Thinking about going into law enforcement once I'm out of the military. I have a BS in Economics and 6 years of military service so I know I can get the job....just wondering if its a good job to have or not in your opinion.

If you become a Police officer, I will buy all drugs, guns, and cars that you can take from drug dealers. Just dont document them..


Thanks In Advance..

Do I get a free boat or something out of this deal?

Had a friend who was a cop. Said it's nothing but politics. He hated it. Now a game warden and loves it

i've worked for my local p.d. for 10 years as a dispatcher. i got into the gig wanting to become a cop. shortly into my career, i decided it wasn't for me (lets just say a clash of ego's did me in). but if you enjoy helping people and like para-millitary organitzations, i say go for it. the job is thankless but yet has alot of personal rewards as well. you won't get rich but there is alot of oppertunities for over time (atleast with us), people, schools, diffrent orginaztations, and businesses are always looking to hire officers for security details. there are alot of hazards that go with the job, sometimes too many too mention. but if you keep your head up, remember your training, and are observant you should have no problem with the job.

just remember COPS is a reality based tv show with alot of hollywood thrown in. there is alot of downtime depending on the department, but when it's time to go to a hot complant it's 100% balls to the wall.

best of luck in your endeavour, if you have any questions feel free to get up with me. i can try and help ya as best as i can.

Yes time's 2 on Warden, i almost went for to school to be a warden! Being as you have military back ground warden would be the thing i go for, more monay too!

I did it for a year after I got out... It sucked, the pay was awful. Use you degree and make some real money or get in the oilfield and dont use your degree and make some real money.

Being a cop really limits the amount of money you will earn in your lifetime.

Whats the melon called?

I have been looking for that melon everyday and the only thing they have been serving is pineapple. Sorry, if they decide to put it out again I will let you know.

grassyass.

With the economy the way it is I don't know exactly what is out there for you with your Econ. degree, but i don't see people with that major too often.

I wish you could find something to utilize that degree in management or other. I have to say, I am impressed as its not an easy major.

I tried da whole law enforcement deal for a short 6 months. I quickly realized dat da guys who got your back just are not da same quality as da ones who got your back in da military. I just could not trust dem wit my life. Maybe I had my standards too high, but once you work wit da best it's hard to settle for less. Not sayin all police officers are second class but da majority of da ones I met, gave me dat impression. Oh yeah and like mentioned above da pay is not da best.

hide de weed

No don't hide it....... Pass it.

The money isn't great and it's hard on the family life, but the rewards can be good. You have the security of a public job and the benefits as well. I wouldn't consider anything at less than the State Level. Politics get much worse when working for the county(parish?) or city. Federal jobs can pay fairly well and most have 20 year retirements. You get plenty of leave hours with most agencies also, so missing out on duck season isn't a problem.

Nathan

I did it for about 12 years. It was fun back in the day of gang bangers on every corner and the public in general just wanted their town and didn't care how it got done. In today's time of having to be politically correct, hooked to a voice and video recordings it is not a very officer friendly environment. Politiics play a large part in it. The guys that I worked with who are still in biz seem to be generally unhappy and can't wait to retire. By the end we had all come to the conclusion that we should have done something else. Ever think of the Fire Sevice? Hence the route I have taken. Still get to do those exciting things, help folks out and get satisfaction from your job. If I were young and had to do it over again I would go into nursing like my wife. Public Saftey and medical are 2 fields that will never go away and can be very rewarding in many ways including finacially if you play it smart. Male nurses get promoted faster and are in big demand. I was very happy when my son chose nursing.

You need to do something federal, FBI or Custom/borderpatrol.
Better on job protection, pay etc. Your years of military service will give you a advantage point wise when you apply.

JD

With the gearing up for more boarder protection that would be a good one.

My neighbor is highway patrol and he does very nice, he works the most random of hours and its so nice he drives his car everywhere he goes, he gets alot of priviate security jobs, he moved up quick with them also just got on a some sort of big drug task force.

the ones around here retire after 20yrs, the 8 or so that just retired ,due to the public finding out how bad they are Fukin the taxpayers, are getting 60k+ a year at age 42 or so. they get this for the rest of there life, + free health insurance for them and there spouse till 65. some are getting up to 90k a year due to the spiking that they let take place. Now they put an end to the spiking, but ALOT took advantage of it. Retire at 42? with that kind of boot, I should have done it. I could have been a prick for 20 years

Been a Deputy Sheriff for over 20 years now and have had a great career. Spent over 10 yrs as a Detective mainly Narcotics with a few years working Criminal Investigations. Its a great job however it can be taxing. With your mil background you will do fine. If you are considering a job in LEO go for it. Try it and if you don't like it ring the bell like the above did and find something else. Its not for everyone.
Randy

i also have 20 years in. due to a location change i will never be able to retire. this is what ive done since i was 21. i tried to get out several years ago but found my way back. i agree with some of the other posts, use your degree. if its not out side law enforcement then use it for law enforcement. ide say go with a fed leo or a state agency. not a trooper but your state investigative agency im not sure what texas has but tennessee has tbi, goerga as gbi, florida has fdle etc. your degree and mil will get you hired, fbi, abc, tresuray there are alot of fed agencies with leo.

as for small town poiltics, dont think a trooper doesnt have to deal with them also. it can be worse than a city or ounty.

as far as the job goes, its a job. dont get consumed in it. understand its a very important job but you must leave as much of it at work as you can. its also a live style, meaning you are not free to do what you want when you are not working. you will have frends that wont be your frends anymore. you will somewhat be a short on people you hang out with. i would refrain from hanging out with just other police. you will find you may only have a few frends that you are very close to.

you will enjoy good job security, fair bennifets, and a fair retirement. dont expect to get rich, but if you plan well you can retire comfortably.

yea, that sucks. and all this time i thought you had o be a citizen for the constitution to cover you.

Sando's ~ I put the evaluations on you and I thank you is the type of person me and the folks I hang-out with truely respect !!! I knows yore folks and family are proud !!!!

Good Luck on yore endeavors !!!!

I've been in law enforcment for 22 years. Could not see myself doing anything else. I currently run Criminal Investigations, Narcotics and Internal Affairs for my department. The money is out there to be made if you want to work. Extra details pay from $25.00 per hour to $35.00 depending on where you work. Civil Service is the way to go if you can find a department hiring. Good luck and if you need some further assistance shoot me a pm, I will be glad to help you.

I have been a Trooper for the last 17 years in Texas. Tx DPS is a great organization. Yeah the job has its ups and downs but I have enjoyed every bit and still look forward to going to work every day. We all can find stuff in our job to complain about regardless of what you do. I know and work with guys that should not be officers and have no business in law enforcement. I truely believe that it is a calling. Not eveyone is cut out for it. If you feel that you can do it, give it a try. You can always move on to something else.

you got to have some integrity

To all the LEOs on this thread and board, thanks for your service.

I was a cop from 1993 to 99 nothing but politics and bs. some of it was good, for the most part I didnt care for it . The money was crap but the benifits was good. I went into private business and I am much happier now and my checking account looks better too.