Police

[Fishrhunt]

No regrets here either. I'm in my 16th year with Houston PD and still enjoy it. Wish I would have started sooner. My best stories are best enjoyed around a camp fire with a cold one. I agree with others on here saying go to academy that pays you and civil service is a must. Pm me if you interested in Houston.

[Pedernal]

USBP is currently hiring. PM me if you are interested and have questions.

[Tater0331]

Well hell, since all the old heads are chiming in I'll throw in some rook advice for what it is worth.

I'm new in this profession (3 yrs) but not at all new to being a warrior (9 years Jarhead). That being said, you had better either have or quickly develope a warrior mindset in this life. By that I mean be polite, professional, courteous, honest and have a plan to kill everyone you encounter. But also have fun. If you reach or foresee yourself someday reaching a point where it's no longer fun and you're just chasing a paycheck, don't get into this, or get out soon if you have.

Get into it to be a COP. Get dirty, chase drunks, drugs, whatever. Set out everyday to do what Cops do, chase bad guys and have a positive impact on the area you work. If that's not you, or you're more comfortable being an armed report taker, don't get into this life or again, get out.

This is a lifestyle, not just a job. Lots of guys will say it's just a job, leave work at work. I agree with leaving work there and focusing on God, Family, and other pursuits when not on duty, but we're all type A personalities and hunters, we don't just switch off. This is not a job. What job allows you to identify yourself with a close knit brethren that are the ones to have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and do the right thing in the worst of situations?

Regrets? Zero.

[eaglegolfj]

Thank you LEO for your services. Although not my best friends but yall still have a very tough job. I cant imagine some of the stuff yall see, I see some bad stuff myself as being a volunteer fire fighter. Good luck out there.
GODBLESS and GODSPEED.

[UltraMax]

Biggest regret most have that have too much time vested is that they didn't become a fireman

I would never be a smoke eating pretty boy.

If you want to start a Nozzle Jockey or an Evidence Destruction Team thread talking about water wasting and basement/foundation saving then by all means do so.

To the OP...... best job in the world.

[trailboss]

Best job in the world! This is what I was supposed to be. Only regret is that it took me most of my life to figure that out. Started academy at 57 y/o. Going on 8 years now and wish I had 20 more to go. Have a son and daughter that are LEO.

Trailboss

[PowThudBeer]

God Bless you all.

[Quackerbox]

Regrets, not really. However if I had stayed in electrical work I wouldn't have missed tball games,weddings,birthdays etc. Not to mention I'd be making more money.

It also took me 13 years to get weekends off. I'm now a 16 year rookie in a bad *** unit and have opportunities to put bad people in jail for a long time. The camaraderie on my shift is actually so good the other 2 whine about it.

I disagree with being able to turn it off. It's possible. The only thing that won't change is not sitting with your back to the door and always scanning. However, it's unfortunate in today's time everyone should be doing that.

A quick story I can tell here.....during hurricane Ike we got put on 12s 7 days a week. I worked 6p to 6a. One night at about 3 am myself and another unit went to an alarm call. It's dark as **** from the lack of electricity. The alarm was activated from the rear of the house. We got there and begin to sneak around the detached garage. Now my gun is drawn and my partner behind me. As I round the garage for a quick peak there is a giant bronze Indian stature complete with a tomahawk raised. Yeah.....it was almost Custer last stand right there in spring texas!!

[Olphart]

I started at a small department (18 sworn)and stayed there almost 32 years (over 100 sworn), through the growing pains and all. I loved being on the street and everyday was a different experience, even though the manpower could get easily overwhelmed and I missed some quality family time. The pay sucked but I didn't have any college as I enlisted out of high school, avoiding the draft. I wouldn't trade my military experience as I grew up during those 4 years. I rose through the LEO ranks during the department's growth partly to obtain a better income for my family and otherwise to try and make some changes and that's where it got stressful and not enjoyable. Being a supervisor is okay; being a manager is the pits when you are fighting those above you or your equals. That is where I almost destroyed myself and my family with alcohol, which didn't help in any way. I will say that I rotated through various parts of the department and learned how valuable they all are in the big picture (patrol, traffic, CID, communications, jail, records, evidence, recruiting/training). My best times were in patrol and traffic.

[bowhuntntxn]

By far my best story? I have come home to my wife and 2 daughters for over 15 yrs.

Absolutely ZERO regrets. I still believe that being an LEO is an honorable profession.

I agree that LEO is a very honorable profession. I appreciate those of you who are laying it all on the line so myself and my family can feel safe from the chaos.

[Steve_243]

Police

Biggest regret most have that have too much time vested is that they didn't become a fireman

Everyone loves a fireman.

[UltraMax]

Everyone loves a fireman.

Especially the firemen themselves.

[TKC]

No regrets here! God has blessed me over and over through out my 22 years with DPS! Just pray about it and ask is this where your calling is? If the answer is yes, mash the gas pedal and get started. It is never about the money etc. It is a way of life 24/7 no matter where you are, who your with or what your doing. Vacation, day off, grocery store, on duty etc. It never stops. When you are done, you will look back with a head nod and a smile feeling proud and sure that you did everything you could each day to make the world, your family and friends more safe and a better place. Best of luck to you sir! And DPS is always needing good solid folks and are always hiring.

[TxKronik]

If you need to be liked don't be a cop you will lose some friends who don't want to be around a cop and everyone you deal with in the job is in crisis

This is a thankless job but we don't do it for the thanks or recognition we do it to serve

Every encounter could be your last it is very dangerous you never know who's in the car you stop or what's really happening at the call your headed to

you will miss a lot of family events and holidays you will work nights for years if there is a short straw u will draw it for awhile

Now would I give it up no it is a calling not a job we run toward danger as everyone else runs away

You got to be a little crazy to do this job

Anyone who is one will tell you we all bleed blue and you won't understand until you are one (except military)

[Steve_243]

Especially the firemen themselves.

I always said I took the wrong door at Police academy and should went right to fire academy. Lol