FREE ESSAY ON BECOMING A PART OF THE RCMP

BECOMING A PART OF THE RCMP

Occupation Investigation on becoming a Police Officer
I respect police officers; I always have and always will. I have always looked up to and
wanted to become part of the RCMP. The position of representing the law would bring out
my pride to large extents that not even I could imagine. Police officers help to protect
citizens and their property, maintain public peace, prevent and detect crime. They
apprehend those who break the law, process court requirements, handle traffic problems,
enforce regulations, and act as agents of social change within the community to promote
safer neighborhoods. In their daily work, police officers perform many duties ranging
from enforcing the law and apprehending criminals, to controlling traffic and arbitrating
domestic disputes. Police work does not always involve a physical act of protection or
the apprehension of a lawbreaker. It also involves activities such as crime prevention
activities, helping victims of crime, working with community groups to identify and solve
policing problems of mutual concern. To add to that police officers will participate in
forensic investigations, administrative work (lots and lots of paper work), and court
appearances. Police officers make a "well above average" salary. Just a starting salary
for a diploma program graduate averages about $19,000 a year (in 1998). However,
according to the 1996 census, most Albertans in the "Police officers (Except
Commissioned)" occupational group earned from $50,000 to $60,000 a year. These figures
include special rates of pay for statutory holidays, overtime and court appearances
during off duty hours, and pay differential for evening and night duty. 
Many Police Officers may work a regular five-day, forty - hour week or a compacted
(four-day) work week with twelve-hour shifts. Since police protection is a necessity one
hundred percent of the time, there are better shifts to work than there are others.
Officers will work in and outdoors, in all kinds of weather, and may be required to stand
or walk for hours at a time. They may even have to ride in their care for an entire
shift. At times, they have to use force and may have to be required to lift twenty-five
kilograms in an emergency situation. A police officer is usually under constant strain.
Normally working in dangerous situations (normally life threatening). They deal with
domestic and public disputes, arresting lawbreakers or pursuing speeding motorists. To
fill such a position you need some good personal characteristics. It would include
honesty, integrity, good judgement, patients, intelligence, good observation skills and
basic good humor are essential in this occupation. A police officer also needs to be
physically fit, emotionally stable and responsible, able to work with all kinds of people
in a variety of situations, able to use their own initiative with minimum supervision,
and should be very good at working as part of a team. Because that is exactly what the
RCMP is all about. A team effort in trying to protect the people. 
The requirements involved in becoming part of the team can vary. If you compare what you
need to become a police officer to anything else that requires an education it seems
minimal. This surprised me when I first read up on it. The basic requirements include a
high school diploma or a related post- secondary diploma (or have no stated minimum
education requirement). Someone trying to become part of the RCMP would also need some
good character references. In addition, they will need Canadian citizenship or lawful
admittance to Canada for permanent residence. This person also requires good typing
skills, valid driver's license, and a valid first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) certificates. The minimum application age varies from 18 to 21 years depending on
the particular police service. However, the average age of new recruits is generally 26
to 27 years of age. Related post-secondary education, the ability to speak a second
language and knowledge of Alberta's multi-cultural and volunteer communities are definite
assets.
It would prove to be true after all this intense training and getting educated on the
matter that being a cop is truly earned by an individual. It would have to be in
somebody's heart to become part of the RCMP. The desire would have to be a number one
priority because you have to commit your life (literally) to this career choice. It takes
the right kind of person to fulfill the shoes of a police officer. I'm glad it isn't easy
to become part of the team that controls the law. Because it needs to be "select"
individuals to take on this role.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
All my resources were from my own knowledge or the Internet.
ALBERTA LEARNING INFORMATION SERVICE
http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/occinfo/system/public/occpro.cgi?tc=00000359
CAREER INFORMATION: POLICE OFFICER
http://cdn.cx.bridges.com/explorer/browse/cl/policeof/frame.htm