There's More to the Job Than the Badge and Gun.

[w1zard]

This thread is not aimed at police officers, but rather those who are looking into and are interested in becoming a police officer.
You would be suprised at how many people I've heard say that policing is the coolest and easiest job out there. That makes me angry just to hear that. But recently, an officer in a nearby town, took his own life with his service weapon. While talking about it with a few friends, one commented "why would a police officer take his own life. What could possibly have been wrong, that he couldn't handle?" Though I stayed silent, the more it weighed on my mind, it puzzled me, just how many people don't understand the danger and stresses of the job. I took a class, specifically aimed at police stress and isolation since LE is where I want to be. For those who have never read up on the statistics, and the stresses of policing, I'll fill you in on some things that may suprise you, and things you need to take into consideration before you jump head long into a carreer you don't fully understand. Perhaps the few trolls that lurk around in here, that bash LEO's, will gain a bit of respect for the people who protect them and who risk their lives for the sake of a safer place for us all to be.
The work environment of a police officer, can definately cause stress.This stress may affect not only the way the officers treat citizens they encounter, but also affects the officer's health. They are always on alert, sometimes face grave danger, and feel unappreciated by a public they percieve to be hostile. The stress of police work may help to explain why ten times as many cops die by their own hands, as are killed in the line of duty.
In our class we learned that their are four types of stress to which officers face.
* External Stress- Produced by real threats and dangers, such as answering man with a gun calls or entering dark and unfamiliar territory.
* Organizational Stress- Caused by the nature of work in a paramillitary structure, for example constant adjustment to changing schedules, irregular work hours, detailed rules and procedures, etc. etc.
*Personal Stress- Self explanatory.
*Operational Stress- This reflects on the total effect of dealing with theives, derelicts(sp?), and the mentally ill. Also, this can be caused by being lied to so often that all citizens become suspect. Being required to protect a public that seems hostile and unappreciative can also cause this stress. And we all know, that there are alot of people out there who feel police officers are the bad guys in any situation, even though the police serve and protect them.

So, yes, there is more to being a police officer, than getting a badge, and carrying a gun. Some people may enter law enforcement because they think it's "cool" or because "the chicks dig it". LE is, by no means, fun and games, and I hope this thread gives those who are contemplating LE as a career for all the wrong reasons, an inside look on what it's really like.

This has crossed my mind alot of times kimber. The stress conditions of police work, I get so mad when I hear my brother in law say, "Man your job would be easy, you don't have to much to deal with in this lame town." I don't even know what to say to that. I get so pissed off about it, I don't even know how to respond to that one.

If I may add, whenever you see a officer laughing with his buddies or joking around, they're more then likely relieving stress. People think they are having fun!! People think its going to be 'awesome' when they get to walk around with a gun and a badge and enforce the law, those people that walk in with that attitude are more then likely the ones who are going to quit being an officer within the first year. Just remember, LEO's are humans too, they get scared...they get tired, and they cry.... just like the rest of us.

Nice post Kim.

[Mike Romeo]

Good post! I hear a lot of this at the academy, but reinforcement is ok. ;)

And a good sense of humor is great for mental survival.

[mcsap]

After 19 yrs on the street , it deos tend to wear on you.

People don't call us because they are having a nice day. They call because they need legitimate police services or they call because they are drunk/high and or are stupid. Dealing with the public ( sometimes again and again) is a lot of the time not enjoyable. The good parts are being able to help ( to some degree) the innocent law abiding victim and arresting the bad guy.

Either way it's one crime/tragedy/drunken episode/dispute/fight/car crash/domestic/ after another. People have told me that they don't think it is right that ( in my case) we can retire after only 25 years. I tell them after 25 years of police work, it's enough to drive you crazy.

[retdetsgt]

You need to take the job seriously, but don't take it personal.

[decuervo]

Just an after thought. LE can be a lot of fun (just not while in unifrom) I heard today of a lady "Mrs. White" who shot up her house b/c she heard ghosts screwing in her air conditioning ducts. Whoever took that call had more brass than me. I would have died laughing in her front lawn. Just a shot out to our LEO's here. I'm glad yoy can keep a professional mantle in these situations. I would've lost it. I hope to gain that level of professionalism someday. As of now, I would've died laughing.

[Stump]

I've never heard anyone say that being a cop is "easy". I've heard people say it is fun, but they also say that about my job. Yeah, I don't deal with people face to face so I don't have the danger aspect, but everything else sounds about right.
I think everyone should be required to do an observation of the justice system - from 911 to the jail, just so they see how it works. It would probably open their eyes.

[ICEGrrl]

Good info., thanks!

[w1zard]

Just an after thought. LE can be a lot of fun (just not while in unifrom) I heard today of a lady "Mrs. White" who shot up her house b/c she heard ghosts screwing in her air conditioning ducts. Whoever took that call had more brass than me. I would have died laughing in her front lawn. Just a shot out to our LEO's here. I'm glad yoy can keep a professional mantle in these situations. I would've lost it. I hope to gain that level of professionalism someday. As of now, I would've died laughing.

Its easy to maintain a proffessional setting in 'funny' situations, lol. Just don't think of the funny stuff about it, make your sense of humor go away for that moment and talk normal. waa laa

[Colonel]

Good post

[FoodStampz]

That's accutally useful information for the people looking to get into LE without going to college. In my policing class we had to read all about different elements of police, including community policing, police corruption, police organizations, and of course go over the many different ways policing can wear on a person. They mention that depending on how the community supports the police attitudes and actions can vary greatly. It was a decent book I think and I learned alot about it. I recommend that everyone that's interested in becomming LE take a policing course just so they realize what it really is before they go and just jump into it blindly. Not that LE is horrible or anything, it just helps to understand how things work before hand ya know?

[dudeha]

I'm not a Law Enforcement Officer but looking into becoming one. A couple more cents from me that wern't mentioned yet here:

1 cent: I've been told by a divorce attourney (mine unfortunately) that the divorce rate is extremely high with LEOs because of the schedule of the job. At the time I got divorced my attourney had 23 divorces cases going at the same time, and I think she said 17 were LEOs.

1 cent: I picture police officers being under constant stress from the politics and bureaucracy. Not that other jobs don't have that, my field (IT) certainly does, but I picture LEO's having a TON of it all the time... Example: Bob smith is DUI but Bob knows Fred who knows Tom who knows the Mayor who might try to jepordize the LEO's job if he arrests Bob and make sure the LEO never works within 100 miles of here ever again. What does the LEO do??? That kind of stuff...

Anyway, 2 cents from a lamen!