Nobody Wants To Be A Police Officer Anymore According To New Report
There is a time when almost every young boy goes through a phase when he wants to become a police officer more than anything else in the world. By the time their nuts drop, of course, and they get high for the first time and perhaps even endure the gut-wrenching anguish of learning that their first love blew some senior at a party, that youthful vision of a career in public service is often eclipsed by the pursuit of a profession where it is unlikely that theyll be shot at on a regular basis.
Boys grow up, after all, and it takes a special breed to aspire to put on the uniform and spend their days busting small-time dope offenders and getting involved with peoples fuck up lives. As difficult as that life might be for you to imagine, there are those people who still sign up for this line of work. The badge, the gun, the authority to kick the crap out of crackheads and pedophiles was, at one time, enough to get testosterone-fueled meatheads on board with the serve and protect philosophy.
But too many Bad Lieutenants have screwed the pooch. In fact, police officers have been hit with such a bum rap over the past several years that fewer people are interested in joining the law enforcement crusade than ever before.
Rather than be held accountable for this unsavory behavior, cops are just getting out.
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Mike Adams is a freelance writer for High Times, Cannabis Now, and Forbes. You can follow him on , , and .
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You Seek A Job That Will Make You Proud
Youd be hard pressed to find a group of individuals more proud than the friends and family members of law enforcement professionals. Its also true that the officers themselves form a bond you wont find in many other professions.
These individuals stand by one another in good times and bad achievements are celebrated and tragedies are mourned across the entire network. Police officers have a kinship bond that is formed by providing safety and support for each other throughout their law enforcement careers, Ardolf explains.
Police officers have also earned the respect and appreciation of those in their community by taking an oath to serve and protect the civilians in their jurisdiction. Its true there are some who are resentful of law enforcement, but most people recognize the sacrifice and dedication officers put forth on a daily basis. The job satisfaction you can find in an active law enforcement role like this one is a big reason to become a police officer.
Additional Perks For Police Officers
Since police officers enjoy a high reputation among the general public, they often get additional perks.
Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free.
Consequently, apart from your decent salary, you will also be able to save money on many occasions in your daily life, which makes becoming a police officer even more attractive from a financial standpoint.
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Why I Hated Being A Cop
Moral conflicts at every turn.
This article was published in collaboration with Vice.
There was a time in Raeford Daviss life when the idea of putting on a police uniform and a badge brought him joy.
Law enforcement seemed a natural fit for the South Carolina native, growing up, as he did, around people who dedicated themselves to helping others. His mother was a school teacher, and his father worked in nursing.
Perspectives from those who work and live in the criminal justice system.
So Davis took the plunge in 2002, joining the police department in the small, violence-plagued city of North Charleston. The citys police force came under national scrutiny last year when Officer Michael T. Slager was caught on camera shooting unarmed black man Walter Scott eight times in the back after a traffic stop.
Davis was troubled almost from the start of his career by the departments approach to combatting drug-fueled violence in minority communities. Policies aimed at disrupting the drug trade seemed ineffective at best. At worst, kicking down doors in SWAT gear and locking up juveniles who had few options outside of the local drug world seemed legitimately harmful.
The moral conflict ate away at him. Davis retired as a patrolman in 2006, after being hit by a car while on duty and suffering a broken leg. The 43-year-old now works with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a nonprofit against the war on drugs.
Brutal. All because he aroused our merest suspicion.
Municipal Police Force Salaries & Benefits
In comparison to the federal police force, the municipal police agencies offer slightly higher salaries.
The Calgary Police Service offers a starting salary of approximately $66,000/year.
The Vancouver Police Department offers new hires $70,154/year with an incremental increase to $90,198 after 3 years. Benefits include paid vacation, medical and dental benefits and a BC Municipal Pension Plan membership.
The Toronto Police Service has a starting salary of $63,564.98 for their cadets. After year 3, police officers receive an annual salary of $90,836. Benefits include paid vacation, family medical and dental benefits, life insurance, pension plan, parental/maternity leave and more.
Considering that the median income for individual Canadians was $36,400 in 2018, according to Statistics Canada, the starting salary for a Canadian police officer is an attractive one.
When deciding between the federal or municipal level, keep in mind that while the RCMP might have a lower salary, the role involves police duties at the international, federal, provincial and municipal levels with a much wider variety in operational and administrative opportunities.Some specializations that are unique to the RCMP are: Integrated Border Enforcement Team, National Security, Marine Services, International Peace Operations and many, many more.
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Law Enforcement Skills That Every Modern Officer Should Have
To become alaw enforcement officer today whether that be a police officer or public safety official you must fulfill a certain set of requirements to be deemed qualified for the job. For example, you must have the physical strength and aptitude to catch criminals, and pass a background check to ensure you have no criminal record yourself. However, to become a greatlaw enforcement officer, there is much more involved.
The best law enforcement officers today employ a variety of soft skills, in addition to the usual qualities and qualifications that are required in the field. The most respected modern officers today have strong moral character, the ability to think on their feet, and a level head to help them to resolve conflict. If you are considering entering the law enforcement field, you will want to check the following skillsets off first.
Goodwin University is a leader in law enforcement education, helping aspiring professionals into successful public safety and criminal justice careers. Below, we outline the soft law enforcement skills that employers and communities are seeking in their law enforcement leaders.
2. Empathy and Compassion
3. Adaptability
4. Mental Agility
5. Listening and Observation
6. Effective Communication
7. Conflict Resolution
Why Do You Want To Be A Police Officer
A career in law enforcement is a great opportunity to make an impact in your community while earning plenty of benefits along the way. So why become a police officer? The reasons above are just a few of the answers to the question.
If you’re intrigued by the profession and curious about what it takes to pursue it, check out our article, “How to Become a Police Officer: Your Step-by-Step Guide.”
If youre already committed to making a difference in this career, visit our Law Enforcement Degree page to learn how we can help you take the next step toward becoming a police officer in Minnesota.
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Law Enforcement Is All About Support And Leadership
Police officers face uniquely intense and challenging situations, but they don’t have to do it alone. They’re supported by a team of fellow officers who understand and share their perspective. Each precinct is a strong and cohesive community with its own culture and social bonds that support its members throughout their careers. Funny recruiting videos from departments in Fort Worth and Danbury showcase the personalities, inside jokes, and sense of levity that help officers have fun and stick together through the distinct challenges of their work.
Learn About Becoming A Police Officer
The Balance
Law enforcement careers can be exciting, rewarding, and even fun. In fact, there are countless reasons to be a police officer. From fringe benefits to job security, the attraction to policing is easy to understand. Before you take the leap and pursue a career fighting crime, though, there are some things you probably ought to know about becoming a police officer.
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Youre Going To Have To Learn To Be Extremely Flexible And Independent
If youre used to relationships with any degree of consistency , take a deep breath. It wont happen in this relationship.
Between night shifts, shifts that unexpectedly go late, overtime shifts, and the occasional manhunt, your officer is going to be on the job a lot. Even when hes not at work, the emotional drain from police work will probably make him want to immerse himself in a video game or nap sometimes when he could be spending time with you.
While Im not saying to let him be lazy in the relationship, its important to understand how crazy demanding his job is. Even for wives, it starts feeling like theyre sharing their husbands with a second wife. Try to cut him some slack and hey, maybe youll discover how much you enjoy those video games, too!
But most importantly, work on making the most of that alone time. If this thing goes the distance, youll need to be able to adapt to all the crazy situations that come up. And on the bright side, youll probably start actually enjoying that alone time!
Potential Disqualifiers For A Policing Career In Canada
When preparing yourself for a policing career, you need to be aware of what will disqualify you from the police application process. As far as the written, physical, and medical exams, the requirements are fairly consistent across all agencies.
Language Disqualifier: You need to be fluent in either English or French including being able to speak, read, and understand one of these languages.
Physical Disqualifier: You cannot be in poor physical condition. Failure to successfully complete the physical examination in the minimum time frame is an automatic disqualification.
Test particulars can vary from one police agency to the next. However, all tests simulate critical incidents that police officers are exposed to. For example. the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation , used by the RCMP, consists of three sections:
Psychological Disqualifiers: A candidate can be disqualified if they do not meet the minimum psychological examination requirements.
Work Environment Disqualifiers: Police departments require you to work shift work which includes nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays as policing takes place 24 hours per day. If you are unwilling to accommodate this type of work schedule, you will be disqualified from the process.
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Does A Criminal Record Stop Me Applying
There are a number of factors to consider here so there is not a blanket answer to this. Our best guidance is to speak to the force you wish to apply to, to get their advice. The more you can be open and honest about any history you might have, the better and more accurate the advice from the force will be. Find out more about Vetting
Some Police Officers Develop Paranoia Over Time
Since their job can be quite dangerous, many police officers also develop significant paranoia over time.
This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there.
This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia.
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Pass A Polygraph Exam
Many departments require applicants to undergo a polygraph exam to determine their level of truthfulness. In most cases, the polygraph will serve to confirm the information a candidate provided in their supplemental application.
Applicants are given the opportunity to talk about their answers with their polygraph examiner and go even more in-depth with questions. After questioning, applicants are hooked up to a polygraph instrument and asked a series of “yes or no” questions for the purpose of detecting truthfulness or deception.
As A Police Officer The Bulk Of Your Day Is Encountering People Who Want Nothing To Do With You
There are people who are just downright upset with you for doing your job. Not regular folks, but the people who you have to take enforcement action against because you caught them in the act of committing a crime. I always think I was spoiled, because when I graduated from the academy, police officers at the time were shown such support. Now it’s almost completely reversed.
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Being A Police Officer Can Be Dangerous
While there are many benefits of becoming a police officer, there are also some issues related to it.
For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous.
You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you.
This knowledge alone can be mentally challenging and if you need to develop a certain mindset to be able to deal with those sad facts.
Your Family Will Worry About You Coming Back Alive
Another downside of being a police officer is that your family will worry about you all day long.
In fact, especially if you have children, it can be quite hard to go to work as a police officer since you know that you might never come back and so do your children and your wife.
Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later.
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Law Enforcement Agencies Need More Diversity
Large social conversations around issues of diversity are highly relevant to police work. When departments welcome diversity as part of their recruiting strategies and cultivation of talent, they more accurately reflect the communities they serve and can help reduce tensions between citizens and police.
Change means rethinking old assumptions about who people are, what they’re capable of, and what they have to contribute. About 12% of all American officers are women, and Dr. Stephens notes studies showing that “women have lower uses of force than male officers.” Inviting more women into the fold of professional law enforcement – along with disadvantaged minorities, including people with disabilities – can help change the culture itself, along with public perception.
Do You Need A Degree To Be A Cop
To be completely clear, formal education, such as an or a is not actually a strict requirement for becoming a police officer. However, many departments across the country are requiring at least a two-year degree, while others are placing a strong emphasis on hiring 4-year college graduates.
Even when not an official requirement for a job opening, having your college degree will be immensely helpful in the hiring process. Despite the fact that these are extremely challenging jobs, there can be lots of competition for positions, so having a formal degree, in addition to the required police training, will make you a more attractive job candidate.
Not only will a degree enhance your chances of being hired, it will also increase your chances of being promoted. At some point in your career, you may want to move into leadership roles, such as a captain or sergeant having a bachelors degree in an appropriate area will make you more likely to find promotion.
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Over The Past 20 Years Of Being A Police Officer I’ve Held Many Different Roles
After I graduated from the police academy, I was a patrol officer for a precinct in the eastern New York region and was partnered with another officer. We’d be in the car for most of the day, responding to calls or interacting with people who either called the police for help or folks who were committing a crime. One of my favorite things about this role was being able to make connections with business owners and residents and see the same people on a regular basis.
One of my most vivid memories on patrol was when we were responding to a call of an unconscious baby. When we arrived, the mom was outside, frantic, running back and forth with her infant in hand, crying, and screaming for help. We tried to take the baby to examine it and were ready to drive the baby to the hospital. But the mom wouldn’t give it up, yet was offering no assistance to the child herself. We had to wrestle the kid away. The baby was relatively fine, but ill. She was running a high fever to the point where she was becoming unresponsive. I just recall how relieved the mom was after we helped. It ended well, but left me wondering what happened in those couple of minutes where she was desperate for help but then didn’t want anyone to touch the child.