Question for all LEO's

[cookieXD40]

My question is what are the pro's and cons of being a Police Officer?....i'm a firefighter by heart but have found its probably going to be easier for me to be a police officer to support my family until the misses gets out of school...i have worked as a security officer for a hospital that has a mental institution as part of the hospital and had a close working relationship with several officers...still are friends with most...i guess my question is would you say that going to "cop school" would be a good idea right now??

[street cruiser]

If your heart is with firefighting you should go that route. As with any job you'll be at your most effective when your doing something you want to do. For example I was in sales for 10 years before going into law enforcement. I did sales just to get by, nothing more nothing less. The issue was I saw no future in it sales so I just coasted along. Now that I am in law enforcement I feel less stress and I actually enjoy getting out of bed in the morning even if the job gets to be a pain in the ass sometimes. Just be honest with yourself before you commit to a decision one way or the other.

BTW- Nobody likes when the cops show up but they celebrate when the firemen arrive.

[XD40DucheKiller]

pros...cool new siren

cons...new guy works night shift and holidays.

my cousin just became a LEO. loves it...but he's workin the graveyard shift and holidays...HE says cause he's a newbie.

but hey...everyone gots to pay their dues.

[hacker15]

Originally Posted by street cruiser

If your heart is with firefighting you should go that route. As with any job you'll be at your most effective when your doing something you want to do. For example I was in sales for 10 years before going into law enforcement. I did sales just to get by, nothing more nothing less. The issue was I saw no future in it sales so I just coasted along. Now that I am in law enforcement I feel less stress and I actually enjoy getting out of bed in the morning even if the job gets to be a pain in the ass sometimes. Just be honest with yourself before you commit to a decision one way or the other.

BTW- Nobody likes when the cops show up but they celebrate when the firemen arrive.

+1 on this - go with your main line of interest. Also, if you're looking for the money, in most cases, LEO isn't your best bet. Most of us start for lots less than you can make elsewhere and the job isn't the right fit for everyone. If you're looking for short term employment, becoming a LEO isn't a golden opportunity. As others have pointed out, long hours, evil shifts, usually not the best part of town to work in, and lots of complaints from the family.....

Just what I've experienced and seen over the years......

[KingArthur]

I have been an LEO for 10 years. The pros: carrying wherever you want, free ammo, a stable income, and there is always work. The cons: the politics, (every office has them), liberal idiots who always want to give you grief, hardly anyone being happy to see you, and if you are uniform- shift work. That being said, I won't stop until they make me, I retire, or win the lottery.

[The Tengu]

Everybody loves firefighters. Everybody despises police officers, some secretly, but some quite openly and in your face.

This is the kind of job that you can only do for yourself. You will not get pats on the back from anyone else, even your family at times.

If you want to "help people" then be a social worker. If you want to "put badguys away" then go to law school and become a prosecutor. If you want to "save people", be a fire fighter or pastor. If you want job where you can "kick ass and take names" then join the military. If you want to be a "positive role model", go coach Little League.

Law enforcement really does not fit any of the above ideals. Sure, you get a chance to do some of that neat TV stuff, but not very often.

Basically, you will come to the conclusion that as the police... most people hate and despise you. Your friends will look at you different or stop associating with you. Your family will probably say you've changed. You may question your faith at times. The jury and media will never believe a word you say. The administration will use you as their political pawn whenever they need to. You will probably get sued at least once.

You will be shocked and awed if anyone ever does something nice for you while you're in uniform.

The constant politics are a mother****er.

If you can deal with all that, you will be okay.

DISCLAIMER: This is my perspective from being an urban street cop. The rural guys out in the counties will have a different perspective, and the school cops will have another, and the fed guys yet another... etc. I do like being a cop, and I could never voluntarily go back to any other kind of work again. I'd suggest going on several ride-alongs.

[drgonzo]

Not a LEO but know a couple.

One explained to me that, after a few years on the job, he had to try hard not to pigeonhole all of humanity into two camps:

1. Criminals who'd kill you for less than the change in your pocket, or
2. Losers who want you to extricate them from whatever horrible situation they've managed to work themselves into.

[KingArthur]

I hear you. I was grabbing some lunch with a partner assigned that day, and my wife, who was a social worker at the time, somehow managed to be in the same place as we were with her co-workers. Later, she told me I was cold and distant. I had to tell her there is the "work personality" and the "home personality" and the two never meet. I wonder why a lot of us end up marrying social workers and nurses? And I understand the bit about not getting any understanding at home a lot of the times. Heaven forbid I dare say, "Tonk" in my own home. But, on the bright side it is "Police Appreciation Week", so hats off to 'yah.

[RSfireman]

If you're a FF now why change?

[jcabin]

Originally Posted by The Tengu

Everybody loves firefighters. Everybody despises police officers, some secretly, but some quite openly and in your face.

This is the kind of job that you can only do for yourself. You will not get pats on the back from anyone else, even your family at times.

If you want to "help people" then be a social worker. If you want to "put badguys away" then go to law school and become a prosecutor. If you want to "save people", be a fire fighter or pastor. If you want job where you can "kick ass and take names" then join the military. If you want to be a "positive role model", go coach Little League.

Law enforcement really does not fit any of the above ideals. Sure, you get a chance to do some of that neat TV stuff, but not very often.

Basically, you will come to the conclusion that as the police... most people hate and despise you. Your friends will look at you different or stop associating with you. Your family will probably say you've changed. You may question your faith at times. The jury and media will never believe a word you say. The administration will use you as their political pawn whenever they need to. You will probably get sued at least once.

You will be shocked and awed if anyone ever does something nice for you while you're in uniform.

The constant politics are a mother****er.

If you can deal with all that, you will be okay.

DISCLAIMER: This is my perspective from being an urban street cop. The rural guys out in the counties will have a different perspective, and the school cops will have another, and the fed guys yet another... etc. I do like being a cop, and I could never voluntarily go back to any other kind of work again. I'd suggest going on several ride-alongs.

Thats bad ass, you've got my respect good sir
+100