Is anyone here a Police officer? I've been debating on whether or not I should send in my application. Its not about friends or family, its about the career itself. But one think i need to ask is, have you lost friends? I know a few of my friends have a questionable lifestyle, lol. But yeah.. do you like it? Is it a good career?

 

it is my understanding that most police officers had a c average in high school, and are tired of riding around in the back seat.

 

ahhaha

whats sad is that ive heard htat many many many many many many many many would you like me to go on?

times. but by no means does it mean they suck at enforcing the law.

 

If you lose friends due to your choice of career, then they are not truly your friends to begin with. Now if you are worried about your friends having a negative effect on the outcome of your hiring process, maybe you should question the company you choose to keep.

WIth that said, coming from a family with a history of law enforcement, it is a GREAT choice! Always something new to be expected, plenty of opportunities for advancement, great benefits and an unrivaled camaraderie.

You will never be RICH as a cop, but you will never do without...

 

You might want to take a peak into any Corrections Officer positions with either County or State facilities in the area. Most pay well and have large amounts of overtime to be had.

I know my base is around $40k, and I'm track to hit $65k this year due to OT.

 

yeah ive checked into Corrections... im mainly looking for something thats meaningful and helping people and such.. i sent in an app for the loudon county, va sheriff

 

I know you don't mean that in a rude manner, but C.O.'s get ____ on by a lot of other officers due to them not being out on the road and in the mix. They forget about the part where there is 1 C.O. on a tier, and there are 25-50 inmates all walking that tier freely.

Cops deal with the people for a few hours or so while they do backgrounds, paperwork and all that fun stuff. Then we get stuck with those same scumbags, but for 24 hours a day.

As far as meaningful and helpful: A man walks into a store, holds the women at the register hostage, rapes her, kills her and steals the cash. What could be more helpful and meaningful than keeping that PoS in his cell where he belongs away from the rest of society?

Like I said, I know you meant nothing by your wording, just trying to explain my thoughts.

 

my husband's friend is a cop and loves it. it wasn't his first choice but the only door that was open at the time. (he tried to be a firefighter first but didn't pass the written exam).
If you want to help people there are similar careers to being a cop= emt, firefighter, parole officer, juvinile hall, ect.

 

yeah it wasnt worded right lol i know c.o.'s are there with the people that get put in by the P.O., and i know those dudes are lookin to get out of jail or cause more trouble, hell some are there just biding thier time. I just dont want to work in the jail. doesnt ny start you as a co and you become a po later?

 

Getting him off the street in the first place...

You've got to locate and arrest the suspect before you can keep him in his cell.

Not saying C.O's arent an integral part of the law enforcement system, but I personally FEEL more effective on the streets.

 

everyone has a part in law enforcement, where you want to stand in that system is what im trying to say.. i want to get the bad guys off the street..

 

Unless your're crooked...

There is a cop that lives three homes down from me (has his cop car in the driveway all the time). Probably one of the nicest guys I've ever met and has a beautiful home. He has a stay at home wife with 2 kids, and he's probably in his mid-30's. So apparently some cops get paid pretty well.

 

dont get me wrong, you make a lot of money! Enough to provide nice things for your family. But what does his wife do? I'm sure she helps out with the household income.

 

Overtime = money maker for Police Officers

100k is easily attainable... remember.. Most Police Officers work a 3/12 schedule.. so working 2 extra overtime shifts a week = 24hrsx4 = 96 hrs of OT/mo @ avg rate of $45/hr = $4320 extra per month on top of salary ... How's that sit for ya

 

bear in mind, it's also where you end up posted - i.e. Compton, Long Beach, Oakland, East Palo Alto, Bayview, etc.

Presumably, in such places your career would be much more.... interesting.

 

don't worry about your friends not liking you.

some police officers moved in next door to my house, and they are cool, they have barbeques and partys. they don't care that my other neighbor puts on a HUGE fire works show every july 4th (illegal in montgomery country, md)

the moral of the story is that police don't like to police their own neighborhood, they leave their work at the office and be a joe six-pack like everyone else.

 

people forget that cops are people too..they don't always go around doing the whole arresting the world type of stuff that we think they do. they get off of work. go home and...do nothing. like us.

exactly like drax caliber said. cuz i read it after i typed that. =|

 

you have to remember... c.o.s dont carry guns.. so you're surrounded by 35-40 inmates.. (here in ga) and if they get on you.. you only have a stick to beat them off with.. also.. the fun part about being a c.o. is that if they fight each other.. you have a front row seat at watching them fight.. and do nothing until they're tired.. then come in a beat them.. hahaha.. jkjk.. but forreal.. c.o.s don't carry guns like p.o.s

 

I don't think she does anything except watch the kids, the husband said she's a stay at home mom (who drives a Land Rover). But like someone above mentioned, overtime is gold. Police and other first responders (fire fighters, correctional officers, etc) are always non-exempt.

 

Overtime is gold. And so is good credit...