expect to have to go through the same stringent hiring process and background investigations you expe rienced the first time you got hired. And since each agency has its own hiring standards, some issues in your past may keep you from getting hired by another department, even if your current employer was okay with them. Back to the Beginning One more major consideration when thinking about changing departments is the fact that, more often than not, youll be starting back at the bottom. If you have any rank, youll probably have to give it up. The same goes for seniority, which, in criminal justice careers means a great deal. Seniority, among other things, is often used to award shift preferences, new equipment, and other perks. While youll still be considered a veteran law enforcement officer, you shouldnt expect to get the same treatment as someone who has worked for your new department for years. Making the Right Decision There are reasons you may want to transfer your criminal justice job to another state or jurisdiction, like better pay, different working conditions or fa mily considerations to name just a few. Its not, however, something to be taken lightly. Whether youre looking for a change of scenery or a change of pace, make sure that transferring to another department is the right decision for you and your family.