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Should I go into law enforcement?

Discussion in 'Public Safety Officers' started by kparrow, Apr 21, 2019.

?

Should I become and officer/deputy

  1. Yes

    37.4%
  2. No

    62.6%
  1. Apr 22, 2019 at 8:41 AM
    #61
    Overwatch91

    Overwatch91 Initial Success or Total Failure!!

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    I have been retired for 4 years now. Knees and back are killers. The key is to stay busy and just not have LEO friends. Diversify your friends for sure.
     
  2. Apr 22, 2019 at 9:09 AM
    #62
    cmiller219

    cmiller219 New Member

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    Ride alongs wont do a damn thing. They are a joke and most LEO's know this. 14 years LE and I will just mention a few things from my opinion.
    1. Do you want one of the most rewarding jobs without getting recognition?
    2. Do you want to be first on scene to everything like fires, car accidents, suicides, murders, child rappers? Can you bear to see these things?
    3. Do you want you wife/kids to wonder everyday if daddy is coming home?
    4. Are you willing to die to save your partner?
    5. Do you want to eat, sleep,work and live out of a car?

    I'm just naming the bad to shine light. I can go on more but you get the point. Reading this thread it goes to show that 90% of people have no clue what LE does or the magnitude of their duties. Some of these comments hit the nail on the head. This is not a job that you do because there isn't anything else its a job you do because you truly love and want to protect and work in your community. The level of unseen respect you will have is incredible. No matter what you see on tv or the ignorant comments on here for the most part communities love their officers. Again you only see the bad. Remember, when someone does something good who remembers that? When they do something stupid everyone remembers.

    Fire fighters and cops will always go back and forth but it all in good fun. Would I have rather been a fire fighter? Not in a million years. Would I like to be one now? Of course. I wouldn't take back anything as an officer that I did. Bottom line is if you are not 120% into whatever job you do you will be miserable. Prob like most of the guys on here sitting in an office all day.
     
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  3. Apr 22, 2019 at 9:12 AM
    #63
    cmiller219

    cmiller219 New Member

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    Another positive to this is you will see the back end of the arrest. How people are treated and how they go from they are innocent to complete dicks behind bars. Will help you gain a different respect for how you will handle each situation that you respond to as a LEO. Have you started yet? These criminals are very smart and will seem like your friends and then when you are caught off guard you get into trouble. Good Luck, be safe, and always respect the procedures put into place. They are their to protect you.
     
  4. Apr 22, 2019 at 9:13 AM
    #64
    kparrow

    kparrow [OP] New Member

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    I would like to thank all of you that have replied and continue to reply. I greatly appreciate all the feedback and advice.
     
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  5. Apr 22, 2019 at 10:08 AM
    #65
    dragonwithane

    dragonwithane New Member

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    Not sure if you are an outdoorsman, but being a game warden is an exciting job. The pay isn't known to be good, but it is a rewarding career. Depending on which state you get in, you will likely have a take home vehicle. Game wardens typically have the same police powers as the state police but are specialized for wildlife. You don't have to deal with all of the typical 911 calls. You are outside just about everyday. It's a great career.
     
  6. Apr 22, 2019 at 10:26 AM
    #66
    FoghornTX

    FoghornTX Proud American and Infidel since 1968

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    Pros and cons of choosing law enforcement. Politics are everywhere. Choosing law enforcement is not a decision to be taken lightly. Long hours. Stress. Members of the public that like to make your life miserable. You sometimes deal with the worst of the worst of our society. You can become jaded and cynical to the point of hating yourself and your job.
    Personally, I wouldn't go city, county, or state. It's an extremely difficult job when you are out there in the public eye all the time.
    Federal law enforcement is what path I tell folks to take. Lots of avenues to take down that road. FBI, DEA, HSI, Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, CIA, NSA, US Marshals, etc. There's even law enforcement for the military such as Naval Criminal Investigative Service et al.
    Just go to https://www.usajobs.gov/ and take a look.
    Here's the job listings for Border Patrol. The FBI is always looking for IT folks to become a Special Agent known as a Cyber Agent.
    If you have questions, PM me. I'm a former Big Brother employee. I'll be glad to answer any questions that you might have.
     
  7. Apr 24, 2019 at 11:56 AM
    #67
    marlin39a

    marlin39a I’m a dumbass.

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    I'm sure you wore your big girl panties to the interview. Sucks they let low life's like you to wear a badge.
     
  8. Apr 24, 2019 at 2:51 PM
    #68
    cmiller219

    cmiller219 New Member

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    Says the guy who “claims” he was a cop, and then went on to say that most cops these days are dick heads wanting to shoot someone. Who talks that way about people. First, all cops these days and I mean all are better trained then cops 15+ years ago. We have better equipment. And are required to do a lot more. We handle way worse situations with higher caliber criminals and weapons. Of course their are more officers on edge. I’m sure earlier cops had their hands for I’m not negating that but I’m not gonna sit here and say my brothers are dickheads or better than your guys or We are better then the future cops. The difference is social media. They were just as bad or good as they are now we just get a more in the face look at it now. Most of my best friends are FF and they wouldn’t even say the bs you are claiming. I love all first responders and have an amazing respect for them. Grow up and have some respect for the people putting their lives on the line every single day.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019
  9. Apr 24, 2019 at 2:54 PM
    #69
    cmiller219

    cmiller219 New Member

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    OP Go where your heart is pointing. Take the good and the bad and weigh your options. You don’t have to be a Cop to be in Law Enforcement. Any job you have you will run into to good and the bad but you can choose who and what route you wish to take. I do wish you well and hope whatever you decide you stay safe and have a great trainer.
     
    kparrow[OP] likes this.
  10. Apr 24, 2019 at 4:39 PM
    #70
    marlin39a

    marlin39a I’m a dumbass.

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    They are dickheads! I've seen the skinhead/homosexuals come through the door, and change it all. Cops these days suck! I hate them. Fuck you, you support these scumbags.
     
  11. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:03 PM
    #71
    Aerindel

    Aerindel New Member

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    I thought about it once.

    I decided I wanted to be able to show up and and say "I'm here to help" instead of " Get on the ground Mother****er!" So I became an EMT/FF instead.
     
  12. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:29 PM
    #72
    cmiller219

    cmiller219 New Member

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    Gosh you are pathetic. Seriously its sad. I feel bad for you. Sounds to me like somebody hurt your feelings and you still haven't gotten over it. Also who cares if a cop is gay or not, he/she isn't there to try and turn you gay they are there to do their job. Hopefully you never need a first responder and if you do they take just a little extra time getting to you. There is a special place for people like you. I'll pray for you. Have a great week
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019
  13. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:52 PM
    #73
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    Thunder From Down Under is having tryouts next month. Have you considered that direction?
     
    Pinay likes this.
  14. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:04 PM
    #74
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Fuck off - you’re done here.

    We will not tolerate ANY anti public safety on these forums.
     
    Bubberdawg, mdavis, Sas and 22 others like this.
  15. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:17 PM
    #75
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Oh, and I hope you get fingered by wolverine.
     
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  16. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:18 PM
    #76
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    Whoa bro what did wolverine do to deserve that
     
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  17. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:24 PM
    #77
    Pinay

    Pinay New Member

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    I was just in Vegas, Chippendales still has a show going on! lol
     
  18. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:29 PM
    #78
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Monet be all like....



    How was your little bad boy on the way home from MCM?
     
    kparrow[OP] and Pinay[QUOTED] like this.
  19. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:30 PM
    #79
    Samoan Thor

    Samoan Thor God is technically an alien

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    I appreciate law enforcement for what they do, I was thinking about joining as well but I’m a bit aggressive and I can’t handle stupid people tactfully. If I tell you to step out of the vehicle and you don’t I might start slapping somebody, or beat a criminal especially those who harm children. I’ve got a degree in counter terrorism and plan to get a bachelors in intelligence studies, maybe a supervisor to those law enforcement personnel is better suited for me, and I would back them up.
     
  20. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:33 PM
    #80
    Pinay

    Pinay New Member

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    It was a lot of hard decisions!! Gamble my suspension money? Pay for Chippendales show with suspension money? Pay for suspension job and go home and hit the dirt!

    Went with option #3!!! Awesome drive home! Went easy on the gas pedal, did not want to be pulled over again goin 93 in a 70! Been driving over streets with dips on purpose! We have a run up to Big Bear over a truck trail, i cant wait to put it thru its paces!!
    And Matt at @M C M is the shiznitz!! Hooked me up and let me hang at the shop while he worked, and worked hard! By himself! I lucked out big finding him and not getting speeding ticket!
     
  21. Apr 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM
    #81
    JimBeam

    JimBeam Moderator Staff Member

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    From a former cop who worked for one of those LivePD departments

    The job will physically and mentally beat you...it wears you down and you dont even realize it until you're just exhausted all the time

    Shitty hours, missed social events, seeing horrible things, constant repeated adrenaline rushes and dumps, 2 ruined shoulders...

    I was all in when I started...had a great run...worked a lot of the rough areas, some specialized unit time and then a shift supervisor before I left

    I didnt realize how much love for the job I had lost until I was on TV and getting calls from my chain of command and the incident wasn't even over yet...I got lucky and the news didnt blow up my incident with shock headlines and such but it easily could've turned into my face being blasted all over the news

    I didnt realize how tired I was until I finished my last shift and went to bed...I slept for 12 hours straight

    I walked out of the career and instantly doubled my income, and was able to afford a house in a decent neighborhood

    I've been gone for 2.5 years now and while there are aspects of the job I miss...I haven't looked back...my certification expires in December and I don't plan on renewing it



    With that being said, theres a lot of good about the job and the good days definitely outweigh the bad...the camaraderie is great, the feeling of helping people is great, getting to drive fast and play with guns is great...if you can avoid most of the political BS and just keep your head down and play by the rules, it's mostly easy

    I'm thankful for everyone who continues to get into the career and those who stay but after leaving and staying in touch with so many former coworkers...I really feel like many LEOs stay longer than their love for the job because they feel stuck so to speak...find it hard to move into other careers and desk jobs and such


    OP, I'd really recommend signing up to be a reserve or volunteer at a nearby department that allows the reserve cops to ride with a paid officer...use some of your free time actually doing the work instead of just doing a civilian ride along

    You're going to see the absolute best and worst of people and you have to remember that everyone you deal with is having the worst day of their life

    Treat everyone with respect but understand you will not always receive it back. Keep your appearance, attitude, and actions squared away and you'll have far fewer issues
     
  22. Apr 24, 2019 at 7:11 PM
    #82
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    I don’t want to be that guy, but I need to correct you here. Wolverine has normal fingers. His claws come from his knuckles.

    Lady Deathstrike is the one you’re looking for
     
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  23. Apr 24, 2019 at 7:17 PM
    #83
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    I hope he gets knuckled by Wolverine
     
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  24. Apr 24, 2019 at 7:19 PM
    #84
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    That works also.
     
  25. Apr 24, 2019 at 8:41 PM
    #85
    Tracker

    Tracker New Member

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    I have been a cop for 17 years and worked for 2 large departments. I can say that it absolutely takes a special kind of person one who can put the safety of others before themselves and 1 who can be Stern and compassionate in the same call.

    In my experience and a 1000 arrest I have never been in a fight as a cop. It's all about how you talk to people and treat people. Even the meanest baddest felon will be respectful if you treat them with dignity. It's not a cops job to get emotionaly upset and take out aggression on someone else. The job is simple and difficult.

    I am a Marine and have never been a desk guy. I like action and am proud of my accomplishments. I feel like I have truley served purpose and have made a difference in peoples lives. Many of the people I arrested shake my hand. My last complaint was in 2004 over a warning ticket.

    I personally have not witnessed excessive force but im not blind to its existence. It just happens so rarely but the public thinks its daily. I recommend bigger departments incase you cross that bad supervisor or co worker that makes life hell you can always transfer out if it cant be resolved. If you really want to discuss it Im willing to talk on the phone.
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
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  26. Apr 24, 2019 at 11:21 PM
    #86
    Tundra16LTD

    Tundra16LTD New Member

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    Ive been on the job for 32 years and have seen many changes and must say I am ready to be done after the past couple years. In all honesty I would not get into it now I would go to a trade school.
     
  27. Apr 25, 2019 at 3:58 AM
    #87
    PermaFrostTRD

    PermaFrostTRD Tumescent Member

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    Naaahh. Become a dentist instead. Your relationship with the public is the same (they hate you until they need you in an emergency), but the pay and hours are better.

    Seriously though, you get to work with your hands, apply science, & create art. And make a difference in the lives of people who actually do appreciate what you do for them (much like a LEO or FD).
     
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  28. Apr 25, 2019 at 4:08 AM
    #88
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    It was great in the day when you weren't miked videoed and attacked by lawyers every time you had to take action.. Stay out of it no more pensions low pay and just might end up in prison for DOING your job!!!!! You want to die doing a JOB go ahead.
     
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  29. Apr 25, 2019 at 4:10 AM
    #89
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    Everyone loves a fireman, police officer not so much!!
     
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  30. Apr 25, 2019 at 5:14 AM
    #90
    MotoTundra

    MotoTundra The Ocho

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    You can make a difference in other professions where people don't hate you, spit at you, and try to kill you. I would pick one of those other professions if I were you. You'll probably have better hours and better pay too.

    If you decide to do it, I would pick a large department at the state or federal level so you have more opportunity to work different assignments.

    Good luck either way!
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2019
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