How stressful is LE?

[fenderbender]

I have searched quite a few threads that say LE is stressful but I would like to know if the stress is constant (paperwork/red tape) or comes in bursts (dealing with criminals etc.). I guess what I am looking for is someone to outline what a typical stressful day involves in LE. I realize this may be different depending on where you work but I would like opinions across the board. Thanks!

[Ranger__101]

I would say that generally LE work is in some respects simular to the stress encountered by an Air line Pilot.

A large amount of the day can be very routing and low stress but when something happens the stress can peg out and that's where the training comes into play.

Airline Pilots and Police Officers continually train for events so that when the event happens they can respond like it's second nature.

[Piggy]

This will vary from department to department, but it's my opinion that most of your stress doesn't come from dealing with the general public. It comes from dealing with red tape, courts, administration, policies and other day to day issues. Sometimes dealing with the bad guy is the easier part of the job.

[michiganstud]

^^^Agreed. You can toss the badguy in your car, take him to jail and get rid of him.

I'm still finding ways to do that with my boss.

[retdetsgt]

The paperwork is no big deal, it's part of the job. But the administration can drive you nuts.

Remember, once you get to be Lt. or above, in a dept of any size you're no longer a cop, but an administrator. They dance to a different tune and are generally only vaguely interested in your problems, but more into covering their own butts.

I think it's the inconsistency that drives most cops up the wall. What is okay today, might not be tomorrow and vice versa. I've seen policies change immediately when the air hits the fan and it often leaves the working cop feeling pretty abandoned out there on the street.

I liked dealing with bad guys, I knew where I stood with them and again, vice versa. I can't say that for most commanders I worked for. I knew if I even made an honest mistake, they're going to hang me out to dry. And I knew they thought them keeping their job was a lot more important than me keeping mine.

I never came close to losing my job, but I was the recipient of some strange and arbitrary transfers a couple of times because I announced that the emperor was wearing no clothes when they came out with some BS directives.

[steelcityk9cop]

I agree..... most stress comes from internal issues of the agency.

[Rad Diver]

I agree..... most stress comes from internal issues of the agency.

Yep, and I needed to respond because my posts were at 666 had to get rid of that number ;)

[scott715us]

Not only the agency, but having to go through the paperwork, time away from home on the same jackass you arrested the week before. Feels like you're fighting a losin battle sometimes. :rolleyes:

[JD45]

The paperwork is no big deal, it's part of the job. But the administration can drive you nuts.

Remember, once you get to be Lt. or above, in a dept of any size you're no longer a cop, but an administrator. They dance to a different tune and are generally only vaguely interested in your problems, but more into covering their own butts.

I think it's the inconsistency that drives most cops up the wall. What is okay today, might not be tomorrow and vice versa. I've seen policies change immediately when the air hits the fan and it often leaves the working cop feeling pretty abandoned out there on the street.

Couldn't agree more, we must work for the same dept...

[FloridaLEO]

An example of what the job can do to you: Last week on a fairly slow night. I was not at all tired, and only half into the 12 hr shift. It went over the radio that an officer was behind a car that showed up as stolen. We ran out of the station (I was doing paper work) and hauled A.. to go back him up for a felony stop. The whole time I was cool and not overly excited. The stop went well. Afterwards we all talked about it and agreed everyone did fine. Nobody got excited. Well after that shift I went home felling fine and the next thing I know I am out. I never just go to sleep that fast. I was exhausted and did not even know it. Its amazing what your body will tell you when you think everything is fine.

[Group9]

This will vary from department to department, but it's my opinion that most of your stress doesn't come from dealing with the general public. It comes from dealing with red tape, courts, administration, policies and other day to day issues. Sometimes dealing with the bad guy is the easier part of the job.

Agreed. I just finished a two week trial and even though we got a guilty on all counts verdict, I came away just shaking my head at how fouled up our system can be.

I had defense lawyers calling me and the other agents the worst liars that ever hit a courtroom. Later, after the trial, the attorney came up and told me he hoped there were no hard feelings, he was just doing his job, and he was glad his client got convicted because he was a dangerous psychopath.

I was more stressed during the trial than I was when we hit this guy's house, knowing he was heavily armed and had killed at least two people before.

[Babysmamadrama]

I think whiteshirts are the same all over. Very few remember what its like to be a roaddog and what we go through and need to do the job effectively.

Course if you have good Sgts. it makes life a lot better.

[Oldbillplod]

Course if you have good Sgts. it makes life a lot better.

Which unfortunately I don't. If I had a different Sergeant I would still enjoy coming to work each day, as it is at the moment im finding it quite a struggle :(

[Star]

I think whiteshirts are the same all over. Very few remember what its like to be a roaddog and what we go through and need to do the job effectively.

Course if you have good Sgts. it makes life a lot better.

I have a lot to say about this because I'm a white shirt but I get out and work with the great Officers who work for me. I treat them like they are the best of the best because they are. I back them up no matter what and I even care about their personal lives because sometimes that can mess with your professional lives. I do remember being a Road dog and I do remember having a supervisor who sucked. I even told her one day, she couldn't run me off, I'd run her off and have her job so, guess what? I'd never treat my fellow officers with any kind if disrespect. Never...because I was once in those shoes.

Let me also say this, you road dogs do not realize how hard it is to be a good supervisor. So, don't knock them until you've been in their shoes. We deal with a lot of pure BS. In fact, I never realized what a pain in the patootie I was until I became a white shirt. Good Lord have murphy, what a bunch of whiners sometimes! But hey, I tell them, I talk to them and I work right along side of them. They are my friends not MY employees. We are one hell of a good team and we are also family. So please don't put us all in the same catagory. I love you guys! You're risking your lives everyday for people you don't even know.

An the answer the stress question....Police work is only as stressful as you make it. Good training is the best medicine for any kind of stress.

'nuf said.

[K9 Police]

Police work is only as stressful as you make it. Good training is the best medicine for any kind of stress.

Not sure if I quite agree with that statement. I keep the job at work and when I'm home I am a totally different person. It is still stressful, and I honestly don't want it to be stressful! To say that it is stressful because I make it stressful would be a push. In regards of training, I don't think we even spent a full hour about the stresses of this job in the academy. NEVER in a department training.

This job, in my opinion, is VERY stressful. From the politics of the department, to the citizens that hate you and question everything you do. From the bullsh*t complaints that take forever to clear to being under IA for every little thing that happens. I don't think there would be as many divorces and alcoholics if this job wasn't stressful. If you can't handle stress, multi-loading and tasking, and being able to take crap without doing anything than this job is not for you. You need a ton of self-discipline to not only stay alive, but to keep your job.

Now, everyone deals with their stress differently. Myself, I leave my gun off my hip when I'm off-duty and I enjoy the world. I love to excercise and do things which keeps my head clear before I go to work and on the days off. Listen to some good music before and after the shift to let the stress go. You need other activities other than law enforcement to be well-balanced and as stress-free as possible.

If you don't deal with the stress, sooner or later it will come and eat you alive.

K9