any Police Officers on the forum?

[BBG]

J/W. What's it like being on the force?

[BoneDaddy]

J/W. What's it like being on the force?

Rewarding, fulfilling, frustrating, numbing, thrilling, monotonous, terrifying, boring, etc....etc......

Is that what you nwere asking or something more specific?

[BBG]

Rewarding, fulfilling, frustrating, numbing, thrilling, monotonous, terrifying, boring, etc....etc......

Is that what you nwere asking or something more specific?

Are you in a big city? If you could go back in time would you still be a police officer?

[h2s]

Are you in a big city? If you could go back in time would you still be a police officer?

Good thread, will be very interesting to hear some experiences/stories. As much as it is common to hate on police, I have alot of respect for the guys that go out and keep society functioning. Just had a good buddy join the force. Very funny too because it was a friend I would have never expected it from.

[pitboss]

Rewarding, fulfilling, frustrating, numbing, thrilling, monotonous, terrifying, boring, etc....etc......

Is that what you nwere asking or something more specific?

In my case thrilling has turned frustrating ......

[BoneDaddy]

I tried to join the force here in my city.

Out of 500+ that applied, I was one of the last 15 or so before I got cut. The reason? Bills were too high every month, they said I wouldn't survive on what they would pay me.
The ironic thing is that I'm only making half what they were offering, and I'm making it just fine.

I've seen more guys/girls get turned away in the past couple of years mostly for their financial situations, i.e. bad credit and such because of the economy. This week a guy who had wanted to apply for over 20 years finally did. He never went through with it because back in the early 90s he was discharged from the Navy a month into Basic because he was overheard saying he was gay. He had an entry-level discharge and not a dishonorable discharge as he thought. Then again, it may have been a different story applying under that shadow many years back. Glad we've at least come that far.

In my case thrilling has turned frustrating ......

Oh, I totally get where you're coming from.

[burlyman30]

I've seen more guys/girls get turned away in the past couple of years mostly for their financial situations, i.e. bad credit and such because of the economy.

Interesting. What do you make of this? They think someone with big debt is going to turn into a bad cop for money reasons?

[Cobalt]

I've seen more guys/girls get turned away in the past couple of years mostly for their financial situations, i.e. bad credit and such because of the economy.

I fully understood where they were coming from as far as money is concerned. I think they were just in shock over the sheer amount of my bills. Back then, I was dropping $300/mo for health insurance, $500/mo for car insurance, $500/mo for car payments, ect...

The head officer in charge of the process said that my bills were higher than his, and he even had a mortgage when I didn't even have rent to pay. It sucks trying to be responsible and getting decent insurance on everything.

I believe the big kicker was that in my state (NC), if you work for the state and start failing to pay your bills, you automatically get fired.

There were only 5 slots open for new officers, and they were probably looking for perfect matches.
That, and military experience. All 5 that got the spots were ex-army.

[BoneDaddy]

There's a small town (very small! and almost exclusively rich white people!!) that has around 60 police officers. They are all paid around 90k a year. Seriously no crimes happen in this town except people going 30 on the 25 mph roads.

Can you get me an application, please? lol

I fully understood where they were coming from as far as money is concerned. I think they were just in shock over the sheer amount of my bills. Back then, I was dropping $300/mo for health insurance, $500/mo for car insurance, $500/mo for car payments, ect...

The head officer in charge of the process said that my bills were higher than his, and he even had a mortgage when I didn't even have rent to pay. It sucks trying to be responsible and getting decent insurance on everything.

I believe the big kicker was that in my state (NC), if you work for the state and start failing to pay your bills, you automatically get fired.

There were only 5 slots open for new officers, and they were probably looking for perfect matches.
That, and military experience. All 5 that got the spots were ex-army.

Have you thought about re-applying? I know what you mean about 'our' state. The politics here amaze me to no end. I think you and I are what...3 hours apart?

Would you believe that in a lot of instances guys without military experience are preferred, depending on the guy in charge of recruiting? a lot of guys I know think the military gives guys bad habits that aren;t needed/wanted in the civilian force and they're harder to train. But, some guys are on the other end of the spectrum. It changes so damn much.

[BoneDaddy]

Are you in a big city? If you could go back in time would you still be a police officer?

Yes and yes times a 100. I can't imagine doing anything else.

- - - Updated - - -

You thinking about a career change BBG?