I want to be a police officer...i think it's my 'calling'...how is it for those of you who are cops?

Question

what is bad about it? how much 'scum' do you really have to deal with? do you feel good about what you do? i'm always worried that if i become a cop, i'll just get really tired of dealing with the scum of society all the time yelling and cussing at me and stuff...what's it like being a cop, and how often do you have an intense situation like having to stop a robbery?

Answer 1

The best way to answer this question for yourself is simple. Do ride-alongs. Most agencies allow them. Trust me, you will know by the end of the shift if it is something you want to do.

Answer 2

What's bad? The pay. The hours. The working environment. Some of the people you deal with. Scum? I don't like to call anyone scum. People are people; some are just better or worse than others. How do I feel. I've been doing it for 22 years now. I like my job. Getting tired of the job. Yes, you get tired of it, but most people get tired of doing any job. The good thing about being a police officer is that there are no two calls, traffic stops or people you deal that are exactly the same. There is plenty of varity to keep things going. I've never stopped a robbery, at least not that I've been aware of. That does not mean that when I riding about businesses at 2 in the morning that I don't stop one just because I was in the area. I did stop a murder once. I had to shoot the attacker who came at me with a knife after he carved up his dad like a Thanksgiving Turkey. That was pretty intense. High speed car chases are pretty intense also. They really get your heart pumping. Searching for burgulars who are in a business or home can also become pretty intense, especially the times when you come face to face with one. But then there are the good times too like when you find a lost child and return them to their worried mothers and fathers, or when you save a life by performing CPR, or when you change an old ladies flat tire in the rain. It just makes you feel good to be able to help others who really need the help.

Answer 3

Here read this it covers it all:
The Lousy Cop
Well, Mr. Citizen, you figured me out. I seem to fit neatly in the category where you've placed me.
I am stereotyped, characterized, standardized, classified, grouped + always typical. Unfortunately, the reverse is not true...I can never figure you out.
From birth you teach your children that I'm the boogeyman + then you're shocked when they identify w/ my traditional enemy, THE CRIMINIAL.
You accuse me of coddling juveniles until I catch your kid doing wrong.
You take an hour for lunch + several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer if you catch me having a cup.
You pride yourself on your polished manners, but think nothing of disrupting my meals w/ your troubles (including at home)
You raise hell w/ the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing + I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic laws, but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserved.
You shout "Foul" if you see me driving fast to an emergency call, but raise hell if I take more than 10 seconds to respond to your call.
You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but it's police brutality if I strike back.
You would not think of telling your dentist how to pull a badly decayed tooth, or your doctor how to take out your appendix, but are always willing to give me a few pointers on the law.
you talk to me in a manner that would assure a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it w/ out batting an eye.
You cry "something has got to be done about all the crime" , but you can't be bothered w/ getting involved.
You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, or deliver your child in the backseat of my radio car on the way to the hospital, or save your son's life w/ mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or work any hours looking for your lost daughter.
So, Mr. Citizen, you sstand there on your soapbox + rant + rave about the way I do my job, calling me every name in the book, but never stopping to think that your property, your family, or maybe ever your life depends on me or one of my buddies. Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me, the lousy cop!
This isn't to discourage you, just to make you aware cops are very underappreciated but in the end the result is cops are heroes and it's a proud profession to be. People are extremely self centered and selfish, more so than 20 yrs ago and unless they get their way you didn't do your job correctly.

Answer 4

My fiance is in the Air Force he is security forces which is like police for the military. It never really gets boring I can tell you that but most days you are pulling someone over but then you have those days where something big happens and you know thats why you are doing it.

Answer 5

i feel the same way. i feel like its my calling too....just find on th net how it is where u live n all....i think bout it everyday n i already wish i was in pd......but i still gotta wait couple more years

Answer 6

don't think its your calling.
Not cops-Law enforcement officers and people aren't scum.

Job is hard enough without people like you coming in wanting to bust heads and clean up beats and bums and low lifes.
Each one is somebody's son or daughter-wife-husband-
another life worth saving- not losing...
The job is protect and serve.............

Answer 7

its awesome but dont your just die