Well said.

I went to work a little under 5 years ago as a law enforcement officer at the ripe young age of 47, I've worked in the jail, as a transport officer, as a school recource office and now a patrol officer. I wish that I'd had the opportuity to have begun at a younger age. Each day is a new learning experience and I'm very blessed to works for a Sheriffs office that has given me the opportunity to do all these things. This is something that I'll continue to do as long as the body holds up to it.

Retleo says ...

IS BEING A LEO HARD?

YES, "VERY HARD". While the actual day-to-day routine of police work is not particularly challenging, and at times it can become pretty mundane and boring, there are aspects of the job that are very difficult and it takes a very special breed of person to be able to deal with those aspects.  The job is generally hours of tedium and repetition interspersed with seconds of sheer adrenalin rush, terror, sadness, euphoria, and any point of the emotional senses continuum that you can imagine. You must be a strong individual, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to survive in this job.

As a "YOUNG" officer you will be asked to intercede in fights, domestics, child births, deaths (natural, accidental, homicidal, suicidal, etc), car chases, accidents (motor vehicle, train, boat, aircraft). You will pull children from burning buildings, sometimes alive, other times dead.  You will be tasked with telling people that a loved one has died, you will attend autopsies, you will see, smell, hear, and touch things that you would never, in a million years, think of doing as a civilian. You will deal with people of other cultures, religions, sexual preferences, and ideological backgrounds.  You will be yelled at, cried to, lied to, thanked, congratulated, ridiculed and vilified ( ridiculed and vilified, both in person and by the media).  You may have to defend yourself against physical or verbal attack, get shot, stabbed, or be hurt or killed in a car wreck. You will be the one running towards danger as all of those around you flee from it.  There will be times when you feel that you just can't go on.  You will see the worst of people and you will see the best of people.

You will work weekends, most holidays (Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, etc.), days, afternoons, midnights.  You will miss family birthdays, anniversaries, the kid's school plays and dance recitals, their football, soccer, and baseball games. Your spouse and kids will ask why you are never around for them on such occasions, while at work you are there for other families, and your heart will ache.  You will turn down invitation after invitation for dinnner and other social events from family and friends because your schedule only allows you one weekend a month off.  You will  start to socialize only with other LEOs because their work schedule matches your own.  You may develop a "Us vs Them" mentality in which you view anybody who is none-LEO as an outsider worthy of only suspicion and mistrust (a sad and dangerous mental pitfall).

While most people learn about Police Work from the "Cop" shows on television, and it all looks exciting and fun, you must be aware that police work is a very dangerous job that is not for the faint of heart or mind.  People bleed, puke, shit and die on you.  You will become part of a Community (LEO) that is not looked upon favorably by many (Liberals and the Media for starters), and you will find that when you begin your LEO career some people that you counted as friends no longer want to associate with you.  You will no longer be invited to some parties or gatherings bacause you are a "Cop". 

You will find that you can only discuss some of the things that happen "on the job" with other LEOs because friends and family "just don't understand", or don't have the capacity to put what you are talking about into perspective.  You may find that you cannot handle the stresses of the job, and may "turn to the bottle" or some other form of self-medication as a method of coping or escape (beware of this serious pitfall, seek help if you enter this doorway). 

You will interact with a variety of other LEOs during your career, from the excited and "Gung-Ho" Rookie to the cynical and "Do-Nothing" Grizzled Old Vet.  Do not follow the paths of the extremists in either camp.  Seek out the stable, dedicated and hard working officers in your department and learn from them.  If you find officers with 10, 20, or 30 years in Law Enforcement who still has a spark and is still enthusiastic about their job, then learn from these people. It is people like them that rise to the top and make the word "Professional" have real meaning in our LEO Community.

This is a job like no other.  Despite the costs that you pay, both physically and emotionally, the rewards are boundless and extremely fulfilling. It is, without doubt, the best job in the world!

 

Revised 9/23/08 11:15am (Retleo)

That was excellent, never heard it put so eloguently and exact

And Again!!! Bump!!!!!!

Hmm.... Yes.

Bump back to the front page!

Back to pg 1

Thank you for noticing and thank you for trying to join up. That's why its important to bump this back to pg 1. Its an important read.

 Yeah, It is hard but well worth it! I have done this for 14 years now and wouldn't want to do anything else, despite the things I have seen! You really will see and hear things that people in other careers won't see, both good and bad. I have had to tell a mother that her son, who was to graduate high school that afternoon, had been killed in a car accident. Just the other day I had to try and save a girl who had just shot herself in the head. I knew she couldn't be saved, but you have to try! And on the other hand, I have helped people over the years that just needed a boost to get going in the right direction. 

It is the best career out there, but it isn't for everyone!

Bump

I could not have said it any better! Well put!

Bump.

As a possible future LEO;  It means a lot to hear those who have been in the force for years and still love the job.  I hope that I can say the same after the same service that you all have provided.

Thanks, God knows that doesnt get said enough!

Big Bump. . . I just love you guys!

but there is no greater feeling than tightening the handcuffs on a dope dealer or pedophile.

BUMP