Huge Question???????

[Copper101]

I have a huge question for all of you guys, I'm considering being a police officer and everyone keeps telling me not to do it becuase it's not worth it, and it's somthing i really wanted to do. Everyone keeps telling me the bad things about it and trying to scare me off so i won't do it. But i want some information about it because i'm graduating this year. i would like information like job shifts i heard there shifts really suck like u don't have time for anything. i really don't care about the money aslong as i can support myself. but plz somone reply... Thanks...

[Seand442]

First, don't listen to everyone. It is not everyones life. It is yours. Do what you want. Different depts have different shifts. some 8, some 10 and some 12. As a rookie, there is a good chance you will get stuck on graveyards. That is just the way it works. More senior guys want to sleep at night. Different shifts have different pros and cons. Swing shifts usually have more collisions wjile graves get more criminal activity and drunks and such. You just have to learn to make time for things you want to do.

[tpd_six]

Bottom line is it's your decision. People who are not in LE have some serious misconceptions about our job. Visit your local agencies and ask about doing some ride alongs to get a better idea of what it's really like.

[sbrad]

There are literally hours and hours worth of reading on this subject here. I would suggest the "search" button.

[rdp]

Unless you are talking to cops telling you what the job is really like, ignore where you are getting your information from.

Depending upon where you are, look at your local PDs. They may have jobs you can start when you are 18. If not, check out an explorer program that will give you a lil' insight to the job.

[wild800]

While it is true that the hours can sometimes be long, and forced overtime can be inconvenient, the pay and benefits are not bad (you won't get rich, but you'll be ok). If I were you, I'd follow the advice above and do a ride along or get into an explorer program and see for yourself.

There are alot of good things about this job, in my opinion nothing beats it!

[Copper101]

I wanna thank you all for your information, it did help me alot, i was just confused. another thing i wanted to ask was that a cop told me that u dont start off right away on the streets. like u have to work in jail or whatever is that true?

[tpd_six]

Depends on where you are. A lot of sheriff's departments around here do hire their road deputies from their corrections staff. Most PD's that I know of, you start on the road however. Usually there is more of a demand for corrections, so the jails can often be an easier place to get hired at first.