Hello all,

I need some guidance here. I have a strong possiblity of getting hired with an agency that is about two hours away from where i live now. My wife drives 30 minutes the opposite direction for work. She works for a school district and really has to work the full school year. If this agency winds up hiring me then I need to go. Has anyone ever encountered this situation before. If so how did you manage it. Thanks for any input.  

Are you making a statement?

Why live apart? can't you drive the 2 hours?

I think making the drive is going to be necessary.  I am going to be attending the academy next month and it is about 1.5 hours from my house (that's with no traffic).  I've also been told by many officers that it is nice to live a bit removed from the community you police in because they find it unsettling when they are out with their family and the person they arrested a few days ago approaches them and asks "Hey aren't you the cop that arrested me?".  The distance might be difficult but it might be good too. 

Remember, I'm a pre-rookie so take that in to consideration.  There are a lot of experienced people on this site who can give you a better insight.

Just drive the 2 hours....................

Don't know if you own, rent or what, by maybe move to where you each had about a 75 minute drive, if you're not up to the 2 hr each way communte (and a surprising number of people do a 2 hr or more commute).

Another option is to make "friends" quickly so you may have a place to "stay" on those nights where you just won't be able to make it home OR you have court the next morning.  Another option is to find a "cheap" apartment for those night where you can't make it home (i.e. too tired) for whatever reason and depending on how your schedule works out (some departments have 12 hour days) so your time away from home could actually be less.

My suggestion would be to wait and find out if the department hires you. . . .if they do, what kind of schedules do they put out there. . . and then you might find your decision process much easier than worrying now about something you have no control over

most cops live apart anyway we work mids and weekends and holidays. you forget togethor ness when you become a cop. Get a prius and a pack of cigs and enjoy the drive. Your working!

JIMROC says ...

I have lived in the same town I police in for 30 years.  Never had an issue.  See people I have arrested all the time.  They are usually polite, and have never bee rude. I treat people, even bad guys with respect, therefore, I receive respect in return.  The really bad ones are locked up, and the ones that got out, didn't move back to town for the most part.  To me this was never an issue.  My kids went to school in this community, and never got harassed or anything. I think you might be over reacting just a little bit.

Bump Jim ! Just change it to 23 yrs as a probation/parole office and I could say the same thing !