Why become a police officer?

Protect the public - Someone has to get those bad boys. This is an opportunity to make a difference by serving the public and helping see justice served.

Promotion Opportunities – In as little as 6 months, police officers can become eligible for promotion. Written exam scores and on-the-job performance determine eligibility. Continuing training, readily available through training centers and academies, can also increase chances for promotion. An officer can work up the ladder to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain, as well as become a detective or specialize in a specific area of police work that holds an interest.

Cheap Education – The pursuit of a degree in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration may be financially covered. Officers willing to work toward these degrees are often rewarded by partial or full tuition coverage by agencies. In addition, a college degree is not usually required to enter the force, proving to be a cheaper option than many careers.

Benefits & Retirement – Common benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, medical and life insurance, and uniform allowance. Many officers are eligible for retirement with 30 or fewer years of service. It is common to retire after 20 years of service at half-pay. Keep in mind, though, that these may be 20 years of long hours and difficult tasks. Retirement will definitely be well-earned.

Why not?

The Risk - Interactions with criminals creates danger in the life of any police officer. This is going to involve more risk than pursuing an accounting job.

The Drain – Violent crimes, long hours, physical demands. It will take all kinds of endurance to fulfill the duties required in this career.

So who should be brass? This career is not for everyone. A police officer must have certain qualities to meet the challenges of the beat.

Qualities of a Great Law Enforcement Officer

Law enforcement jobs can be extremely stressful and require a certain type of personality. If you want to work in law enforcement, you’ll have to have

• Good communication skills
• Enjoy working with the public.
• Honesty
• The ability to make quick decisions

A New Perspective of the Public

As a patrol officer or in any entry-level law enforcement position, you’ll be dealing with the public on a daily basis, and you’ll usually be dealing with people who are not at their best. Law enforcement can give you a detailed look at the seedy underbelly of people’s lives, and it takes a lot of psychological stamina to stop that view from making you cynical about life and the people around you.

Justice Doesn’t Always Get a Spotlight

Even though many people go into law enforcement to contribute to the common good, and to do something that benefits society, rarely do those accomplishments come to the public light. In fact, one officer put it this way:

“Knowing you do the best job you can is the only reward you should expect. If that’s ok, go apply. If you want parades, it might not be for you.”

Law enforcement can be a job with little recognition and few rewards for protecting your fellow citizens. That’s one of the reasons that potential law enforcement officers should get rid of any notions of fame or recognition for their work.

Law Enforcement is a Physically AND Mentally Demanding Career

Police work is not only physically hard at times, but also psychologically hard as well. You’ll be dealing with traumatic moments in people’s lives, and often people won’t like you or insult you based on their past experiences with law enforcement officers. This psychological beating can take its toll and will often affect the personal lives of officers.

As such, police have a high rate of divorce and are more likely to abuse alcohol than average citizens. So it’s important that, if you want to become a police officer, you understand the personal risks and develop positive coping mechanisms that will help you deal with stress in productive ways.

This isn't Your 9-5 Desk Job

Becoming a law enforcement officer has its ups and downs. There is a lot of stress and psychological toll that can wear on officer’s personal lives, but there are also benefits to being a law enforcement officer.

Many people may like working a 9-5 job, sitting in a cubicle, but that is not the life of a law enforcement officer. Each day you may be faced with a different task or duty, and you’ll deal with a wide variety of personalities and people almost everyday. Although you will be faced with a lot of paperwork, a lot of your job will require you to be outside the station or agency headquarters patrolling, investigating, and more.

Law enforcement work is also very active. It requires you to interact with the public every day and accomplish tasks that keep people safe, tasks that—at the end of the day—you can be proud of. Law enforcement work can also be a lot of fun as you build deep personal relationships with the other officers in your agency and work together to serve the public and keep it safe.

A Job that Matters

Law enforcement can be difficult, stressful, filled with paperwork, and not at all glamorous at times. But, overall, law enforcement work can provide a deep sense of duty to a larger cause and the knowledge that what you are doing saves lives and keeps us all safe.

If you are interested in earning a degree in Law Enforcement, click here to request more information.