There are many ways to become an undercover cop, but the most common way is to apply to the department you want to work for. Some departments have a process that requires you to pass an exam, while others do not.
The next step is getting hired by the department you want to work for. This can be done by sending in your application and waiting for them to call you in for an interview. After they hire you, they will send you to basic training before they let you start working on cases.
Basic training will last several weeks and teach new officers how to do things like take notes during an interview or how to conduct surveillance operations without being spotted by other officers in their department who may be trying to catch them cheating on their shift so that they don’t get fired from their jobs because of it!
After completing basic training, cops are ready for duty! They’ll spend time working with experienced cops on different types of investigations until they feel comfortable enough with their new skills that they can go out on their own without supervision (which means no one telling them what they should do next… unless it’s really important).
How To Become Undercover Cop
Undercover law enforcement agents carry out covert investigations to prevent criminal activities and gather evidence to solve crimes. They are vital to the operation of law enforcement agencies and can work at the local, state and federal level. Understanding how to become an undercover agent and the duties of the position can help you decide whether this is the right profession for you. In this article, we discuss how to become an undercover police officer, the responsibilities of the job, their average salary and the skills they need.
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What is an undercover cop?
An undercover cop is a law enforcement officer who performs their duties while concealing their identity as an agent of the law. They are also called plainclothes police officers because the people they often typically perform their duties out of uniform. Undercover police officers perform a wide range of secret investigations to identify criminals, solve cases or break up organized criminal organizations.
The job of an undercover agent sometimes requires taking up false identities, and it can involve joining crime syndicates that require meticulous intelligence gathering to find hard evidence to prosecute criminals. Undercover law enforcement can serve as expert witnesses during court cases. They may also have to keep detailed records of their findings for administrative purposes and to support the prosecution’s case in court.
Becoming an undercover agent requires more training than regular law enforcement duties. Candidates must be skilled in firearms use, be in good physical shape and possess the temperament and personality for the job.
Related: 20 Careers in Law Enforcement
What does an undercover law enforcement agent do?
The primary duty of undercover law enforcement agents is to solve crimes. However, they may need to engage in several activities to achieve their goals. Common responsibilities for an undercover police officer include:
Adopting a false identity
One of the basic duties of undercover law enforcement agents is to adopt a false identity. You may have to maintain this identity at varying levels of dedication, depending on the length and complexity of the undercover mission. For example, undercover investigators may need to learn a different language, rent a new home, take up a new name or spend time away from family to solve a crime. Depending on the severity of the case they’re solving, they may even need to pretend to be part of a criminal network.
Performing electronic surveillance
Undercover agents carry out electronic surveillance operations that may involve using body-worn audiovisual equipment like miniature microphones or video cameras. This equipment allows investigators to gather evidence discreetly, especially when they are close to a contact who does not know they’re working on an undercover mission.
Identifying dishonest employees
Undercover agents can also help organizations identify dishonest or malicious employees sabotaging their business. For example, an undercover police officer can join a company’s staff to identify people stealing merchandise or sharing company trade secrets with a competitor. To do this, agents must gain other employees’ trust to find the culprits.
Searching for missing persons
Whether an individual was kidnapped or vanishes without telling anybody their destination, it can be easier for an undercover agent to find missing persons when they don’t reveal their identity as a police officer. Undercover law enforcement agents also use a wide range of investigative tools that can provide leads and make the search easier.
Detecting fraud
Whether you trying to solve embezzlement cases, insurance fraud or government fraud, an undercover agent can help gather evidence needed to arrest the culprit.
Infiltrating organized crime
Infiltrating criminal groups is one of the most prominent missions of undercover law enforcement agents. For example, they may have to join a drug trafficking group to learn about how the organization moves its cargo and distributes the merchandise, or they may be tasked with getting close to the leader of a crime ring to gather evidence to prosecute them.
Related: Differences Between Law Enforcement Jobs
Skills for an undercover law enforcement agent
Undercover law enforcement agents need several specialized skills to complete missions successfully, including:
- Crime scene management: Undercover agents must be able to assess and draw valuable inferences from crime scenes. They also need to understand fingerprint technology and other tools for gathering forensic evidence.
- Observation: Undercover police officers need exceptional observation skills to perform surveillance without detection. They must be detail-oriented, have a strong memory and be able to focus on a target for as long as it takes to gather evidence.
- Disguise: Undercover law enforcement officers must also be adept at disguise. This includes the ability to take on a different personality and play the role convincingly.
- Intuition: During covert missions, undercover agents must be intuitive and sensitive to threats in their environment. They have to be mentally agile and trust their instincts when making decisions.
- Discretion: Undercover agents must be discreet in their work and be able to maintain confidentiality. They can’t discuss the details of their missions with other people and they must hide their identities to prevent compromising themselves and others.
- Language skills: Investigators may need to be multilingual to solve large-scale crimes successfully.
- Specialist skills: Self-defense, technological expertise, lock-breaking and weapons handling are among the specialized skills undercover agents need to solve cases and protect themselves.
Related: How To Become a Police Officer
Salary of an undercover law enforcement agent
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that detectives earn an average salary of $83,170 per year. Salary may depend on several factors, including the employer, experience, education, location and job duties and responsibilities.
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How to become an undercover law enforcement agent
Follow these steps to become an undercover law enforcement agent:
1. Earn a degree
The first step to become an undercover police officer is to earn a college or university degree in a discipline such as criminal justice, law, police science, criminology or a related field. In some cases, may also be able to apply with a high school diploma and work toward the position through experience and promotions.
2. Be physically fit
Besides having educational qualifications, becoming an undercover police officer involves a degree of physical fitness. Engage in a training program to ensure you can pass the physical examination for law enforcement training.
3. Apply for law enforcement training
Apply to a police academy or the training program of your preferred law enforcement agency. Some common requirements include being least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen and physically fit. Candidates also typically undergo a rigorous background check, polygraph examination and oral interview. If recruited, you can begin an intensive program to acquire specialized officer and physical training.
4. Start work as a law enforcement officer
Before you can become an undercover investigator, you need to work as a general law enforcement officer. Individual police departments have specific requirements for undercover officers. Once you meet all the criteria, you can then apply to become an undercover law enforcement agent.
5. Apply for undercover law enforcement assignments
To become an undercover officer, many agencies require you to work as a uniformed patrol officer for about two to three years. At the end of this probationary period, you may apply for undercover duties. Some agencies require their officers to spend more time on general law enforcement duties so they can be familiar with the local criminal network and standard undercover law enforcement practices. However, recruits may be posted to undercover missions soon after they finish training to protect their identity from criminals.
