Kansas follows much of the application format which is outlined on the homepage of this sight. Those who meet the minimum requirements may apply for a job with a police department in Kansas. The first step is simply filling out the lengthy application. If your application is accepted, you will be required to take the written aptitude test. This is quite a lengthy 100 question test which will test your basic reading, writing and problem solving skills and abilities. If you pass the aptitude test you will most likely receive an oral interview. This initial interview is to seek to determine if you are person of good moral character. Questions will be asked about your history and any illegal acts with which you may have been involved. Following the oral interview, applicants must pass the physical agility test. Its purpose is to assess what physical shape you are, and if you could perform the duties required of a police officer. After passing the PAT, applicants will be subjected to a very extensive background check, followed by another series of interviews and tests. If they are still deemed fit for hire, applicants will be sent to academy for training.
Requirements in Kansas for Becoming a Police Officer
The minimum state requirements are almost identical to the average. Applicants must be 21, have a valid state driver’s license, minimum of a GED, and be US citizens. Ex-military personnel need to have been honorably discharged from service and no convicted felons may apply. Many cities in Kansas include a list of items a person cannot have done if they are seeking to become a police officer (items such as no former prostitutes, can’t have stolen from a family member or previous employee, and can’t have used illegal drugs).
The PAT test is a series of exercises to show your physical fitness level. The Wichita police department requires the following tasks to be performed as part of the PAT:
- Getting over a five foot wall, then a three foot obstacle
- Crawling through a window that is four feet off the ground
- Dragging a 158-pound dummy 30 feet in nine seconds or less
There is also a 14 minute run following the medical exam. Applicants need to run a minimum of 1.5 miles during this 14 minute run.
Once an applicant meets the point where they are enrolled in the academy they will need to learn several law enforcement skills:
- Legal procedures and process
- The criminal justice system
- Firearms and weapons training
- How to handle domestic violence situations
- How to interact with the mentally disabled
- Traffic stops and citations
- Crime scene and accident investigation
- Report writing, report writing and more report writing
- Interrogation strategies
- Self-defense
Following the academy training is field training. Cadets are trained by a field training officer in the line of duty until they have mastered the minimum to become a full officer of the law.
Average Salary for Law Enforcement Jobs in Kansas
The average salary of patrol officers in Kansas is approximately 41,140 a year. That means it could be higher or lower than 40 thousand a year depending on the city in which a person is employed within the state of Kansas. As for detective and criminal investigators in Kansas: the average salary is about 55,220 a year. There is definite opportunity for pay increases when working as a law enforcement officer. Additional education, years of service and achieving higher rank can all be factors that can increase police officer salary.
Kansas Law Enforcement Training
Applicants with a criminal justice degree or another college degree are greatly valued in Kansas. It may be wise to pursue a degree post high school before applying with a police department. The following list has some programs related to law enforcement in Kansas:
- Allen County Community College
1801 N Cottonwood Street, Iola, KS 66749
620-365-5116
- Butler Community College
901 South Haverhill Road, El Dorado, KS 67042
316-321-2222
- Cloud County Community College
2221 Campus Drive, Concordia, KS 66901
785-243-1435
- Dodge City Community College
2501 N 14th Avenue, Dodge City, KS 67801
620-225-1321
- Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Circle, Emporia, KS 66801
620-341-1200
- Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601
785-628-3478
- Hutchinson Community College
1300 North Plum Street, Hutchinson, KS 67501
620-665-3500
- Independence Community College
1057 West College Avenue, Independence, KS 67301
620-332-5645
- Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd., Overland, KS 66210
913-469-8500
- Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112
913-334-1100
- Ottawa University
1001 South Cedar Street, Ottawa, KS 66067
855-774-7713
- Washburn University
1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621
785-670-1010
- Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount Street, Wichita, KS 67260
316-978-3456