How old were you when you knew you wanted to go into law enforcement?

Question

And what kind of personality did you have as a child? Are you still basically the same?
Asking b/c I have a son that is a strict rule follower and I was wondering about career possibilities.

Answer 1

well i was 12 and it was the 1st career that i ever though bout....but it went away now that im 18 i got back to me....i think it was meant to b :D

Answer 2

I was 12. I had a bit of a tough time growing up at home and was around the police a lot. I was treated well and I felt safe. I wanted to be able to do that for someone else's kid. Strict rule follower? How about the Military. Following rules is important in Law Enforcement but Law Enforcement is a lot of times a big fat Grey area.

Answer 3

I never really knew that I wanted to be a cop. I was a pretty ordinary kid. I had a domineering Father who was actually a criminal (Mafia type) who did 12 years in prison before I was born. I went to public school for the first 8 years and my father sent me to a Military school for the first year of High School. I joined the Navy right after High School and came home married with a child on the way. I did office work after the Navy and did rather well but there was no thrill. When the test came up for the NYPD I took it and did very well. With my Veterans credits I went to the top of the list and was called quickly. I guess what I am trying to say is that there is no set personality for any career. My son was a High School drop out. He got his GED and went on to college. Even met his wife there. Now he is the Computer Section Manager for a small company that is growing strong. At 26 years old he is making $85K a year. Most people will change jobs 4 or 5 times before they find their niche. Stand behind him and encourage him, but let him find his own way.....

Answer 4

I wanted to be a cop ever since i was old enough to know what they are. I am a stickler for the rules and regs of things and i tend to do most things by the book, of course i try to be intependant at the same time. I am basically the same, of course somethings do change, I joined the Army since then and it has helped a lot as far as dicipline and it certainly helps getting hired anywhere. I think your son would make an excellent police officer if he can follow rules, because if he ever gets a criminal record he cant be a cop. I would suggest getting your son (depending on age) involved in boy scouts, or the Civil Air Patrol at the moment because discipline, problem solving, the ability to stick with something all comes from involvment in a similar club. when he gets older (into his teens) have him do a ride along with an officer and see if he likes it.

Answer 5

I can tell you only what my father told me. He's a retired sheriff and was in law enforcement for 53 years.
When he was a child, he had real heros to pay attention to like the men who fought in WW2 the firefighters, and policemen in the area where he grew up.
There was one policeman who he admired the most and believe it or not, he found the mans badge in a flea market while visiting his old stomping grounds just last year.
Dad took all the influences of his heros and was an MP for the US Army, a retired command srt mjr for the National Gaurd, asst. chief for a local fire deprt, and then Sheriff.
Back in the days that he grew up in, people loved and cherished our freedom in this country and the people who kept our counrty free.
I'd like to have grown up back then.
Law enforcement isn't as widely appriciated anymore as it was then. They don't get paid near what they should for the job they do and belive it or not, some don't even have medical insurance!
I know that the deputies in this county sure didn't until my Dad was elected.
It is something that your son should look into, but only with the understanding that there's not much glory in the field anymore.
My dad raised 6 kids on almost nothing and my mom had to take a state job just for us to have insurance.
Good luck!! Your son will be a great man if he chooses to be a real hero!!!!

Answer 6

High school. Spent 5 years in the Marines as a military policeman and now the past 22 as a city cop. Being a "strict rule follower" is not quite the prerequisite I'd look for in a candidate. Maturity and good common sense as well as an ability to learn how to read and judge the character of the person(s) you're dealing with. Being a good judge of character and reading people is where a lot of cops fail. I pride myself on being able to size up a person and decide which avenue I'm going to use to get through to this person and to either understand their problem or make them understand where I stand on the issue in question.
For the most part this comes with experience. It is nothing like the silly TV shows you see on TV. For the most part your shift can be dull, dull, dull...punctuated by moments of sheer, stark terror and chaos.

Answer 7

I was in high school. I wasn't a rule follower. But I was looking for variety, excitement and authority. My personality test also showed I am a stickler for details and would be a good detective. And I have been for 11 years. A big part of it is that you have to have good COMMON SENSE. and be able to stay calm under emergency situations. you must react within seconds and make sound decisions. You must be a good driver, have a good memory, a good writer and reader. You must listen well. If he goes into law enforcement, have him join the military first. He'll have a better chance of getting hired and will learn the discipline and respect he needs to be an LEO.

Answer 8

I didn't know I really wanted to be in law enforcement until I was 27. I was quite the rule follower as a child, come to think of it!

Answer 9

I was in middle school. I was a quiet kid, with great observational skills, and a rather strong sense of fairness. I also couldnt stand bullies. Still cant. Thats the main reason I became a law enforcement officer, to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

Answer 10

5 years i was rule follower just like your son but now I'm in the research field you see we all go through fazes it doesn't necessarily mean that were going to turn out the way we are today best of luck anyway