Welcome!

Jacksonville requires you to be 21, so I'm not sure applying so early would help you all that much FWIW

There is a program that you can do while you go to college. It is called CSO (Community Service Officer), and what it is, is you get your own squad car (but with yellow and white lights) and you respond to accident calls and write up the reports. You also help with crowd controll and minor things like this. You are in uniform but with no gun.... only pepper spray, baton, and hand cuffs. However you can not really arrest someone unless they become a threat. Also, you can not pull anyone over. It is really good training but is really hard to get into... takes most of the similar hiring processes to become a sworn officer, and once you are in you basically are guaranteed a spot with that PD after college unless you screw something up.

We are glad to have you aboard. Feel free to post and be a part of our little community.

Hope you have fun and welcome.