Pros and Cons of Becoming a Police Officer and Trying to Start A Family?

Question

I am a 27 year old newlywed who is trying to settle down and have a career. I have always been interested in law enforcement but was always a little concerned on the effect it would have on my and my family's lives. We are trying to start a family and I know the benefits are good, but is all the risk worth it? What kind, if any, schooling do I need? How long would it take from day 1 to actually be on a police force? Lots of questions...Current or Ex Law Enforecment please help! Thank you so much

Answer 1

I'm not in LE, nor have I ever been, but I have a friend who is.

It is STRESSFUL work, and it will be stressful on your wife and children too.   I can pretty much guarantee that it will not contribute anything to your relationship other than the $$ you get paid.

And speaking of the money, most cops don't get paid NEARLY enough for the risks involved.

Answer 2

Choose a different career.

Answer 3

Well I am a police wife, so I can give you kind of the "other" side of that.

My husband has a 4 year degree, he worked security events all through college and then got on a *really* good federal department after graduation.

The application process takes a long time, some longer than others but at the very least expect 6 months of application process, 1 year of police academy (they pay you for) and 3 months of feild training before they let you loose by yourself.

When it comes to the family thing...well, the divorce rate for most departments are well into the 70% range...for my husband it's 95%, which basically means your (and mine) marriage has a chance in h**l to work.

But as long as both people stay committed and keep working on their relationship, you can survive it. Law Enforcement itself does nothing but exascerbate every marital problem we already have (at least in my experiance). It's not like his job causes problems, it just makes problems worse...if that makes sense.

But after the first year or two you settle into it, marriage wise.

It can be dangerous but we both understand the sacrifice and are okay with paying the price should anything ever happen.

Edit: I just wanted to add that although it can be a hard life...it can be very rewarding in terms of marriage...we don't get a ton of time together so when we do get to hang out it just makes it's seem like we are teenagers still dating. Sometimes I joke that I feel like a single wife (and single mom) but I wouldn't trade my life for the world.