Law Enforcement...?

Question

I am majoring in Law Enforcement right now. An I was going to go for working as a State Police Officer. But my Uncle told me that being a State Police Officer is a lonely job. Usually no partner. Backup is far away. So my question is two. If you do work with Law Enforcement, what do you do? An does anyone know a site to get information on jobs that focus on Law Enforcement? Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

Go for it! It's not lonely , pulling people over, going on back up calls etc. You will have plenty of back up when asked for, either from local or Sheriffs. If you can get the job, go for it. I am a State L.E.O in Florida and I LOVE it. Good luck!

Answer 2

Some Police Departments have a "Ride-Along" program, where a private citizen can ride on patrol with a cop. You have to have a clean police record and agree that if the policeman asks for your help in doing something (like help hold somebody down while they put on the hand cuffs) you will. I have never heard of a limit on how many times you can go. I did this about 6 times.


Somebody else who did this in the Richmond, VA area was a secretary at the state's DNA lab. Eventually she started writing novels based upon stories the cops were telling her - her name: Patricia Cornwall.


You might want to give this a try BEFORE you finish college. That way, you learn something about it by actually experiencing some of what police do. Textbook learning sometimes does not accurately describes things.

Also, the federal US Dept of Justice has several websites. Like they have one for prisons and jails under their Dept of Corrections (website below). They do research on any "jailer issues" and provide training to the state's prisons and local jails. In recent years, some of the topic have been Zero Policy on Employee Sexual Contact (with inmates) and BRINGING IT HOME (how guards tend to take home to their families the violence they see in prisons). You can access some of their research and training material.

There should be similar webpages for each type of law enforcement.

Answer 3

Much of your question depends on the agency in question and circumstance. Different State Police agencies operate in different ways. No one here can answer how far away your backup is, because that's a broad hypothetical question. We dont know where you would be working at, how many officers are on a shift, how big are the beat assignments, etc...? Backup can be a few seconds away or several minutes, it all depends on the circumstances.

Answer 4

state police tend to work alone on highways working traffic and such. yes, you are alone. your back up would tend to be farther than if you worked in a town. the same goes for county sheriff's.


I am a deputy in Texas that that has 1 to no deputies on at a time. depending which town i am closer to i have to wait 30 minutes for help if any. It is just part of the job.

Answer 5

You can go for State Patrol, however, there are several things you need to consider. A) You will most likely be by yourself in the squad car. B) It takes a long time to get a job as State Patrol officer so you should attempt to get a job as a local officer in one of your local towns first. C) I wish you good luck!

Answer 6

Almost all officers work solo in thier cars, and depending on where you work, seldom do you get and use alot of back up.

For example in our entire county only a few officers are on duty at any one time, so unless you have a armed person doubtful you are gettng back up.

And if you ever see state police on the interstate often they are parked by other officer cars.

But in any dept most of your day is spent on calls by yourself, you and the "bad guy" you will get to know the bums, the homeless, if you patorl in the city, you will know every hooker, pan handler, and most minor crooks on first name basis.

So if you want constant contract with other people doing your job, police work is not it, you talk with them before work, at briefings and after work, but while you are working, you have short times with them, but normally it is just you.

Answer 7

Contact the your state police post for job listings. Ask your instructor for some help.

Answer 8

if you work for the state police , you will probably be sent out in B.F.E. ( bumb **** Egypt ) where help will be far way !
Most police officers ride alone.