Ever since I was 18 or so, I've been on and off considering joining the police force, and considering my dissatisfaction in my current job, my interest is starting to get kinda strong. Can some of you tell me about it? I know the job obviously isn't an episode of CSI, so I was hoping to get some information from real sources. Also, how do you go about getting the ball rolling if you want to apply?

I THINK this is the proper forum for this...

not an LEO, but my rabbi tells a good joke.

a guy worked at walmart as a cashier and hated his job/life. he complained, the days are long, shifts are on crappy hours, and the pay is terrible.
so he joins the police force.

a month later his friends ask how he's doing. he says life is amazing and wonderful.
they ask about his job.
he says, the days are long, shifts are on crappy hours, and the pay is terrible.
they say, "thats what you said about walmart, how come life is so good now?"
he says, "because now, the customer is always WRONG".

Ever since I was 18 or so, I've been on and off considering joining the police force, and considering my dissatisfaction in my current job, my interest is starting to get kinda strong. Can some of you tell me about it? I know the job obviously isn't an episode of CSI, so I was hoping to get some information from real sources. Also, how do you go about getting the ball rolling if you want to apply?

I THINK this is the proper forum for this...

Neo,

I was a 911 operator for about 4 years. I then worked for a private company doing the same type of thing. I have lots of friends who when from the phone to the badge and vise versa. Some advice my father who was a police office gave me helped me make my decision. I remember this like it was yesterday because it seemed so profound.

"Son when I was a cop it was the best and worst part of my life. I worked 16 hours a day if i was lucky, then we would do training and other stuff most days off. I spent a lot of time away from your mom and your sister. I also spent a lot of time doing a good amount of things that helped this city and county. I don't regret my 7 years of drinking bad coffee and catching dirt bags. I was happy to leave though because as soon as I would get a head (make sargent ect) You always started back at the bottom doing the **** work. I just decided after a while it was not what I wanted any more."

Hope that helps you.

realpolice.com and 911policeforums are good resources. USAJOBS.com is where you should go to look at federal jobs. PM me if you are interested in the US Marshals service.

not an LEO, but my rabbi tells a good joke.

a guy worked at walmart as a cashier and hated his job/life. he complained, the days are long, shifts are on crappy hours, and the pay is terrible.
so he joins the police force.

a month later his friends ask how he's doing. he says life is amazing and wonderful.
they ask about his job.
he says, the days are long, shifts are on crappy hours, and the pay is terrible.
they say, "thats what you said about walmart, how come life is so good now?"
he says, "because now, the customer is always WRONG".



ROFLMAO!! :XXphyhsas

i spoke with a client who is LEO and mentioned that i "knew" somebody thinking of becoming a cop.

he said, "yeah be a cop, it's awesome when you get off of a 12 hour night shift with just enough time to go to the denny's and get some eggs and coffee before you have to go to traffic court for all the d-bags you gave tickets to that think you wont show up to testify against them." he continued with, "then, you get home for about 4 hours of sleep so you can turn around and go back to what is supposed to be an 8 hour shift, but you know it wont be less than 10 because of processing the paperwork for the morons you arrested because they were smoking a joint while you were writing them a speeding ticket."
then he closed with, "tell your buddy that it makes you feel AWESOME when you get called a motherfucking pig by the exact same people who will come crying to you when their neighbor decides to back over their mail box."

i can haz b a kop naow?!?!?!

To the OP:

I've said this before and will do so again...the good pay, great hours, low stress, and general public adoration makes the job great!!

In all seriousness though should you get a LEO position, don't let yourself become complacent. In other words stay in shape...when stressed out about the job don't resort to bad diet and or beer drinking as a stress relief!! Physically train...and train hard instead!!

Also try to avoid the "malcontents" and negative (know it all types) of people you are bound to work with from time to time.

Good luck!! :car8:

i can haz b a kop naow?!?!?!



Yes!! But being The Batman would be a lot cooler! :car8:

Yeah, I have no illusions about the public admiration I'd receive. You guys have definitely given me some things to think about.

If your local police department or sheriff's office does this, try to go on a few ride along with their officers. It is the best way to find out what the actual job is like.

in my old home town, the local PD had a program for high school seniors to do ride alongs. they got a spiffy little uniform (polo shirt with silk screen badge and black BDU pants, and walkie talkie) they got to ride along, write witness reports and call in orders to dennys and dunkin donuts.

i know you're not 18 anymore, but ask around about something like that. also, police auxillary might be a good way to start out.

The job is what you make it. I don't recommend it to you if you're the kind of guy who got his lunch money taken in junior high school and are still bitter about it. You should have a good internal moral compass and be able to talk to people. That being said, having good kung-fu skills and shooting skills are always a plus. Like many before me have said...the pay and benefits suck, you literally wear a target on your chest for 8-12 hours a day, anytime you screw up---everyone knows, and every time you do something awesome--no one ever hears about it. It's a good job, man...just know what you're getting into before you take the plunge. If I had it all over to do again...I'd rather have been a fireman. Everyone loves firemen. lol

If I had it all over to do again...I'd rather have been a fireman. Everyone loves firemen. lol
i have to quote reno 911 on this one.

travis jr. and jim dangle sitting in a room, "whats so great about damn firemen? what do they do all day? they wake up, play with a dog, work out, wash trucks with hot girls, work out again, watch some pornos, and eat a steak dinner. and that's all they do all damn day. i mean come on, what kind of public service is that?"

Vorpal already opened the door on this by mentioning federal service. Let me follow up by pointing out that there are a ton of Law Enfrocement and LE related jobs out there with varying hours, pay and risk levels. In addition to all the federal LE jobs (FBI, ATF, ICE, Border Patrol, etc.), there's also Corrections, Probation and Parole, Court Officers and more that I can't think of off the top of my head. So, even if you decide being a Street Cop doesn't fit you, there are other options.

If your local police department or sheriff's office does this, try to go on a few ride along with their officers. It is the best way to find out what the actual job is like.

One of my very good female friends did this once and ended up getting shagged in the toilets by one of her hosts.

It might not happen to everyone, but it's got to be worth a try.

One of my very good female friends did this once and ended up getting shagged in the toilets by one of her hosts.

It might not happen to everyone, but it's got to be worth a try.

Romantic.