Law enforcement and medical school

[Veri]

All,

Of all professional interests I have, the big ones are medicine, law enforcement, and something IT. All things considered, I don't think IT is "my thing" job-wise, given that it somehow gives me nightmares of corporate treadmills. Music (piano) is a big passion, but sadly, the financial and job security just aren't there.

My BA was completed last year, and I have been accepted to medical school. My pursuit of that MD begins shortly.

Every now and again, I hear about some individual who has an MD (or DO), is a practicing physician, and is also a police officer. I'm curious if any of you ladies and gentlemen know any such people or have any comments on the matter.

[Cat_Doc]

A few P.D's...Tucson for sure.... have MD's who volunteer and are cross trained into the SWAT Team. They don't do the Rambo stuff, but are with the team in case of injury.

Best of both worlds, and you can play the piano for the team during debrief.

[Veri]

Best of both worlds, and you can play the piano for the team during debrief.

;)

Any other MD involvement in law enforcement? Awhile back, I heard something about a gentleman who was a reserve officer, organic chemistry textbook author, and medical school professor, but I don't know how exceedingly rare (or not) this sort of thing is.

[phantasm]

I believe all members of NYPD ESU are paramedics. While not doctors, they are the highest level of "field medics."

[Kimble]

A lot of agencies have reserve officer positions, which are essentially part-time officers. Some agencies pay their reserves, many don't. Also, the "reserve" positions are not equivalent across each state, as many are fully-trained law enforcement officers, and others are just uniformed support for parades and traffic direction.

I started out as a reserve deputy sheriff (unpaid) while I worked full-time in the private sector. Many of my fellow reserves were professionals in various other fields, and put in time in patrol on the weekends.

[DeltaV]

We have a reserve officer who is a physician. Like ROS said, not all agencies have reserve officers. They seem to be more common in the south and out west than they are in the northeast, but that's just my observation. If a department in your area has a reserve program, it would be quite possible to do that. I would wait until you're finished with your residency though.

[SnapShawt]

We also have a reserve officer who is a physician. He works mostly drug interdiction as he has a K9 and puts in quite a bit of time.