What do you think??

[Jennifer]

Got this email from someone I know who works in LE after telling him I was doing a ride along. Originally he told me to find another profession which I misinterpreted as he way of saying I could not handle a job in LE. This was his explanation of what he meant. I took it as very cynical so I called him. He says he still loves his job.

Is this true? Agree or disagree? I am just curious.

No I am saying in the current environment of political correctness and scrutiny of every minute detail of police work by people who have agendas of their own, I cannot in good conscious recommend police work as a profession to anyone I like. Much like the Marines. I did it but I don’t recommend it for anyone I like. Headaches!

[mcsap]

Got this email from someone I know who works in LE after telling him I was doing a ride along. Originally he told me to find another profession which I misinterpreted as he way of saying I could not handle a job in LE. This was his explanation of what he meant. I took it as very cynical so I called him. He says he still loves his job.

Is this true? Agee or disagree? I am just curious.

What is being described does occur. How good or bad it is and to what degree it happens varies tremendously by job and location. Every LE job has some sort of " politics" involved. No different than the corporate world, people are trying to climb the ladder to success.

Some are there to do a good job and some are there for the pay and bennies. Some start out good and end up nat as good. Not meaning BAD but they tend to lose their focus and dedication.

I can say that after 22 years on the job, I am not the same I was as a rookie in 1986. I still make a good effort to do a good job and actually go out and do police work but the issues of dealing with the underbelly of humanity this long does tend to wear on you.

I am GLAD there are new recruits to do the things I am not as inclined to do anymore

If it is your dream to get into LE, dont let someone talk you out of it. You can make lifes decisions on your own and how you respond to and handle the job can vary greatly. You can do the job without letting it drag you down for the most part. But at some point , you wont quite have that spring in your step as you put on the uniform. But thats why you can retire after 20-25 years.

I have 2 1/2 yrs to go unitl I can fully retire. I am not chomping at the bit to leave but I dont want to be rolling around with drunk drivers at age 50 either.

[Jennifer]

Thanks, I was just curious.

If it is your dream to get into LE, dont let someone talk you out of it. You can make lifes decisions on your own and how you respond to and handle the job can vary greatly. You can do the job without letting it drag you down for the most part. But at some point , you wont quite have that spring in your step as you put on the uniform. But thats why you can retire after 20-25 years.

No, I am not going to be swayed by someone else's opinion. And frankly, I could see this being true for many a profession!

[Ispbear]

MCSAP explained it well and I agree with him. It's a job to love and hate at the same time. You very seldom get a pat on the back for doing anything right and always get criticized for anything you do wrong or is perceived to be wrong. Dealing with the underbelly on the street is the easy part, it is usually the department it's self that causes most of the stress on the officers. Some departments stand up for their officers better than others. But you will have those few times in your career that you can say I'm glad that I was able to be there and made the difference in someones life. You just draw on those to get you through the rest of the BS. ;)