For Writers

KN, p. 193 “An Garda Siochana, the Irish National Police”

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An Garda Síochána

Ever wonder what it would be like to be an Irish cop? Not a cop of Irish heritage living in the USA, but a cop who lives and works in Ireland. Is the job more glamorous or grittier than the U.S. version? Take a look at some of the aspects of the job as well as the requirements for becoming a candidate for the two-year training program for the Garda.

An Garda Síochána is the national police service of Ireland. Back in the 1920s, Ireland had just become a free state and needed a strong national police force. 100 years later, it has over 18,000 members, has offices in every county, and is now considered to be a community based law enforcement agency.

A Commissioner heads the agency, assisted by Deputy and Assistant Commissioners. Ireland is divided into four geographical regions for the Garda’s purposes, with 28 divisions headed by a Chief Superintendent. Superintendents oversee the districts scattered throughout the divisions. Inspectors and Sergeants conduct investigations, with the help of the Garda trainees and civilian employees.

A statement on the Garda website reveals recent philosophy: “Modern policing entails much more than crime fighting. Reducing the fear of crime and working in partnership with communities are the keys to making a positive difference and improving quality of life for all citizens.”

‘Reducing the fear of crime’ is a terrific goal and one that many hope is reflected in the Garda’s daily community interactions. Very little is worse for a civilian than being afraid to leave one’s house because of terrorism, or of local hooligans taking over the streets. We, as citizens, want to feel safe in our own homes and neighborhoods, wherever we live in the world. Bravo to the Garda and the community for making that a stated objective as they work to reduce crime, both locally and across Ireland.

What else does the Garda do? In 2016, over 200 million Euros was earmarked to provide upgrades to the Garda training and equipment. That investment was made so that they could “attract, develop and retain the best people.”  It’s a tough world we live in, and we all need hi-tech support and well-trained personnel to catch the bad guys and help the community.

Cyber crime is here to stay and the Garda is working to create groups throughout the country that can address the issues involved, with specially trained officers at work.

Drugs, organized crime, sex crimes, human trafficking – all require a different type of scrutiny, investigation, and partnerships with other agencies and departments than ever before. Intensive training in these areas is supplied during Garda college.

An effort to address the problems of the victims is reflected as well in the establishment of Victim Service Offices.

Crime prevention and detection is foremost in every law enforcement agency, but the Garda also works to improve road safety, reduce local “anti-social behavior,” and maintain Irish national security. Part of their strategy is to be more visible in the communities they serve.

They might also:

  • Investigate road fatalities
  • Investigate suicides
  • Testify in court
  • Notify next of kin of deaths or injuries
  • Write reports of investigations
  • Provide protection for dignitaries
    How     many people applied?
    When the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform in Ireland opened up applications to the public in September 2016, LOTS of people applied. According to data on the site, during the first two months of 2017, over 63,000 applications had been reviewed for their suitability to continue in the vetting process.

What does the vetting process entail?

The initial application is filed online by most applicants and eligibility requirements must be met before moving to the next level of screening.

Candidates must:

  • Be between 18 and 35 years old
  • Have successfully completed the Irish Leaving Certificate (similar to the U.S. High School Degree)
  • Be proficient in two languages (one of which must be Irish or English)
  • Be a resident

Sounds reasonable, although I would have trouble with the two-language requirement. I just don’t have the ear for languages, but I do know that it helps to have that second language in many parts of the U.S.

The candidates must also demonstrate good character, be certified that they are healthy, of sound mind, and be physically fit to do the job. With the many thousands of candidates, competition is fierce and only the top applicants will move on for the interviews and other assessments.

What’s the pay scale? The yearly pay for a rookie cop is over 37,000 Euros, with an additional Euros for housing. On March 10, 2025, the rate of exchange was 1 Euro=1.08 U.S. dollar. The Garda candidates have no choice of assignment, so the housing allowance is an incentive to get qualified applicants to apply even if the assignment might be to an expensive big city. The Commissioner has the right to place the successful candidates anywhere within Ireland.

On this side of the pond, law enforcement pay scales might not be broken down so visibly, but we know that the bigger cities offer more money to their officers to adjust for the steeper cost of living. After 20 years of service, senior members of the Garda can make 200,000 Euros, which includes a  housing allowance. There is a possibility for overtime in some areas, but as everywhere else in the world, sleepy little villages never seem to have as much crime as the big cities.

 

Next up:
Physical Competency Test for pre-entry testing plus information about the training program itself.

*Photo credits and quotes:  www.garda.ie

Visit them for more information about An Garda Siochana.

 

 

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KN, p. 330 “Dollars and Cents and Private Investigators”

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No real surprise, the cost of licensing and fees to become a P.I. varies from State to State and so does the income. There are the guys and gals who want to be their own boss and barely scrape by. There are some that work for pricey attorneys or big corporations, have their fees paid for them, and can make $100K (or more) a year.

In the State of North Carolina, there is an application fee of $188, which includes a fingerprint check. The license fee is $550, and is good for two years. The licensing process can take anywhere from two to four months. There are several different types of licenses, requiring different levels of education and experience.

The very basic requirements for the job are:

  • At least 18 years old
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • United States Citizen
  • No criminal record
  • Successfully complete a 90 hour training course
  • Pass a written exam
  • Have a surety bond of $10,000 to guarantee that the P.I. will do the work.
  • Experience in the field (universally seems to be three years or more, and can include working in other law enforcement fields)

How much does it cost to be a Private Investigator in New York? New York fees include $400 for the initial application for a P.I. license, with an additional $400 for the branch office application, and another $88.50 for the fingerprint check. The license is good for two years, and the renewal will cost $400. If a business requires a P.I. or security guard on staff, then the fees are higher across the board and the license is held in the business name. Basic job requirements:

  • Be 25 years old
  • Be a principal (owner/primary employee) in the company
  • Pass the Private Investigator examination within the two years immediately before the application date
  • Have either 3 years’ experience or 3 years equivalent position and experience or 20 years of service as a police officer or Fire Marshall.
  • Fingerprint check
  • Proof of a $10,000 surety bond

The hourly rate for an Investigation company in NYC ranges from about $75 to $150 per hour. Some companies will work out a deal attached to a guaranteed result.

Texas Private Investigator Training You must complete 40 hours of training from a school approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety (the same department that oversees the Texas Rangers.) The courses cover private investigation work, crowd control, observing, weapons, disaster response, traffic direction, and ethics. Once proof of training is submitted, you can then submit the license application.

  • Fees Required: A $33 application fee and a $25 application fee
  • Registration Needed: You need to mail two fingerprint sets or an electronic fingerprint receipt. If the application is approved (with no criminal history) you will receive your license.
  • Renewal takes place every two years.

Texas has one of the largest Private Investigator workforces in the country. Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 3,320 PIs were working in Texas in 2015. If you choose to work on your own as a Private Investigator in Texas, your salary will average $49,460 per year. That’s about $25. an hour to chase after cheating spouses, and be shot at by people who don’t want their trucks repossessed. 

Consider the average starting salary of over $63K in 2024 if working for a corporation or the government or an insurance company investigating fraud or financial crimes. Getting shot is less likely.

But, if a becoming a mall cop or night security guard (licensed by the same agency that handles the paperwork for skip tracers and investigators for attorneys) is your goal, then expect a salary less than $40K.   

The educational training requirement varies according to the gig.

Police Detective: Just for comparison sake, the USA average starting salary was pegged at a little over $47K a year in 2024.

 

The risk vs reward discussions should come into play when considering these careers. There are Investigator jobs that can be done mostly at a desk (background checks, financial fraud) and others that are more high-risk (skip tracers, undercover work). Choose wisely.

 

 

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KN, p. 241 “SWAT Equipment and Strategies”

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In “The Swat Team Experience,” I discussed the events that might cause a SWAT team to be called to active duty.

Take a look at some of the equipment/gear they might use during an active crime scene:

#1
#2                                                      #3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ballistic shield on the left is larger and heavier, covering more of the body, and has an armored viewing port. The smaller, lighter weight shield (#2) is preferred by some officers because it allows for an easier reach around it with weaponry. It does cover a smaller part of the body’s core. See #3: Both versions have hand holds on the back and attachments for neck support.

 

The equipment might weigh 50-65 pounds when fully hooked up. Many team members carry

  • Medical kit
  • Ammo Clips
  • Notebook
  • Glock 22
  • Nomex fire retardant gloves
  • Ballistic goggles
  • Ballistic helmet
  • Gas mask

They wear cargo pants because of the fit and all the practical pockets. Some tactical grade cargo pants have extra lining, allowing the officers to carry additional magazines (ammo), and are made of rip stop fabric. They are similar in weight and texture to several camping cargo pants I have from LLBean. They breathe well and allow sweat to wick away, but mine aren’t tough enough to hold ammo.

 

A sniper has to be prepared to observe and report the event as it unfolds, so they choose a spot within 50-75 yards of the scene that is good for watching, as well as shooting in case that has to happen. In order to communicate their intel, they use an encrypted digital signal that can’t be picked up on scanners, but can be heard by other members of the team. SWAT team snipers generally work in pairs, rotating positions every 15-30 minutes. Snipers want to be on the same plane as the target(s). The more off a 90 degree angle they are, the more off a straight line the shot will go after it hits glass, etc. that might be between the shooter and the target.

 

One of the tricky, but essential, parts in gathering information is to find is where in the house or building the target is. The agencies involved identify positions around the house for ease of information sharing, using letters or numbers. i.e.: “I’m at Position A, ten yards out.”

 

                                      C

                                Back of house

B                                                                          D   

                                      A

 

Or, using positions on a clock, an officer might say, “I’m at 12:00, twenty yards out.”

 

A SWAT team is not the bomb squad, although they are able to call upon a bomb expert if needed. In general, no robots are sent in to surveil the area, because the bad guy could pick the robot up and put it in a closet.

 

The scary part of breaching a building is not knowing what’s on the other side of the door. The teams get very quiet before entrance, but the ride after the mission can be very loud as they burn off the high intensity of the operation. The job does take a toll.

 

What is used to force out the bad guys?

Flash-bangs (stun grenades) are one tool, called that because of the blinding flash and ear-splitting bang meant to only temporarily blind and deafen, therefore disorienting the target. The goal is not to kill the suspects, just to flush them out into the open. Teams try not to use this in domestic situations because of the potential collateral damage.

 

Gas grenades: The s-6 multi-launcher gas rounds can cause pain in the face and eyes. FYI, the gas gets into the clothes of everyone in close proximity and lasts for more than 24 hours, even in the wash.

 

Remington Ball Camera:  This can be tossed into the house, where it will land and take photos in a 360 degree arc. It also records sound.

 

 

 

In order to show you the relative size, an Academy participant held it upright while I took the photo.

 

The sniper rifle is very loud (308 caliber) and if shot inside a house might cause permanent loss of hearing to those in the room, so handguns or other firearms are used, if needed at all.

 

Armored vehicles:  the teams wait in them while part of the team is working. Not all towns have them at a price tag of from $180K to $630K. Why the hefty cost? At the high end, the armored vehicles can withstand ammo assault from below and to the engine, are bulletproof through continued attack, and have the option of roof mounted gun turrets. The opening scene in Jamie Freveletti’s novel, “Blood Run,” gives a realistic portrayal of a substantially armored vehicle under attack.

This armored vehicle is used by the Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department.

 

Curious about salaries for doing this dangerous and challenging job?

In 2025:

Nationwide average in the USA:   $73,000

New York: $79,937
Wichita Falls, TX average:  $64,000
North Carolina average:  $56,538

 

Thanks go to the Neenah Police Department members who shared their information and experiences at a Writers’ Police Academy held in Wisconsin.

 

Many thanks to Lee Lofland for organizing this outstanding annual event.

 

Additional information from:

https://policeandsecuritynews.com

http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/154/Special-Operations-Section


Photo credits:
All except armored truck: Patti Phillips.
Armored truck: Neenah, Wisconsin Police Department

 

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