PotentialPolice says ...

You know Sgt405 you are absolutely correct.  I am self centered.  I am egotistical.  I am a narcissist.  I am immature.  I have a question - how did you get to be some darn smart?  You have me pegged - and after only a reading a few of my postings.  You say you are happy in your career and I do not doubt that.  However, I think you may have missed your calling.  With your uncanny ability to delve into the human psyche perhaps you should have went into psychiatry.

By the way, you really should try the spell check thing.

Goodbye and again thanks for responses.

PC

What do you think we do every day?  We are the lowest paid psychiatrists available and we go into every call and every contact knowing that the expectation of our clientel is to somehow take the few moments we have in any given call for service to fix (however temorary) what problems took our clientel a fifetime to create.  SGT405 has experience on his side........ as do the rest of us.  Just not quite as much.  Like I said earlier........ learn to take a step back from yourself and then proceed to learn.

PotentialPolice -  A rank novice who calls a seasoned officer 'naive' has hurled quite an insult.  Yet, chances are you'll get a Cedardale - who will exercise tact as a matter of course.  That kind of professional response is what we civilians expect.  And get.

 Maturity.  It's what it's about.  In ANY field.

PotentialPolice says ...

 MarlyB - I think you are correct.  I should not have used the word arse and I apologize.  SGT405 I apologize for calling you an arse - everything else I stand by.  However, I also standy by my decision of using "naive".  I believe it truly is naive to make an assumption or try to label a person based soley on a few forum posts.

Great, after reading this thread I have this song by "War" stuck in my head......

"Sometime I don't speak too bright,

But yet I know what I'm talking about.

Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?

Why can't we be friends?" 

 "Mommy is Daddy working".  Does sum it all up.  Also you will first want to listen to the radio all the time, but turn it off.  When you are home be a family man.   Also talk to your children about it and your wife about it and explain that there may be some nights when you will be home late or miss birthdays, christmas, and ect.

Also make sure you call home when you will be late for the first couple months because she will worry.  I got into trouble because my first night on the job I was 2 hours late.  Now she is used to me being home late

 Double P, 

I have read through all the threads here. Very interesting, and quite entertaining. 

I see that you had good intentions when you asked the initial question you asked. What I see happening is seasoned veterans that are what I call "riding you like seabisquit". You asked a question, and the question potrays doubt in yourself, and doubt in your ability to commit long term to this profession. Something that happens far too often. The hire rate to graduates in the academy is true... for every handful that graduate only 1 or 2 actually get hired. I just graduated a year long academy here in NC. It was part time, and we only went like 2x per week for 12 hour days. We began with 23 cadets. When it came time to sit for the state exam, we only had 13 left. Out of the 13, only 6 of us were eligable to actually take the state exam as the others had what is termed "deficiencies" Ie., failures, or some portion they missed and failed or didn't perform in. Out of the 6 of us that sat for the state exam, 4 passed. Out of the four that actually passed, only 2 of us got hired. One of the two was me. The other one hasn't started yet, but in the final phases of hiring with another agency. That gives you some numbers. A week after we graduated another 8 passed the state exam out of a 36 cadet class, most had failed out by the end and then two weeks later, a class of 18 sat for the state exam. I think only 12 passed. I haven't heard of anyone else starting anywhere recently, so there is the numbers for you. 

It's tough. Really tough. The worst part of it is....agencies invest a ton of money and hours into the hiring process to select the "few" they do out of a large pool...then the few the pick...most won't make it there first year and normally they quit on their own, because they realize it isn't for them. Most people do not like what we have to do...most people want to be home with their wives and husbands...snuggling with their kids instead of dealing with what we have to. 

Go to the academy, and do your best. It will be the true test of time. The academy, however long it is for you...im sure you are going full time through the day which is unlike what your actualy work schedule will be like, however when you get home you will find you are spending the final hours of the day....studying, studying, reviewing some more...working out.... and doing everything you can to be committed. Some do not do that...and they fail miserably. The ones of us who survived that long ass academy I went through..... we were the ones who didn't have kids...or really put the family on the back burner. I have 3 stepkids full time, and a 2 year old son. I cannot tell you how many baseball games my stepson couldn't go to....how many times my teenage stepdaughter had to cook dinner for the rest....they had to put themselves to bed with my teenager... help themselves with homework. I remember plenty of days that began for me leaving home around 0500...and not returning until almost midnight. Now that I am working on shift...our agencies set it up where every two weeks you switch back over to days or nights. It is either 7a-7p or 7p-7a....either way I can never take my kids to school...my mom does. She came up from florida to help with them, because my spouse is deployed. Grandma cooks them dinner every night....grandma takes them to school and picks them up.... and tucks them in at night. There are days they wont see me in the morning, and probably not see me before they go to bed. Its the nature of the beast. Most people cannot handle that...and if they can...their spouses fall apart and leave them. I wish you and your family nothing but the best. Watch what your kids and wife say to you while you're in the academy. Pay attention to what they say, how they act towards you,the whole nine bit. Then determine if you can do that, 10x worse than what the academy schedule is...for the next 25-30 years of your life. That will answer your question. No one can make the decision for you.... you have to decide on yourself. 

I made a decision that no one would deter me from being in this field. No matter what the cost or price in the end of the day... I cannot do anything else in life. So you have to ask yourself if you feel the same way. Can you make your family and their needs and wants second ? 

Good luck to you hun. Dont take it personal..you will see in this field everyone rides the new guy.... you are a boot right now...not even...as you are a cadet...wait until you get out on the road somewhere. It gets worse. 

Wish you the best of luck.. as a member of the military and a family member of a LEO I can tell you that everyone has to give way together.  My two cents is find that balance.  A LE career is demanding, and fulfilling at the same time from what I have seen.   You will work hard, but you will get time off too.  When you have that time make family and quality time a priority.  When you work do your job to the best of your ability.  You need to go in shift with a clear mind and not be preoccupied with thoughts of family problems etc.  Easier said than done, but  make sure you communicate with your spouse.  Open communication and finding solutions or compromises to family issues helps tremondously.  Support your spouse and they will support you.  Take care of you and your fellow officers so that you all come home at the end of your shift.  I mean that is the primary goal isn't it?  Everyone goes home at the end of the day/shift.  Good luck in the academy and your future endeavors.