questions about being a cop

[humvee]

I am considering a career as a state highway patrolman, I love the open road too much to be a city cop. What are the pros and cons of being a cop? I have heard of perks ranging from free food to free rent at apartment complexes, and the cons are obvious, dealing with drunks and being shot at. What do you guys really think of your jobs? Are you happy being cops? I just quit a promising career at Lockheed Martin as an engineer because I absolutely hate the rat race, backstabbing and politics were too stressful, I loved working on airplanes, but hated the people I worked with. Cops on the other hand risk thier lives together, and seem to be a tight-knit friendly bunch.

[sparrow803]

Free rent? Boy am I in the wrong business.

[imalazypup]

For some reason, when i think of the "pros", not one of the things you listed pops up in my head. And if those are the "pros" you are considering, maybe becoming an officer isnt the place for you?
Im not a cop yet, but those just seem like ****ty reasons.

[zander_zye]

free food and free rent? Where do I sign up?

If I worked for Lockheed, I would quit too. They don't call it the Lazy L for nothing -- lol. I agree it is a rat race. Most of the Silly Cone valley is a fricken rat race with paper MBA's and egos to match. The one thing I miss about being a cop was the fact that everyone was in it together (dispatchers and CSI as well). Other than fire fighters, you won't find that type of brother or sisterhood in any other profession (well - err - maybe the Army Rangers or Marines, but that is a different topic).

Do you live in CA? Go for the Chippy Patrol if you are under 35. Just be sure you can run 5 miles and do 300 situps and love to drive fast. (being a good MC rider is a definite plus too).

[txinvestigator1]

Perks? Free food and rent. All of the wrong reasons.

[Island_Girl]

Welcome to the site Humvee! You're sure to get a pluthera of information here from a wide variety of people who are LE or they are affiliated with them somehow.

I am the wife of an officer, been together for over 12 years. From my experience, LE is a passion. I'll address a couple of the things you mentioned first before I give my take on the pros and cons. First of all, there's no such thing as FREE anything. As an officer it is really an unethical practice. As for free apartments??? We've been there. Batman (my other half) worked security for the management company at the condos we used to live in. We got a break in our rent (not free) if he would answer all the security issues for the place. Man, if they paid us to live there....it wouldn't have been worth it (and they were nice places). The calls at all hours of the night, the continued phone calls at our residence for the most ridiculous of complaints....I can go on and on. As for the politics, you can escape that no matter where you go. The word politics can easily be translated into "human behavior". Just my opinion though. Now, the backstabbing....LE has that, albeit a little more painful then you've probably ever experienced.
I can understand your desire to get away from the rat race and all the crap that goes with that, but LE has it's own headaches. That's why I said, it's a passion. If you love it, you really don't care that you work long erratic hours. You don't mind that the pay sucks sometimes. You don't care that you aren't Mr. Popular. There's so many things that are very similar to the struggles of many other jobs. However, I don't believe there are too many jobs out there that are as rewarding. Batman is no longer doing street crimes anymore, but he misses the hell out of the scene. He'll see someone in the middle of an arrest or he'll catch an episode of COPS and he's right back there. The pros and cons I'll list are from a wife's perspective, they are:

Pros:
* feeling of security among my husband and the other officers
* commaraderie with the rest of the division and being among an elite group of people
* Policemen's Ball....I always loved that
* my husband loved his job
* although there may be problems in the individual departments and such, as a whole the LE community (nationally) takes care of each other; it's actually very small
* the potential to travel between different LE departments/agencies
* job security....there's always crime

Cons:
* low pay
* long hours
* risk of life
* you don't always get respect
* not enough time with the family; missed holidays & events
* not very many incentives (there's no..."get 10 bad guys today and you'll qualify for that trip to Hawaii")

I'm more tired than I thought. I can't really think right now. I'll post more when someone good comes on that I can copy off. Heehee! TX...ETB, where are you?

G'night and welcome to the site.

[zander_zye]

pluthera ?? What a big word. I am going to look this one up so I can use it too ;)

Low pay in LE? DC says he is making 100K a year - that isn't low pay!

You know, I have never actually been, or even heard of a department throwing a policemans ball. (or balls). Come to think of it, prior to hearing about it on a TV ad for an alarm system, I have never heard of the Fraternal Order of Police. (I guess it wasn't popular on the west coast).

Island: How come you never took the plunge? Two of the women in my academy had husbands that were cops.

[99TAC]

Zander, the FOP was started in Pittburgh in 1915 by wives of several officers. I suppose it's mostly popular on the East Coast/Mid West. As for Humvee, if you consider those "Pros" then maybe you should reconsider. Like Island_Girl said, it's a passion. The "pros" are usually knowing that you just saved a life or stopped a crime from happening, or took a criminal off the streets. You put up with a lot of crap, and it is a very thankless job at times, but having somebody sincerely say "thank you" or getting a letter to the department saying how much someone appreciated your help is one of the best feelings. I hope your heart is in the right place. Best of luck.

[Stump]

From a dispatcher standpoint:
Pro:
1) helping people when they need it most
2) the feeling of satisfaction from doing the job
3) job security
4) variety - every time there is a transmission over the air, you never know what is going to happen
5) mentally and physically challenging assignments
6) the brother/sisterhood that exists is incredible

Con:
1) dealing with the same people over and over again - they never learn
2) the hours - working holidays, mandatory OT (for my dept, at least)
3) having to work during natural disasters (ice/snow storms, hurricanes, floods,earthquakes, etc) when all you want to do is deal with YOUR OWN issues with that resulted from it
4) some depts have issues with low pay
5) the bureaucracy of it all - so many hoops to jump through to get something done
6) obviously the whole safety issue
7) the legal aspect - you can be sued at any time
8) you have to go to court - always seems to happen on your days off
9) stress - huge factor!!! It is a very stressful job
10) your friends tend to be LE and it basically can consume your life. A cop is a cop 24/7.

Just listing pros/cons will not give you an idea of what it is like to be a cop. Nobody can truly understand it unless they are involved in it. If you want to be one, do a ridealong.
I agree that free stuff and perks like that are very poor reasons for wanting to join LE.

[modeler80]

The biggest pro:
At times it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

If you thing that there is no backstabbing, politics, or stress your in for a surprise as well.

As for the freebies .. watch out, there is no free ride.
I’ve also know departments with policies prohibiting freebies, you’ll always be expected to return the favor in one form or another.

[Island_Girl]

Originally posted by zander_zye
Low pay in LE? DC says he is making 100K a year - that isn't low pay!

Island: How come you never took the plunge? Two of the women in my academy had husbands that were cops.

I'm sure DC put in a lot of time making a sh!t wage before he got to his current pay. As for that current pay, I'm certain he has to do a lot of overtime to get that wage and half of it is eaten up by the cost of living in DC.

Now about the plunge? I must admit I love LE, but not nearly as much as I love my children. They need a full-time mother to actually raise them. It's a different time now and they need all the help & support they can get. Besides, I don't believe women should be in LE unless it's support only. Police Psychology has always been an interest to me. I'm considering taking a job with an investment firm, but it's just a consideration right now. Last night on the news it had a local family that's going to be on the Dr. Phil show. They live in Jacksonville. It's a father, mother, and two girls. One of the girls has turned up pregnant and they are going to follow them for the next year. I saw a part where the daughter said, "My mother is too busy with her job for me to talk to." I don't ever want to become that mother.

[zander_zye]

Originally posted by modeler80


As for the freebies .. watch out, there is no free ride.
I’ve also know departments with policies prohibiting freebies, you’ll always be expected to return the favor in one form or another.

Yes Humvee, I know I have stated this before, but the ACSD will fire you for even taking a half price donut. Just one of the cardinal rules given by the Sheriff.

[txinvestigator1]

Turned up pregnant? Sounds like everyone is confused about how that happened. I'd be happy to explain.

[canuckofapeach]

IG:

This is not to provoke, just to ask for clarification
(I can speak from past experience on this subject).

What are your views on women in Policing?

[zander_zye]

Humm - interested IG. It looks like your an old fashion girl. That is your right.

Some of the best cops I have worked with were women - they offer a different perspective on the job. Beleive me, a rape victim will open up to another women a lot more than even the most seasoned of male officers (seen this happen multiple times).

I too would love to stay at home and raise my two - but that is not reality especially when houses cost $600K and taxes are high.