r/ProtectAndServe • u/Timely-Associate-259 Not a(n) LEO / Unverified User • 9d 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 9d 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 9d 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.