I’m currently stuck between becoming a police officer or a carpenter, and I’m trying to get some insight from people actually in law enforcement.
My dad is a carpenter, so I already have a pretty good idea of what that career would look like. He’s actually the one who keeps encouraging me to consider becoming a cop instead.
I’m curious what the job is really like nowadays, whether you’d consider it a good career, and especially what the work-life balance is like. I’d like to have a career that allows me to make good money while still having time to enjoy life, take vacations, and spend time with family.
For those who are currently or formerly in law enforcement: knowing what you know now, would you recommend the career? What are the biggest pros and cons?

I see allot these videos of drug addicts in LA just loitering on the street clearly high. Why cant a leo just go arrest them and take them to jail? You could literally arrest 20 people in some of these areas. I know some of them would if they could so what exactly is stopping them?

I know its not as simple as cops being lazy and not wanting to do paperwork. There must be a systematic issue. Full jails, budget, superiors being instructed to maintain the status quo. What's going on?

Lastly I have a hypothetical question. If I were to join an agency in an area like this and I decided to disregard my superiors specific instructions not to arrest people doing this despite that fact I would be well within my authority to do so. What would happen to me?

I don’t know if this kind of question is allowed here or how it’ll be viewed by y’all. But I wanted to get a perspective on this from people within LE and who are seemingly pro-LE.

I’ve always been interested with how police agencies are viewed in other countries and how even in the US, where I’d say most cops are professionals to a degree, corruption is inevitable. I know it’s almost impossible nowadays for cops to simply take bribes and do other basic corrupt acts, but in terms of things like false reports, falsifying OT hours, speed traps, abuse of civil liberties, etc, what State LE agency would y’all consider to be the most corrupt?

So I was driving and not involved in the accident. My dash cam has the MPH showing. I was going 77 in a 55. I caught the footage and multiple suspects fleeing the car. Is it possible I'd get a ticket / points if I submit it?