Unusual turn of events...

[Blue_Chameleon]

Since this is more of a general topic kinda subject, I thought I'd post it here to keep a topic alive.

I just found out that my current computer job will be going to layoff 100 people...about 7% of our workforce. I might be one of them.

I wonder if this is a sign for me to get back into law enforcement fulltime if that was the case? I've thought about it but I still think about why I left fulltime originally...my family. I've always told myself that I will retire as a cop and not some engineer.

In the past experiences with your departments, how has they looked upon an individual who went from fulltime to reserves and now, might want to return to fulltime? Or should I just try for a different agency? Is that something that isn't looked highly upon? Or is that something that Sgts. and the admin staff hopes to happen so that they don't have to deal with my issues?

[Don]

Hey Blue,

I'm gonna "shoot from the hip" here as I've never seen anyone do this. But it seems to me that the department would be darn glad to have you come back full time. You have been trained, they know you, and you know them. I would think just the cost savings alone would be enough for them to jump at you.

Now, as to your personal situation. I've said it before, but it bears repeating. You have to do YOUR thing. Yes, it is nice to have the support of your family. But if that support is not there, it is not the end of the world.

Your family is not gonna support you financially. They aren't going to make your house payments, or your car payments.

If my memory serves me, you mentioned that you live with your lady friend. Blue, my most sincere advice here is this: Do what you have to do to be happy in your work. If the lady cannot accept this, then perhaps you need to find another one.

It doesn't really matter to the world if you are doing computer work, driving a truck, turning wrenches, or being a cop. The only one it matters to is YOU. It is high time you started doing what is right for YOU!

Good luck buddy!

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All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.
6P1 (retired)

[Blue_Chameleon]

Don...thanks for the advice. As usual, you come through with the answers.

Here is what makes this even a bit more unusual...I called my girlfriend at work and I told her of the possibility of me being laid off. She told me that if I get laid off, apply for another city as a police officer. I won't mention the name of the city but she just thinks that this new city is "safer". Who knows....it could be but as we all know, anything can happen out there.

Either 1) she is warming up to the fact that I'm a copper at heart or 2) she just wants to see me happy despite her worries. Either way, I don't think I'm too worried about her anymore, but rather my folks. Family has always been a close issue with me, which is why I make those sacrifies for myself to benefit everyone around me. So we'll see what happens this Friday...

Either hope I get laid off so that my chances of returning to fulltime LE is higher or hope I don't get laid off so that the boogey-bill man doesn't bother me.

[JKT]

Blue, ditto what Don said...

Look at it this way:

From my perspective, background investigations, this would be cursory at worst. Just a review of the files.

We have had several leave, then return a few months later, to be re-hired pretty quickly.

The department doesn't have to pay for your training again, which in this fiscal world is a pretty hefty consideration. As long as they have an opening, it's pretty much a shoe-in.

My personal experience with family is that they will eventually come around. My parents were terrified when I first got into LE, but eventually warmed to the idea when they realized all the training we received and that I worked with a great bunch of folks.


Boil it down to this: if the opportunity arises, seriously consider it. I think you'll be glad you did.


Best of luck......

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Optimistic pessimist: Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

Jack

[TIGGY]

Blue,

#1: You hit the nail right on the head. It doesn't matter AT ALL if you work for Mayberry or LAPD, danger always exsists. Bullets from a bad guy's gun hurt just as much in the one, traffic light hamlet as they do in an inner-city enviromnet. The danger is always there. I myself have been an LEO for 9 years, all in patrol function. I have worked in two different S.O.'s, one small, current one, big.
The only difference I noticed is that policies vary and the FREQUENCY of calls. In reality crime is the same everywhere. Where I am going with this is make your significant other aware of this. It sounds like she deeply cares for you and just wants you to come home after your shift ends. Nothing wrong with that. So don't fault her for that. Just sit her down and make her aware that it is a dangerous job,,, period.

The bottom line is this career is a passion. We are all rookies at heart bro' . http://www.officer.com/ubb/eek.gif
You have to sit down by YOURSELF and do some soul-searching and ask: DO I WANT TO BE A COP? My opinion is stick with the first answer that comes to mind.

In regards to applying at your agency for full time status; Again, ask yourself is this where I want to live and have a L.E. career with? If the answer is no. Look elsewhere.

In closing: I tell my trainees STAY SAFE. STAY ALERT. STAY (((ALIVE)))!!!!!!!!

Good luck bro' with your future endevours.

[Blue_Chameleon]

Never did I think that re-entering my own department as a fulltime officer once again. An email was sent to my Sgt and I can tell he wants me back...but there is a catch.

It all depends on Personnel right now...my ability to re-enter my own department as a fulltime officer is in their hands. And we all know how fast they do their magic. *sigh*

[Don]

Originally posted by Blue_Chameleon:

It all depends on Personnel right now...my ability to re-enter my own department as a fulltime officer is in their hands. And we all know how fast they do their magic. *sigh*

Uh-huh, I don't understand what it is with so many personnel departments, whether government or private industry. So many of them just seem to be PITA's.

That was one good thing that I could say about my last county. Until she retired, the lady that ran the department was really on top of things. She cared about what happend to the county employees and would bust her butt to help you out.

However, she had one real bitch working under her in risk management. This POS got the county into more lawsuits, but apparently she had some type of protection, as she is still there. . . http://www.officer.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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**Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.**
6P1 (retired)