enrolling in academy vs. getting hired by a PD

[concernedapple]

If I enrolled into a academy and pay for it myself will other departments be more willing to hire me?

What are the benifits and disadvantages to this?

Considering i did not pass my last polygraph could enrolling into a academy help me get hired?

[dimas]

Many small departments and recently some larger departments simply do not have the budget to place new recruits through the academy and rely on recruits having graduated from an academy in order to hire them.  While it may not necessarily help the fact that you failed a polygraph, it may help get you on a department much quicker.

Would I recommend doing it on your own?  Probably, it really would not hurt at all and would more than likely look very positive on an application.  You simply cannot have enough training and with budget cuts as they have been, departments are scrambling to find individuals with training.

Failing one poly is not the end of the world, just keep trying.

[DippityShurff]

Many small departments and recently some larger departments simply do not have the budget to place new recruits through the academy and rely on recruits having graduated from an academy in order to hire them.  While it may not necessarily help the fact that you failed a polygraph, it may help get you on a department much quicker.

Would I recommend doing it on your own?  Probably, it really would not hurt at all and would more than likely look very positive on an application.  You simply cannot have enough training and with budget cuts as they have been, departments are scrambling to find individuals with training.

Failing one poly is not the end of the world, just keep trying.

While not small, we are a mid size Agency with a staff of 300+.  Completion of academy training is a leg up, whether sponsored by an Agency or done individually.  If that doesn't work, applying to a smaller Agency that is not as attractive will allow you to get your foot in the door.  You can build an experience record that the larger Agencies will certainly take into consideration.  And many of the smaller Agencies don't use the box.

I agree with your advice.

[DippityShurff]

Oh, and one more thing. at our Agency, everybody starts in the jail, is sent to jail school and around 1 yr of service, is sent to the Academy.  No one hires directly into a road position as of this writing. Of course, the applicant pool determines whether or not that remains etched in stone. Right now, that's the way it is