Law Enforcement Officers Please Respond

[Galb]

I am currently considering Law Enforcement as a possible career change and I wanted to get some of your opinions about your job. So please feel free to share if you wish. What is your favorite part about the job? The worst part? How dangerous is it truly? Exciting? Boring? How is the Academy today? How do you deal with the really emotional stuff, like having to show up where domestic violence is/has occurred? Do you ever have trouble keeping your personal feelings out of the job? Any info is welcome and helpful.

Currently I am working in a job I am beginning to dislike greatly. I have been down this road before. I graduated college with a very specialized degree. I found out that it is pretty much worthless in the area I live in. Also the animation industry is incredibly difficult to get into, not to mention that a lot of it is now overseas. Since college I have worked where I could find jobs simply providing money and a means to live on. It's been almost 9 years since I graduated and I can honestly say I have not had a job I truly enjoyed. Although I have had jobs I could stand, after awhile they all grow stale and I find myself hating getting up in the morning.

Now, I am beginning to look ahead to the future. I'm seeing where I am and what I am doing. I wonder if my life will be simply bouncing from job to job every 3-4 years in hopes of better pay but no satisfaction. I'm thinking of my parents, who didn't plan and are now still working as they are approaching their 70s. They are still struggling, especially with the constant downward spiral of our economy. Honestly, I don't want to be looking towards this. I want something different, something better.

But, looking back now at the present I am forced to accept that my job sucks, and no jobs are available. The employer knows this. This is to his advantage to freeze raises and have a different towards the employees. I want a change. I want to find satisfaction in my career/job. I don't want to have to keep getting in a rut every three years and forced to search for other employment. But mainly, I want what I do to mean something instead of simply going to work and shuffling papers that means very little except in the tiny world of my employer.

I mentioned this to my wife, who was not happy about my possible decision. She did say, however, she supports whatever I decide in the end, but wishes I will find something else. I mentioned it to my parents. They are both against it. All of those close to me are afraid that I will get on the force and get killed. They say it is too dangerous. Both my parents are telling me that things have changed so much since when they were kids and it was a good profession to go into. Now, they say, it is too dangerous with the way society is and they don't want to see me get hurt. My mother went as far as saying that me joining won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things. I know what she meant, and I know why she said it, but I cannot help but feel that every officer makes a difference to someone.

In the end I know they will support whatever I decide to do. And as I told them, this is not a career change like simply changing jobs. This is something that takes a ton of research to make sure this is something I want. This isn't something you simply quit after a week. This is a commitment you make. And that alone requires some more soul searching than simply changing jobs. Anyways, any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance and sorry for the novel.

[Keith A]

I cant speak for the academy were you are but for me it was realy no a problem. The p.t. was nothing, the homework was the worst, not because it was hard, it was just a lot and the books that had to be caried everywere were very heavy.
As far as dealing with the street most people go through differant stages, that change with the time you have and the amount you are exposed to.
Were I am the pay is o.k. could be better compaired to other law enforcement in the area. The benefits are good it's nice to have health care, and a pension after 20 years.
My time on the job started with walking a foot post in the p.j.'s 1 cop for 57 bldg's. I had a very good time doing that. I then went to a team that did nothing but drug arrest, that was alot of work and alot of fun.
I then moved into undercover work for four years that was by far the most fun I had in my job. You get to be another person, and get into alot of very dangeros spots alot of fights, but its all great fun.
I then went to a detective sqd for 3 years and that is were I got burnt out.
The case load was out of control and I got tierd of dealing with dead people and the familys who dont want to help you find out who killed their family members.
Now I have a nice inside job, no stress, no case's, steady hours with steady days off.
In time like now with the economy going down the tolet any civil service job is the way to go.

[Casey_in_Carolina]

I am currently considering Law Enforcement as a possible career change and I wanted to get some of your opinions about your job. So please feel free to share if you wish. Any info is welcome and helpful.

What is your favorite part about the job?

Helping people. Sure, a lot of the people you'll deal with will be jerks, and be pissed off at you because they're being forced to interact with you. Then you'll have people who are polite and civil. Then you'll have people who are grateful for your help. The big thing is you have to realize that you're not out there just for that last group, you're out there to help them all. I still get letters from a woman who was addicted to crack cocaine, and heading her life down the sewer when I arrested her, sent her to jail, and got the judge to add in drug treatment as a part of her sentence. It took her three tries, but she's clean now, and sees the world in a whole different light. I get a hand written letter from her every three or four months now, just letting me know how she's doing, and that she's still clean and enjoying life.

The worst part?

The worst is when something bad happens to a brother officer. A close second would be getting there too late to help someone who really needed it.

How dangerous is it truly?

As dangerous as you want it to be. Heck, it's dangerous just walking down the street these days. As a cop, you'll have to go places you would normally steer clear of, but they don't have to be more dangerous if you pay attention, and don't let your guard slip. More officers are injured by complacency than anything else in the job. Remember, THERE IS NO ROUTINE CALL!!

Exciting? Boring?

Yes, and Yes. Police work is usually long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of heart-pounding adrenaline surges. One minute you may be parked under an overpass working radar, the next you might be rolling around on the ground fighting the guy you just pulled over. It's never the same twice, just keep that in mind.

How is the Academy today?

I don't know about Florida, but when I was in the Academy in SC, it was a cakewalk. I had about ten years on most of the other recruits, and while they had it easier on the physical side, I had it much easier on the mental side, because I had experienced enough of life to know when to buck up, and when to shut up and do what I was told.

How do you deal with the really emotional stuff, like having to show up where domestic violence is/has occurred?

Everyone deals with it differently, I would suggest talking with some of your fellow officers to see how they deal with it, and work out your own way that actually works.(if you get something figured out, be sure to share it, we're always looking for ways to deal with things) The most heart-rending calls, at least to me, are when you're called in to assist in taking a child into Emergency Protective Custody, those are always the worst....

Do you ever have trouble keeping your personal feelings out of the job?

Often, the thing is, to keep those feelings bottled up inside while you're dealing with the people. You have to present that professional image on the outside, even though in the inside, you're howling to tear into this wife-beater and break him in half. Just remember, if you screw up, he might get off on a technicality, and then he's free to take it out on the victim again. You've got to do your job, and part of that means maintaining your cool. Once you've handed him over to Detention, then go work out your frustrations on the dumpster with a baseball bat, but save it for later, whatever you do.

Just my thoughts, YMMV

Casey

[vmac3205]

I think you are on the right track. As a supervisor, I welcome and encourage folks to come in as a second or even third career. The added maturity makes a lot of things easier. You can't beat the benefits and vacation.

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

My feelings on this topic are not as positive as some of the other replies I've seen. I am a former Corrections Officer, and am still friends with many cops and co's. If you'd like my input, drop me a PM.

[IrishGodfather]

hey Casey,

Where are you a policeman? I see you're from the upstate, and I was just wondering. I'm from Greenville, but currently I'm at Clemson getting my edumacation.

[Streetcar]

Galb,
You posted quite a bit about why you don't like your current situation, but you don't say much about your reasons for looking towards law enforcement. Why the Police Department? Why not the Fire Department? Is it the "security" of a government job? Is it to help people? Fight crime? The "excitement" of police work?

The fact is it's not like T.V. To paraphrase Casey, the job is long periods of boredom, punctuated by terror, followed by endless paperwork.

The most sucessful officers I've known are the ones who feel a calling towards the profession - the ones who would want to be a police officer even if it paid less. They are not starry-eyed idealists, they know that they are not ending crime and they people they help will likely curse them for doing it. But they don't care. It is a satisfaction that comes from within.

Personally, I've been doing it for over 13 years now, and I think it's the best job in the world - for me.

I suggest you contact your local police agency and arrange to go on a few ride-alongs. Talk to the officers on the force in your jurisdiction, then decide if you really want to be a cop, or if you just want a change from your current situation.

(Feel free to pm me if you want to talk more in depth.)

[Galb]

Galb,
You posted quite a bit about why you don't like your current situation, but you don't say much about your reasons for looking towards law enforcement. Why the Police Department? Why not the Fire Department? Is it the "security" of a government job? Is it to help people? Fight crime? The "excitement" of police work?

You are right. I seemed to have left that part out. It started back after I graduated college. My parent's house was broken into and things taken. My mother was distraught. My father was calm. I was furious. Yet when I arrived a sense of calm kinda washed over me because the police were there. They had a calming effect on everyone and the situation. They were there to help in a time of helplessness. I admired that. I guess this is where it started.

That was about the same time that I took a step back and began looking at the world with reality lenses on. Instead of being some naive kid as I had grown up as, I took a step back and began watching people, the news, the community. I didn't like what I saw. People no longer helped people. Hell, neighbors didn't even know each other by their names. People seemed to prey more on other "weaker" people. It disgusted me, yet I felt there was nothing I could do except continue to be who I was. And by that I mean simply being an overgrown boyscout, as I have had friends tell me.

So about this time is where the interest began. I felt like there was nothing I could do to make things better as I was. But if I was a police officer I could help keep people like the thief that broke into my parent's house off the streets. I mentioned it to my father. He discouraged it given the current situation of today's criminal society. He told me it was incredibly dangerous and in no way do they make the money that they deserve. I was still young, and I listened. I put it out of my mind.

It re-entered my mind every now and then over the past 8 years. Every time I would see something wrong on the news or hear about it from friends, I would begin to think about it again. Every time I see a victim upset on the news, I feel like there are others out there that do need help and the calm presence of a police officer. I've seen incredibly loud arguments arise in public, ones in which I want to step into and ask people to calm down, yet know that I cannot because I am simply a civilian and it will only escalate matters further. I guess what I am saying is that I am tired of seeing terrible things happen to good people and yet feel like I cannot do anything in the situation.

The fact is it's not like T.V. To paraphrase Casey, the job is long periods of boredom, punctuated by terror, followed by endless paperwork.

This reminds me of what an officer told me the job was like back when I was in college. I was working in a gym and he had finished and was waiting for his partner. I asked him what his job was like. He flat out said "95% boredom followed by 5% insanity". He never mentioned the paperwork. But hell, I have endless stacks now with what I do. ;)

The most sucessful officers I've known are the ones who feel a calling towards the profession - the ones who would want to be a police officer even if it paid less. They are not starry-eyed idealists, they know that they are not ending crime and they people they help will likely curse them for doing it. But they don't care. It is a satisfaction that comes from within.


Personally, I've been doing it for over 13 years now, and I think it's the best job in the world - for me.

I might fall under the idealist category, but not the starry-eyed version. I realize you cannot end all crime, but what is done is removing those law breakers from the streets so that the law abiding citizen can live a safer life. I would get huge satisfaction from knowing that by simply doing my job I am helping people. Yet I will admit, I am sure I would grow frustrated as repeat offenders are let back out onto the streets.

I suggest you contact your local police agency and arrange to go on a few ride-alongs. Talk to the officers on the force in your jurisdiction, then decide if you really want to be a cop, or if you just want a change from your current situation.

(Feel free to pm me if you want to talk more in depth.)

Yeah this was something I was planning on. I think I can only do one ride along a year so for that small amount of time I am really gonna have to pick that officer's brain while trying not to distract him from his job.

Thanks for your help.

[Streetcar]

Good on you! It sounds like you've got some good reasons for looking at police work. I'd be interested in hearing how your ride alongs go.

...Yet I will admit, I am sure I would grow frustrated as repeat offenders are let back out onto the streets....

I can offer you a bit of advice I used to give my student officers regarding this. All you can do is your job. Do it to the best of your ability. If down the line a prosecutor takes a bad plea deal, or a judge hands down an overly lenient sentence, then that's on them. You did your part, and you can look at yourself and the victim with a clear conscience.

Keep us posted on this!

[davedove]

I have never been a policeman, but the other day I was speaking with a woman in my dance class who used to be an officer. One thing she told me was that she had to pull her sidearm at least once every day, not necessarily to fire it, but in response to touchy situations like someone reaching for something in their jacket.