Career in Law Enforcement Questions

I am thinking of pursuing a career in law enforcement and just wanted some input from real cops. I have a degree in computer science, but I have always wanted to be a cop. I have made many friends that are cops over the years and have done numerious ride alongs. I have really enjoyed it, though it is not the same as being a cop.

I just want to know if you enjoy being a cop and why. What was your reasoning for being a cop, stuff like that or anything you think some like me should consider before going into law enforcement.


Thanks.

Malone: Why do you want to be a police officer?
Cadet: To protect the... people and the... p...
Malone: I'm not looking for the textbook answer. Why do you want to join the force.
Cadet: The force?
Malone: Yeah, why do you want to join the force.
Cadet: Because... I...
Malone: Yeah?
Cadet: ...think I could help.
Malone: You think you could help.
Cadet: ...with the force.
Malone: Thank you very much, you've been most helpful.
[the cadet leaves]
Malone: There goes the next chief of police.



Malone: Why do you want to join the force?
George Stone: To protect the property and citizenry of...
Malone: Ah, don't waste my time with that bullshit. Where you from, Stone?
George Stone: I'm from the south-side.
Malone: Stone. George Stone. That's your name? What's your real name?
Stone: That is my real name.
Malone: Nah. What was it before you changed it?
George Stone: Giuseppe Petri.
Malone: Ah, I knew it. That's all you need, one thieving wop on the team.
George Stone: Hey, what's that you say?
Malone: I said that you're a lying member of a no good race.
George Stone: Much better than you, you stinking Irish pig.
Malone: Oh, I like him.

Basically I love the job because no two days are alike. It is usually fast paced and I get to ride in a car without a boss breathing down my neck. The money sucks as it does everywhere else. However I do the job because I love it, not for the money. As long as I have enough to make the mortgage payment and feed my family (and a little for toys on the side) I am happy. I also get to speed really fast with blue lights and sirens, I get to park wherever I want (Including the middle of the street). I occasionally get a 5-0 discount at eating establishments and I get to screw with the public for years of being slammed into lockers when I was in High School. I also get to slam all those people who drive like assholes and you say "where the hell is a cop when you need one". I am there I have just not caught them......Yet.:yo:

I do it because I had no idea what I wanted to do and thought it might be cool.
I like people contary to the belief of my colleagues and some of the people who work or visit my area.
I get bored knowing i'm going to be doing the same thing everyday.
oh and most of the stuff PACMAN said :nod: :thumb:

That is what I wanted to hear. I get bored doing the same thing everyday and it drives me nuts. The only real reason not to do it is the money, but I think that everything else outweighs the money issue. I really appreciate the insight; it really helps having others input so I don't go jumping into something with my eyes closed.

Though I have always wanted to be a cop, I chose to pursue computers because of money but computers bore the hell out of me.

While I like my job some things have made me think differently of it over the years. Namely two of my friends being shot and killed.

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=15127

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=15126

Remember, this shit is real. Its not a game and its not about glory. The reports suck. Getting yelled at, spit on, cussed out, and assualted among other things will happen.

Your hands will be tied due to BS politics and you will still be expected to perform well.

Nothing like most people assume it is.

However I could not imagine doing anything different. I love being able to help people and protect them. All in all, its what you make of it. It can be the best job in the world, or the worst. It all depends on what you want out of the job.

Reg I am not sure how old you are, but I am one of the younger guys on this board. I have been in LE for around a year now. One of the main reasons I got into LE was i was unable to enlist in the military. This was another way for me to give back to those that have given me so much.

When I first got into LE I was told by a veteran that this is not a job that you choose to do, its a job that chooses you. Basically what it breaks down to is that you will realize when you get to the academy and start getting more into detail of what we do on the street if its for you or not for you. If its for you then you will need to find your nitch for a lot of people on this board love doing the road meaning going call to call. There are a lot of guys on this board that hate running traffic, I love running traffic. Traffic stops are fun to me. Now keep in mind that even though we say they fun doesn't mean that its still not dangerous. Look up on the internet how many officers have been killed while on traffic stops.

Basically you will need to just get into the job to find out if its for you. Reason I say that is because its hard for us to tell you if it would be a good career move for you or not. Its something you have to decide, not us. Either way if you do decide to join the elite in LE you will be welcomed arms wide open. This is a brotherhood, we are all brothers and as many have said we bleed blue. We cry when bad things happen and we cry when our buddy just had his first kid. Its a family.

The one thing that I really have noticed and like about law enforcement is just as you said, cops are a family. Some cops may have disputes with other cops, but when a cop needs help they are there to help each other at a moments notice. That is something I have not seen in any other job I have ever had.

I think you are also right that I will have to get into it to find out if I like it. Though I do spend alot of my extra time talking and riding with local cops and I love ever minute of it, even just driving around checking businesses and patroling neighborhoods. It nice to know that you are keeping people safe with your pressence.

And I am 24.

Give it a try. If you don't, you could regret you never gave it a chance. At 24 if you decide its not for you, you can always leave.

[QUOTE=PACMAN]Buddy of mine was in a shootout a couple of months ago QUOTE]


Everyone gets a reality check sooner or later in this job.

10-4, you won't stop looking at the hands after that, The hands will kill ya, and so will cheating on your wife but that will be a different thread, Stay safe out there Glock summer is coming...:nod:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PACMAN

10-4, you won't stop looking at the hands after that, The hands will kill ya, and so will cheating on your wife but that will be a different thread, Stay safe out there Glock summer is coming...:nod:

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Summertime we have A LOT of nutjobs. And protests out the ass...

Stay safe too PACMAN!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PACMAN

10-4, you won't stop looking at the hands after that, The hands will kill ya, and so will cheating on your wife but that will be a different thread, Stay safe out there Glock summer is coming...:nod:

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Uh oh trouble in paradise lol j/k:doh:

Although i'm not in LE yet, I completely agree with all of the responses. I have seen alot of the bad stuff because i'm a firefighter and ems, but the brotherhood is one thing that I like about LE and also one of the biggest reason why I am pursuing a career in LE. Like i said a CAREER, I dont believe that LE could be considered a job because most if not all people that achieve a position in LE they dont want to leave. And a career is something that you love to do, a job is something that you do because you have to.

Yall gave some cool reasons to be a cop.

Someone in a uniform showed up at my house and said they'd pay me every two weeks and give me a gun if I showed up at ______ for work.

I still don't know how I got here.. :D

I got into LE because someone I loved was killed by a drunk driver. I figured if I stopped one family from going through what his did it was worth it. As a couty deputy I stopped a few DUI's but but the biggest reward was the reaction I had with the kids I came into contact with. One that had a family that didn't care what he did is now a LEO. I would stop by all the boys and girls club or little league games if I had time. It might not seem like much but it meant alot to the kids who's parents were never there.

Sometimes LE isn't just about catching the bad guys (which is a high) it can be about little things that can change a life just by showing you care.

REGEX as you can see by all the responses and everyone has a good reason to be a police officer. Yes an officers day is never the same and you can come into contact with a lot of the general public but then again it depends on how actively you patrol your assigned sector. Get out and talk to the folks you will be protecting and serving, that is if you have time. You can gain a vast amount of knowledge of what is going on in the neighborhood by talking to the citizens. Once the neighborhood trusts you the info you will be getting will probably be more than what you wanted. But you will know who is doing what in your area.

Hope all goes well for you!

I love this job, sure I get sick of the BS that goes along with it, but if you can learn to be thick skinned then you will be ok.
You will see some shit that will blow your mind. Back in December a crazy lady in our town was walking the streets pointing a rifle at people. I found her first and she pointed the rifle right at me. I got behind cover and to make a long story short we had to shoot and kill her. It happened right in front of me. She died right there on the front lawn of a house and it will always haunt me if there was something else we could have done to save her from herself. Probably not, but that is human nature.
I did not sleep for a week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by REGEX

I am thinking of pursuing a career in law enforcement and just wanted some input from real cops. I have a degree in computer science, but I have always wanted to be a cop. I have made many friends that are cops over the years and have done numerious ride alongs. I have really enjoyed it, though it is not the same as being a cop.

I just want to know if you enjoy being a cop and why. What was your reasoning for being a cop, stuff like that or anything you think some like me should consider before going into law enforcement.


Thanks.

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I enjoy being a cop and really like the satisfaction of knowing I have helped somebody out. Which is the main reason why I became a cop - because I like to help people. Unfortunately being a cop today and 13 years ago is a difference between night and day. Being a cop today seems to be more focused on covering your ass so you wont be sued. Which is an unfortunate and additional hazard not needed.

If you have a degree in computers, take that degree and run with it. Maybe you can work with law enforcement like develop software or something. Computers is the future and where the money is.

Best of luck
B

I got into Law Enforcement because it was a way to pay this counrty back for what it has done for my family.

My Grandparents came here, fleeing religous persicution, as pennyless immigrants. Both sets opened neighborhood stores, and one of my Uncles got to go to college and became a Doctor. Both my brother & I went to college. This, plus my lifelong interest in firearms led me to a 27 year career as a Federal Agent - I got to visit 11 countries on the Gov., travel all over the country, and help to protect THE PEOPLE - that's right, the ones mentioned in the Constitution.

Not to mention the free guns, and the mountian of ammo I got to shoot for free.

And I enjoyed arresting the 1,000 felons I popped for smuggling drugs, child porn, unsafe foods, endangered species, exporting arms and munitions of war, etc. etc.

And with your computer degree, you will be wanted by many departments which computer crime units.

I say go for it!