Quote Originally Posted by Galb View Post
I am currently considering Law Enforcement as a possible career change and I wanted to get some of your opinions about your job. So please feel free to share if you wish. Any info is welcome and helpful.

What is your favorite part about the job?
Helping people. Sure, a lot of the people you'll deal with will be jerks, and be pissed off at you because they're being forced to interact with you. Then you'll have people who are polite and civil. Then you'll have people who are grateful for your help. The big thing is you have to realize that you're not out there just for that last group, you're out there to help them all. I still get letters from a woman who was addicted to crack cocaine, and heading her life down the sewer when I arrested her, sent her to jail, and got the judge to add in drug treatment as a part of her sentence. It took her three tries, but she's clean now, and sees the world in a whole different light. I get a hand written letter from her every three or four months now, just letting me know how she's doing, and that she's still clean and enjoying life.

The worst part?
The worst is when something bad happens to a brother officer. A close second would be getting there too late to help someone who really needed it.

How dangerous is it truly?
As dangerous as you want it to be. Heck, it's dangerous just walking down the street these days. As a cop, you'll have to go places you would normally steer clear of, but they don't have to be more dangerous if you pay attention, and don't let your guard slip. More officers are injured by complacency than anything else in the job. Remember, THERE IS NO ROUTINE CALL!!

Exciting? Boring?
Yes, and Yes. Police work is usually long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of heart-pounding adrenaline surges. One minute you may be parked under an overpass working radar, the next you might be rolling around on the ground fighting the guy you just pulled over. It's never the same twice, just keep that in mind.

How is the Academy today?
I don't know about Florida, but when I was in the Academy in SC, it was a cakewalk. I had about ten years on most of the other recruits, and while they had it easier on the physical side, I had it much easier on the mental side, because I had experienced enough of life to know when to buck up, and when to shut up and do what I was told.

How do you deal with the really emotional stuff, like having to show up where domestic violence is/has occurred?
Everyone deals with it differently, I would suggest talking with some of your fellow officers to see how they deal with it, and work out your own way that actually works.(if you get something figured out, be sure to share it, we're always looking for ways to deal with things) The most heart-rending calls, at least to me, are when you're called in to assist in taking a child into Emergency Protective Custody, those are always the worst....

Do you ever have trouble keeping your personal feelings out of the job?
Often, the thing is, to keep those feelings bottled up inside while you're dealing with the people. You have to present that professional image on the outside, even though in the inside, you're howling to tear into this wife-beater and break him in half. Just remember, if you screw up, he might get off on a technicality, and then he's free to take it out on the victim again. You've got to do your job, and part of that means maintaining your cool. Once you've handed him over to Detention, then go work out your frustrations on the dumpster with a baseball bat, but save it for later, whatever you do.

Just my thoughts, YMMV

Casey