Thinking about becoming a police officer...

[Karnak]

I'm contemplating becoming a police officer.

I know that some of you guys are police officers.  What do you think, should I go for it?

Thanks.

[Urchin]

I'm not even a police officer (yet, I hope), but I know one thing.  

You better ENJOY running.

[fdiron]

You can teach yourself to enjoy running.

[Nefarious]

10 Requirements for becoming a Pittsburgh Police Officer...

1.You are required to gain 20lbs a year on the Force.
2.Must be able to consume 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in 1 hour.
3.Must have a Mustache. And a Mullet exceeding 6 inches in Length.
4.Must speak fluent Pittsburghese.
5.Must be able to take a bullet for any member of the Pittsburgh Steeler Organization.
6.Must announce your undying love for Iron (Arn) City Beer at least twice a day.
7.Must make catching Graffitti Artists a higher priority than catching Rapists, Murderers, and Terrorists. (FREE MOOK)
8.On St Patricks Day, you are required to beat at least three drunken Irish men.
9.You must have an Iron City Beer or Pittsburgh Steeler bumper sticker on your squad car.
10.Must hate the Cleveland Browns, And all of thier fans, more than you hate Osama Bin Laden.


Remember that these regulations are subject to change. And If your Irish, Polish or Croation, your a shoe in.

Its your life Karnak, But if I were you Id become a fireman.

[eskimo2]

Originally posted by Karnak
I'm contemplating becoming a police officer.

I know that some of you guys are police officers.  What do you think, should I go for it?

Thanks.

Yes.

I'm certainly not a cop, but I do feel as if I've gotten to know you a bit over the years and at the con.

You seem like a good guy, your smart, honest, not too arrogant, etc.  I think that you'd make a great police officer.  Just be careful about where you apply so that you don't take a job thats too dangerous or depressing.

Either way,
Good luck!

eskimo

[Sandman]

My brother is a Sheriff's Deputy in Stanislaus County.

He seems to like it.

[GRUNHERZ]

Only if you personally promise me to racially profile every driver.

[Maverick]

I have seen the usual attempts at humor on this and will pass on it.

If you are serious in this question I sugggest you really ask it of yourself. As far as I am concerned I try to talk folks out of the job. if they have doubts about being a cop they usually don't last long. I say that becuase this is a job you really have to WANT to do, not just think about doing. You will end up living it 24/7 and it will cost you friends and maybe family relationships. Divorce is VERY common among police officers.

You want to find out what predjudice is like? Join the force in any major urban area and experiance it first hand. If you think I'm kidding just reread some of the preceding posts and be prepared for that kind of treatment very often. It won't be funny or intended to be funny pretty much most of the time.

[Dago]

A good friend of mine (Ken) was a Police Officer in a Chicago suburb.  I remember him telling me that he had 17 years in, and would retire as soon as he hit 20. He hated it, he hated the scum he had to deal with on a daily basis, hated the politics and crap in the department, didnt like most of the other officers.

A few months later he was dead, shot to death in the line of duty.

Ken was a great guy.  Easy going, loved to fly his old Cessna 150, built his house himself, was raising 3 daughters.  I miss his friendship and the laughs we shared.

Does this mean you shouldn't be a cop?  That is for you to decide.  I am sure there are a tremendous amount of Police Officers who love what they do and wouldnt trade their careers for any other job.  

Police are said to have the some of the highest rates of alcoholism, suicide and divorce.  Police also get to help people when they really need it, get to put criminals in jail and help keep our streets safe.

Think long and hard about why you want to be a cop, if its something you feel you really want to do, go for it.  Do your best at it, and when the work day is over, go home, love your family and forget about it until the next day.

good luck,

dago

[Urchin]

Police also get to help people when they really need it, get to put criminals in jail and help keep our streets safe.

THAT'S why I've always wanted to be a police officer.  Plus, I think the cars are really cool looking

[Pongo]

After I got out of the army some of my budies had become Police officers and I applied with the RCMP.
Went through the tests and varios interviews and physical and PT test.
In the end I coudnt think of a good reason I wanted to do it so I continued with my systems schooling. All my buddies that joined are still at it and I wouldnt trade lives with them. But I bet it can be rewarding..

[SOB]

Karnak,

Contact whatever local agency you're thinking about joining and schedule a ride along...hell, if you're still contemplating, do a few before you decide.  If you do it, prepare to work the crappiest shifts for a while and prepare to enter a completely different world.  Don't worry too much about losing friends...anyone who would shun you because you work for a law enforcement agency is an amazinhunk, and isn't worth the effort.

Mav is right tho', when I worked for the Sheriff's Office and told people what I did, I could tell some would instantly not like me (none of my friends had any problems...they're not amazinhunks ), and I wasn't even a cop - just some slap working at the jail.  But like I said, it's just the amazinhunks...mainly the type who have been unfairly treated by the law, ie: arrested/fined for breaking the law.

Depending on where you'd work, be prepared for the possible reality that 80% of the people you arrest will be let out within 2-10 hours, and good percentage of those will be brought back to be let out again for not appearing in court.  I don't know where you'd get the stats, but IMO, working within a county that will actually hold on to the people you arrest would be a plus - and it can be like night and day even in counties that are right next to each other.

Good luck to ya!  There's no way in hell I could do it, but I respect the hell out of people who can.


SOB

[Saurdaukar]

Im not a police officer.  I was thinking of becomeing one after military service, but decided against it.

All of the LEO's (Law Enforcement Officers) that I know try and talk everyone out of it.

There are a few things that people dont think about when applying to become an LEO.  Im just repeating what Ive heard here as information, not trying to sway you one way or the other.  Here is what they say:

1.)  If you are joining for ideological reasons (ie - "I want to make a difference, etc etc etc) be prepared to have them fade in a week.

2.)  You will learn to hate the citizen population because they give you absolutely no respect at best.  At worst they insult you and make your job exceedingly difficult.

3.)  You will always see people at their worst so depression and tense home life is a problem ("Honey, how was your day?" - "Dont wanna talk about it.")

4.)  Police officers have some of the highest numbers of alcohol/drug abuse and suicide in the employment field.

5.)  You will probably end up serving in some dinky town handing out parking tickets instead of the big city you wanted.

6.)  You will do some of the most dangerous work out there and get paid next to nothing for it.

7.)  It takes years and lots of luck to make detective if thats what your after.  Be prepared to sit in a squad car the rest of the time.

8.)  Most departments work 6 days on 2 days off.  You probably wont get Christmas Eve off until your 3rd or 4th year as the norm.

9.)  The local government is not cooperative.  They are constantly trying to limit your authority, make you work longer, and for less pay.

Would I do it?  No, probably not after hearing all this from my LEO freinds.  Someone has to however, and I respect anyone who devotes their life to public service.  

I am NOT trying to discourage you, only trying to inform you that beneath all the gloss of the TV shows, its really a toejamty job dealing with the scum in your town as well as the scum in your local legislature and getting zero real life respect for it.  ("Real life respect" meaning anything not part of a 9/11 documentary)  

[eskimo2]

Karnak,
How about the FBI?

eskimo

[gofaster]

Law enforcement can be a rewarding occupation, certainly not as tedious as some office jobs, but also bearing quite a few risks.  And then there's the PITA factor - the Pain In The bellybutton factor - which states "Is this job such a pain in the bellybutton that its not worth the trouble to do it?".  As a rookie policeman, you'll be drawing the late shifts (which means you'll be logging onto AH when the population is at its ebb).  And the pay is good, but not the best.  Still, there are perks.  Like Serpico once mentioned, if something happens, the cops will know about it.

Where I live, the local police department has a policy that if you get hurt on the job, then you will be fired.  I found that policy to be so egregious and disrespectful that I stopped my application with several other local departments, too.

But, there's a bright shining future in law enforcement and security in general, particularly now.  It can be lucrative and rewarding.  And you'll never know if you don't try it.