While this can be exhausting and you will see many bad things during your career, you will also get significant action and chances are that you will never get bored as a police officer since so many different things will happen throughout your career. In fact, there is plenty of frustration around in the cop world since many people just had different plans for their lives and thought that being a cop would just be different. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. The police discretion definition refers to the freedom of police officers to make decisions as they perform their official duties. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. Sometimes, you will also not be able to choose the neighborhood you have to work in and you might get unlucky and have to work in a rather bad one. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-banner-1','ezslot_15',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-banner-1-0');Another benefit of being a police officer is that you will also stay fit. In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. In fact, attacks and insults towards police officers have increased quite a lot over the past years. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made. Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. It is also not that easy to become a police officer. In turn, many officers are simply not able to process those experiences in an emotionally healthy manner and will suffer from mental problems like depression later on in their lives. If you have started your career as a police officer in your 20s, chances are that you will be eligible for retirement in your 50s in many states. It is awkward at times, but we think we are funny. In other words, the statute may indicate that a certain act is illegal; the police officer can then expeditiously make an arrest based upon his interpretation. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. In turn, you can improve the quality of life of many people and can help them out in difficult periods of their lives. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. At the beginning of your career, you will likely be rather intimidated and insecure regarding how to handle difficult situations. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. In fact, you will make many mistakes throughout your career and some of these mistakes can even cost lives. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. Being a police officer assures financial security. Copyright 2023 There are many instances throughout a police officer's day-to-day work where they can decide how to respond to a situation using their own best judgement and wisdom rather than a strict law. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017, police and detectives earn a median annual salary of $62,960 or $30.27 per hour. ], Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing, almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty, lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians, more satisfied with how police serve their community, increases commitment to community policing, moral reasoning and openness to diversity, identifying quality information and scientific evidence, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. Consequently, the police officer must decide on their own in the particular moment what to do. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. You This is not only quite sad, it also makes the job of police officers much more difficult since people often just no longer comply with the commands of policemen. Following several deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on June 16 that calls for increased training and credentialing to reduce the use of excessive force by police. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. Some people may find this type of job exciting and like doing new tasks every day. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire. In fact, not all police officers have good intentions and you should be quite careful in case your boss tries to push you in such a direction. The 2015 task force recommended community and problem-oriented policing strategies as ways to strengthen police-community relations and better respond to crime and other social problems. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-2','ezslot_20',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-2-0');Since you will often have to deal with difficult people and have to see many unpleasant things, you will soon take things less seriously and your overall frustration tolerance will increase as well. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. You still want to become a police officer? This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia. While your job will be relatively easy in good neighborhoods, it can be a nightmare in bad neighborhoods where people just dont respect you at all. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we see five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree. Police officers toe the thin blue line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to their unique position in society. In murder cases, an aggravating factor might include whether the defendant committed the crime in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner. There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. For instance, since many people really appreciate your work, you will often get meals for free in your favorite restaurants. 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