To be an LEO....

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exoduster18

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All,

First of all, it's been a while since I have been here. So I apologize for myself missing in action. But I have a dilemma as explained below (I hope this is a just and proper place to post this, if not, Mods, please move or delete as needed).

First of all, I have been interested in guns for pretty much all of my life. I obvisously would not be a member of this forum had I not had an interest in guns at some point in time. But, even before the love of all things that go boom, I had instilled in me the difference between right and wrong and the yearning to help people when and where needed, no matter what the conditions or outside factors were. I was basically raised by my grandparents when I was younger and they came from the Depression Era generation, where, no matter how hard they had it, they always helped their neighbor if need be.

I feel absolutely blessed to have been raised by them and to have these same values instilled in me. Now comes the hard part...I currently have an awesome job with a telecom company that pays all of the bills and then some. I enjoy all of the people that I work with and all of the work that I do. When I leave at 5 (or whenever I get done what is needed of me), I feel as though I have done something good. I am proud of my work.

But at the same time, I am scared. Lately, we have started outsourcing things, and while I don't think that I will be directly affected by this change, it is the same job duties that I perform that are going overseas. So, eventually I see that may be the case for my entire job function. So, as a result, I have been kicking around the idea of going through the required training to become a municipal police officer and then from there, applying to the state police academy or some other law enforcement entity from there.

My question is this: Do I stay where I am content and happy with my job? I really do feel secure in it. I have never been happier in a career and it is exactly what I was looking for and so much more. Or do I go to a job field that can't be outsourced and will always be around provided that there are the "bad" guys to caught? I really do have the yearning to become an LEO and I am just about ready to send the check in for the tuition.

As far as guns go, well, I will be carrying one. And my local PD's only specifications are this: "Anything that you are comfortable with and can shoot well with. And it has to be .45 caliber." LOL....But that really is the specification. What should I do? I was thinking of possibly the ATF, as, well, they could use a better image and I would hope that I could eventually change something, sometime, somehow....It could use a few more people that level headed and actually know how firearms perform. Please let me know what you all think of my career choice that I have in front of me. Thank you.
 
Job security, especially if it is a primary motivator, is not a good reason to pursue a career in law enforcement. As such, and seeing how happy you apparently are in the field that you are in, I'd advise to reamin in it.

But...

Should the bug remain I recommend I recommend educating yourself as much as possible before floating resumes out to entities which will pay for your training. They tend to be more competitive and you'll learn how you stack up. And if you don't happen to stack up so well, you'll usually learn something along the process about what areas need improving.
 
Given that many companies are restricting travel, they will be using conferencing a lot more. If you (or rather, your job) can ride out the current gloom, I think telecoms is a good place to be.
(I have given this a good deal of thought, as I am in telecoms too, and we had recent layoffs)
 
One possible option is joining your local PD as a reserve officer if they have a program. Get real world LE experience, free training and some serious networking into how to get on if you're interested.

Another perk is that (around here) many places hire off duty and reserve cops for security jobs, part time and full. I know of one insurance company that's hired off duty, reserve and retired cops for 30 years, also offering them bennies like 401K, insurance and even a pension for parttime employment.
 
None of them have a reserve program like what has been stated. The other thing that we do have in our area is the "Special Police". Which, not trying to be mean, are 1.) not LEOs in any way shape or form and 2.) are basically glorified traffic cops or, ahem, Mall Ninjas. They are basically a joke to all of the Police organizations in my area. But they do provide the needed help for first aid, crowd control, and traffic/accident scene control. The only hold back to me joining is that none of them have any real world experience nor any actual police powers. I am looking at possibly furthering myself rather than staying at the local level.

GoodGrief - If I may ask, you wouldn't happen to be working for Level 3 would you? I'm glad to hear that someone else feels safe in the teleom industry other then myself. I am comfortable in where I sit, but I am looking at future oppurtunities should the need arise. And really think being an LEO would be a good way to go.

I have all of the information as far as training goes as well as practicing some basic stuff in the mean time. I just want to be good at what I do, no matter what it is. And I know that practice builds muscle memory, which is extremely important to me. I want my body to know how to react to a situation before I even decide that I have to.

Thanks for all of the information and keep it coming. I need to know what to expect and what decisions need to be weighed before forming my own answer.
 
It will be a big change...

Going into LE from a Telecomp company will be culture shock. Different payscale, working different shifts, off-duty court appearances, outside in the sun, rain, wind, snow, dealing with the public (not many nice people, but the scum) the anti-police crap thrown at you, and all additional stress, etc. Basically, you will be working in a fishbowl. Watched constantly! I've never worked the private sector, but LE is not like tv or the movies. It's not for whimps or whiners, you must have thick skin. But, if you are determined and meet the standards, think about which field you'd prefer. You have the larger municipal departments, county sheriff, suburban, highway patrol and the smaller burrough, township departments. Each will present its own challenges and ways of policing. Good luck. Oh, one final thing. If you are married, you better have a strong marriage and a supportive wife. And don't forget those little league or soccer games you'll miss because you are working second or third shift. And forget having the weekends off to start. :uhoh:
 
You never know. I went the other direction. After being laid off when the corrections facility I worked at was closed by the state, I entered the telecom industry.

That was 7 years ago, and I seem to have a good niche where I am. I am the enterprise data architect and senior software architect for our company, which has a global footprint. Software I designed is being used from the Asian Rim to Europe.

A friend who took a job with a different PD when we were laid off is doing well too. They basically forced him to be a Sargent recently, despite his lack of application for the position. When they have a tough project or patrol, he always get's the call.

My point is this: A long time ago someone said to me "There is always room for the best." That is good advice. Are you motivated in your current job to do your best, not just what is expected. If so, stay put and don't worry about outsourcing. If not, a career move to something you are more inclined to excel at may be in order.

My 2¢
 
Speaking as a very unhappy adult from the work force, I can only repeat, "To thine own self be true."

And I wasn't. I should have made custom cowboy boots or served as a togi-shi's apprenctice.

And I advise you to do the same. Don't let decades pass mumbling, "Coulda, woulda, shoulda."

I'd rather be an honest failure.
 
It sounds cheesy, but take it from me: Follow your dreams. Even if it may be different from what you imagine it to be, at least you will have done it instead of asking yourself 'what if'.
 
My question is this: Do I stay where I am content and happy with my job? I really do feel secure in it.
Click to expand...

A ship in a harbor is secure, but in time its hull will rot out. Going out to sea is risky but can be very rewarding. :scrutiny:

I really do have the yearning to become an LEO and I am just about ready to send the check in for the tuition.
Click to expand...

I would research it heavily. Remember, just because you love guns doesn't mean you will be a perfect fit as an LEO. I had a buddy who became a Baltimore cop thinking it would be like in the movies; car chases, excitement, and shoot-outs. He quit the job 10 months later totally disgusted by the scum he encountered, the domestic violence calls, inner city thugs, endless traffic stops, the disrespect for authority, etc.

However, I also have buddies who work in small towns (all they do is DUIs and domestic violence) and they love it.

ATF or FBI would be a much harder thing- that begs to ask what your education level is. They are very selective.

Also, do you have any skeletons in your closet? :confused: You will have to answer questions about past drug use, crimes, etc, and usually they check it with a polygraph. PDs vary about what they allow from your past and what they don't. One PD will take guys who used to blow coke and get in bar fights each weekend.... other PDs will dump you if you admit you drove drunk (without being caught). You have to find out about this ahead of time.

Honestly, if you don't have a wife or major gf in the equation- follow your dreams. Don't settle for an office job. You may regret it in 5 or 10 years. Hey, if you are young enough- why not do military police? It would give you some solid experience and help get you a job later on. Good luck.
 
Politics, nepotism, and "good-ole-boy" racism (all-white department, including me) got me out of law enforcement after only four years. Had to watch my back inside the cop shop more than out on the street. When they let me do it, though, I absolutely loved my job. During the first year or two, would actually become disappointed as the end of my shift ended. I love working with people and being out and about with them. I was not into spending eight hours every day bouncing heads off the hood of my cruiser. Did it when I had to, but not every time my superiors would have wanted me to.
That was in 1992 when I got out. Went into EMS, working for a private investigation and security company while I was in school for it.
Would I get back into LE if the chance came up? Probably not. Getting too old for a career change again, have a baby on the way, and it's getting bad for Florida cops. Budget cuts in Florida have all but frozen any hiring around me, anyway.
Telecom business is one that is constantly evolving and changing. Make sure, if you stay, that you are in a capacity to keep up with it. A good friend of mine got cut by Bellsouth (now, AT&T.) As part of his severance, they paid for him to get his AA in another field, and he went on after that to get his BA in it (computer processor design.) Worked out for him, but the road was long, hard, and depressing as his foreign-born wife became the breadwinner (not heard of in her culture.)
Think long and hard about the likely prospects with each field. Law enforcement will always be there, but it will rarely pay and provide like the private sector can. However, it truly can be rewarding an many other ways that also contribute to one's well-being.
 
If you wanna be a cop, you're going to get a lot more mileage out of computer training than with shooting training.

If you wanna shoot, being a cop basically means you carry several pounds of steel on your hip for at least 40 hours a week, while it gets in your way while you try to operate the computer.
 
combine them

have you thought about using your computer abilitys in a law enforcement role. I work for a small fed that is always seeking computer types to train for our investigations. there is hardly a crime today that doesn't have a computer, pda, thumb drive etc involved in it. Check out some of the federal agencies on thier websites or many of the .com job sites
 
All,

I am extremely happy to see that multiple people support the telecom industry idea. And I am also extremely happy that just as many support my idea of being an LEO.

I just don't want this to end up neing a pipe dream for me. The place that I currently have with the telecom company that I work for is
truly secure for a couple years. They have been sending me through additional training and I have been stepping up and taking a more active role in the group of techs that I am apart of. So, I feel safe where I am at, especially with this additional training. My group is placing itself in position to exceed within the company, but I am still hesitant due to the outsourcing. I would like to say that it won't happen, but once we get through this training, there won't be anywhere else to go. If they decide to outsource us, then we are gone. But even within the group, I have been taking on more and more responsibilty and delivering results. I don't think that my boss has been happier with myself or the group he leads.

But yet again, I come back to being an LEO. I love working with people and solving problems. And you all know just as well as I do that what you see in the movies isn't real....and that is not my draw to it. I truly believe that I could make a difference in the area that I live in. Most of the LEOs in the local area are in it for themselves and, well, are quite rude to those around them. I don't want to bash on anyone, but since when was an LEO only in the job field for themselves? I have had multiple converstions with the "old timers" and those that are even my parent's age, about how the police looked out for them, instaed of just writing tickets or issuing citations to make themselves look good. That is essentially what my local area LEOs have become. I think that, while not by myself, I might be able to change that. I truly do want that experience. But at the same point in time, I know that I make an impact with what I do at my current job.

So how many of you feel that we may see the next telecom boom coming? Or do I quit what may be a dead end and go into law enforcement?
 
Also, I have taken into account the time away from my family and everything that I may miss as a result. I am with a very strong woman (we are getting married June 13 of next year and you ALL are invited, LOL) and I have discussed this with her at length. She likes the idea of me being an LEO. And she will totally understand. I work crazy hours as it is and I may be working them more frequently now that I am being considered for a 24 hour on call shift that I will work one week a month.

I understand the long hours, I don't mind that, but I am a family man. So that is going to hurt. Also, I have no skeletons. I don't drink much, if at all. I have never drove drunk. And I have no criminal record outside of a speeding ticket and a parking ticket. So, I live clean. I'm not worried about that at all, but I do understand what was said. I truly would have multiple people in the community being able to vouch for me.

So we have discussed the downsides to being an LEO and working in the telecom industry and I have hit some highlights of the telecom industry, but what of being an LEO? There has to be some perks outside of the obvious.....

What of the pay and health benefits? I have amazing health benefits and I make a decent amount money now where I am. Will this be the same as an LEO or not? I'm not looking to improve my payscale, but I don't want to make any less than I do now. And I do not want to lose the health benefits that I have now only to have them replaced with something that is much weaker....

So, can anybody tell me what that is like? And what other benefits that they have encountered on the job? Or know what can be encountered on the job as far as the upside?
 
exoduster18,

PM me when you have the chance: my formal (undergraduate, graduate, and post-grad) education and consulting work encompass this sort of "stuff"; I do it for a living and will be glad to help you with this very important life decision.

At the very least I'll be able to give you some new ways of looking things that may be quite helpful.

No charge, of course, since this is THR and we need to look out for fellow-forum members.

DFW1911
 
exoduster18,

If you want true answers to life on and off duty as a LEO, send me a PM as well.
 
So, I'm getting answers and finding things about myself along the way....but what is going to be encountered as far as training and preparation that is required to do the job? Or are you never truly prepared? What is expected for physical requirements? Shooting requirements? And what of the legal classes needed?
 
If you are happy what you are doing DON"T CHANGE IT!!! It sounds like you have a preconceived idea of what the LE career is like and what LE people are like. If you decide to go that way, prepare to be disillusioned.
 
I suspect having an interest in firearms is pretty meaningless as far as being a LEO goes. They can teach you what you need to know after they hire you.

Its a job like any other job. It no doubt has its good points and its bad.

And, like any other job, you may not know whether it is right for you until you actually get hired. there is nothing wrong in taking a job you think you would like, giving it a shot and seeing what happens. If it does not work out, move on to something else.

There are a few things offhand I can think of about being a cop that may not be for you. One is the strange hours. It can wreck havoc on your life if you let it, and some people never really are able to deal with the sleeping problems it can bring, especially if you have some kind of rotating shift schedule.

Another is that many places cops are by themselves a lot. People are mostly social critters and being by your self 40+ hours each week is not real easy on some people.

I have personal experience in both strange schedules and being alone at work to go by, and I can tell you I don't want to go back to it.

Working for a governmental entity also has some issues asosciated with it. Some people are just not cut out for that environment.
 
i have many friends who are LEO and although i ADMIRE their service and during walter mitty moments wish some days i could stack up with them ... it is a tough and unforgiving job that pays crappy for what they really DO. They all have 2nd or 3rd jobs.

Compared to telecom or IT or any business model, inside air conditioned-leave it at home at 5pm kind of job, LEO is a wild and wooly step toward "OMG why do you do that?"

Hearing from my buds the joys of rotating 24's, exposure to BBF (blood and body fluid), poor benefits compared to the rest of the working world and the stress of service..i'd think it thru carefully.

Not saying I wouldn't do it..because if things in my life were different..I think I would be #1 in line.

Ask for a ride along...if you feel comfortable next time you have the opportunity to chat with an LEO ask if they would "do it again".

Best of luck and choose what you think is right for you!
 
poor benefits compared to the rest of the working world
Click to expand...
actually, most government jobs, including LE, have substantially better benefits than private sector jobs.

Most lower level government jobs pay more than similar private sector jobs, while higher levels in government service generally pay less.
 
Having been a LEO and walking away from it, I speak from experience. "Exciting" wears off. "Shift work" always sucks.Cops tend to lose friends and end up hanging with other cops.There are a lot of odd people that are drawn to LE.Politics will become a part of everyday decisions. Frustrations from the job will follow you home.LE is geared toward the younger set...25 years is a long time to be a cop.I'd hazard a guess that the death , injury and suicide rate for telecom workers is way lower than LE.Please be wise enough to realize that when you are happy and satisfied at your job,whatever that may be,it may be in your best interest to stay put and enjoy the ride. Just my ever humble opinion.
 
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