Police Career?

Question

I wanted to know why it seems that almost everyone on here gives negative answers towards being a police officer? I can find a few good answers on here as to why you should become a police officer and get more bad answers as to not be one. I can see that its a dangerous profession and you put your life on the line everyday. But couldn't you get a job working in a small community or small city where the crime isn't high and make a good living doing that? I have thought alot about becoming a police officer and I guess it is discouraging to see so many negative answers on here for not becoming a police officer. I bet someone could have a great police career if they worked in a nice community where crime is low and people respected you and you still made over $40,000 a year.. Heck to me that is a good enough living and you serve your community, people respect you, and your life couldn't be any better. Can anyone respond to this and why people dawg the law enforcement (police) career?

Answer 1

I've never been a policeman, but my dad was... and he always says that it was the best job he ever had.  He was a cop in DC, sometimes the good areas (NW - which he said we're actually more boring because everything was more PC) and more in the bad areas (SE - constant action)  Everyday is a different experience.  You generally won't be fighting crime your entire shift... which means you have time to pop into the local businesses whether it be a donut shop or some strip club, provided it was on your beat.  Business owners love policeman because it deters potential crime and building a report with the locals helps to deter it further.  And remember, not every cop walks a footbeat... there are desk jobs, undercover, detectives, mechanics, you name it.  Yes, at times there could be some potential danger but that doesnt happen every day if you are prepared.  And one other thing is that you will actually get a pension for retirement so you won't be losing 17% of your 401K like I am!  Best of luck in your journey...

Answer 2

You are getting all the negativity from what we in the LEO community refer to as "trolls and bashers".  You're right, $40K and a small town is great.

A good place to find out more about a police career is:

www.policelink.com   they have an entire section on becoming an officer.

Good luck.

Answer 3

The people who are negative to the police are usually the ones who have been caught doing something and are those who are very immature about the ways of the world. I've been in law enforcement for over 20 years and have found it to be a rewarding career. Even if you work in a smaller community- you are still dealing with the 3% of the population that are criminals, drug addicts, and a whole lot of other problems- so this job isnt real safe anywhere. There are a lot of things in big and small towns that normal people dont see.