This for law enforcement. I understand that loyality, unity and trust among your co-workers.?

Question

But since you all have a very stressful job that many people can't imagine and deal with, why do most of you hang out with one another after even after work? I know that your peers are dealing with somewhat of the same issues but wouldn't be nice to be with non-law enforcement officers? Just curious from a person who of course isn't in law enforcement but willing to understand appreciate you all for what you do.

All of these answers to my questions are wonderful, so it will be very hard to choose just one. Again I do understand stress but not to the degree that you all face daily. I work as a case worker for public housing and yes I do agree that you definately should separate work from private life to keep your sanity.

Answer 1

I rarely hung out with other Officers of duty, unless we were going fishing, or hunting. I wouldn't talk about the job unless it was absolutely necessary. It was a job, not a life.

Answer 2

After doing this a while I've slowly lost contact with many of my non-LEO friends. Working unsociable schedules had something to do with it, but also things like having to answer cop questions non-stop, or explain why a cop gave them a ticket etc, really got old. I've also found that I've changed a to certain degree over the years, and feel that I have more in common with my LEO friends than my non-LEO friends.

It seems whenever I meet anyone new, I'm introduced as the "cop" which starts the cycle again. Its hard to make new buddies when people are only interested in your job. It can be quite embarassing to be quizzed on every aspect of your career-"Have you ever killed anyone?", "Whats the most F&^#ed up thing you've seen?", etc, but someone you don't know, people think you're arrogant if you talk about being a cop, and aloof if you don't.

There's plenty of cops I would never dream of hanging out with after work. However, there's others that I count as close friends and these are the folks I hang out with most of the time, I don't really see this too differently from the friendships I formed in my previous employment.

Its not necessarily I hang with them because of the stress of work...we don't usually sit around re-hashing the week (maybe-we do a little!), I like them, and I enjoy spending my time with them.

Answer 3

I think that we hang out together because we understand each other and we know what goes on. I do also have my friends outside of work but the people I hang out with most is the people I work with. My boyfriend, my best friend and my best friends boyfriend are all cops as well as myself. The reason we usually stick together is because we see things a lot differently than others do. Most people where we're from criticize police and could never imagine the things we go through everyday and they are not thankful for anything. So in other words when I come home and my boyfriend asks how my day was he really knows and understands how my day was because he does it everyday as well. Now dont get me wrong I didnt drop any of my friends or never will because I work with the department but instead they come work for the department too.

Answer 4

There is a feeling that those who do the job understand how you feel in a way that those who don't do the job can. Also, I have been out with non law enforcement people and things start happening ( illegal ) that just won't happen in the company of law enforcement people. Time to go :)

Answer 5

Regardless of what you do for a living, it is common to hang around with they people you work with.

When the job entails a great deal of stress, the bond gets stronger. The nature of the job makes for these bonds to establish quickly. I see the same thing with firefighters and EMS personnel

Many of my cowokers, including myself, do have social contacts outside of work, but there will always be a close bond with those who you trust your life to everyday.

And it is pretty rare for us to talk about work. We get enough of that when on duty, although newer officers do it more often than the veterans. I've been on weekend fishing/hunting trips where the topic of work never comes up.

You have to separate work and your social life to remain half way sane and to prevent burnout. The longer you are on the job, the easier this separation is.

Answer 6

Thanks for your kind words! The main reason I hang out with fellow cops is you get very close (more like a family) in this job, and they understand you. They don't ask questions about the job, they understand why we tick. I try to have friends outside of the job because I think its healthier. Curiosity about my job does bring up some converstation, and I try to be patient and sometimes clarify misunderstandings. Part of surviving this long career is to leave work at work and enjoy your time off!

Answer 7

I have friends who are LEO's and those that aren't.

In fact, some of my best friends in the world are not cops. However, they simply don't understand what I deal with at work, and being able to talk to people who DO get it makes a lot of difference.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I tried hanging out with non-cops, and all they wanted to talk about was my job.

Answer 10

these are the same answer i would give.it is a lonley job