This is the dilemma!

[luke16]

Hey all,
It was October 5th, 2002 the last time i was here.. Lol.. Good lord!
Anyways.. I have had this dilemma for many years now, and my dilemma is:

1.) Go into Law Enforcement! I love Police Patrol and everything about it. I went to a specially training acadamey for guys around my age (16) where we learned some the basics so that we could ride in police cars and know what to do in such situations. I have been adicted ever since and love it. I have almost off the periphelia.

or

2.) Go into the computer world, I own www.ebizfits.com and www.dtsnet.net and have people working for me on those since im not yet legal age to have the Credit Cards. I do most of the other stuff including Web-Design, Server Maintence, Networking and tons more. I love computers, and highly skilled. Iam approx. 70% done with being Microsoft Certified, just some more tests. Im C.I.W Certified (Certified Internet Webmaster at the Administrative level.) I am also A+ Certified. I love both areas, and wish i could go into full time with both.

What i want to know is, Which one would be best to go into? The pay has some factor, and i can see clearly that computer field is probably 3x higher then any patrol job. Im already making 40,000 a years and so are my employees or in that range ( 4 Employees).
Please help come to a conclusion now so i can go head on with the desired career.
I was thinking, Police = Full time Computer = Extra time

Help!
Troy Kleppe C.E.O

[Barenaked]

You are making 40,000 a year and you are not even old enough to have a credit card :eek: ????

I think the question answers itself!

[luke16]

Yes, But i love police work. Everyone that i have asked says the same thing. Id rather take up police work than the computer world.
See the problem, Arg! it's to hard.

[replay]

Do you like the money or do you like the satisfaction of putting people behind bars, helping others, and making a difference - one person at a time?

You won't get rich being a LEO, but you get a different kind of satisfaction. You can also do like what others suggest and juggle both, but it seems, in my opinion (since I just graduated from the academy) that there is no time for two jobs when you're in the academy and when you're new to the streets, trying to take in everything you can. That's at least 1-2 years of dedication and focus so that you can get out of probation.

As for me and a few others, I think Zander also, we gave up the IT field to go into the LEO field. Eventually, I would like to go into a high-tech crimes unit if possible, but local departments barely have anything like that set up. It's in the federal agencies where cybercrime jobs are at. My department of 700 has all of 1 person devoted into a high-tech crimes unit.

[oldwannabe]

.....try and put your computer experience to work in the cyerspace crminals !! :cool:

[luke16]

All great ideas, Ill add this to my thoughts and figure it out as time goes on. Heck i might start likeing something else that all that i want. Who knows.
Thanks,
Troy

[metallicat]

You are only 16, so you can't really worry too much about it fo right now. Keep at the computer thing until you are older and actually able to apply to the police force, and by then, you might not even want to become a cop anymore.

[mcsap]

Never take any job purely for the money. At some point , the financial aspect will wear off. You need to like or want to do your job or you won't last in any field.

Our starting pay is 34k increasing to about 55K within 10 yrs. Full bennies , good vacation, comp leave, OT, flex scheduling . Down side is third shift, dead bodies, domestics and going to court on your day off.

[Stump]

I agree with mcsap completely. I would MUCH rather keep a job because I love it rather than the money.
If you are making that kind of money in the computer industry, you may want to ride that wave for a bit. You should also talk to your guidance counselor at school, or go to any job fairs the police departments in your area offer. They may have the ideal job for you that combines your abilities/loves. I suggest going to the federal level too, just because they seem to have a more structured "computer crime" division.
As far as WANTING to be a cop - not everyone that wants to be one can make it. It could be that they just aren't in good shape, or just can't take direction, that only get into it for the power of the badge, use it as a dating forum, or have anger issues. You may find if you go on that you aren't necessarily suited for it (you haven't given me any indication of that, but its just a thought).

[Island_Girl]

I remember when we first got married, Batman's paycheck was 400 bucks every two weeks and we qualified for WIC. It was a necessary evil though, eventually he worked his way up to where he is now. He would never have been satisfied with any other job, so we certainly weren't doing it for the money....hahahaha!

Two cents, my brother is a paramedic. On the side, he does the computer thing and also professional photography. It makes him extra money, but they are also two of his favorite hobbies.

[gdowkpc]

Let me tell you about my experiences.

I have always wanted to be a police officer ever since I can remember, and have always had the greatest repsect for them.

I am now 29 years old, and police officer is my 18th job. I've worked so many different jobs because I have gone to four different colleges in 3 different states and then the summer jobs. Anyways, I have a lot of kob experience in many different fields.

Before I applied for the police department, I decided I would be a chiropractor. I really wanted to be a police officer but my wife said she would never marry one. I really liked chiropractic and knew, if successful, I could make a lot of money at it.

I went to a chiropractic college and hated it. Although I still believe chiropractic is a great thing, it's not a profession that I could stand. I wold feel like a caged animal in the little office. All the money that could come in could not counter the misery. And there were no guarentees that I would make it. I applied for the department at age 26.

Anyways, my story is that I tried a lot of jobs and got a lot of life experience. I tried not to be a cop but couldn't. I found out most definately that policing is the job I was born for. My wife noticed that I was immediately happier and pleasant.

Police work can be hugely stressful. There are the everyday dangers out there and all the rules and procedures internally to deal with. You are expected to be a better citizen than the average and if you mess up, are held to a standard and punished three times greater than anyone else.

And it really pisses me off that everyone lies to me all the time, but if I lied (and lying is wrong), I would be fired. Nothing happens to people that lie to me though.

Before you take up a job that will forever sour your view of people and possibley cost your life, be sure you want to do it. Go on ride-alongs. Talk to officers off-duty. Ask us questions here on the forum. We all love our jobs, but it takes a special individual to be a cop.

[navyfiveo]

Well, I can promise you this. You aren't going to make a ton of money being a cop, but it's what most of us love doing. To me, being satisfied in life is the most important. My wife makes the money anyways. Now, what you could also consider is becoming a Physical Security Specialist. By that I mean a Security Consultant. You start out working in the police world and learn as much as you can, go to college, learn how to run a multi million dollar budget; cram all that together with your computer knowledge and you have a hig priced package to sell.

[Sideshow Bob]

...do both, computers and police work. Make a million while putting away bad guys....what could be better!!!!

[zander_zye]

Originally posted by luke16
Iam approx. 70% done with being Microsoft Certified, just some more tests. Im C.I.W Certified (Certified Internet Webmaster at the Administrative level.) I am also A+ Certified

After going through the entire certification process (I have an MCP, CCNA and A+, I found the whole thing to be pretty much a scam. It is interesting, the only growing portion of the IT field is training. After getting the hard sell on the training portion, I found that unless you have 5+ years of direct experience, (such as desktop or Network Administration) the certifications were of no real value. (even if you have extensive engineering or technical expertise) Since you have your own company, you probably didn't notice. Are you still pursuing your Microsoft certs? Just remember, MS makes millions off the suckers who pursue these certs and you have to be upgraded at least every 2 years at a cost of around $9G's

How did you get into the gigs that you do? Any suggestions or words of wisdom?

My words of advice? Go with your gut. You can always go into LE and still pursue another job on the outside (just don't forget to ask for a work permit if your department requires it).

Good luck

Thanks!
ZZ

[Rad Diver]

I am giving up an IT/IS job for LE. No question giving up 25k a year to do it. Can't take sitting behind a desk anymore!

Option #1 If you love computers then do that full time and be a reserve cop. Go through the academy and can get certified as a LEO and work in the reserves. Maintain your certification and if you decide later in life, you can make the transfer into LE easily. You get the best of both worlds.

Option #2 Vice-Versa #1 Do LE full-time and computers on the side.

Option #3 You should go to college anyway! Your smart enough and do it while your young. Do that first then make a decision. You can always change careers.

Remember follow your passion and your heart!!!

Good Luck!!!!