Police and other law enforcement officers play a vital role in society. If you want to become a law enforcement officer, you should start preparing to do so now. Regardless of your age, you can start planning, and making decisions right now to improve your chances of becoming a peace officer. Often times, it is not how much education or experience a police officer candidate has that determines whether or not he or she gets hired. Often times, it is what they have done that they should not have. Background investigations and polygraph examinations are what weeds most candidates out! Remember, you don't have to be a genius or a rocket scientist to become a police officer. You simply have to be of average intelligence, with good common sense and a favorable background. If the economy continues to get worse, obtaining a law enforcement officer job will become more competitive. Make yourself as attractive as you can on paper and in person.