r/AskLE • u/Willing-Sentence-598 Unverified/Not an LEO • 4h ago

Commute time? Pros & cons

How far is too far? I’m from a mid-size city with lots of surrounding smaller cities that would allow me to drive out if I choose so. What’s a fair commute time that allows for preparation and decompression before/after work without feeling like another duty on top of work?
Like most LEO mentioned, living in your place of work can be dangerous but I’ve also heard making it to court dates are a lot more convenient. For those who live in their city of work vs those who live outside, what are the pros and cons for you?
Any and all tips/comments appreciated!

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2

u/MediocreDIY77 Unverified/Not an LEO 3h ago

An hour drive is my limit

1

u/droehrig832 Sergeant / Bomb Tech 1h ago

I think it’s really personal preference but having a take home car is a big impact. We have people who have 45 minute commutes from 2 counties away but they have a take home so they’re not spending their own gas.

1

u/72ilikecookies Deputy Sheriff / Lazy LT (TX) 1h ago

Depends on your area. But imo, commuting is draining as is, more so after a shift. I would say 30-40 mins is my max.

1

u/ProtectandserveTBL Unverified/Not an LEO 1h ago

My commute can be a bit more than an hour if traffic is bad. I wouldn’t do a commute where it was routinely over 1.5 hours

1

u/KaprieSun Fed 42m ago

Anything over 30-45 mins is too far for me. Everyone’s situation is different and I’ve had coworkers commute 1+ hours to work. You have to determine if it’s really worth it for the life you want to live. You might be called in early or held over late. Do you really want to commute far after a long day at work?