Where you guys scared at first?

[jiggaman023]

Hey guys, im a college student at the momment and I have been very interested in Law Enforcement for a while now but at times i have my doubts..Anyways I just wanted to ask you guys who are now Cops how your first day's went, were you scared?nervous?anxious?..i really want to be a cop but i have days when i wake up and remember the whole danger factor lol of it and feel a little iffy about it. To be completly honest 1 day im 100% for it and the next day i wake up not wanting to go thru with it. I guess i just wanted to know if this is normal, if any of you guys felt this way or if this may be a sign that im not built for the job? I cant really see myself doing something else that would be as fullfilling as a Police officer, i would love to be a detective someday..in homicide for example..

thanks in advanced, sorry for the long post.

[corporal716]

I never felt afraid of the work or job its self. I would describe the feeling I got from the first days on the job as excited to be there.

There is alway danger around the job and officer safety is alway in the back of your mind, but its not something you think about from minute to minute. When you start thinking tactfully you are already in the middle of something or on your way to it. You have to respect the situation you are in, but can't let yourself be paralyzed by fear.

[Switchback]

I never felt afraid of the work or job its self. I would describe the feeling I got from the first days on the job as excited to be there.

There is alway danger around the job and officer safety is alway in the back of your mind, but its not something you think about from minute to minute. When you start thinking tactfully you are already in the middle of something or on your way to it. You have to respect the situation you are in, but can't let yourself be paralyzed by fear.

I have to agree with corporal. Generally, you are just too happy to be there and get the chance to go through new experiences. I can only speak for myself when I say that when Ive gone through the really hairy situations, it is only AFTER it is over does the reality of what happened hit me. It's then that you get a little shaky.

[shugs]

There have been a few times when i was a bit nervous, but never scared. I define nervous as the thing that makes you realize and appreciate your situation. Being aware. Scared is not a good thing. The day i am scared to do my job is the day i quit.

As far as first starting, I was so happy to be finally working on my own, i would describe it as excitement, not nervousness.

[chewy]

I think everyone gets nervous or worked up a little when they start new jobs. Theres the worry that you'll perform well and not embarras youself and the whole meeting new people and trying to find your place in the pack without upsetting anyone... it's completely normal and after a week you don't hardly remember it. More than not however I think people are just super excited to be there and can't wait to join SWAT... :rolleyes: I just HAD to put that in.

[ChesCopPodz]

I'll say it. My first day I was scared sh&tless that I was out there by myself and really had no clue how to do the job.

Of course that all went by the wayside as calls started coming in, but that first moment when you realize that it's for real, that you don't have an FTO next to you anymore, and you really don't know how to handle most things, it's pretty scary.

[RT302]

Scared is the wrong word. The others have said it, nervous/ excited are better words. And to paraphrase what Switch said, reviewing a call in your head AFTER is when you may get a little shaken, but that, in my opinion is good because it provides a healthy dose of reality and hopefully prevents any possible mistakes from being repeated. Hindsight being 20/20 and all.;)

[Valor55]

I have a semantic disagreement here. I've been scared. I've felt fear. There's nothing not scary about going to a gun fight. There's nothing not scary about making a forced entry. There's lots of scary stuff in this job. I don't want my kids to grow up without a father. I want to come home from work.

That being said I'm trained on how to do my job and I do it. I trust the tactics I've learned and I trust my skills and I trust the guy next to me. And I know he's trusting me. I have no problems facing my fear and doing what needs to be done. Afterwards the full force of it hits you and you can really taste the adrenaline. If you can't face your fear and work through it, this isn't the job for you.

On a day to day basis with the "routine" stuff I'm excited like others say. When the fit hits the shan though there is fear there in the back of my mind but it doesn't rule me.

[Piggy]

Scared is a good thing. It keeps you sharp. If you have the John Wayne attitude your name will be engraved on a wall in Washington DC.

[LA5150]

As others have said, I would characterize it as mostly being nervous and excited.

But, hell yeah I've been scared at times. Driving 90 mph down surface streets in pursuit of a felony suspect gives me the shakes after it's over. Hearing an AK-47 being fired off behind the building you are driving by makes your heart leap. Running after a gangster who may or may not be holding a gun in their waistband isn't for the faint-hearted. As Valor said, however, I trust my training and my fellow officers, so I face my fear and do my job.

If you can't picture yourself (as a police officer) running towards gunfire that you just heard around the corner, or any of the other situations I mentioned above, then maybe this isn't the job for you.

[Group9]

Afterwards is always the worst time. Especially when you realize how badly something could have turned out, and you couldn't have done much about it. You don't really have time to think much about stuff like that when things are happening.

I actually get a lot more apprehensive now prior to doing things like warrant service, going out to arrest someone you know is dangerous, and raids, than I did years ago when I was starting out. Back then, I didn't really think it was possible for anything bad to happen to me. I know better now.

To close to retirement to want to get taken out of the game late in the fourth quarter, I guess. :D

[kels]

I have a semantic disagreement here. I've been scared. I've felt fear. There's nothing not scary about going to a gun fight. There's nothing not scary about making a forced entry. There's lots of scary stuff in this job. I don't want my kids to grow up without a father. I want to come home from work.

That being said I'm trained on how to do my job and I do it. I trust the tactics I've learned and I trust my skills and I trust the guy next to me. And I know he's trusting me. I have no problems facing my fear and doing what needs to be done. Afterwards the full force of it hits you and you can really taste the adrenaline. If you can't face your fear and work through it, this isn't the job for you.

On a day to day basis with the "routine" stuff I'm excited like others say. When the fit hits the shan though there is fear there in the back of my mind but it doesn't rule me.

Pretty well covers it.
It is being able to work thru the fear that makes good officers.

[Cinnamon]

I agree 100% that it hits you AFTER the call. I believe these moments shape up and prepare us for future incidents.

[Stan Switek]

I'd say most of what I felt when it was hitting the fan was cautious aprehension. Having been on the wrong end of an AK-47 a few times & having seen what they can do, that puts some fear in my heart. Having the proper training should help you survive. There is nothing wrong with fear in some instances as long it does not turn you into a coward. Some fear will keep you alive.

[Insayn]

I was a little afraid, a little nervous...but most of all I was definately culture shocked. I knew there were dangers of the job, but after spending time in the bad parts of town that I wasn't use to I was in shock at the things I saw/experienced.