applying for PD

[Goon]

Couldn't have said it any better myself. And remember tht sometimes, depending on part if city your in, the job can be more like babysitting than police work. But I enjoy what I do and look forward to coming to work every night. Good luck with your testing.

^^^yup

[UltraMax]

I used to be LPD. Best job man. Once your are in my best advice, carry yourself as If you don't have a weapon. Be safe.

This is so true, great advice, the quicker you can wear that gun and not let it go to your head the better. People can see an egotistical cop coming a mile away.

[gbrown1789]

It's a lot tougher profession now than it was a few years ago. I retired two years ago after 35 years as a LEO. I would not change a thing. (except to do it all over again!) Thank all of you guys and gals out there that make a streets a safe place for my kids and grandkids! I still love taking the bad guys off the street!! I have found that if you treat folks as nice as they will let you--you will do fine! Some of them just want to enroll in the attitude adjustment course! Best of luck and keep your powder dry!

[drewjunr]

We work where we live and are hated by our neighbors and sometimes our friends.

I would love for a police office to live next to me. I have them as friends and treat them like I treat all my friends...if I screw up that is on me. I wouldn't ask them to fix tickets or get me out of a bind. I may ask for advice but I do that of all my friends and would do the same for them.

Thanks for your service

[TigerBob]

Hey UltraMax, not all neighbors and friends hate LEO's. Some of us know EXACTLY why we sleep safe at night and appreciate it more than we could ever express. Don't let the beaurocratic BS get in the way of you doing what you need to do. I lived next door to a Dallas PD Officer for 13 years and heard all about the things he had to face and the effects it has on one's life off-duty...I don't envy it one bit, but appreciate the hell out it.

[youngking]

I have a nephew who is a detective with FWPD. He'll talk to you if you want. PM me if you'd like to talk to him.

[UltraMax]

Hey UltraMax, not all neighbors and friends hate LEO's. Some of us know EXACTLY why we sleep safe at night and appreciate it more than we could ever express. Don't let the beaurocratic BS get in the way of you doing what you need to do. I lived next door to a Dallas PD Officer for 13 years and heard all about the things he had to face and the effects it has on one's life off-duty...I don't envy it one bit, but appreciate the hell out it.

I know my statement sounded absolute but I know there are those out there that appreciate us.

And don't worry, the beaurocratic BS won't get in the way. My number one goal is to go home at the end of the night.

[glen]

It ain't that hard. It's a lot of fun and could not imagine doing anything else for a living.
Some things that you have to overcome

-working crappy days and hours takes a strong wife
-taking crap off people with a smile on your face
-other than that it's all a piece of cake

Good luck

[Quackerbox]

Utlramax pretty much nailed it!! Being a combat vet Im sure youve been shot at plenty. Ive only been shot at once and I can say I didnt really enjoy it at all. Now that Im not on the streets I do miss the "excitement" now and then. Having a take home allows me to ease toward stuff on the way home and that helps the ole adrenaline get back when I want.

It ain't that hard. It's a lot of fun and could not imagine doing anything else for a living.
Some things that you have to overcome

-working crappy days and hours takes a strong wife
-taking crap off people with a smile on your face
-other than that it's all a piece of cake

Good luck

Crappy days off was easily the hardest part for me and my wife. I missed a lot of holidays, T-ball games, weddings (sometimes thats good) etc. Aside from once a month call out I can now pretty much take off when I want, and work any 8 hours I choose if theres a reason for it. With nearly 14 years in Im still not on dayshift but I got a pretty good gig.

As mentioned good luck

[coop]

You'll be fine on the civil service exams I would think, and being prior military I wouldn't think the academy would be all that bad for you.

Just know that we cops don't get any of the praise that soldiers get. We work where we live and are hated by our neighbors and sometimes our friends. Every thing you do will be ridiculed and quarterbacked by "experts" who have no idea what it's like to strap on this gun, vest, and badge and actually work as we do. Your split second decisions will be examined under the legal and public opinion's microscopes, and even when you did everything lawfully within your power, because obviously a 14 year old kid running at you with a butcher knife was not deadly force situation and you shouldn't have killed him with a gun but rather shot the knife out of his hand.

You'll see sick kids, beat kids, starving kids, dead kids and their screaming in heart wrenching pain parents that makes you want to cry with them, sexually assaulted kids, people that do awful things to others. Wife beaters, husband beaters, people who take advantage of the elderly....... The list goes on and on forever........

You'll breakdown sometimes because of some of the horrific things you'll see and/or go through, but that's ok, you need to let it out somehow.

Your parents/wife and family won't think like you, so you'll have to keep some thoughts to yourself.

Then you'll have to go home to your family and try and not let your job make you crazy. You also can't tell your wife about most of the awful things you see because she will end up worrying sick about you.

It's a decent career, but not for everyone.

Word of advice, keep your non LEO friends and hobbies.

Just a little insight

Sounds awful similar to my military service in Nam.