In desperate need of help (long, sorry)

[E-City XD]

This is for all you Police, State trooper, Border Patrol Types.
I recently seperated from the Air Force ( Honorably, my time was up ) because I was allways deployed, and my family will always come first, so I wanted to be around to be a good husband/father and I did not feel that I could give the family the attention that they deserve from the desert. I have been working as a contractor for the coast gaurd for a year and a half now fixing airplanes. The wife says since I got out that I have become a diffrent unhappy person and she doesn't like to be around me as much and I feel it too. I don't feel like I am actualy "doing" anything with my life, I am just sort of 9 to 5 surviving without making any real difference in the world. I need to find a new job/lifestyle where I feel better about myself, not just for me but also for my family and the community.
I think that LE work would be one avenue that I am interested in pursueing.
I have no criminal record and am prior millitary so this seems like a natural step.
One of my main questions is I have full sleve tattoos, would that immediatly disqual me from applying, i know it would of had i had them when i joined the AF?
Any other comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all for your time.

[aequitasmurphy]

I am not LEO, but I have talked to a few officers about this. As far as the tattoos go it depends if they are in good taste or not. I have seen many officers here in AZ that are full sleeved on both arms. Might be up to the different departments too.

[WAZX3DRVR]

Definitely gonna depend on the dept......there was a young Wichita, KS, officer on Cops this weekend that had at least his right arm tatted up all the way to the wrist, so you aren't alone. I always thought it was sort of silly....lots of military folks have tattoos, and they make fine police officers.

Btw, thanks for your service to this country good sir. I'm sure you'll make a fine LEO.

[aequitasmurphy]

In my opinion full sleeves on Officers make them look a little harder, which could be good or bad depending on the situation.

[any4xx]

You may very well find a department who's "leaders" frown on tattoos. Personally, I don't like the looks of an arm full in a PD uniform, but I wouldn't disqualify a guy for it. That said, unless there is a hard fast rule on the entry forms, wear long sleeves until you're hired. And get used to the idea that you may be asked to wear long sleeves through your entire career. While tattoos are certainly a form of protected expression, police departments certainly have the right to curtail your "freedom of expression" to an extent. If your tattoos are tasteful, you likely won't encounter problems, but if they can in ANY way be deemed to be offensive, you may have problems. Think of yourself walking around all day in uniform flipping the bird to all passers by. Your department could, and would, prohibit you from doing that.

[hacker15]

Don't see that it would - unless you're talking death heads or naked women here....

If you're looking at LE in order to recover your sense of well being, you might want to go a little deeper. From personal experience (and from working with a few guys in the same boat), being a LEO can be more taxing to your personal relationships than any other job (outside of maybe sanitation worker.....if you get the drift). The hours are "unique", to say the least. You (and your significant other) know that every day you go to work, you're putting your life on the line. It takes a special woman to put up with that - and, if you have kids, the "butt clench" factor goes up significantly.

Not trying to talk you out of it, but please - before you get into this too deeply, examine your reasons. Despite the great background, you're going to have to pass an examination board and that's a key question they will ask. Your tats (unless they're in terrible taste) shouldn't be an issue - your reasons for wanting to join the community may be.

[aiformula]

You might actually find more acceptance (or at least blind eyes) of your decorations in the Fire/EMS community. Would that be an acceptable vocation for you to fill your need to serve? I know it would me. I am not because all of the sudden, every department in my area wants everyone EMT certified, even volunteers. I personally do not want to deal w/ the liability of the EMT cert for a volunteer position where I will make less money than the avg. burger flipper. Just my $.02

[DanTheEldest]

I can't speak for all the departments represented here (naturally); the one my brother is applying with here in AZ won't ding you for the tats, but will just ask that you wear long-sleeve uniforms if they deem the art "unprofessional". That's not such a big thing really, but long sleeves here in AZ can be a special form of torture for about half the year. (insert sweating your keister off smilie here)

[E-City XD]

I can deal with the long sleves, being that the Air Force does not allow tattoos I have needed to wear sleves down on a few deployments (120 f.+)
No, nothing is innapropriate/distastefull, I don't mind being a little bit different but I would mind being offensive in public every day!
As for it being taxing on my personal life, I have allways worked mid/swing shifts, the wife is used to me working crazy hours, and if she can stay sane with me being gone to hostile fire zones for months at a time I'm sure she could deal with this, she is indeed a very special girl.
It is not a set in stone goal yet, just looking at options, i really appreciate all of your input.
Thank you all very much.

[sharpstick]

Never juge a man based on his tattoos, that is about the dumbest way to decide if someone will make a decent cop.

I have thought alot about becomeing a cop, but in the end I cant trade my personal morals. You see I belive that certin things should not be crimes or that it is totaly stupid that they are crimes so how could I uphold a law that I belive gose against my belife and attepts to live right by GOD. Basicly what Im saying is that I have met very few bad cops they all start out as good men, but because the law is fouled these police are forced to uphold bull**** fouled "laws"(more like bull**** regulation).


Basicly how can you do good in a totaly corupt system, whos real focuse is the gaining of revenue?

Become a EMT or something like that, something with a positive impact.