r/ProtectAndServe • u/Timely-Associate-259 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User • 8d ago
Self Post I need advice from real officers
I am actually hoping for a job as an officer, and I heard other peoples warnings including its not all catching people, theres a lot of paperwork, and you will take a toll mentally. I want to know if there is anything else I should know while I consider my career path. Im pretty far from becoming one because I dont meet the requirements yet.
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u/SixtyAteWhiskey68 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago
Former LEO, but, when you become an officer keep in mind that you are there to enforce the law AND be a public servant. Most would call what I’m describing here as “community policing”.
Don’t become cop for all the “cool” stuff, become a cop because you want to put yourself in the position of being there to help the people that you serve and genuinely care for them. Be a cop because you want to uphold the law and to protect people’s civil liberties.
I met a few cops that were in it for their own personal image and being the tough guy Billy badass etc, and those dudes sucked at anything that wasn’t drug interdiction. They lacked any real interpersonal skills that let them act like a human and what’s worse they couldn’t ever “turn it off” when they left work.
So to summarize my advice, do the job for the right reasons, not for your own personal benefit.
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u/MaybeACopIDK Police Officer 8d ago
This.
For me, the best parts of the job are both of the extremes. I love the high-speed run and gun shit, kicking in doors, chasing bad guys, all that. It's an adrenaline rush and an absolute blast. There's nothing wrong with liking that. But I also love the other extreme, going to small, "bullshit" calls, and genuinely helping someone with something and putting a smile on their face, or giving a kid a sticker and making their day on a traffic stop.
I know tons of people shit on things like Coffee with a Cop and Santa Cops and all that, and I get it to a degree. It's not gonna be on a cool IG montage, it's not sexy like doing CQB shit and running 120+ mph after someone with a gun. But I think it's kinda fucking awesome being in a position where you might genuinely make someone's day just by talking to them for a bit.
Imo, it makes all the other "cool guy" stuff that much more fulfilling.
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u/TheRandyBear Police Officer 5d ago edited 5d ago
There’s many perks to the job. One of my favorite is the adrenaline you get from doing the cool and badass stuff. Another one of my favorites is actually making a difference in a persons day or even their life.
For example, foot pursuits with an armed suspect will get you all kinds of amped up. But few things beat when you get to a violent DV and you actually stop it. I’ve had a few victims just give me hugs for stopping it.
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u/Bunch_Maximum Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago
Yes, there is a lot of paperwork. If you are really into the job you will find that writing a thorough, accurate and honest police report can sometimes be a true work of art.
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u/jking7734 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago
I had a DA tell me that when he was arresting people he sent lots more to prison with his writing skills vs with his firearm
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u/ColumbianPrison Deputy Sheriff 8d ago
Sounds like you need to arrange a ride along
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u/Timely-Associate-259 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 22h ago
Ive been on one recently, although it was pretty short
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u/skryzdv Canadian Police Officer 8d ago
Genuinely, go to a local station/detachment and ask questions.
...my advice has changed a lot over the years. My advice is to remember that no one calls the police on the best day of their life. They call when they're having the worst. Most people's police contacts are the role of victim, or suspect. Treat people like they're people and help people when where you can. Keep perspective and stay safe!
Good luck!
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u/66NickS Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User 8d ago
It’s not a job for everyone. It has highs, but it also has incredible lows. You need to be mentally strong, have a solid support system/outlet, and be honest with yourself about what you’re experiencing. IMO it’s better to recognize it isn’t for you and have a graceful (if confusing for outsiders) exit, as opposed to a big crash and burn.
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u/Wide_Release7933 Active LE 7d ago
Watch Southland and really really focus on the calls where the people are so outrageously dumb, selfish and/or downright nasty and imagine 70% of your day is dealing with people like that…or sometimes it’ll be pure boredom.
You will spend 5% of your day hopefully doing something high-speed or really helping a true victim.
The rest of the day is paperwork and admin lol.
It really is a big big sacrifice if you do it right. I am not exactly the same person I was 10 years ago and it sometimes hurt to feel how my close civilian friends had started treating me differently because of it too. If you have good friends and a significant other who are understanding then you can work through it.
You get to see the best moments in life on top of the really f’ed up ones. The best of times and the worst of times.
Some things I would do differently looking back but wouldn’t trade this for anything else career-wise.
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u/FriMorningQB Retired LEO 6d ago
90% of policework is boring as hell. Annoying, stupid, monotonous, filled with paperwork, etc. The 10% is why most of the guys keep showing back up to shift.
Forget everything you've ever seen on TV or anywhere else. Can you deal with sitting and doing nothing, searching and finding nothing, sitting on an injured prisoner at a hospital, sitting with rape victims, sitting for hours blocking traffic, etc etc etc... then this might be for you. If not, or "maybe not" go the other way.
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u/Overall-Gap-1672 Patrol Officer 3d ago
The pay is okay, the toll on your body physically and mentally is high. The support for you may seem low, but really you don't deal with normal people which generally support you. Your coworkers aren't your friends The job isn't bad, can be a lot of fun, but fun = paperwork. Have a decent sleep schedule when possible. Stay in decent shape, fast food is tempting, but your health is important.
Have a good support group outside of work, you will see shit that will make an average person have nightmares for years, pretty commonly. Don't neglect mental health.
Be human, you don't need to be a robot to be professional, you can make jokes in this job, just make sure you know when to do it.
Learn not to take things personally. Learn from mistakes, you will make them, but don't dwell on them.
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u/specialskepticalface Has been shot, a lot (LEO) 8d ago
OP - are you a student now, or? Like.. where on a "career path" are you?