General Forums >> Law Enforcement Careers >> Second thoughs about LE career
Second thoughs about LE career
25 posts back to top |
Posted 5 months ago
As mentioned in another thread, i always wanted to be a LEO. But now, my family members are constantly criticizing me about my decision. I'm 34 male asian with a small frame and height.....125lbs and 5'6". They keep telling me i don't have the "personality" to be a LEO. I asked and what kind of personality is that??? They would say you know the Type A personality , anal rentetive, mean kind of person. They say i'm not "aggressive" or "mean" enough to be a LEO. They also think that i'm too small too. As my test date comes closer and closer, i'm hearing this more and more from my sister, wife, and parents. They were utterly shocked when they found out i wanted to join the police department because it's something they could never imagine me doing. No one in our family has ever become and kind of law enforcement officer or anything close to it. I'm just tired of what i'm doing right now, and had time to reflect on what i wanted to do for the rest of my career. Let me know your thoughs out there.
Thanks |
58 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Dont let what your family is saying get to you too much. What you need to look at is whether or not "you" really want to get into law enforcement. What your family is saying about you not being "mean" or "aggressive" enough to do the job is most likely just them being worried about you. You don't need to be mean or aggressive to be a great cop, but you do need to know that you can do the job and do it well. |
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25 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago thanks....in any job that i do, i always give it by best. how does the current LEOs here know that being a LEO is what they wanted to do??? did you guys ever have doubts about it?
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1654 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Sounds like you know what you want to do, who are they to say you don't have what it takes? Worst case scenario you start the training and decide it isn't right for you. However, if you are in fact second guessing your interest/position in LE than maybe it isn't the course of action you should be taking. There is no second guessing on the job, it could get you or someone else seriously injured! Take the time to seriously self-reflect and ask yourself if you KNOW you have what it takes. If there is no doubt in your mind, you shouldn't be questioning your ability or desire. RESPECT FEW, FEAR NO ONE!!! |
4855 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Be your own person, and follow your desires. Your size really has nothing to do with it. As far as a type A personality, that's BS. We have all kinds of personality types in LE.
MODERATOR 3 |
182 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Hell, I was on track to becoming a school teacher when I started college nearly 20 yrs ago...until I realized I didn't want to be stuck behind the same desk inside the same walls day in and day out. If you really enjoy helping people and have good common sense - then go for it. I did, and 14 yrs later, I am still loving my chosen career. As an LEO, you will always have good days and bad days (as in any profession) but as long as you are in it for the right reasons (which does NOT include lots of $$, LOL) then you should set your personal goals and strive towards them fullspeed. P.S. No disrespect was intended towards the teachers out there - they are VERY important and I have all the respect in the world for the ones who have their heart in it.. |
21 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago lis ....unless your family members are the hiring board for the PD you want, then their opinion shouldnt matter. Just worry about the opinions of those giving you the job, not the ones that watch the job on television. Im chiming in, because a few years ago when I wanted to be a police officer, I was considered "small" and the "wrong personality" for police work by co-worker's, in a totally unrelated job, and some friends. However I rose above it and excercised to obtain the physical fitness of a police officer, not a bodybuilder by the way, and I obtained job experiences in which would put me in positions of enacting authority. Now I have friends, family co-workers, professors and ACTUAL POLICE OFFICERS who say I would make an exemplary officer. I discovered through my experiences that being a police officer is way more than being big and mean. There is a lot more, and I feel that these officers on this site can embellish more than I can about this topic. |
1550 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago You do the job you enjoy doing. No one else is doing the work for you so why listen to what they do not like about it. drink up me 'arties yo ho avast ye don't ask we be friends if 10 post we not shared AARGH ye be prepared to kiss the gunners daughter if I be crossed |
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25 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Well guys, after much thought, regretably i'm going to forsake my dream of becoming a police officer. With much deliberation with family members, I am thinking that it would be more then impossible for me to become one. Reasons being, more and more soldiers are coming back from overseas (iraq/afgan/etc) and many of them will be looking to apply to become a LEO. They have that advantage over me. Physically i'm very small, another disadvantage. I don't know what, if any advantage i have over other applicants. I don't have a very good "work history" because a few years after high school, i owned by own business and still continue to this day. Not much of a work reference i can put on my application for the investigator to check. I don't have any really close friends that i can put as reference as well....basically just family members. So after much thought....i'm going to have to drop this dream.
I greatly appreciate all that have replied to my countless questions. Hope you guys stay safe.
Thanks
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136 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago dont go down so easy Lemme ask you this, how do u know all the soliders coming home wanna be LEO's?, and another thing, some or most might have "post Tramatic Stress Disorder" or PTSD wich could be a potentially disqualifing factor in the psycological test Btw i dont mean to disrespect any of our military brothers, i have the upmost respect for all of you About the Physical side? im very skinny, and ive been going to the gym to bulk up, i mean being skinny/small is somthing you can change by working out. its just you have to Commit your self to it. ive gained like 5-6 lbs just by going ot the gym for a few weeks about the work, That acutally is a very good thing that you have your own business, that means your a responsible person who can hold and manage a job. they want to see that, they would acutally PREFER you to have one or two stable jobs, then have 10 short term jobs. about the Firends Reference, im sure you have at LEAST 1 or 2 very close firends. i mean you dont have to be the most popular person. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT then YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! dont let anyone else tell you otherwise Like they said, "you wont know if they will accept you, if you dont apply" P.s: if you really want the job, they will accept you, but if your in that negative mindframe then forget it..
{Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if one has killed all humankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if one has saved the life of all humankind.}(Al-Ma'idah 5:32) |
683 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago Hmm sounds like your family has an unrealistic view of 99% of active LEOs. Noah Ballard "Train like there is no tomorrow, and there will be a tomorrow!" - Unknown |
693 posts back to top |
| Posted 5 months ago It takes only one word..... "Confident" If you feel that your Confident in yourself and you can make split second decisions on your own, then you can do it. Remember; It does'nt take a jerk to be a cop, it take's Motivation, Skill, Teamwork, Good Public Relations, Good Judgement and over all Pride in ones self.! Don't let other's tell you what a cop has to be, their "Wrong". That's why the word "PIG" is more of a slogan.! Pride Integrety Guts |
