Isn't 20 years old WAY too young to be a police officer?

KiteGirl

Oh please. There are plenty of older people with raging hormones. One guy messed up. There are plenty of stories of older men doing similar things in a fit of jealous rage.

And as for the military: if you've got a problem with who is protecting you, go somewhere else.

whcwarrior_10

Acting stupid over a failed relationship is not regulated by age. I routinely see people much older do things just as stupid.

lindsey434

i think so. i think you should have to be 26. 20 is too young, you need life experience

Prof. Dave

Yes it does, I do think at 21 they should be allowed to become one. I think they should be given a year probation period where they have to work with an older officer as a mentor and one who can show them and tell them the experience they have learned over say a ten or more years on the force. That might help them in understanding about their jobs and how to handle the stress that goes along with it. The fact is there are some fools in their 30's and 40's that would go nuts after a breakup with a girl/boyfriend.

*****

Most police depts will NOT commission a person as a police officer until they are 21. This might just be a fluke which happened in some small community, where they bend the rules.

satcomgrunt

I joined the Army at 18 saw my first combat when I was 19. I have been cheated on a few times but yet I never have gone a shooting spree.

JimmyDWang AKA Don Meaty

Actually I would say 26-30 should be the min requirement for military and policing. By that time the psycho non-hackers will have criminal records and will be unable to serve.

18-21 allows too many lucky criminals the ability to get their hands on guns and power.

And I know 35 year olds that can out run many 20 year olds.

brown_eyez

uhh..no the military takes 'em @ 18

Glen B

It is to young, but often times in small rural counties like such kids are hired at even younger ages...(i.e. 18 years old)

It's a sad occurrence and there is no justification for the families of the victims.

In small cities the age limit should be up'd to some degree. 20 years old is far to young to wield that much power.

Val

yes, or they need better psychological screenings
and the only reason the military takes them at 18 is cuz they need them young and impressionable.

surferchick

there are 30 year old cops who are immature and mentally unstable and might have done the same thing. I wouldn't put so much emphasis on age.
remember that there are US soldiers that are 19 that are dieing overseas. I'm not saying they are out creating massacre but I think you have your perspective all wrong.

Dead Marxist

Nope, not at all

If they can serve in the military at age 18, they can be a cop too

Besides, who do you want to run after the bad guys....old 30-something overweight, out-of-shape laggards? Lol, good luck catching the spritely young thugs!

We NEED younger people in law enforcement!

bbasingal

Most police departments require psychological testing for their officers to weed out unstable individuals, that department did not require testing. Most police departments will allow you to become a police officer when you are 20 1/2 years old, but swear you in when you hit 21.

The military only requires you to be 18 years old and although you may not like it; 18 years of age is an adult.

Perhaps we need to teach our young people responsibility sooner.......

Hope this helps

ULTRA150

How old do you have to be to go into the military and get your @ss shot off?

trooper3316

Age discrimination is illegal.

I agree there are some that are not mature enough to handle the stress of police work at 20, however the screening process should identify these people. Even so, no process is perfect.

Or maybe, with your logic, we should pass a law making it illegal to have kids before you turn 25. Or raise the drinking age. After all, in your own words, 20 is still a child in so many ways.

Barry C

I have no problem with it if they are good a the job as this guy seems to have been, and the place is small enough that there is no one else available. I mean, he was a part time cop - how small a place is that? :)

oohdelilah

I don't know about any massacre, but the military takes 'em as young as 18...

Mildred S

I think 20 is fine. Our military men and women are 18 .

The issue is that he was a corrupt cop and decided to kill a few citizens. This is a picture we are seeing more and more of in the US.

Citizens must step up and take control of the cops!
This behavior is unaccpetable !

Soldier123

You might have a problem with the age of our military but did you kow that most of the people in the military are in their 20's so therefore most of the people overseas fighting and doing a damn good job of it are in their 20's. There is nothing wrong with being 20 and beig a cop or in the military. Just because YOUR life wasn't in order when you were that age doesn't mean everyone else's life isn't. If your not gonna stand behind us, feel free to stand in front of us.

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