Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I am a former Border Patrol Agent who left because I didn't particularly enjoy the culture of the Border Patrol. Part of me would be intrigued by the possibility of getting on with another agency, but only if it were run differently than the Border Patrol. What really turned me off about the Border Patrol were not things such as long hours, hard work, and dangerous situations, but rather, the military-style of how they do things. One of many examples would be that my superiors would consistently try way too hard to scare agents by playing mind games and by not being straight with us much of the time.
Are most federal agencies run in a similar manner? For example, I've heard that the DEA has a similar culture. I would assume that there are other agencies that are run much differently than the Border Patrol is. A friend mentioned to me that I look into working as a Diplomatic Security Agent for the Department of State. Can anyone give me the lowdown on this or other Federal Agent positions and the cultures of different agencies? Thanks for any help you can give me.

So did you quit during the academy or did you make it to FTU?

Every agency is different, just like every PD on the local level is different. I doubt very seriously anyone is going to waste a day writing the details of morale, management, culture, of EVERY federal LE agency out there (or that they would even know that much about every federal LE agency). If you have specific questions about specific agencies, ask. Asking for insight on every agency is a little unrealistic.

Since you asked about one specific agency, Diplomatic Security, I can tell you from talking to several coworkers who worked there that it's not a bad agency, but the agency works for the "tree-huggers" of the Gov't (Dept of State) which doesn't always mesh well with LE/security. You will spend most of your career overseas, and much of the work OCONUS is security management and protection details, vice criminal investigations (and even in CONUS, their investigative duties are somewhat limited to frauds related to passports/visas and protection assignments).

I made it through the academy and was on FTU.

Most prior-LE agents that I know hate the job. The environment there is on the other end of the spectrum of BP, so it may just be up your alley.

...and most State Department guys that I know made comments along the lines of, "I want to go somewhere else where I can be a real cop." With that said, State Department agents are routinely winning awards for acts of valor overseas. They tend to be a good bunch of people.

Thanks for the info. Switchback. I've also wondered about the Secret Service and U.S. Marshals. Do you or anyone else know if they also tend to be on the different end of the spectrum of the Border Patrol as far as the professional environment?

Many federal jobs will have a militaristic flavor to them. However, most of that will subside after you graduate the academy. There is still remnants of a chain of command (in most locations), but they run as much like a professional office-type of environment as anything else.

Now, we tend to be a little more abrasive in the USMS, but it is nothing like you talk about with the BP. Once you get into some special groups, you may have a little more of a military feel, but that is more because of the need for structure and it them being more mission-oriented.

Not every station or even sector is alike. Heck, it can vary greatly between FTO's. The mission is unique and so is the training enviroment. I watch all the FTO's at my station and believe everyone is as professional as any you would find in a 1811 agency.

Honestly I think the environment has gotten easier, the academy definitely has!!, and most came out just fine. Anyway if it wasn't for you it wasn't for you & I’m glad you stepped up and quit. If you can get in with an 1811 agency and think it will be better then best of luck.

What station were you at?

Upon landing your new job, you'll be very well received by your prior BP colleagues.

Anyone who leaves a LE job during FTO, their chances of getting rehired by a LE agency are going to much more diffuclt. While your departure may be innocent, the hiring staff who are LEO's are going to be more resistant to hire you. Agencies are worried about paying money to hire/train somebody, and after that investment, they walk out. And if you try to explain it too much, they think you are problem child who hates management or easily complains.

Not sure how old you are, but it sounds like your departure was due to a slight lack in work experience and possibily maturity. The situation you describe is about a few bad apples, not a bad agency. I know in the NYPD that cra was going on in the same precinct, and varied greatly by shift. Realizing you may never escape it and learning to deal with it is the way to go.

I have never intended to go into management in the LE field. But I am quite frankly tired of being manged and directed by idiots and others who are incompetent. Thus I have a choice coming before me, continue to be driven nuts by these idiots, or become a boss my myself. I think I am picking the later. Howevere, you can't get to that point until you do your time in the trenches. And in the trenches, you learn to eat a lot of crap sandwiches. Some eat them and work hard to get out of the trench and move on to better duties/supervisors, ect... Some decide they ain't eating and leave the trench.

The criteria used to hire and promote will deliver the message. If the 'system' prefers desk drivers, statistics, risk avoidance, and stepping aside due to liability, then that "management culture" emerges. On the other side, an aggressive, pro-active approach, led by leaders from the ranks, gets the job done, and the line officers & worker bees are appreciated. Regions, precincts, districts, and sectors will reflect the commander's attitude. Whether you have a leader, or a micro-manager, ultimately rests at the Big HQ, in the reward system, or political level.

The job requires flexibillity, dealing with difficult people, being nice to jerks, and taking "direction" from idiots. It is much like any job in the public or private sectors. It is about how to bend over and gracefully grab your ankles, and keeping that corporate smile.

There is a huge difference between management and leadership.

Upon landing your new job, you'll be very well received by your prior BP colleagues.

This is a valid point. Lots of former BP agents working as 1811 agents. And by former BPA I mean those that did the job for a while and left to pursue other FLE opportunities, vice throwing in the towel before finishing training. Not saying a 1811 agency will necessarily hold that against you, but former BPA coworkers may. At the very least you probably don't want to oversell to others about being a "former BPA."

Hey, if you hate the B.S. with the green you should come to Field Ops and put on the blue uniform! We have basically the same job except with us you'll never move more than 30 yards in any direction your entire career!! And they don't like us to do things like arrest people or slow traffic down :D

Meow.