Mississippi Police Academy Requirements: How To become A Cop in MS

Residents and visitors alike know that Mississippi is a great place to live, work and play. From tall cities to beautiful beaches to traditional southern hospitality, Mississippi has so much to offer. The cost of living is much lower than in other places, and the weather is usually mild and inviting. People that work in the law enforcement industry in the state report high levels of personal satisfaction.

The Mississippi BLEOST

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety oversees the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training (BLEOST). The Mississippi legislature passed a law that resulted in creation of the BLEOST in 1981 in order to make sure that police officers in the state are properly trained and that they adhere to high standards while on the job. The most important document for new law enforcement officers is the Professional Certification Policy and Procedures Manual.

This document tells you what the rules are for new hires in the state. The manual begins with a code of ethics for police officers. It says that the most important duty of a police officer is to serve mankind and protect the weak.

Because the BLEOST has the authority to make rules for law enforcement officers all over the state, there are certain requirements that you have to comply with if you want to be a police officer in Mississippi.

The BLEOST sets the requirements and also decides if you’ve complied with them. The organization regularly reviews the requirements to make sure that they are related to the requirements of the profession and to make sure that they offer appropriate training to help new law enforcement officers succeed.

To gain BLEOST police officer certification, there is a rigorous process of testing and documentation. You must also interview with the appropriate authorities. Some of these rules are black and white, and others are left to the opinions of the people making the decisions. However, there is no exception for obtaining BLEOST certification before beginning police work in the State of Mississippi.

Statistical Requirements

To even begin, you have to be at least twenty-one years old. This is measured at the age that you graduate from the academy. That means that you can start the academy at the age of twenty if you’re set to graduate after your twenty-first birthday. You also have to be a citizen of the United States, and you must have graduated from high school. If you haven’t graduated from high school you might still get by if you have a GED.

Physical and Mental Testing

If you meet the basic statistical requirements, the next tests are for your physical and mental fitness. They need to know that you’re in shape because police work is usually physical, at least to a certain extent. They also need to make sure that you don’t have any physical defects such as vision or hearing problems that might prevent you from doing police work well. They also perform mental examinations to make sure that you can exercise sound decision making as well as handle the stress that police officers have to face on a daily basis.

Criminal History Check

You also have to pass a criminal history check. If you have a misdemeanor that relates to violence or domestic abuse, expect that to be a problem. All felonies are usually a problem, too. You could even run into trouble if you have too many traffic problems in a short period of time.

Law Enforcement Academy in MS

If you are one of the lucky ones who makes it this far, you probably want to make sure that you can make the most of your training in the police academy. Expect the experience to be stressful and intense. You have to learn physical procedures such as defensive tactics. You have to learn academic things like the laws and how they apply to things like search and seizure.

Most current police officers recommend that you start preparing for the police academy long before you ever set foot in the door. This extra preparation can be invaluable, and it can mean the difference between passing and getting a job and failing and needing to start over. Beginning preparations can help you pass your physical and academic testing as well as take some of the pressure and mystery out of the experience.

Many new recruits have found success with Prepare For The Police Academy. This book comes from the best in law enforcement and law enforcement trainers. It covers search and seizure, the finer points of Miranda warnings and how to prepare for physical fitness testing. Find the book at www.PrepareForThePoliceAcademy.com and get ready to finish at the top of the class. It contains everything you need to know to get off to a great start on the Mississippi force.

MS Police Departments and Sheriff Office List: