2 answers
Isaiah
Student
Arizona City, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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What is the best and worst part of being a police officer ?
I’m a middle school student who is interested in being a police officer. However, I was wondering if a police officer is the career for me. what are the best and worst parts of being a police officer.
What did it take to become a police officer. What was the biggest challenge of becoming a police officer.
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2 answers
James Hammond
Criminal Investigator at Dallas County District Attorney's Office
34
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
Best and worse...let me answer the worst first- With few exceptions, you start in patrol, where you will work different shifts, sometimes on a rotational schedule. You will work holidays, weekends, etc. in all kinds of weather. You will face danger, but because of your academy and field training will know how to respond. You will encounter some very bad people.
Best - you will know the satisfaction of serving others, being there when someone else is in crisis, and knowing you can help. Two experiences very early in my career that still stand out in my memory. One was working deep nights and responding to a burglar alarm at a pharmacy. Pulled into the parking lot to encounter a burglary in progress, which included one bad guy shooting at us while his cohort was inside stealing drugs. A short pursuit followed but we were able to arrest them. Exciting, yes, scary, yes, (but oddly, didn't hit me till the next day.) They had murdered someone the previous week.
Second incident was answering a suspicious noise call at the home of an elderly couple. They were frighted because of the banging noise of something hitting their house, thinking someone may be trying to break in. I checked the periphery of the home and found a broken tree branch hitting against the metal gutter. They were so relieved. I told them that even though it was nothing, I would always check on their home during my shift. I think I drew more satisfaction from calming the fears of that elderly couple, than catching those burglars, (although catching them was pretty exciting.) It was never important that anyone remember my name specifically, but I always wanted them to remember that when they needed someone, a police officer was there to help.
Check with your local agencies to see if they have a Law Enforcment Explorer program. That will give you an opportunity to see things from an inside perspective.
Best - you will know the satisfaction of serving others, being there when someone else is in crisis, and knowing you can help. Two experiences very early in my career that still stand out in my memory. One was working deep nights and responding to a burglar alarm at a pharmacy. Pulled into the parking lot to encounter a burglary in progress, which included one bad guy shooting at us while his cohort was inside stealing drugs. A short pursuit followed but we were able to arrest them. Exciting, yes, scary, yes, (but oddly, didn't hit me till the next day.) They had murdered someone the previous week.
Second incident was answering a suspicious noise call at the home of an elderly couple. They were frighted because of the banging noise of something hitting their house, thinking someone may be trying to break in. I checked the periphery of the home and found a broken tree branch hitting against the metal gutter. They were so relieved. I told them that even though it was nothing, I would always check on their home during my shift. I think I drew more satisfaction from calming the fears of that elderly couple, than catching those burglars, (although catching them was pretty exciting.) It was never important that anyone remember my name specifically, but I always wanted them to remember that when they needed someone, a police officer was there to help.
James recommends the following next steps:
Andy Kessler CAI, BS
Law Enforcement/Corrections/Security
28
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Andy’s Answer
Isiah,
The best part about being a police officer is when you actually have the ability to genuinely help an individual in need. For example, through out my 20 plus year public safety/law enforcement career I have always been apart of various charity drives that the various departments I have worked for hold such as Blue Santa, Deputy Claus, Back to School with a cop, community outreaches.
However, there is a dark/worse side to law enforcement especially when working patrol in which you face alot of dangerous situations some that turn out to be deadly even for the law enforcement officer. For example, 12 years ago on Christmas Eve I lost one of my best friends since high school was killed in the line of duty while she was responding to a possible kidnapping in progress. While she was enroute she lost control of her patrol car and struck a tree killing her instantly.
To become a police officer you must attend the police academy where you learn alot of information on how to be a police officer. Currently in Texas the police academy is 796 hours long minimum. Through out your career you will also take a ton of other trainings and seminars to continue to grow in your profession.
Andy
The best part about being a police officer is when you actually have the ability to genuinely help an individual in need. For example, through out my 20 plus year public safety/law enforcement career I have always been apart of various charity drives that the various departments I have worked for hold such as Blue Santa, Deputy Claus, Back to School with a cop, community outreaches.
However, there is a dark/worse side to law enforcement especially when working patrol in which you face alot of dangerous situations some that turn out to be deadly even for the law enforcement officer. For example, 12 years ago on Christmas Eve I lost one of my best friends since high school was killed in the line of duty while she was responding to a possible kidnapping in progress. While she was enroute she lost control of her patrol car and struck a tree killing her instantly.
To become a police officer you must attend the police academy where you learn alot of information on how to be a police officer. Currently in Texas the police academy is 796 hours long minimum. Through out your career you will also take a ton of other trainings and seminars to continue to grow in your profession.
Andy