Pros and Cons

[Junior]

Can you guys give me some examples of things about your job that you DON'T like???

I would like to know the pros and cons of working as a LEO.

Also, how about some of the things you absolutely LOVE about your job.

Thanks

[Lfpdlieu302]

i dont like the death, the suffereing , and the pain that i see. i dont like to be hated by the public when i'm not needed, then loved when i am. i dont like to be judged for decisions i make when some scrote off the street decides he needs to line his pockets in a law suit. i dont like the pay (at least not all the time).

i do like helping the community. i like the sense of pride in what i do. i like the benefits of my job. i love the comradrie in my department and job. i like the feeling of knowing that i did everything i could to help get one of those scrotes off the street and in the jail where they cant hurt anyone.

[mcsap]

1. Domestics. Arguing, fighting, yelling, screaming , usually accompanied by an alcoholic beverage or two.

2. Dead bodies. I can tolerate them but don't enjoy it.

3. Injured ( or dead) kids. Nuff' said.



Now to the good side.

1. Catching the bad "guy"

2. Getting another DUI off of the road.

3. Finding dangerous violations on commercial vehicles and taking them off of the road.

4. Keeping the community as safe as I can.

[GMan26]

Yes I would imagine corpses are not a very nice thing to deal with. A retired detective I work with has seen his fair share of them I guess. He never talks about it except one day I mentioned I had a 12ga. for home defense. His response was, "Get rid of it. If you really shot an attacker with that thing at close range you'll first loose your hearing. Second turn the attacker into hamburger. And third have nighmares of the carcass." Oh gee thanks. He said it took him years to rid "the smell" of death. He's seen it so much (homicide detective) he had become immune to it but he always sees them in his dreams. He kept telling me, "the smell". sounds nice huh....

The other thing was informing family members that their child has been murdered/died. He remembers the first time he had to tell a mother.

[Oldbillplod]

I don't like the paperwork, it sucks.

[zander_zye]

Cons

1. Inmates
2.Inmate games
3. Deputies who favor one inmate or another
4. Did I say inmates?

Pros

1. Finding that shank during a shakedown before that shank ends up in my back

2. Overtime - always plenty to go around (one Deputy even had a Porsche 911 with the plates thks2ot)

3. One hell of a retirement (who else can retire in 30 with a 90% pension - I will tell you, no one but a Public Safety Employee)

[Junior]

What do you mean by INMATE GAMES????

[zander_zye]

sort of like Reindeer Games except with convicts.

No - most hard core convicts are well versed at playing up one officer against the next. The smart officer/deputy will pick up on this pretty quickly. The naive or not-so-smart will be played easily - the inmate will manipulate a situation that puts an officer in a compromising situation. One example is engaging in small talk with an officer - trying to identify with them in some manner for the purposes of obtaining information. Remember - everything said to an convict is used. There is an entire class on just this subject given by a guy who was a CO with the CDOC for 30 years.

I made it a point to try not to engage in small talk unless it was me who was attempting to manipulate the situation (such as getting information from a inmate or two). One of the things taught in the class is to make up a background and stick to it. That way, when engaging an inmate, if anything slipped, then is would be disinformation anyway. Simular things are taught to CIA and other agents..

[christrue]

Pro: Helping Officers (obnox i ous public)


Con: An overall very hazardous situation



christrue

[Norm357]

Originally posted by GMan26
Yes I would imagine corpses are not a very nice thing to deal with. A retired detective I work with has seen his fair share of them I guess. He never talks about it except one day I mentioned I had a 12ga. for home defense. His response was, "Get rid of it. If you really shot an attacker with that thing at close range you'll first loose your hearing. Second turn the attacker into hamburger. And third have nighmares of the carcass." Oh gee thanks. He said it took him years to rid "the smell" of death. He's seen it so much (homicide detective) he had become immune to it but he always sees them in his dreams. He kept telling me, "the smell". sounds nice huh....

The other thing was informing family members that their child has been murdered/died. He remembers the first time he had to tell a mother.

GMAN, I think your friend gave you bad advice. You want to turn the bad guy into hamburger, and if it a good shoot you won't have nightmares. About the hearing, it will come back. One or two shots indoors will not deafen you forever. A 12 ga. is a wonderful home defense weapon.

Norm

[Stump]

Pros:
- helping someone truly in need
- being able to calm the hysterical, and give instruction how to keep them safe and give medical instruction
- helping the officers on the road. They have the most outrageous questions and it makes me proud to be able to give them an answer. EX - "I got a guy here, last name is Sablishckehski.... I'm not sure how to spell it, and I don't know his first name, dob, or address, but I need to you find his client ID #"...
- helping children in need
- the hours - yes, the hours... I know when I am working 10 years from now
- the money and benefits. Not many can say this, but I am satisfied with the money I make
- the voluntary OT

Cons:
- the stress
- having to hear and deal with the worst humans on the face of the earth.
- situations that occur that would make the strongest person sick to their stomach
- the stress
- the involuntary OT. We can get ordered to work a double shift. It happens about 4 times a year, but still....
- the fact that it is difficult for anyone not in this line of work to understand, truly understand what it is like
- did I mention the stress?

[sparrow803]

Note to self: Always knock before entering Norm's house.

[Norm357]

Originally posted by bustytatas
Note to self: Always knock before entering Norm's house.

Indeed:D

[GMan26]

hey norm, yeah i know... i think he was saying that I should just stick with a 9mm handgun for home defense. long story...i don't know ;)

[Scruit]

I'll keep my 12ga for home defense. I don't have the training, experience, nor have I tested my ability to shoot in a stressful situation... I wouldn't be surprised if I emptied a whole 1911 clip and hit nothing except drywall. Plus, the bad guy can take a couple of pistol shots to non-vital areas (arm, gut) and still be a threat in the immediate term... He may die, but he may shoot back first.

Mossberg = Point and Click for immediate effect. :D