What percentage of police officers have military experience?

Was wondering what the ratio is of officers who have been in the military vs. those who have not. Seems that police departments like military guys, so I was wondering how usual it is for officers to have/not have a military background.



I was also wondering how important it is to have it if trying to get into law enforcement.What percentage of police officers have military experience?I'm ex-military and have been a cop for the last 17 years. The military background gives you perspective of the discipline expected of you, especially in the basic police academy. Besides that, I don't see any other particular part of ex-military that helps. Military tactics and civilian police tactics are different. (unless you are applying for a job in Afghanistan)



I know that a couple years of any law or justice classes help, as does a degree in Criminal Justice. Police work is changing every day. Some is becoming more political and as we stop car chases and stop using pepper spray and tasers, some departments look more for the higher educated than the militant background.



The things that separate you from the rest are your performance results in the physical and academic testing. Along with a clean background, including the background investigation. The psychological tests and examination weigh heavy too. The steps we have here are written test, physical test, medical exam, psychological exam and an extensive background investigation. If you score high in all of those, it really won't matter if you worked four years in a bakery or the military. Four years of steady employment shows stability regardless where you worked.



And, just a guess - there are about 10% of military on my department of around 1200 sworn. Good luck...What percentage of police officers have military experience?I cannot tell you the percentage... but my boyfriend was a marine before he became a cop. A lot of the guys on the force were too. Some are still active.

I think it's important but not mandatory.What percentage of police officers have military experience?I'd estimate at between 10-20% at my department.