What would you say to my LEO friend...

[Seand442]

unfortunately, in this job there will always be a money issue. Not to blow my own horn, but I feel I deserve more than I get. How many other professions have to strap on body armor and a gun when they go to work. I have friends who make 2x as much as me and they sit in front of a computer.
For me though, the money is not why I am here. There is a satisfaction that I get doing this job that you dont get by writing code or selling cars. I would like more money but at the same time, I'm having more fun doing this than I ever would in sales.
The age old question: Can money buy happiness? I say no

[kbclvick]

Who wouldn't like more money? When I graduated high school I went straight to college to become a registered nurse, because I was told that you made alot of money. I took a year or prereqs. and was holding the nursing program acceptance letter in my hand and decided that I couldn't do it. I was not what I wanted to do. I am fortunate that my husband make a half way decent living! Meaning that I am able to quit my full time job where I get paid VERY little to go back to school full time so that I can get a job that doesn't pay much more that what I was getting! But I know that I am suppose to do this, then I read about divorce rates, bad shifts, people leaving their jobs and I think to myself, Hmmm... Is my husband going to leave me in 10 years and then I leave this line of work and I would have lost everything for nothing. I have no idea if that makes any sense to anyone. I love my husband and my kids and I dont want them end up hating me because of my job.

[Seand442]

If you spend all your time worrying about the negative, you will miss out on the good. It is true that there is a high divorce rate but that just means you must work that much harder to make it work. Hell, I know what the stats are and Im getting married in a month. Has it been tough? Yes. Will it get easier? Hopefully but if it doesn't we will get through it.
There is a good chance you will get a lousy shift. It happens to everyone. You do your time and then you move on. Who knows, maybe you would hate to get graves now but after a couple of months, it might be the best time of your life.
Just remember, NO JOB is worth losing your family. If it came down to it, I would gladly turn over the badge and gun...and the car for my family. Stay strong and you will make it.

[GMan26]

My friend just started his new job as a claims investigator this week. Just last night two detectives were shot while trying to arrest a suspect (drug related). He was in training when he got the voice msg on his cell. He knew the two detectives well. Both detectives are fine as one of them was shot with a 20ga shotgun but was wearing his level III-A vest. The doer on the other hand was not so lucky. The other detective returned fire with his 1911 putting down the perp in seconds.

My friend rushed to the hospital to see all his fellow officers. He told me the whole story which I won't repeat but he told me, "Man, I think I made a mistake quiting the job. I don't know man. I want to be there for my fellow brothers."

Maybe he did make a mistake because I could tell he really wanted to be back on the job as an LEO. I don't know, would the dept. take him back after he left???? He sounds confused now but I feel for him.

[oscarmitre]

Anyone remember Fred Herzberg's Two-Factory Theory of Motivation? Couple of classic examples here.