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What are three important things I should know about being a Police Officer? (e.g, working conditions, typical schedule, rewards, and challenges including those for those people new to the job)?
Trying to get information like this to help me understand what I will be dealing with
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Nathan’s Answer
Before you get into police work, try to go on as many ride-alongs as you can. Ask the officers lots of questions, but make sure they're honest questions, asking for honest answers. Surface level questions (such as "do you like your job?", "what's your job like?") will only get you simple answers that do not draw out real answers of what the work is like.
Police work is a tough job that requires a lot of your life and time. Not only will you be working shift work, and likely the worst shifts as a rookie,
along with lots of mandatory overtime, but you'll constantly have court during your off time. My first agency was in a small town and I still regularly had multiple court dates on my days off.
Police work requires a certain type of personality and demeanor from a person, not anyone can be a successful, competent law enforcement officer. You're going to be exposed to every terrible scene you can imagine. One minute you'll be writing someone a ticket for speeding and the next you'll be investigating an unattended death, where an elderly person had been found a week after passing away and their body is literally melting into the floor. Once clearing that, before you have time to compose yourself and process what you've seen, you'll be sent to a civil dispute between neighbors, one of whom is upset with the other's new wind chime they put up. During that call, you get dispatched to a subject threatening people with a knife in a nearby grocery store. You respond and during the course of arresting him, are forced to draw your firearm and point it at the suspect; your mind racing, processing what you're seeing, what you need to do, all the while hoping you don't have to shoot this person but imagining how it's going to change your life if you do have to. After taking that person to jail, you get a call at the elementary school and have to interview a 10 year old about some sexual abuse she's been enduring at the hands of her own father. When you finish that interview and get back to the department to start writing a report, you get yelled at by your supervisor about how you forgot to check a box on a crash form you turned in the day before. This job is not for the faint-of-heart.
Unless you work very hard at preventing it, you will likely develop a drinking problem. Male or female, it won't matter. Now, a drinking problem can manifest itself in different ways with different people but overall, the chances of you drinking more than you should, are high. The only sober cop I've ever known was a guy who had recently left a treatment facility for alcohol abuse.
Having said all of that, there are rewarding aspects of a career in law enforcement. The first being, there are times when you truly get to help people. Whether it's providing medical care to someone that bridges the gap between the moment the injury occurred and the moment the medical personnel (Fire/EMTs) arrive on scene. Hearing after a call is cleared that your effort doing cpr or applying a tourniquet, or just applying pressure to a stab wound, was the difference between the patient living and dying; that's a great feeling.
You'll attend a lot of training, some good and some not as good. You'll acquire lots of knowledge and develop new skills. You'll meet a lot of people, your network will grow.
Depending on where you live and what agency you work for, you could make very good money. But remember, the trade-off is much of your time will be consumed with work.
The pay is generally good, benefits are good, and there's a decent pension at the end. You'll create strong bonds and develop great friendships with people. Overall, law enforcement is a good career path, if you're able to handle all the things that are thrown at you.
Police work is a tough job that requires a lot of your life and time. Not only will you be working shift work, and likely the worst shifts as a rookie,
along with lots of mandatory overtime, but you'll constantly have court during your off time. My first agency was in a small town and I still regularly had multiple court dates on my days off.
Police work requires a certain type of personality and demeanor from a person, not anyone can be a successful, competent law enforcement officer. You're going to be exposed to every terrible scene you can imagine. One minute you'll be writing someone a ticket for speeding and the next you'll be investigating an unattended death, where an elderly person had been found a week after passing away and their body is literally melting into the floor. Once clearing that, before you have time to compose yourself and process what you've seen, you'll be sent to a civil dispute between neighbors, one of whom is upset with the other's new wind chime they put up. During that call, you get dispatched to a subject threatening people with a knife in a nearby grocery store. You respond and during the course of arresting him, are forced to draw your firearm and point it at the suspect; your mind racing, processing what you're seeing, what you need to do, all the while hoping you don't have to shoot this person but imagining how it's going to change your life if you do have to. After taking that person to jail, you get a call at the elementary school and have to interview a 10 year old about some sexual abuse she's been enduring at the hands of her own father. When you finish that interview and get back to the department to start writing a report, you get yelled at by your supervisor about how you forgot to check a box on a crash form you turned in the day before. This job is not for the faint-of-heart.
Unless you work very hard at preventing it, you will likely develop a drinking problem. Male or female, it won't matter. Now, a drinking problem can manifest itself in different ways with different people but overall, the chances of you drinking more than you should, are high. The only sober cop I've ever known was a guy who had recently left a treatment facility for alcohol abuse.
Having said all of that, there are rewarding aspects of a career in law enforcement. The first being, there are times when you truly get to help people. Whether it's providing medical care to someone that bridges the gap between the moment the injury occurred and the moment the medical personnel (Fire/EMTs) arrive on scene. Hearing after a call is cleared that your effort doing cpr or applying a tourniquet, or just applying pressure to a stab wound, was the difference between the patient living and dying; that's a great feeling.
You'll attend a lot of training, some good and some not as good. You'll acquire lots of knowledge and develop new skills. You'll meet a lot of people, your network will grow.
Depending on where you live and what agency you work for, you could make very good money. But remember, the trade-off is much of your time will be consumed with work.
The pay is generally good, benefits are good, and there's a decent pension at the end. You'll create strong bonds and develop great friendships with people. Overall, law enforcement is a good career path, if you're able to handle all the things that are thrown at you.
Updated
Terry’s Answer
No one person can answer your question simply because the answers will be different from department to department, state to state, region to region. As a general answer I can tell you what was told to me by my field training officer years ago. This job is hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Dealing with people who are mad at you because you are there for what they did, or people who's moral and social upbringing don't match the laws of current society and want to argue why them or a family member should go to jail. A lot of what was said above is true in a lot places. Maybe if you go to work in a small town the stresses are less but they are still there. Your circle of friends will change. Some you will ditch others will ditch you. When you got to a party or a function you won't be just Emma anymore you're Emma the cop. So peoples behavior will change. I don't agree you will end up with a drinking problem. Find ways to work on the job stress constructively with exercise, activities and even preventive therapy. Traditionally alcohol fueled drinking binges known as choir practices were prevalent. I see more and more younger officers turning to healthier options. IF you decide to get a college degree for this type of job I would stay away from a criminal justice degree. I would look at Psychology or if your are technically inclined a computer forensics type major with a criminal justice minor. No matter what route you take you need to be able to talk to people, have some empathy, and be able to write succulently and have a keen attention for detail. Do the small things well, consistently, and accurately and the cases will come. Don't be afraid to leave a department if you get in and the environment is not what you expected. Once you are able to look for another or maybe realize the job isn't for you.
Rewards: Knowing you've helped society when you get that really bad person off the street. Doing the first aids and knowing they survived. See that abused wife and mother 3 years later and her thanking you for your help, rare but it happens. Some people love cops.
Cons: People hate cops. People hate cops and don't know why they hate cops. Having to be aware you could be a target the whole time you are outside of your house and knowing that you are no longer one of the crowd. You are always on the look out for the wolf. It can be an emotional and stress field roller coaster. But I've done it for 40 years and have seen changes I loved and changes I hate. But I'm still doing it.
If you want immediate job satisfaction and public adoration be a firefighter or paramedic. Want to make an inch by inch impact of the well being of society while back sliding feet at times become a cop.
Rewards: Knowing you've helped society when you get that really bad person off the street. Doing the first aids and knowing they survived. See that abused wife and mother 3 years later and her thanking you for your help, rare but it happens. Some people love cops.
Cons: People hate cops. People hate cops and don't know why they hate cops. Having to be aware you could be a target the whole time you are outside of your house and knowing that you are no longer one of the crowd. You are always on the look out for the wolf. It can be an emotional and stress field roller coaster. But I've done it for 40 years and have seen changes I loved and changes I hate. But I'm still doing it.
If you want immediate job satisfaction and public adoration be a firefighter or paramedic. Want to make an inch by inch impact of the well being of society while back sliding feet at times become a cop.
Updated
Herbert’s Answer
Working conditions: If you are from the Bay Area you already have nicer weather than most when it comes to police work. The first few years will be in patrol with duty gear and a vest which can be very uncomfortable especially during summer months . You will be doing a lot of work in inclement weather during winter months. You will start with an undesirable shift with undesirable days off. My first shift was from 2PM to midnight with Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday off. There will be plenty of potential for overtime even when you don't want it. I have had a few last calls that turned into long ones that gave me hours of overtime.
Typical schedule: Patrol is usually a 4day/10 hour shift of course we also had a 3/4 day/12 hour shift
Rewards: You will have those calls that will have you on top of the world when you were able to deliver justice to the victim of a crime. I had a long career that involved Patrol and detective work (Special Victims and Homicide) and have had some very good times, also very bad.
The pay in the Bay Area isn't half bad either. If you have a college degree you will obtain your Intermediate and Advance POST certificate much quicker which will translate into more pay in most departments. Also continuing education is available through most departments.
Challenges including those for those people new to the job: Many
-Academy training will be physically and mentally demanding. You will have a ton of information piled onto you in 6 months. Then you will be in field training with a training officer who will evaluate if you can put what you learned in academy into practice on the street.
-You better know how to write and say what you did and why.
-You better have an infinite amount of patience with the public, do not let your emotions get the better of you when you are on the street. You are representing the department and law enforcement and do not need to lose your composure in front of a bunch of people with smartphones pointed at you. On the other side of the coin, you will have to do what is necessary to go home in one piece. Our work when taking people into custody can be ugly (be sure to know the writing component above)
-You better have open communication with your family and if you start a family of your own be sure to communicate with them about what is going on.
-Get in shape and stay in shape, you will be less prone to injury, and if you do get injured your recovery will be quicker if you are in good physical shape.
I definitely agree with the ride along suggestion.
Typical schedule: Patrol is usually a 4day/10 hour shift of course we also had a 3/4 day/12 hour shift
Rewards: You will have those calls that will have you on top of the world when you were able to deliver justice to the victim of a crime. I had a long career that involved Patrol and detective work (Special Victims and Homicide) and have had some very good times, also very bad.
The pay in the Bay Area isn't half bad either. If you have a college degree you will obtain your Intermediate and Advance POST certificate much quicker which will translate into more pay in most departments. Also continuing education is available through most departments.
Challenges including those for those people new to the job: Many
-Academy training will be physically and mentally demanding. You will have a ton of information piled onto you in 6 months. Then you will be in field training with a training officer who will evaluate if you can put what you learned in academy into practice on the street.
-You better know how to write and say what you did and why.
-You better have an infinite amount of patience with the public, do not let your emotions get the better of you when you are on the street. You are representing the department and law enforcement and do not need to lose your composure in front of a bunch of people with smartphones pointed at you. On the other side of the coin, you will have to do what is necessary to go home in one piece. Our work when taking people into custody can be ugly (be sure to know the writing component above)
-You better have open communication with your family and if you start a family of your own be sure to communicate with them about what is going on.
-Get in shape and stay in shape, you will be less prone to injury, and if you do get injured your recovery will be quicker if you are in good physical shape.
I definitely agree with the ride along suggestion.
Updated
Kimberly’s Answer
Hello, the previous poster was very thorough so I will just add that a major factor in what you will be doing during a shift depends greatly on where you work. For example, I was a Deputy Sheriff in Jacksonville, FL which was split up into 5 different zones. One zone was heavy on traffic violations, another had high robbery, homicide and assault rates, while another zone spent a good deal of time managing the homeless population. The area you work in will determine what kind of a day you have.
The schedules will also vary depending on how your department does time off. My department worked 5 days, 4 days off, worked 4 days, 5 days off.
This is a very rewarding job and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is patient, good with people and likes problem solving. Good luck
Schedule a ride a long with your local department
The schedules will also vary depending on how your department does time off. My department worked 5 days, 4 days off, worked 4 days, 5 days off.
This is a very rewarding job and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is patient, good with people and likes problem solving. Good luck
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