If you knew then what you know now...

[Chevy1]

I hear it all the time from LEO's in my area (NYC and Northern Jersey) that they would never choose to be a cop if they had it to do over again. I ask them "Why are you still doing it?" They respond with a myriad of things. I am in the recruitment process for a large SoCal department so this is a bit distressing to hear.

Would you do it all over again knowing how you get paid/ treated?

[Dave]

I love the job, and only wish i mad the decision earlyer. yes i could do somthing else and make more money, or not put up with the BS. but i dont think i would be very happy.

[DesertRat]

They are just remembering the old days when this job used to be insanely fun instead of just the best job in the whole wide world like it is now. It is changing and getting harder yes, but it is still a good career field.

Of course, by the time you finish your career the shoot don't shoot standard will be you can't shoot until you've taken a hit if things keep moving in the direction they are, and of course, the prosucutors favorite pass time now is let's see if we can put a cop in jail for doing his job, but yeah, I'd do it all over again.

I don't want my kids to follow in my footsteps, but neither did my Dad.

[CaptSchmooze]

I would have started when I was 21 and be retired in 2 years. I have had so much fun and got paid for it, but now it has reached the point of dimishing returns and I am ready to move on.
Yah, I would do it again, I must be crazy, but I would.

Schmoozey

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Tights and a cape, the true uniform of a crime fighter.

[Glockarmorer]

If I worked in NY/NJ, I probably wouldn't have done it either. But I live and work in beautiful coastal South Carolina. I love this area and I love my job. Go for it. Don't look back.

G.A.


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No cops, know anarchy.

[Chevy1]

Thanks guys. I am looking forward to representing the LEO community. Take care and stay safe.

Now if they'd just bring back the LT1....

[Niteshift]

I might do a few things different in terms of schools, dept. choice and assignments, but I never regret becoming a cop.

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Niteshift-
Perseverate In Pugna

[JKT]

The only thing I regret is changing agencies several times. As it now stands, I am eligible to retire in 2013. If I had stayed with the first agency, actually where I currently work, I could retire in about 2008.

$^%^$^ "rule of 75" http://www.officer.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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

Jack

[EyeInSky]

We all have good days, and bad days. For most of us, the good days by far, outweigh the bad days. I wouldn't change a thing, and Monday is my sixteenth anniversary.

[FLLawdog]

I got out of LE for 5 years and couldn't take it anymore. I just had to get back at it. When I did come back, I wondered how I made it through those 5 years! I came in with more intensity, more common sense and more passion for it.

I would do some things different, like maybe giving my other agency more of a chance. Of course there weren't near as many training opportunities there and advancement was limited.

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FLLawdog
"Never try to teach a pig to sing...it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."

[CustomsCop]

Like FLLawdog, I had a break in service of about a year, and I found that the private-business world held no satisfaction for me whatsoever. People may gripe and whine, but for the vast majority, once in - never out! http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Fact is a function of evidence; Truth is a matter of perspective.

[The Cynic]

A little off the topic but still related I think is why so many cops burn out. And to me the answer is the stress that is created by your own department. The day to day stress of being Monday morning quarterbacked and the B.S. politics that govern every decision and assignment involving you really take their toll.

I've been in a lot of stressful situations on the job: 1) I've had to shoot and kill a bad guy, 2) I've given CPR to a baby who didn't make it, 3) I've been hospitalized from injuries suffered on the job, I could go on. But none of the stress from any of those even comes close to the stress I get every single day that is created by the administration. I don't think I'm unique. I hear this same complaint from cops all over in all departments. This more than anything leads to burnout. I'm only six years into my career and I'm close to burning out. I just don't give a sh*t anymore.

I've discovered that the less you do on duty the better off you are. Yeah, you can go out, kick butt, take names, and arrest lots of bad guys but what does that get you. It lands you in internal affairs a lot more is what it gets you. And since "citizens wouldn't complain if it wasn't true" I must be guilty even when I'm not. So now I take my calls, write a few tickets now and then just to satisfy the number crunchers, and try to do as little as possible. This seems to be the motto at my department as pretty much anyone over four years adheres to it. The younger guys just haven't learned there lessons yet. I used to write about 100 tickets a month while working patrol which was astronomical compared to the older guys. Now I write maybe 20 which is about average. Its not that I don't think people deserve them, I just don't want to deal with anymore officer complaints.

I love being a cop but sometimes I do question if 35K a year is worth the hassle when I can go back to college, get a degree, and go to a job without the hassle and better pay.

[ME AGAIN]

Originally posted by AussieCop:
[B]My department has a very high attrition rate. Burn out occurs at the 5 - 7 year mark. B] Change is good. If you work for a large department, you have more of an opportunity to work in:
-- CID
-- patrol
-- traffic
-- marine patrol
-- EOD
-- aviation unit
-- horse patrol
-- training division (full time)
-- school resource officers
-- you get the idea

If you work on a tiny department, sometimes you have to wait till someone dies or retires before you can experience something different from patrol. It helps if you can "move around" if you start to suffer from burn-out.

[DesertRat]

Cynic:

I'm telling you as one I.F. escapee to another, I'll send you an application in the mail. Never been happier! It's http://www.officer.com/ubb/cool.gif

[David]

Chevy1,

Don't listen to what others would or wouldn't do and take it too serious.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't sound very old. If you are not much over the 21/25, or so bracket, a few dedicated to the THIN BLUE LINE will not take away from a career you would like to retire from.

THEN, you can ask that question again and be able to answer for yourself. Not be confused by what others like/dislike, think/don't think about the profession.

When all is said and done, whether you join or quit or refrain from, or even retire from this field...

If you should base your decision on anothers decision it will lead to a life of always wondering, what if...

If you are so unsure as to if you should become a Law Enforcement Oficer, my suggestion would be not to do it.

I tell each and every Police Cadet class I teach the same thing. If the call to become one is not imbeded in your soul, don't. If your calling is not as strong as a minister's is to teach/preach from behind a pulpit, don't.

If it's not then, my friend, you are in for a lot of hurt, anger and disappointment to go along with the joy and happiness each of us feel when we put on the shirt that identifies us as a Police Officer.

This is not a decision to be taken as one would be to enter any other profession on the face of the planet.

This involves other people's lives, as well as your own. It could be a stragers, someone you know, your partners, or even a family member.

The intensity of this life is like a form of addition to it's members.

You may have to get a body out of a car, help in a house fire, ride around for hours and hours looking at buildings and houses with absolutely nothing moving.

You may have to answer a burglary in progress and run down a bad guy only to find out that you are the only one facing him when he turns, like and animal, to stand and fight.

Be in a car chase, watching them act like a person posessed that YOU have to stop before he kills himself, you or some innocent who just happened to be in his path.

Ever watch COPS? That causes most cops to laugh inspite of themselves, thinking, if it were only that easy. Watching and actually 'being there' are two different animals.

You could answer alarm after alarm only to be faced with one that shoots back. Yet each has to be answered with just that much intensity. It doesn't matter if you answer a thousand, the next could be THAT one!

The pay will never be what you are worth, but the 'powers that be' expect you to thank them profusely for the pitnence you are offered.

Sound like something you would like? Fill out the application.

Not sure? You maybe should think some more or inquire on a different direction.

Have to ask? Don't waste the time it takes to fill out the paperwork until you can answer that yourself.

I don't mean to put a damper on your fire of desire. I just mean you need to look at where the smoke is coming from...

The world is full of wannabe's. Just be sure of what YOU want to be. Not what someone else can tell you.

The guy's here will , I hope, understand the feelings, thought, and emotions I'm trying to convey to you in this Y crossroad you are wanting to take...left or right. YOU make the decision.

Any career will have those who will tell you, "If they had only done something else. OR, If they had it to do again."

Their career will never touch the lives that this will. Or have such a profound effect on others.

Your call... Good Luck

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I'm lost...I've gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait. Thanks, David!



[This message has been edited by David (edited 12-05-2000).]

[Topdog]

Originally posted by The Cynic:
. . . related as to why so many cops burn out . . . the answer is: the stress is created by your own department . . I posted a reply to your insightful comments in the restricted area.

[Topdog]

Originally posted by David:
If you are so unsure as to if you should become a Law Enforcement Officer, my suggestion would be not to do it.

If your calling is not as strong as a minister's is to teach & preach from behind a pulpit, don't.

The pay will never be what you are worth, but the 'powers that be' expect you to thank them profusely for the pitnence you are offered.
There is a lot of wisdom in those statements!


[This message has been edited by Topdog (edited 12-05-2000).]

[Don]

David,

Very eloquently said!

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"Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining". . . Judge Judy
6P1 (retired)

[GDenman]

Like Niteshift said, there are some minor things like schools, training opportunities, investments, etc., that I might do different but after 30 years in this business, I don't think there could have been a better career for me. My wife used to say, "If the public knew how much fun you have, they wouldn't pay you."

[Chevy1]

David,

You haven't dampened my enthusiasm a bit. I'm well into the process, actually up to the background investigation now. I was just looking to hear some stories that may give me some insight while I'm in (i.e. school/ training). I think continuing my education while in is going to be a priority. I was never looking for advice to join or not. If I get the call I'm in baby! No hesitation.

[Bonk]

My two pennies:

Even with all the stress on the street, I often think to myself that there really isn't anything out there that I can't handle if I take myself through it properly. With only a few years on the street I am not going to claim to have seen the elephant as much as some of these older guys, but this line of work makes you age quickly. Whether it's chasing an armed subject down a dark alley or sorting out body chunks after a high speed wreck, there are times when the most dedicated among us will question his career choice. That being said, for many of us the biggest stressor is off the street, the place we work for. It can be anything - biased press, expensive but mediocre health benefits (?), or a weak court system where the word of a dedicated, well-trained, and honest police officer carries a fraction of the weight of that of the lowest street urchin, these are the things that make us bang our heads on the wall. The street, you take it and move on, almost enjoying the variety. Then you catch you saying to yourself, "Why I am I running myself so hard when the people who write my check treat me so bad?". Sometimes that's just harder to resolve.

[RaychelR]

I haven't been in law enforcement long... just over three months but I have been around police departments for over 8 years in explorer programs and through civilian programs. To answer your question now.. a resounding YES.

Maybe I will feel differently in a decade or so but for now it has been worth it.

[Ksfuzz]

David, you hit the nail right on the head!

[Sparky]

I'm going to give a resounding "amen brother!" to Cynics post.

I can wade hip deep in scrotes all day, but it is the petty admin crap that gets you grinding your teeth at night.

Not all dept's are like that, but most are....I think the cops worst enemy is not on the street, but takes the form of mis-management and lack of leaderhip within the department.

Management is a dirty word...what is needed is leadership. But departments don't train leaders, they reinforce "pass the buck" management practices that stifle and kill morale and motivation.

The key to surviving this (IMHO) is two fold:
1. Don't stand for it, stand up to it.
2. Don't let it bother you. You gotta laugh it off and keep the big picture in mind.

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-Sparky

[The Cynic]

Originally posted by Topdog:

Originally posted by The Cynic:
. . . related as to why so many cops burn out . . . the answer is: the stress is created by your own department . . I posted a reply to your insightful comments in the restricted area.

Unfortunately I haven't yet got off my lazy posterior and sent in the forms to get access to the restricted area. So someone will have to tell me what you said there.