Job satisfaction

[StartingOut]

Can I get some opinions from officers about their level of job satisfaction? I ask only because I have a career I simply despise at present (not that my current career is the sole driving force behind me wanting to move into law enforcement), and I'd rather not jump into a new career in which there's a huge amount of dissatisfaction and general dislike.

I feel that the majority of cops I've spoken to are happy with their career choice. Sure, there's some crappy paperwork, some jackasses, and plenty of red tape to cut through, but all in all, when they're out on the street, life is pretty good. Is this generally the case?

In short, do many cops ***** about how crappy being a cop is, or do they come home most days in a good mood and positive about their career?

Thanks.

[deputywave]

LE, as a career, is what you make of it. There are plenty of things to b$tch about. Most of those things are things that you have no real control over. Mainly politics and ineffective leadership.:D You have to come into LE with the right mindset. If you do, those things won't totally kill the desire to do the job.

[Roger Dat]

Its like telling me you've never driven a porsche and want to know if you'l enjoy it. If you have the desire to be a cop then all you can do is try it. Unfortunatley alot of people who attempt to get into the field or do get hired dont last long because its not what they have expected. Do some ride alongs then form your decision.

[mcsap]

Law Enforcement is a job that you have to WANT to do to get into it but you have to know that there will be parts of this job that you will terribly hate. We have the good and the bad on complete opposite ends of the spectrum.

You have to learn to take the good and the bad , balance it out with what you can do in response and be able to walk away from it at the end of your shift without going crazy.

And after 20-25 years of it. Be able to walk away for good.

[retdetsgt]

Job satisfaction comes from within. If you need pats on the back, it ain't gonna happen. I had a cartoon on my desk that showed Charlie Brown wearing a suit. The caption was "Doing a good job is like peeing in your pants while wearing a dark suit. If feels good and warm to you, but no one else notices.

The paperwork, etc. is necessary and part of the job. You have to do it all well or you'll be considered a lousy cop. The important thing to me, was to take pride in all the work I did even if no one else seemed to care. That way I rarely got embarrassed in court or called in by a supervisor.