# How hard would it be to become a police detective? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947 "2006-11-27T16:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/1 "2006-11-27T16:00:32Z")
Say I had no college education, only a diploma. I also had a minor infraction on my criminal record a few years ago. After watching [The First 48](http://www.aetv.com/the_first_48/) on A&E you feel that you would make a great homicide detective. In your opinion, how hard would it be for me to do so? What would be involved in becoming one? Do most of them have to put years in “walking the beat”? Do the require college degrees most of the time? Shuold I go the P.I. route instead? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/2 "2006-11-27T17:31:20Z")
I found answers to all of these questions in under 5 minutes using Google. You’ve gotten a lot of feedback about this–try doing your own search first. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/3 "2006-11-27T18:06:15Z")
but I paid good money to ask you guys. 😉 I want to hear first hand experiences, too. Which is why I didn’t ask this in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/4 "2006-11-27T18:17:26Z")
Police detectives spend their working time pursuing the answers to difficult questions about illegal activities. Do you really think that’s an activity to which you are suited? If you are really interested in becoming a police officer, why don’t you go to the web site of the police department of the place where you live? ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/5 "2006-11-27T18:40:42Z")
It’s not my intention to make this a pile-on, but it should be noted that if almost any other member asked this question, it would be certainly be answered with little to no backtalk. However, this is a case where the reputation and history of the user colors the tone of the responses. As some free, unrequested advice, you might consider doing a little research and including what you’ve already found out in the OP and then ask for further feedback or fact-checking. It’s similar to how we generally won’t answer just a straight homework question, but might provide some insight if it seems clear from the OP that the poster has already put in some work but just needs a little further help. FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/6 "2006-11-27T18:46:35Z")
Thanks, Jayrot. Advice taken. You are also absolutely correct too. I have Googled this in the past and never really found out too much first hand experience information and other questions I have such as “walking he beat”. I did investigate job descriptions/requirements on my local police department website, which was informative. Thanks, though… ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/7 "2006-11-27T18:46:53Z")
I’m reasonably certain that if \*\*diggleblop \*\*was a homicide detective, television shows like _Cold Case Files_ will never run out of source material. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/8 "2006-11-27T23:29:23Z")
Wow, reading **diggleblop** history of started threads is like sifting through questions 5 year olds deem to inane to ask. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/9 "2006-11-28T00:02:04Z")
You’d have to start out with the patrol section first. Making dectective is usually considered a pretty good promotion. If you’re exceptional, you might be eligible after five years in a squadcar. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/10 "2006-11-28T08:32:56Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] but I paid good money to ask you guys. 😉 I want to hear first hand experiences, too. Which is why I didn’t ask this in GQ. [/QUOTE] Well considering that you’re overweight, have heart trouble, a **huge** penis and were once addicted to strong pain killing drugs I’d suggest you just stay at home, watch Columbo and crack open a tube of KY. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2006, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-would-it-be-to-become-a-police-detective/381947/11 "2006-11-28T08:50:42Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] In your opinion, how hard would it be for me to do so? [/QUOTE] It would be easier for Fred Phelps to win an election in San Francisco.