Thinking About a Career in Law Enforcement

[Deerhunter30]

Hello law officers. I am thinking about a career change to law enforcement. As some of you may remember I am in training to become a chaplain for the local police department. Part of the training is a citizen police academy where citizens are familiarized with police work and the policies and procedures of police work. It is very interesting to me and at times I have wished that I had gotten into the police department when I was younger. The truth is that I had a temper problem when I was younger and would not have been a good officer. My wife actually made the comment yesterday that “maybe you will end up in police work before this is all done” which was a surprise to me since I would have thought that she would be VERY opposed to me being an officer.

Could some of you give me the pros and cons of police work? Also, is 36 too late to get into law enforcement?

[bwssr]

call Chew!

[Seemore]

Lots of Risk with little pay. It is not for everybody, I respect those who have the nuts to do it.

[Snakelover]

Well, I'm not a law enforcement officer, but I'll throw my two cents in. From what I know of you, Kevin, you certainly seem to have the right temperment for it. I would have never known you had a temper problem when you were younger because you seem to be so level headed and even keeled now. You seem like you would be cool under pressure and make good decisions under difficult circumstances. That's just my impression of you. Whether the career is right for you and your family, only you can decide. But whether you would be good for the career, I say yes. I think you are exactly the kind of individual that we need wearing the badges. Just my opinion.

[Chew]

Kevin...gimme a call. 281-446-9155

Ask for detective Minchew

(oh yeah...that's not Shipley's number!)

[billfromtx]

If you feel like you don't work enough hours or make too much money now...Then do it.
Its a very admirable career, but those guy don't make nearly enough money, IMHO, for the BS and garbage they have to deal with.

My Hats off to all of them.

[Deerhunter30]

Seemore,
I'll disagree with you on the low pay deal. I was looking at a local department's pay scale and if I had went into law enforcement at 21 years of age I would be making the same as I do now. I'm not saying that I make lots of money, but I make a good living working at a NASA contractor. I would be making more money if I were a sargent. I'm not saying that I would be, but IF I had made sargent.

David,
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, at 21 to 24 years old I was not as level headed as I am now. I did not get in a lot of fights, but I probably would have made some bad decisions in tense situations.

The thing that would hurt right now is that I would take a pay cut going in as a new officer. The trick is that my career where I am may be coming to an end in the next few years and if I am going to make a move to law enforcement I would like to do it before it's too late (if it's not too late already).

[Canoe1]

You might want to check into the BP, I'm not sure what the age requirment is though.

[Seemore]

Seemore,
I'll disagree with you on the low pay deal. I was looking at a local department's pay scale and if I had went into law enforcement at 21 years of age I would be making the same as I do now. I'm not saying that I make lots of money, but I make a good living working at a NASA contractor. I would be making more money if I were a sargent. I'm not saying that I would be, but IF I had made sargent.

I understand the pay maybe the same at some point in time, My point is pay verses risk, at you present job you are not likely to be shot at. and starting late in life Sargent is a long was away to get back to the pay you are at now. I just do not think our officers are paid near enough money for the crap they have to put up with. We pay doctors millions for saving our lives, but officer only thousands for saving our lives. I have a nephew that is a patrol officer, new to the Lubbock PD. The stories he already tells and what he gets paid it not worth it for me. For him it is, because that is what he wants to do and love his job. Good luck in your endevors. and may god be with you.

[Deerhunter30]

Thanks Chew for the phone call.

Canoe1,
I'm NOT interested in border patrol. I respect them men greatly for what they do, but that is not the type of law enforcement that I am interested in. In addition to that, I'm pretty well rooted in the community that I am in now and I would have to move to be in the border patrol.

[bowhunterhelm]

I'm making the move myself DH30. I've just started taking criminal justices classes at ACC. I find the courses really interesting. I like them a lot more than my previous business classes.

I'm hoping to get on with APD once I get my hours up.

Good luck to you.

[rackmaster10]

Kevin,
I have worked for the county for 22yrs. My best advice to you is. If you really want to be the police, Join HPD, They have it WAY better than we do. The county is a good place to work but HPD gets better pay and benifits than we do. with a lot more perks. The county follows HPD by about 10 yrs. HPD will get something, we sit back and watch it for about 10yrs. Then we may start to do it also. By then it's old news and something new and better has come out. So it's like we are always 1-step behind times.

[Deerhunter30]

Seemore,
I see your point now.....more risk vs reward. You are right there. And please don't get me wrong....I think officers are underpaid for what they do. My only point is that if I had started earlier I would be making the same as what I do now.

All officers,
Keep the advice coming. By the way, I got a crash course in TCIC & NCIC last night. It was not the most exciting class that I have ever been to before.

[doug]

Something else you need to remember is the shift and day off issue's you may encounter. That can sure put a strain on the family at times. Hope it works out for you. We need more folks with your belief's and ideas. Let me know if I can do anything to help.

[Seemore]

Good luck Deerhunter30