Lots of Negativity

[Maneframe]

Hi guys,

I've noticed that there is a lot of negativity about police work on this site. What I mean is, it seems like most of you actually don't like your jobs and simply wouldn't advise people to get into this line of work.

I was wondering why that is. And can anyone tell me any of the good experiences they have had on the job?

Why do you do it?

Thanks in advance.

[cecilVA]

Hi guys,

I've noticed that there is a lot of negativity about police work on this site. What I mean is, it seems like most of you actually don't like your jobs and simply wouldn't advise people to get into this line of work.

Care to elaborate and point out some specific examples? I'm pretty confident in saying that most, if not all, officers on this board love their job and would do it for free. Okay maybe thats stretching it a bit but you know what I mean.

[Bearcat06]

No negitivity towards the work we do for the most part. It's putting up with people that test our patience at work and then come on here and at times have to put up with the same stuff....

[txinvestigator1]

Hi guys,

I've noticed that there is a lot of negativity about police work on this site. What I mean is, it seems like most of you actually don't like your jobs and simply wouldn't advise people to get into this line of work.

No there is not. You are waaaaaay off base.

[lesta311]

I love my job. At times LEO's tend to vent on the downsides of the job but, The vast majority wouldn't trade it for the world. A lot of the positive aspects become routine and it's easy to forget the impact we make. A suspicious person call where you stop and ID someone could have in reality been a burglar casing a neighborhood. The gas station you hit up a few times a night for coffee is in reality great visibility that prevents robberies. It's a great job but, not an easy one. Not everyone is cut out for it. If you just keep the thought that what you are doing is for the greater good and really believe that you make a difference, then you on the right path.

[Kimble]

Hi guys,

I've noticed that there is a lot of negativity about police work on this site. What I mean is, it seems like most of you actually don't like your jobs and simply wouldn't advise people to get into this line of work.

I was wondering why that is. And can anyone tell me any of the good experiences they have had on the job?

Why do you do it?

Thanks in advance.

Whuh? :confused:

Are you confusing us with CopWatch? I haven't the first clue what you're basing that assumption on, as I've seen almost nothing here to support such claim.

[TheDoghandler]

Maneframe,
I think you have picked up the wrong vibes somewhere along the way, personally I couldn't think of a better job. Looking after a GSD who would die for me, and getting paid for it into the bargain. Couldn't be beat in my book. ;)

[Maneframe]

Please don't take my question in a negative way. I didn't mean it like that at all.

I just hear a lot about the long hours, overtime, family problems because of the job, lack of respect, and an array of other things. I was just wondering if at the end of the day if it's all worth it.

Even I, (can't believe I'm going to say this on this site) at one point in my life ....hated police officers. I thought they were power trip driven aholes to tell you the truth. Of course, I was young and didn't like getting speeding tickets, you know.

Now that I have come so close and have learned about the trade and spoken with LEO's on a regular basis, I have come to respect Police Officers more than anyone could imagine. You guys put your lives on the line, and for what?, not for the pay (not even close), not for the hours, and definately not for the respect as most people feel the way I did back in the day, but you do it for (and this is my take) the greater good as lesta311 pointed out. You're out there (this comes from "A Few Good Men") providing a blanket of protection for the people of this great country to sleep snuggly under, all the while the people continually question the manner in which you provide it, and I know that must be hard.

Now that I'm all growed up. I want nothing more in life than to join you in the ranks. I have nothing but respect for police officers and appreciate everything that you do in order to keep me, my family, and my friends safe.

I hope that in the near future I will be able to volunteer my time to a local PD and maybe later go full-time. I would be proud to do the job that you guys do everyday.

Thank you for your responses.

[chewy]

can anyone tell me any of the good experiences they have had on the job?

Well, I got to go home early one day because we had way too many people at work...
J/K


I think your off base on that, I don't really see a lot of negativity against the job. Those of us who have negative comments are usually directed towards the way our organization is run or towards our managers. The "Job" is something we love which is why we do it. There is a certain amount of stress involved in LE, both in the dangerous parts as well as the routine paperwork and political butt kissing part of the job that can get to people but the "protect and serve" part is why we do what we do and the satisfaction and enjoyment of that part of the job as well as the camaraderie with our fellow officers/agents is what the job is all about. The other stresses just get us pissed once and a while but if they bother you all the time then you quit or self destruct.

[retdetsgt]

Cops *****. It's rule. We take an oath to do that when we come on. Otherwise everybody would want to do the job.....

[cecilVA]

EVERY job has its bullsh!t factor. Every single one. LE is no exception to that. However the work itself makes it all worth it.

[Joeyd6]

I agree with cecilVA.

Every person in every job has bitches, complaints and gripes. I don't care what you do, or where you do it....there are complaints. What is different here is:
1) We have our own forum, and we are being open and honest. If other professions had their own seperate forum,you woudl see the same thing. There just aren't many sites that have a forum for McDonald Bruger fryers or doctors, etc..

2) Though every profession bitches/gripes/complains, they usually have different reasons. A insurance adjsuter may complain about the way Liberty Mutual handles things here, and a State Farm rep in California may complain about the way they do things there.....but the gripes will be different because of company policy and insurance law. But with LE, we all generally are trained the same and doing the same job and department regs are pretty much similar. So a cop in California and me in NY, can share stuff and be on the same page in seconds. We share experiences outsiders will never understand....some of which are stupid trivial things. So on othr boards of other professions, there would be MANY bitches/gripes/complaints. Since we are are so close, and sahre so much of the common job taks and "management,"the gripes" come off as grouped and focused to you.

[cecilVA]

The Military is another perfect example. But a bunch of military people in a bar and you'll here all around complaining in about two sips of a beer. Bitching about their troops, their buddies and their superiors. But they all still love the job they do.

[Old Trooper]

I think you have misinterpreted the information you have read here. I LOVE MY JOB!!!

[Kimble]

EVERY job has its bullsh!t factor. Every single one. LE is no exception to that. However the work itself makes it all worth it.

Couldn't agree more. I have two jobs, a full-time management position and a part-time LE patrol position. Not that I'm one to gripe about my problems on a regular basis, but guess which job gives me the most grief? If you said the management job, you are correct!

Going out on the weekend and having one idiot yell at me for a traffic stop is much easier than having 3-4 bosses come to me about why my TPS reports were in the proper format :D