Should I Become A Police Officer? - Advice from Officers

Comments · 438

• TH

  @The10CodeMindset · 2 years ago (edited) · pinned

  Ask the right questions before entering the career: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ie26f3">https://amzn.to/3Ie26f3</a>

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• DA

  @Daniel-36 · 2 years ago

  As someone who did not make it in law enforcement, here’s my advice: you need to reflect on your life and ask yourself am I willing to put myself into harms ways on a daily basis and am I okay with stepping up in a situation where I may lose my life? For me that answer was no. I was on the job and had that answer come to me only a couple months in. I resigned because <b>I</b> couldn’t handle it. There are thousands of people who can, and the majority of the public respect LE and call on them every day. If you can answer their call, do it but think about the risk before you apply and raise your right hand

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• KA

  @Kayak_Operator · 2 years ago

  Something I tell people is to have a steady head for chaos. You have to be the one on scene that has self control and a level head because everyone will be looking to you for answers. I would say to be prepared for constant tragedy because as I tell my new officers prior to them starting FTO, no one ever calls a cop when theyre having a good day.

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• MA

  @manuelastoria679 · 2 years ago (edited)

  New officer here: been on the job 5 months now and let me tell you everyday i think about walking away. A year ago me would have thought i was crazy. The academy was brutal but that’s just how it goes. <br>I thought i knew what i was getting myself into but i didn’t. I had ride alongs and they made the job seem fun. Honestly the ride alongs made me want to do it. But being on the other side of the seat it’s different. But i don’t want sit here and be a negative Nancy. If it is something you wanna do, go for it. Just understand the job can be something you end up working really hard to get in to, and may end up not enjoying the job.

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• HA

  @Harleyever · 1 year ago

  My brother was a cop....I &nbsp;said no way .....I was a power lineman.....he said no way....all in the prospective

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• BE

  @bencunningham6298 · 1 year ago

  I&apos;m a year on and absolutely love it. I also work in a department that allows us to be proactive which makes the job more exciting. I understand I&apos;m still in the &quot;honeymoon&quot; phase and over time the excitement may diminish but we have guys with 15 plus years on who are still getting after it and having fun. Like most places if you hang out with the shift slugs you&apos;ll probably develop their habits and that &quot;this job sucks&quot; mentality. There are negatives and most come from within the judicial system it seems but you have to learn to accept it. <br><br>The advice I&apos;d give those interested is to get some life experience first. The job isn&apos;t going anywhere especially in the current climate. Work other jobs first, specifically ones where you deal with the public. Learning how to talk to people is the biggest skill you&apos;ll use on this job. How you talk to someone dictates so much. You can talk your way into a car, you can calm a tense scene or you can do the exact opposite and not get in that car or end up fighting when you didn&apos;t need to. There are times where it doesn&apos;t matter what you do and you&apos;re not going to get the outcome you want, you just have to accept that and move on. Pick the right agency for you. Do ride a longs with more than one. These aren&apos;t the days where you have to accept the job you get. So many departments are short staffed, even the good ones. Ask what their retirement is, what their shift schedule is, and other opportunities for growth within the agency. Work at the agency that best suits you and your family. Money isn&apos;t everything. There&apos;s cops making six figures who are miserable. In the end you never really know if this job is for you or not until you actually do it. If it&apos;s not for you then move on, there&apos;s no shame in that. Trying is more than what most people in society do and at least you&apos;ll know. If the job is for you then find what you like and work towards being better at it whether it&apos;s interdiction, DUI, or just being a good all around patrolman.

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• HC

  @hc1398 · 1 year ago

  As a law enforcement officer of 7 years, going into 8. I’ll tell you, I’ve had days I love my job, and I’ve had days I wish I did something else. The climate and liability of things nowadays is off the roof too.

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• RA

  @RABB1DSQ1RR3L · 2 years ago

  Im certain this is what I want to do. I have worked a dozen different jobs over the last 10 years, and have always come back to wanting to get into law enforcement. Its like its gnawing at the back of my mind, &quot;you can do more&quot; &quot;you can be better&quot;. I want to help people, and from what I have dealt with in my life, I know that I can do some good in this world, because I am always willing to do the things that noone else is willing to do. What ever it takes to make my community safe for the people I care about, and set a good example for those around me. There is a lot of crime in my area, and while I wont be able to stop it all, I can at least have a direct hand in its reduction. Your videos along with officer 401 and Mike the Cop have been very informative and helpful in learning a portion of what Im in for. I know there are a lot of bad things out there, but thats why I want to do this. Not because I want to see dead people, but because I want that victim&apos;s family to sleep easy knowing that the person who caused all their grief is behind bars. Im doing this because I care about people. If it works out, I&apos;m more than likely going to become a detective. LET THE PAPERWORK ROLL IN!

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• DB

  @DBNobleman · 2 years ago (edited)

  I put in 25 years as a state game warden, and it nearly put me in an early grave. Not just because of bad guys with bad intentions. Every cop has to deal with that. It was the stress, compounded by 24/7 call with no sleep, irregular diet, sporadic exercise, no social life to speak of, abusive command staff, and a string of governors who hated game wardens. The lot of us were burned out beyond our time. At one point, I even quit using high beams and take-downs at night to avoid pissing someone off and the inevitable complaint that would soon follow. Yes, it can get THAT bad.

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• JA

  @jakeells66 · 2 years ago

  Hold on... Did that guy say it took him 3 years to get hired!? What!?

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• AM

  @americanazheck · 2 years ago

  Go for it. But be prepared for a dangerous job. Get ready for: rotating shifts, attending court, maintaining top physical condition, alcohol abuse, relationship issues. Make sure you come home everyday

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• GO

  @Godiswhoiserve · 1 year ago

  If you are thinking about it, do it go out there and help people don’t listen to anybody else! Follow your dreams and also read the Bible prepare for judgment day

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