Police Officer?

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I'm 15 years old and I want to get a job as a police officer and then a homicide detective or something... when I turn 18 or something... I just wanted to know what would I have to deal with being a police officer? Is it a ideal job for a aspie?

I am the kind of Aspie that can get to the heart of a mystery, methodically hone in on a situation and follow every clue to it's logical conclusion. That makes me a real asset when troubleshooting a computer or figuring out 'who done it.'

It is said that Vincent D'Onofrio plays an Aspie detective Robert Goren on Law and Order Criminal Intent, and of course, Tony Shalub is Monk, but goodness knows what is up with him! Perhaps you would be attracted to the detective side of the business?

You might consider forensics

A couple of disclaimers...First, I'm not a police officer. I've been through some of the training and have heard several "war" stories from police officers. Second I'm referring to police in the US.

Police officers need to have (or, I should say "should have") excellent social skills. They're often thrust into high stress situations where they have to figure out what's going on and calm everyone down. You could go several hours with nothing going on and suddenly all hell breaks loose. If you can handle that, then definitely look into it.

Since you're 15 you should contact your local police department. They may have an Explorer post. It's like the Boy/Girl Scouts but in a police environment. If nothing else, you might be able to go on a ride-a-long with patrol officers to see what the job is really like.

Most police departments won't hire you until you're at least 21 and many require at least some college. A lot of them want to see some work experience, too. Military experience is also beneficial. Different police departments have different requirements, so research those. It goes without saying you should have a fairly clean background (i.e., no felony convictions, domestic violence convictions, etc.).

Making detective can be a very long process. Some departments will say you need 3 or 4 years to compete for the position, but in practical terms it could take 8-10 years. But I've also heard of police officers making detective in 2 years, so there're some variances.

Forensics is an excellent option if you're into the more analytical side of things. If you're interested in computers digital forensics is the big trend now. However, you'll still need social skills because at some point in your career you'll likely have to testify in court and face cross-examination.

There are a lot of other opportunities available, too, not just police officers. Off the top of my head there are GIS specialists, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants, medicolegal investigations, etc. You can also expand to state or federal law enforcement if that interests you. There are also options in the private sector, such as loss prevention, fraud, security, etc.

I can't say if it's ideal for Aspies because there's a wide range of abilities; it may be ideal for some but a horrible idea for others. The same can be said for NTs; it may be a better fit for some than others. I would suggest doing a lot of research and figuring out what aspect of police work interests you the most, see if there's something there that fits your aptitudes, and go after it.

I hope that was at least somewhat useful and not too long-winded.

I wanted to be a detective. Never knew I had AS and passed psyche tests no problem.

As far as AS getting in the way of being a good officer or becoming a detective, there is much wisdom in that you have to be able to deal with the pubic. Having AS doesn't mean you can't be effective, and there are MANY aspects of law enforcement you can do where AS won't be an issue, but the trick is always getting your foot in the door and proving yourself as a capable officer so that other doors can open.

If you can't get your foot in the door, nothing will happen.

I do recommend getting into an explorer program and make contacts who take a liking to you (hard, but possible). Getting into your first job is the hardest part.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Oh, don't waste your money on putting yourself through the police academy unless it's the mandatory practice in your area. They charge money and train many more people than the region can hire, and ultimately, it really doesn't help you get hired.

However, there are some small agencies that will give you a contract to hire you if you put yourself through the academy....it's not a great paycheck (because they are small), but it is a way to get your foot in the door.

Hello- I tried to be a police officer once, in the mid 90s. Not having the advantages of being diagnosed, because they weren't diagnosing when I was younger I was unaware of my limitations. Took the classes required in Minnesota at the time for licensing.
Law Enforcement had been a special interest of mine and I had read voraciously in the subject. This gave me an edge academically over my classmates, and would have given me an edge in the field.
It was not enough to compensate for my aspersers. Due to slow learning "below the neck", I had to take the driving segment an extra time, did poorly but passing in Use of Force II (firearms) and failed use of force I (empty hand and baton techniques twice.) I also did not project "Command Presence." (Being horrible at picking up things like that, how could I properly broadcast them?)
Now that I am aware of my condition, I manage to avoid thinking of how much subelty and Real Meanings I might have missed in talking to people, and how much my face blindness would have complicated recognizing individuals.
(Looking back at it, I remember the other 30+ students going to the lounge on break, or outside if they smoked, while I stayed at my desk, broke out my book and read related or unrelated material.)
But enough about me. Do you read subtleties in faces and tones like an NT? Can you learn something physical, like Karate or swimming or whatnot, at the pace of the other students or do you fall behind? You don't have to post your answers, just tell them to yourself.
Atwood's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO ASPERGER'S SYNDROME specifically says things like "no career would be impossible for" an aspie and specifically mentions police work as an example (see pages 295 and 297 1st edition.) I also remember reading somewhere (not sure where) that Aspies in the military are often calm in combat giving them an advantage in that situation, with obvious translation to law enforcement.
I still think my approach of reading voraciously on the subject, especially police memoirs would gives you some advantages, even in deciding if it’s right for you. (You can watch shows like COPS but be aware the presence of a cameraman distorts reality and doesn’t accurately reflect what policing is like without a cameraman.)
Zer0netgain’s idea of joining an explorer program, making contacts is an excellent idea. Or perhaps your local department has a Police Reserve program you can join when old enough? Make contacts.
I am sorry to be sidestepping your real goal (homicide detective) but that’s not a first step. If you do read police books, you can try reading some by officers who made homicide, or even FBI profilers.
Feel free to contact me, either on this thread or by PM if you have follow up questions, and I will eventually get back to you.