Need some advice.....career change

[LPAjh9558]

After working in retail loss prevention for the last 1 1/2 years I was thinking of making a change. Recently I had someone suggest to me about getting CLEET certified and then looking at other options...possibly with the state, federal, who knows?

Just the other day I had the opportunity to talk with a guy that works as an SO for the Wackenhunt Security CO. (if I remember correctly). He suggested that I get certified to carry, like him and then threw out a couple of options.....

1) Working as an SO. He was at the local Soc. Sec. office that day.
2) He mentioned the Dept. of Homeland Security
3) Con Air - working out of our airport for transportation. Said that he has a couple of friends that work there and they really like it.

I'm just looking for some advice from anyone out there regarding any mention of these jobs etc. + any other suggestions for other jobs that might be of interest to me in the future. I'm currently giving the CLEET certification some serious thought and am gathering all the information that I need...

Thanks for the help everyone

[lewisGLTC]

So are you looking for an armed security career or Law enforcement?

[LPAjh9558]

I was definately looking into being certified to carry and I'd have to say that something in LE is a direction that is in consideration. The guy that I talked with seemed to think that there were plenty of options open.....

[OMG_Ihatethisjob]

LE is your best bet

If you feel you're physically fit to pass the LE Academy's rigorous training, and you're smart enough, and have the discipline to sit and study for hours at a time, then you should leave private security, and go into LE for a government agency. I'm in California; the easiest department to get into is the Dept of Corrections. Their academy training meets POST (Police Officers' Standard of Training) guidelines. People will start off working as prison guards for 2 or 3 years, then quit and transfer to a city police dept.

In my opinion, private security are for people who don't have what it takes to get hired on by LE agencies. I've got bad credit, in my late 40s, and had been diagnosed as needing hip replacement surgery. Private security with a guard company are for losers (like me).

[Nauticus]

In my opinion, private security are for people who don't have what it takes to get hired on by LE agencies. I've got bad credit, in my late 40s, and had been diagnosed as needing hip replacement surgery. Private security with a guard company are for losers (like me).

Wow. Just because you're a failure doesn't mean the rest of us are. That might sound harsh, but private security is not for those who haven't got what it takes for law enforcement. Different requirements, different goals.

[FireEMSPolice]

In my opinion, private security are for people who don't have what it takes to get hired on by LE agencies. I've got bad credit, in my late 40s, and had been diagnosed as needing hip replacement surgery. Private security with a guard company are for losers (like me).

You are an idiot. Is that why so many SEO's are in fact LEO's (current or retired)?

[LPAjh9558]

In my opinion, private security are for people who don't have what it takes to get hired on by LE agencies. I've got bad credit, in my late 40s, and had been diagnosed as needing hip replacement surgery. Private security with a guard company are for losers (like me).

IMHO, anyone with the kind of attitude that you clearly have probably doesn't & shouldn't be working in any form of security job...LP's, SO's, LE's etc. It doesn't make for a good "union" as it were.

I'll be the 1st person to say that when it's all said and done, things might not go my way.....but does that mean I shouldn't try? (Hell No) If it's something that you want to do and have always thought about trying it...then go for it by all means Dude, I'm almost 40 (36) and have bad credit to (thanks to my ex!), but that doesn't make me a loser, nor you either...so CHEER UP MAN

[Black Caesar]

After working in retail loss prevention for the last 1 1/2 years I was thinking of making a change. Recently I had someone suggest to me about getting CLEET certified and then looking at other options...possibly with the state, federal, who knows?

Just the other day I had the opportunity to talk with a guy that works as an SO for the Wackenhunt Security CO. (if I remember correctly). He suggested that I get certified to carry, like him and then threw out a couple of options.....

1) Working as an SO. He was at the local Soc. Sec. office that day.
2) He mentioned the Dept. of Homeland Security
3) Con Air - working out of our airport for transportation. Said that he has a couple of friends that work there and they really like it.

I'm just looking for some advice from anyone out there regarding any mention of these jobs etc. + any other suggestions for other jobs that might be of interest to me in the future. I'm currently giving the CLEET certification some serious thought and am gathering all the information that I need...

Thanks for the help everyone

I'm assuming CLEET stands for Council of Law Enforcement ect ect. Other states call it POST, here in Texas it's TCLEOSE ect. Should always be clear about what the acronyms mean so as to not confuse us slow guys .

I have never, ever, for one single second in time, ever regretted getting my Peace Officer's license. Best move I made other than asking my wife to marry me lol, it opens sooooo many doors that are closed to you otherwise.

I started in contract private security, liked the job (especially getting to help people), hated the employers lol, hatred the fact that there was someone else getting paid to "provide" me, hated the wages until I got a job with a company that was a federal contractor.

I never wanted to be a cop, but I didn't want to be a dirt poor security guard even more than I didn't want to be a cop lol. So I went to the police academy (un-sponsored, paid my own way) in hopes of getting a job as a Deputy Constable or Park Ranger or something, anything close to what I was already doing in security, but with better pay. Then I learned about Campus Police (schools, colleges, airports, hospitals, ect ect).

I worked in the jail as a Detention Officer, and as a reserve (then part time paid) Small town cop just long enough to get enough experience to get in with one of the Campus (or airport, or hospital, or transit) PDs on my "target list" and then BLAM, I got in with my current employer.

That was 10 years ago this May 1st, and I haven't looked back once. I'm a State Higher Education employee, my state pension was vested 5 years ago and I got a pretty badge that says "Police" on it lol.

There are plenty of positions in private security that provide a better living than government or peace officer employment. Unfortunately, "Security Guard" generally isn't one of those positions (with the exception of some In-House positions, and Federal Government contracts). As I am a "foot soldier" who had no desire to climb the private security corporate ladder (where the money is), it' was Campus police for me, all the way.

[LPAjh9558]

I'm assuming CLEET stands for Council of Law Enforcement ect ect. Other states call it POST, here in Texas it's TCLEOSE ect. Should always be clear about what the acronyms mean so as to not confuse us slow guys .

Yeah I remember the other abreviations that are used ...myself going by CLEET mostly. POST, CLEET & TCLEOSE; you say tomatoe I say.....kinda thing LOL I always thought that being slow meant that we were getting OLDER! Geez don't answere that one!

I have never, ever, for one single second in time, ever regretted getting my Peace Officer's license. Best move I made other than asking my wife to marry me lol, it opens sooooo many doors that are closed to you otherwise.

I started in contract private security, liked the job (especially getting to help people), hated the employers lol, hatred the fact that there was someone else getting paid to "provide" me, hated the wages until I got a job with a company that was a federal contractor.

I think I made a pretty good decision myself when I made my biggest "investment" and got married again to my better 1/2 At least that's what they tell us right! And as most everyone knows, I got into the business when I landed my (now former) LP job. It sorta reminded me of things that I'd always wanted to do when I got ummm...OLDER. Even though that job ended badly for me I don't regret taking the challenge on of something that I'd never done before. Learned alot, got new-found respect for the job & made several friends.....

I never wanted to be a cop, but I didn't want to be a dirt poor security guard even more than I didn't want to be a cop lol. So I went to the police academy (un-sponsored, paid my own way) in hopes of getting a job as a Deputy Constable or Park Ranger or something, anything close to what I was already doing in security, but with better pay. Then I learned about Campus Police (schools, colleges, airports, hospitals, ect ect).

I worked in the jail as a Detention Officer, and as a reserve (then part time paid) Small town cop just long enough to get enough experience to get in with one of the Campus (or airport, or hospital, or transit) PDs on my "target list" and then BLAM, I got in with my current employer.

Actually I take that back. Just a couple of years ago I did have the opportunity to work for a juvenile detention center, and God was that ever a learning experience... It was a full time job, the hours were long (5p-5a), pay sucked, but I lived. After getting CLEET certified (or whatever), I've been giving serious consideration to going back to school and trying for an Associate's in Criminal Justice to get things started in that area. From there my dream job would be working for CSI. Might seem a little weird to some people, but I totally get into that show and it makes me want the dream job even more!

That was 10 years ago this May 1st, and I haven't looked back once. I'm a State Higher Education employee, my state pension was vested 5 years ago and I got a pretty badge that says "Police" on it lol.

There are plenty of positions in private security that provide a better living than government or peace officer employment. Unfortunately, "Security Guard" generally isn't one of those positions (with the exception of some In-House positions, and Federal Government contracts). As I am a "foot soldier" who had no desire to climb the private security corporate ladder (where the money is), it' was Campus police for me, all the way.

I never was too big on getting in with something federal etc. For myself, a state job is why I moved back here to Oklahoma and if I somehow managed to latch on with something involved with CSI, the state has tons of related jobs.....
Will be sure to keep you updated on how things progress. This should be interesting to say the least...and thanks!

[Jedi]

From there my dream job would be working for CSI. Might seem a little weird to some people, but I totally get into that show and it makes me want the dream job even more!

Just remember, the job they portrait on TV and the job in the real world are VERY different. The TV shows a crime scene being processed in a montage that lasts little over 3 minutes... in the real world, the crime scene will take several hours and you will have to deal with some of the nastiest and dirtiest environments you can think of. For some reason the crack dealers are not too tidy.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just wanted to put realism into the equation. If you do want to go that route, I suggest photography classes and science classes... especially physics.

[LPAjh9558]

Just remember, the job they portrait on TV and the job in the real world are VERY different. The TV shows a crime scene being processed in a montage that lasts little over 3 minutes... in the real world, the crime scene will take several hours and you will have to deal with some of the nastiest and dirtiest environments you can think of. For some reason the crack dealers are not too tidy.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just wanted to put realism into the equation. If you do want to go that route, I suggest photography classes and science classes... especially physics.

No bad intensions taken...I know how much more difficult the real thing might be. And as I said, I'm looking at going back to school (after all these years) so anything is possible.....

[AZInterceptor]

Just remember, the job they portrait on TV and the job in the real world are VERY different. The TV shows a crime scene being processed in a montage that lasts little over 3 minutes... in the real world, the crime scene will take several hours and you will have to deal with some of the nastiest and dirtiest environments you can think of. For some reason the crack dealers are not too tidy.

Very true, and on top of that, forget about kicking in doors, interrogating suspects, getting into pursuits and getting scientific results back in minutes.

[Jedi]

Very true, and on top of that, forget about kicking in doors, interrogating suspects, getting into pursuits and getting scientific results back in minutes.

My favorite has to be the DNA results that come back in the same day, let alone the same CENTURY!

[kingsman]

also, don't be afraid to try for federal law enforcement positions. USAJOBS
has openings for U.S. Customs and border Protection, and you get to spend a number of months at FLETC.