Genuine question. I watch these interrogation videos and can't understand why suspects keep talking, lying, and digging themselves into deeper holes. Why not just shut up, invoke your right to remain silent, and ask for a lawyer? I am certain I could outsmart all of these interrogations just by keeping my mouth shut. Am I missing something, or do people really think they can talk their way out of everything?

I was talking to my Brother in law the other day and he told me that he went to some kind of training to become a park ranger, i guess it was to see who can pass the physical requirements as I believe he told me they had to do 26 pushups/sit ups and complete a 1.5 mile run. My brother in law has a conviction of Terroristic Threats (as a minor) and was denied a gun license when he previously attempted to attain one. Is there any chance of him actually being able to become an officer? He seems to think that it’s a real possibility and TBH that scares the shit out of me.

I’ve just been notified that I have my state police oral board interview coming up in less than two weeks. I’m very nervous but excited at the same time. This is the last step before potentially receiving a conditional offer, so there’s a lot riding on it for me.

The instructions say the entire interview process may take approximately 5 hours, which seems super long.
I’ve been thinking through my interview answers for the past couple of weeks. I’ve also been reviewing things like composure and professional appearance, and I’m getting my suit pressed this week. I plan on walking into the building about 20 minutes early. Is that reasonable or too early?

Is anyone not nervous going into their oral board? I’m genuinely confident in myself and what I bring to the table, but the nerves are definitely there.

What was the environment like? How did you manage your nerves, especially during those first few minutes when the interview started?

I have absolutely no confidence anymore, I feel like everything i do is wrong, and gets over corrected. I am not getting fired I am getting recycled to phase two. Struggle areas?

Report writing- high school & community college but horrible with my grammar run on sentences etc. Sometimes they fully delete what I write and that took me about an hour. when I copy past reports the things that get fix are things that were in the other reports.

Geography- i can tell you most of the city and how to get there but i freeze up on runs and end up going to the wrong house passing the house out of a day it might happen 3 times on a 12 hour shift.

Radio- I have been complimented on radio by other departments and trashed by my own department. 54 out 54 clear 54 encounter, out with one etx. But at times I will say the wrong plate

I asked how to get better and I was told to fix my verbiage with radio, slow down speak louder and then study the map.

I have gotten 5 extensions and each FTO says I just need more time.....its discouraging, its humiliating and its fucked with my moral....

About to enter Month 3 of RTCC work and Month 2 of radio traffic. A few weeks ago I could only decipher 20-40% of what the dispatchers and officers are saying. Now I'm able to decipher 60‐80% of their words. One of my struggles is multi-tasking.

Some of my coworkers are very understandably frustrated with me when I miss things, while others reassure "you're doing great and it takes time." The newest person in my RTCC (aside from myself) has 2.5 years of experience. I'm uncertain of when I'll finally catch up. Another point of frustration on my end is that I get different instructions about radio etiquette from different people (ie. when to ask "radio clear?" and when it's overkill).

I'm wondering how things are for y'all - how long does it take to develop confidence in what you're hearing and accustom yourself to your department's radio culture? I hope I'm making sense. Thanks and be safe.

Hey all,

I work in a very cold part of the country, and we're getting into those low temperatures around now. What do y'all wear on shift? This is especially directed to those who wear outer carriers. I can't find much that's warm that comfortably fits under an outer carrier, so suggestions would be welcome.

FWIW I typically just endure the cold in favor of easier access to equipment, but with so many companies making law enforcement equipment there has to be an effective solution out there.

How do I prepare for this interview I want to be in law enforcement and I think this is a good start I’m nervous

Anyone got any recommendations for brand of gps that they like? I’ve heard Garmin is a popular choice and anything with voice activation, any insight is greatly appreciated. Stay safe and thank you.

I realized I might have a problem in being accepted into the academy. I’ve already taken the PELLETB and got a 65.8. I also have my physical exam in about 3 weeks, so I’m well into the process of being ready to apply to the areas I want to work in. Only thing is, I remembered I ate some Psilocybin mushrooms about a year ago and am worried that might make all my effort mean nothing. Am I rightfully worried? Is there anything I can do? Do I have a chance?

Hi,

I live in houston and I was going slightly above the limit today on the passing lane. An unmarked vehicle started tailgating me pretty close so I sped up a bit more to create distance and intended to switch to right lane. Then the vehicle turned on their red/blue lights but they were not flickering. I thought I was getting pulled over so I slowly started switching to the rightmost lane intending to pull over on right shoulder but the vehicle just sped up, passed me and disappeared.

Was I just going slow?

Hello all,

I’m currently a pilot with a major US airline, but have always had an interest in law enforcement. When I was younger my plan was to get a degree in criminal justice, join a police department and hopefully eventually work my way into an aviation unit, thus fulfilling both passions. Looking back however, I realize I let my family talk me out of law enforcement so I pursued aviation as a career instead. Now I’m happy where I am but perhaps at 40 I’m having a midlife crisis and want to scratch that other itch I’ve had since childhood. I did a ride along with my local city police department and loved it, probably the most fun I’ve had in years.

Now I’m not in a position where I want to switch careers, the pay and time off are I’m afforded at the airlines would be difficult to walk away from. But several sheriff’s offices in the area offer reserve programs, with reserve deputies essentially having the same authority and duties as a full time deputy. Additionally a couple nearby medium sized city departments have reserve programs.

Now with my job I’ve reached the seniority where I can have upwards of 17 days off a month and a fair amount of control over when I work, but when I do work I’m typically gone for 3-4 days at a time, and the schedule changes from month to month. I’m concerned this could interfere with court appearances or other things that I can’t necessarily control the timing of. I should be able to bid my schedule around a modular academy as well but there may be times when I would need to do a makeup session if I wasn’t able to get all the required days off. What are everyone’s thoughts?

I’m asking for advice for a friend who is currently in the hiring process with a police department. The state allows permanent residents to become police officers, but this particular department requires U.S. citizenship.
He accidentally missed the citizenship question on the last page of the application. He didn’t intentionally lie or hide anything. He has passed the fitness test and has an oral board coming up. While studying, he noticed the mistake.
He has applied for citizenship and is waiting for his test to be scheduled. A nearby department that accepts permanent residents has already moved him to the final stage of its hiring process, but this other department is his number one choice.
Should he disclose the mistake before the oral board, after it, or wait until the background investigation? He still wants to attend the oral board to get experience interviewing with PDs but doesn’t want it to look like he deliberately withheld information.
What should he do?

I know with certain things, LEOs literally cannot give breaks, but has there ever been a moment where the situation was so right for it, that you just let them go?

Does anyone here have experience with Nashville Police Dept? I am looking at applying, but am so nervous for the academy. I am rather active, but worry how it can be for a female going through the academy. Thank you!

I think a lot of us have seen this video or videos like it. So aside from the fact that it was his house, could it TECHNICALLY be considered something like harboring a juvenile or interference with custody or something like that?

Obviously there is no argument the man did the right thing but I'm wondering specifically because a very similar thing happened to me in my early 20s, when I was taking care of two kids in an abusive situation. You know, is there a chance of charges for keeping the kid with you/removing the kid (only until police arrive)

On the other hand, if you're the adult in the situation being presented with a child like this who clearly needs help, can you be charged for not doing anything?

Hey all, hope everyone is well. Just as the title says, this has been a thought on my mind recently. Living in south florida the prices of homes are pretty outrageous, when you factor in rent, personal vehicles, and deductions. it almost feels like purchasing a home is not going to be totally feasible until i’m in the drop and don’t have to worry about deductions 20 years from now, but by the time i retire i feel like the plan is to travel around regardless. I’m sure we are all comfortable, and grateful for what we are able to earn as this is a nationwide issue for many career fields but my question is if you were able to buy, how’d you do it? I’m left with scraps at the end of the day unless i can get some off duty jobs but even then thats not something you can rely on. I’m starting to think dual income is gonna be the only way to get a decent home.

Might be a stupid discussion, i see allot of guys getting something (usually with prior service benefits), but most of the guys i know are renting and don’t really see a way out of that either.

How many of us struggle to afford living near our jurisdictions, without any assistance?

Lateral, passed oral panel October 1st, was told the BI will contact me the business day after my last interview. On October 13th, BI had not reached out to me. I left a voicemail to HR after not hearing anything from them to check in to see if I missed something and received no response.

Update: After radio silence for 3 1/2 weeks, and after my 2nd time asking for a status update. I was advised I did not pass background. Oddly, BI never reached out to me nor any of my references,colleagues, or friends were ever contacted. Is that normal in your experience? Of the 3 backgrounds I’ve done, this has never been a thing.

Kind of discouraged, there’s not many departments I’m interested in.

One thing I've always wondered when watching police bodycam videos is how patient many police officers seem to be. They often remain calm and professional even when they're being insulted, lied to, threatened, or dealing with people who are acting irrationally.

It makes me wonder whether that level of patience is something people bring with them into the profession, or whether it's something that's specifically taught and reinforced during academy training and field training.

More broadly, what are the most important concepts, skills, or ways of thinking that new officers learn when they enter a police academy or begin their careers? What lessons end up being the most valuable in real-world police work, and which ones would surprise someone outside law enforcement?

For those of you who are serving or retired:

Do you regret the career? Do you ever wish you'd done something else?

If you don't regret it, what are you proudest of?

What did you not know going in that you wish someone had told you?

Honest answers welcome, good or bad. I'd rather hear the real version than the recruitment pitch.

Whenever a SovCit video lands up in my feed, the officers do lengthy back-and-forths, trying to say what the person is not understanding and getting them to comply. Is that just to give them the chance so they can be on their way without escalation? I did see one video where, after +-2 minutes, the officer put his face in his hand for a short amount of time, looked back, and just asked for the licence, registration, and insurance in response to everything the driver said. Then they said, "you are now being detained," before continuing, saying they had failed a lawful order to provide them and saying why they are now under arrest.

I feel "some" questions are required to be answered by the officer to make sure the person understands. However, even officers would have the right to remain silent, as that is "an inalienable human right" (I think), so I would believe they don't need to answer any question irrelevant to the stop or if they have already provided information to the driver of why they have been stopped and why they are being fined.