Solid advice. I have trade skills and an engineering degree but LE is always what I wanted to do. I have backups but this is just something that I can always see myself doing.23+ and retired last December. I would say, if he thinks it’s his calling, get to it and be the best cop he can be. Remind him that no matter where you are in the career you’re one injury, bad day, weird political incident away from not being a cop any more, so he should have a backup plan with a capital B. Disillusionment can set in just about anytime, and will probably wax and wane over a career. He probably will come out of it damaged goods to one degree or another. I can’t remember how many times I wanted to say “[email protected]#k it” over 23 years, but there were a bunch. Got worse after I promoted to commander and chief.
Still and all though, we desperately need good cops. It’s gotten to hard for most to do 30-40 years anymore, so turnover is higher. If he really wants to do it you won’t be able to talk him out of it anyway, and I’m not sure you should if he’s suited for it.
Just remind him, again: Go into it with eyes open and have a plan to get out of it immediately should he so desire.
Absolutely it is! Does that mean I want my son out there in the midst of the insanity going on? That’s a more difficult question to answer. He’s strong-willed and a grown man(even though he’ll always be my little boy), so I can’t and won’t talk him into or out of it. I agree with an earlier post-is it his calling or just something he thought of? Definitely something I will ask him when we talk in a couple of days-he had all 4 wisdom teeth out this evening, so he won’t be doing much talking for a couple of days.We need the THIN. BLUE LINE, be it any color like Green, Tan or what ever. Many people say little good about the Cops, or Profession. Those are those doing crime.
Honorable Profession.
LE is/was a noble profession. I got into it to stop bad guys and I did my share (should have done more) but sent several away to prison. Left Patrol in 99 and left LE completely in 09. I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity and to make decent money and I have two retirements waiting for me.And I’m not real sure how to advise him. He’s 25 with a college degree, and is the GM of an indoor baseball facility(he played college ball).
My dad was a county sheriff for years, and I condsidered LE, but I wanted to coach, and part of me is proud of him for wanting to serve. The other part of me sees how you guys are under attack socially and politically and wants to warn him against it. What do you guys who are in the field now think?
^ THISI cannot and will not recommend ANY State, county, or local agency these days.
Worrying about physical harm was never my concern, at least not after a few months in.Twenty-two years in law enforcement next month...please try to talk him out of it. The risks are too big now and no longer worth it.
Mike the Cop said as much when he turned in his badge, and he was a part-timer. He is running a couple of cool things for officers, too. Offering free jiu-jitsu courses, as well as a program to help LE types get real estate licenses and leave the job.I would not recommend the profession to anyone i love. I've been with a city and am currently on my second federal agency.
The cost is too high and the people are not worth it. I would not sacrifice either of my sons or my daughter to this profession.