Is it worth it???

[Fury]

What a basically want to know is, do any of you regret your decision to become a LEO? maybe if your all here, you obviously dont, so maybe i should ask, do you know of anyone that regrets it???? My father is trying hard to talk me out of my decision, but i've known since 2nd grade that this is what i wanted to do with my life. well now that times come to decide, i would like to know some opinions. Do police officers become hardened??? my father said that some of his friends in this field told him that alot of LEO's become hardened in such ways that they only want to make friends with fellow LEO's, that it becomes harder to make friends because they may be intimidated, and that all of his friends regret their choice. I told him that this was very stereotypical and not true of all police officers. Advice?

[Fury]

Oh, and also...are you happy with your earnings and irregular hours?

[JD45]

I love my hours, wages and most importantly job. There isn't another job like it anywhere. With that said, it's not for everyone in many respects. Some people can't handle the hours or the stress or some of the things we see and carry with us for the rest of our lives. Some people can't deal with others very well. Some of these things you find out before you get hired. Others you find out while in FTO or even, later on in the streets.

I've known a few people that quit in the academy, FTO and after working for awhile. Nothing wrong with that at all. It wasn't for them. With any job, you shouldn't do it unless it makes you happy. Money isn't everything, happiness at work goes a lot farther.

So do whatever makes you happy.

I find it easier to relate to fellow LEO's and have them as friends. It doesn't mean that I'm exclusive with the friends I have. As far as 'hardened'. Hmmm..not sure. I do know that I'm less likely to put up with **** now after doing the job for sometime, in comparison to the way I was before.

[Retired Trooper]

Honeslty I love my job and am planning on retiring in it. On the other hand if I had it to do again I may or may not knowing what I know now. But like I said I love my job and am gonna retire as LEO.

[vadep]

I love my hours, wages and most importantly job. There isn't another job like it anywhere. With that said, it's not for everyone in many respects. Some people can't handle the hours or the stress or some of the things we see and carry with us for the rest of our lives. Some people can't deal with others very well. Some of these things you find out before you get hired. Others you find out while in FTO or even, later on in the streets.

I've known a few people that quit in the academy, FTO and after working for awhile. Nothing wrong with that at all. It wasn't for them. With any job, you shouldn't do it unless it makes you happy. Money isn't everything, happiness at work goes a lot farther.

So do whatever makes you happy.

I find it easier to relate to fellow LEO's and have them as friends. It doesn't mean that I'm exclusive with the friends I have. As far as 'hardened'. Hmmm..not sure. I do know that I'm less likely to put up with **** now after doing the job for sometime, in comparison to the way I was before.

Excellent post. I dont think I could have said it better....

[P01IC3M4N]

my father said that some of his friends in this field told him that alot of LEO's become hardened in such ways that they only want to make friends with fellow LEO's, that it becomes harder to make friends because they may be intimidated, and that all of his friends regret their choice. I told him that this was very stereotypical and not true of all police officers. Advice?

sounds like he hit the nail on the head. it's not that you only want police friends, it's just that not many people keep cop hours. and yea, a lot of people are intimidated. i have a cousin that i've known all my life. always gotten along. 2 weeks ago we were all on a fishing trip and he finally told me that he hates traffic cops like me. it is hard for people to separate the job from the person.

[mcsap]

You have to WANT to be a cop a lot more than people want to be in other professions. Our job involves arresting obnoxious people, getting cussed out, threatened, assaulted , getting called into court on your day off, not getting to go home on time due to a late arrest. So you had better WANT to be a LEO an awful lot and not let a thing like pay get in the way of your decision.

ALthough the pay and bennies can be good.

[Oldbillplod]

What a basically want to know is, do any of you regret your decision to become a LEO?

No.

[Fury]

"You have to WANT to be a cop a lot more than people want to be in other professions. Our job involves arresting obnoxious people, getting cussed out, threatened, assaulted , getting called into court on your day off, not getting to go home on time due to a late arrest. So you had better WANT to be a LEO an awful lot and not let a thing like pay get in the way of your decision.

ALthough the pay and bennies can be good."



Its like an itch that wont go away....i want to badly. I applied at a Sheriff Explorer post to get my feet wet, and am awaiting the results. once in there i would like to advance to Aux. Sheriff while attending shool. As of now i am going for an associates in criminal justice, and then transfering to peace officer acadamy option. does anyone think it would be much more benneficial to get a Batchlors Degree??? would departments pay for something like that if i got a job first (assuming i allready have 2 years)

[JD45]

Advanced education does help and some departments require you to have college credits before applying.

In CA after graduating the academy we receive a POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) certificate. You can achieve an intermmediate and advanced POST certificate later on in your career. If you have a degree you'll be able to earn your intermmediate/advanced certificate faster than others. My dept. pays you extra if you have an intermmediate or advanced POST certificate.

[Fury]

What about the Sheriff Explorer program...is it a good idea??? will it look good on a resume?

[JD45]

What about the Sheriff Explorer program...is it a good idea??? will it look good on a resume?

It definately can't hurt and I think would be a positve.