Banker, to a cop..

[Rich46yo]

I just hope you dont come on this job with unusual expectations. You give up a lot when you come on the Police job. Ive done both, military and police. 33 years now since I first put on a uniform.

Coming on the job because you want something new? Well theres nothing wrong with that but keep in mind any job isnt going to feel exactly "new" after awhiles. If you dont have a better reason then that your probably better off staying in banking. At least there you wont have to write up a 4 car accident at 0400 Sunday morn., with 2 DOAs and 4 DUIs. All on 3 hours sleep from the day before.

[Curval]

Wait...you were fired from your job in banking for revealing confidential information to a non account holder and now you want to be a cop?  What are the hiring standards for cops like these days?  Will you be "leaving off" two months of employment at the bank from your resume, because the police will surely check references?  If you do that you will be effectively lying about your job history, which isn't exactly cop-like.  I don't see how law enforcement is in your future.

[68Wooley]

One other point - I'm not a cop, but I work with them nearly every day. Most of the forces I've been working with recently are operating under very tight financial constraints right now so there is no guarantee they're recruiting.

[eagl]

Family...  Cops have a very very high divorce rate.  And the suicide rate is pretty high too.

Coming from a family with both a military and law enforcement tradition (grandfather was navy and sheriff reserve rescue diver, father was marines and calif highway patrol, brother is also CHP), I think that law enforcement has to be a "calling" for it to be a good idea.  It's too tough of a job both personally and on your family for it to be just something you try out.

If you want to do it, go ahead.  But...

Make sure your kids will be taken care of if (when) you get divorced.
Make sure your life insurance policy will pay out if (when) you kill yourself or get killed on duty.
Make an effort to continue a "healthy" lifestyle because it's too easy for cops and their families to get into bad habits.
Don't EVER try drugs just to see what the bad guys are all about.  Just don't.  Trust me.
Do NOT ever ever drink alcohol before, during, or after a fight with your wife.  Ever.  That leads to physical abuse, divorce, and possibly jail time.