Christian Faith & Law Enforcement

[Cru5ader]

I have been considering becoming a police officer. As a Christian I am drawn to the job for its purpose - knowing that I can be a peacemaker, and have a positive impact on the individuals in my community, greatly appeals to me and I consider it as much a service to God as to the community. But as a Christian I also wonder how it may impact my faith in an adverse way (ie: hardening me in my relationship with God, and with my brothers and sisters in Christ as God would have me relate to them). I've thought through it a lot already, but I imagine there are things that I may not be considering for lack of experience and time.

So my question to the officers who are Christians is: how has being a law enforcement officer affected your faith (either in a good way or a bad way, or both)? Feel free to share any and all thoughts that you may have on this.

Thank you for your responses ahead of time, and God bless you all.

[Kimble]

A quote I often remember by Friedrich Nietzsche is "If you stare into the Abyss long enough the Abyss stares back at you." It's impossible to see the underbelly of society and it not affect your perspective on society or how rampant evil can be in our world, however, in my experience, it has also brought me closer to God. Not everyone in this profession - or any profession - is a Christian, so forcing your beliefs on others won't get you far. However, simply because your perspective on life and society may change as a cop by no means is a sign that it will change your relationship with Christ. If anything, working in this profession has made my relationship with the Lord stronger. Not only does He help me through the difficult times, He also helps to give me hope for the good in society when I encounter the very opposite.

[mcsap]

A quote I often remember by Friedrich Nietzsche is "If you stare into the Abyss long enough the Abyss stares back at you." It's impossible to see the underbelly of society and it not affect your perspective on society or how rampant evil can be in our world, however, in my experience, it has also brought me closer to God. Not everyone in this profession - or any profession - is a Christian, so forcing your beliefs on others won't get you far. However, simply because your perspective on life and society may change as a cop by no means is a sign that it will change your relationship with Christ. If anything, working in this profession has made my relationship with the Lord stronger. Not only does He help me through the difficult times, He also helps to give me hope for the good in society when I encounter the very opposite.

Amen to that !!

Life will always be a challenge for anyone. Your forthought is well based but , complacency breeds contempt while adversity keeps you on your toes. Choosing the career of law Enforcement as a Christian is a challenge but you can use it to your advantage.

Make a stand for your Christuan beliefs early on but without jamming it down anyones throat. I dont get invited to any of the " Choir Practice sessions" that some of our guys do but thats OK. They know where I stand and know that I have their back and will stick up for poeple when they are doing the right thing , and even when they dont.

[lawduck]

A quote I often remember by Friedrich Nietzsche is "If you stare into the Abyss long enough the Abyss stares back at you." It's impossible to see the underbelly of society and it not affect your perspective on society or how rampant evil can be in our world, however, in my experience, it has also brought me closer to God. Not everyone in this profession - or any profession - is a Christian, so forcing your beliefs on others won't get you far. However, simply because your perspective on life and society may change as a cop by no means is a sign that it will change your relationship with Christ. If anything, working in this profession has made my relationship with the Lord stronger. Not only does He help me through the difficult times, He also helps to give me hope for the good in society when I encounter the very opposite.

I believe this sums it up well.

I deal with a lot of people that couldn't tell you one thing about the bible. I wish all of the lost souls I dealt with could change their life but there's nothing any LEO in the world can do about it.

It hasn't changed my feelings at all. If anything it has made my faith stronger. Sometimes I need my faith to make it through the shift.

[retdetsgt]

The important thing to remember is that it's God's job to judge people, not yours. You're going to come up against some real lowlifes who have no respect for other people, sometimes even including their life. God will handle them as some point, you need to remember that your job is to build a good case against them for trial. Unfortunately, I've come across cops with strong fundamentalist beliefs that get a little carried away with what they think is doing God's work for Him, both physically and by attitude. And I've also seen too many people come on the job thinking they're going to make a big difference and they generally are the first to burn out. You're only responsible for the effort, never the results.

I found in my career that I did the best where I could mix doing things for people with doing things to them. I'd have quit if my only duties were making arrests and/or writing tickets. Even as a detective, I often found I could direct people to services or whatever as I investigated serious crimes. And too many young people come on thinking this is some sort of mission. It's not, it's a job, period. You do it for so many years, you do the best you know how and if you're fortunate, you retire at some point with good physical and mental health.

[Cru5ader]

Make a stand for your Christuan beliefs early on but without jamming it down anyones throat.

Oh, without a doubt. I won't hide my faith, but I certainly don't intend on forcing it on anyone or preaching from the patrol car, so to speak.

And too many young people come on thinking this is some sort of mission. It's not, it's a job, period. You do it for so many years, you do the best you know how and if you're fortunate, you retire at some point with good physical and mental health.

Is that really how it is for most officers? I'm not saying that I will look at it as a mission from God, but I hope to see it as serving a practical purpose first and foremost. Can I really expect to look at it as just another job after some point - something that I just do and look forward to a paycheck and retirement? Is there not a predominant selfless fulfillment that is inherent to this sort of public service?

[Wolfman]

Is that really how it is for most officers? I'm not saying that I will look at it as a mission from God, but I hope to see it as serving a practical purpose first and foremost. Can I really expect to look at it as just another job after some point - something that I just do and look forward to a paycheck and retirement? Is there not a predominant selfless fulfillment that is inherent to this sort of public service?

***Sorry for the Post Length - Read at your own risk lol***

Definitely listen to RDS, he's been there and done that, but don't misinterpret what he is saying (which from the question, you may be doing). This job is a JOB, i.e. you work your shift, and after you go home, you need to BE HOME. A lot of new officers will constantly volunteer to work, "patrol from home," never turn off the radio, only talk police, etc. and after a time will stand a good chance of burning-out.

That being said, I joined Law Enforcement for the same reason I joined the military: I wanted to give back to a country that has given to me, I wanted to help/protect people who can/will not do it for themselves, and I wanted to do a job I can be proud that I do.

I also consider myself a good christian, and I pray before my shift God will let me and my brothers/sisters walk in his protection and do his will (whether we know at the time we are doing it or not). There is a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you helped catch a rapist, burglar, etc. but there is equal amounts (and usually more) of frustration when you see the same people over and over and over and over (etc.) who can't handle their own lives, or are suspects one day, perps the next. Add into that the fact that a lot of the community you serve may not even like to have you around unless they ABSOLUTELY need you RIGHT THEN.

Yes, their is fulfillment, and I am kind of one of the people that say "this isn't a job, it's a calling" but more so because it takes a special kind of person (IMO) to be a LEO and not all that apply (and not all that are hired) are capable of doing the job and being a good police officer.

P.S. on the other question, as far as being around unsavory types changing you - it may make you harder, sure; but I like to think of one of our RP members quotes which paraphrased is: "virtue is only virtue, when tested against vice." As long as you stay true to who you are and remain steadfast you shouldn't have a problem with temptation in the job.

[SnapShawt]

You've received a lot of good advice here. I think the most important being that you should remember that being a police officer is what you do for a living, and yes it really is a large part of who and what you are. HOWEVER, your off time is OFF time, period. Be at home with your family or friends. Do NOT live, eat, breath and drink "cop". If you do, you WILL burn out. At first, you will. We all did. But learn quickly to cut it out. Enjoy being a rookie (trust me on that one, like when your parents told you to enjoy your childhood years), but realize and always remember that you must MUST develop and sustain a life outside of this profession.

[Group9]

It took me a long time to realize how important it was to do this, but don't let all your off-duty friends be law enforcement. My church helps me do this, because that is really the center of our social life where we are living now.

It's funny that I and the other LEO's in our church probably have a better relationship with our pastor than the average parishioner because the jobs are so much alike in many ways.

When I was younger, I was so ate up with it, that I wanted to hang out with nothing but LEO's and I would have worked 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, if they would have let met. I know a lot better, now.

Ask people about some guy who retired a year before, and look at all of the blank faces. That's why you want non-cop friends. The job will be over one day, long before life is over, if you are lucky.

[pac201]

all of these guys have given some good sound advice; I would add "to thine own self be true". Definitely have friends outside of the profession. Go to church when you can, and pray often...(w/o ceasing).

[phantasm]

A police officer is a 24/7 type of job, sometimes you have to work sundays, and holidays. Another thing to remember is sometimes you have to be a little raw when you talk to people. The local hustler is not going to respond to "can you please stop hustling the people" sometimes you need to speak in words they can understand, which isn't always FCC approved. You're job is to protect people's rights, and to enforce the law, and sometimes the people's rights that you are protecting may go against your religious or moral beliefs, BUT you're enforcing the laws and protecting the rights of the people of the city, state, and country that you work for.

There's also different religious fraternal organizations depending on your denomination.

If you choose to become a PO, then you need to take your department guidelines and the law as top priority with your decisions, but as long as you're within the law and department rules, then you can allow your decisions to be based on your religious, personal, and moral beliefs.

How would you be able to handle dealing with an openly gay couple on a domestic dispute, or a hate crime with a gay victim? Would you allow your moral/religious opinion to affect your actions, or would you treat them just like any other domestic dispute or crime victim. How would you be able to handle having cops having potentially offensive pictures in the locker room, or cursing, or saying offensive jokes? Are you going to be offended, or can you accept that its something that comes along with living in the world? Would you be able to take someone's life if you feared they were going to take yours or another's life?

[retdetsgt]

Several have done a great job of clarifiing my point and I appreciate it.

The job was for me, and should be to anyone, a lot of fun. There was never a day that I groaned about having to go to work. But like Wolfman said, it's a calling in that police work is an art, not a science. I've seen people with all sorts of training who couldn't build a case for a fox killing chickens and turned the simpliest call into a riot by their actions. I've also worked with people who, after only a year or two on the job did incredible work.

But it's not a mission. At the end of the day, your family and friends are what should be the most important people in your life by far. It's easy to get caught up in that "John Wayne complex", most cops do their first few years. I was as guilty of that as anyone. I thought I was biggest, baddest lawman in the West for a while and that it was my job to rid the town of all them no 'count varmits. I had the swagger, the talk, the whole nine yards.

After that stage passes, most cops get real and let it go. Some burn out from the disappointment when they realize they aren't nearly as important as they think they are to Western Civilization.

A sense of humor, a realization that people are cussing your uniform, not you and the ability to be empathetic with people below your socio-economic class will make the job easier. Alcoholics and drug addicts living on the street are people too. I frequently thanked God that I never reached that level, but for His Grace, I might have. You have to be in charge, but you can also be kind and understanding. I've often been amazed at how situations were sometimes defused just by listening for a few minutes.

On the other hand, you might come across some guy who raped and/or killed a child. I worked in that field for a number of years. If I abused that man or treated him like I would have probably liked to, he might have walked from the charge. But I found that by sitting and talking to him like he was a human being, (which they rarely expect), I could often get a confession and he would go away without the victim or family having to endure a trial. That's being professional and it can be hard sometime. But they can tell if you're just hiding your anger or disgust, you have to truly let it go.

It's a great job. Frankly I took it because I was looking to change jobs. I didn't know if I would even like it or not. Now I can't imagine doing anything for that long and having that much fun. But today that's all behind me and I love retirement. I have a couple of good friends who are retired cops, but they've been my best friends for 30+ years. I also have several friends who are my age and never worked in law enforcement. I don't know the the majority of the people who are on my dept now and they have no idea who I am other than maybe seeing my name now and then on a document. Unfortunately, I know some retired guys who are totally lost without that identity of being a cop. I feel so sorry for them.

Good luck in your decision and hope the best for you. Go in with an open mind, minimal expectations and have fun......

[Trollx561]

dont listen to the guy who said being a LEO is a 24/7 job. if you wanna make it do your hours, do em well, try and make a difference. But when your off your off. When im home im not a cop nor when im with my buddies. You see to much stuff and deal with so much to be switched on 24/7 without being burned out or one of those cops with a thumb up their butt.

[Samuel]

Don't listen to the guy (Troll) who said "don't listen to the guy (Phantasm) who said being a LEO is a 24/7 job". Troll didn't understand what Phantasm was saying.

[txinvestigator1]

Don't listen to the guy (Troll) who said "don't listen to the guy (Phantasm) who said being a LEO is a 24/7 job". Troll didn't understand what Phantasm was saying.

Or didn't bother to read the entire post.