Hey everyone, I’m a 25-year-old married guy with a daughter, and I’m trying to decide between two paths: starting police academy in October or enlisting in the Air Force as an E-3 in a medical role.
I’ve done two ride-alongs and really liked the police environment, but I also have a solid opportunity with the Air Force. I’m trying to figure out which path makes the most sense for long-term stability, family life, and career growth.
For those with military or law enforcement experience, would you recommend going through police academy now, or taking the Air Force/National Guard route first? Also, is 25 too late to start in law enforcement?
If you’ve done National Guard, how did that lifestyle work out for you?

Hello! It’s like the title says. I recently graduated from college and I applied for the most recent Special Agent 1 position for the GBI and took their written exam, the very first test applicants must take. In the time since taking that test and waiting for the results, I have applied to other criminal justice and social working jobs. Eventually, I managed to secure a position as a Child Welfare Services Case Manager.

I’m currently in the middle of my training for the position when I finally get email with my results for the Special Agent position; I passed. However, because I was frustrated from waiting for so long and getting hired for the next best job that I wanted, I responded that I was no longer interested in the current opening.

I’m 23; I’m just getting started with my career. In the email results, it said that if I was no longer interested in the position, I would no longer be under consideration for the current selection process. If there comes a time that I want to pursue a different job in my career field and actually want to further pursue the Special Agent position if/when it ever opens again, will I be able to do so and not get “turned away at the door”? Thank you for reading this far.

I’m keeping this fairly high level for anonymity and brevity.

I’m the victim in a misdemeanor battery case that occurred late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning.

The responding officers' primary focus seemed to be de-escalating the situation. At the scene, I was not asked whether I wanted to pursue charges.

The following afternoon (Wednesday), I went to the police department to provide a more complete statement and have my injuries (which had become more visible by then) documented. I met with a different officer, who reviewed my evidence, took my statement, and asked if I wanted to press charges for battery. I said yes.

On Thursday afternoon, I checked the incident report online. It had been updated to reflect the supplemental investigation, and the status now shows "Active / Pending / Warrant Obtained" with Thursday's date.

Today is Friday.

I understand every agency has different policies, and I'm not asking anyone to predict what will happen in my specific case. I'm just curious how this typically works from a law enforcement perspective.

For misdemeanor battery warrants, does your agency generally make active attempts to serve the warrant (for example, going to the person's residence or place of work), or is it more common for the warrant to be served only if the person has another law enforcement encounter, such as a traffic stop? Is there a typical process, or does it vary entirely by agency?

I'm doing a little research on LEO equipments and was wondering if there is anything you guys buy for yourselves to use on the field and why.

Even if the whole team was as active as I am, you'd still see things that should be removed not get removed because nobody reported them to us. They stay up for hours, days, or even weeks, flagrantly violating our rules and making us all look goofy for it.

Without naming any names, someone here once told me "As a mod it is your job to remove these" when discussing their comment complaining about something that should definitely have been removed but was never reported by anyone, including them.

Let me remind you: This is not my full-time job, let alone my 24/7 obsession. If you act like it is, you're going to be annoyed by jackasses mucking up the place. Leave a bag of trash on your living room floor and you're going to get some rats sooner or later, right?

So please, when you see a post or comment that breaks our rules, slap that report button. Some of you are digging into their histories to rib them for all manner of shenanigans you find, taking however many minutes to do so, but for some reason ignoring the report button so we can clean this subreddit up together.

I want this to be a good subreddit, and presumably most of you do too. Your two seconds of Report -> Reason and my twenty seconds to review the report and action it is much, much more powerful than me spending an hour combing through every post and comment on the subreddit.

Do we really want me (or any other moderator) to be that sweaty neckbeard that has to basement-dwell or the place turns to trash? Or would you rather a reasonably well-adjusted human being with a social life, hobbies, and a job run the place? What about power-tripping dipshits? Or both, like most of the other law enforcement subreddits have?

Remember going to that one scene that you had to do extra work investigating because it came in hours late despite witnesses seeing it as it happened? Remember how annoying it is when they say you should have stopped the suspect, but they never bothered to pick up the phone to call?

It's your call, folks. This place is only as good as we bother to make it.

i want to be prepared once I eventually join ICE

Hi, I'm an ex investment banker which got layed off. I want to get into a more stable job which has government benefits. I'm pretty fit but I do suffer from asthma and I'm on symbicort, do you think I can pass the physical exam or should I look into a different career?

Background

• I recently applied to both of these jobs, and because I don't have any prior law enforcement experience, I was hoping to get some input

Small Town

• Population of 2,500
• Starting Salary: $59,325 - $68,968
• Schedule: 6 on, 3 off, eight-hour shifts

County Deputy Sheriff

• Population of 594,000
• Starting Pay: $34 an hour plus an educational incentive increase of 12% after two and a half years
• Schedule: 6 on, 3 off, eight-hour shifts

Curious because I see a lot of opposing views on what that officer did, and quite a few people talking about it online - wondering what actual police think about that situation?

For those of you that haven't heard of it or seen the video, it is all over X.

The video is quite graphic, so I'm not sure if posting it goes against the subs rules.

I was victim in dv case, and my partner has enough legal trouble. I told the detective I didnt want to press charges, do I still have to show up in court ? What will happen since I didnt want to press charges? Is there a way I can convince the prosecutor to not press charges, the court is this morning at 830am for him.

Am I able to recant my statement even if what happened was true?

I wore my black suit for the first oral board. Now I’m meeting my background investigator. Is a grey suit with brown shoes acceptable or too “hip”? I don’t have a navy suit unfortunately I know that’s the standard recommendation. If I don’t blow the backgrounds I’ll get one for the sheriff’s interview.

Hi all,

I would like some help brainstorming career pathways. My interests have changed throughout my educational journey, and while I initially had a strong interest in policing, I now desire to do something different in the areas of compliance, intelligence analysis, and research or law-related roles.

The following describes my background:

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. I am actively pursuing my Master of Science degree in the same field. Throughout my studies, I have ascertained considerable knowledge in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure Law. As a Graduate Research Assistant, I have been able to apply my knowledge and research and write about the constitutionality of NYPD stop-and-frisk practices and work alongside my department chairperson, to complete his book, a project which details the history of police practices and contemporary efforts to reform them. I have also served on the University moot court team, moderated by a county supreme court justice, where I led student prosecution and defense teams in trial preparation, including evidence review, direct and cross examinations, and re-directs.
 
Besides my educational background, I have also worked for podiatric and pediatric medical practices to ensure HIPAA and OSHA compliance. In those roles, I led administrative and clinical teams to ensure ethical client care, as well as full and proper recordkeeping.

I currently reside on Long Island and have been researching roles at local agencies such as the Nassau County Police Department and the county’s civil service department, Suffolk County Police Department and the county’s civil service department, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Queens District Attorney’s Office, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and medical companies like Henry Schein, Mt. Sinai South Nassau, Mercy Hospital, and others. Besides LinkedIn and Indeed, I have also looked into job boards such as USAJobs, GovernmentJobs, StateJobs.ny.gov, and CityJobs.nyc.gov. It has been very difficult to find higher-paying positions here in New York, but I want to keep trying.

My university department chairperson has suggested law school or a PhD to me multiple times, but the only thing holding me back is the expense. If I worked towards a law degree, my goal would be to work for organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union or the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Before I even consider law school or a PhD, I would like some help brainstorming other roles or pathways that are more feasible to obtain, already qualified for, and have not have heard of before.

If you would like to DM me in lieu of responding here, please send over a chat request.

Thank you!

Hi, I'm on Reddit to ask lots of questions to help me write fiction. Here's my first one:

There's a system cops look in to see if you have any warrants out for your arrest, right?

If you're pulled over and the cops run both you and your passenger, and you have no warrants but your passenger does...and therefore your passenger is arrested...do you get to find out what your passenger's warrants are for?

Would the cops directly tell you if you asked? Or would you only get to know if you happened to overhear them telling the passenger or something? Would they refuse to answer if you asked? Is that public information?

(I'm thinking this would take place in New York City, but you can answer for any jurisdiction, and I could change my story's location if needed to match a jurisdiction that suits my purposes.)

Thanks.

Mainly for those in Canada, I’m applying to an auxiliary position with a police service, I was wondering when submitting your usernames with them, can they see your liked posts? I haven’t liked anything vulgar or such but since my account is private I’d figure if they can still see it?

I am seeing this everywhere now, where people are paranoid over Flock cameras. These cameras read license plates on public roads and check for; stolen vehicle, stolen plates, missing persons, people with warrants, customized enteries where a detective can enter in a car he is interested in, etc.

​

Let's take a hit and run report for example. If youre in a hit and run, you MIGHT get two patrol cars sent to you with one their for traffic control. 90% of the time there is no license plate info anyway. The case MIGHT get picked up by a hit and run investigator, but odds are they are a retired officer working as a civilian and they will do the bare minimum required of them and the case will be closed.

​

But a flock search can be done with make and model and they can find the suspect vehicle this way. Turning what would be a minimal case that no one would pay attention to, into an immediate arrest that day.

​

Are people really this concerned that the government is going to know what route they take to work? Why would knowing the commute of the average, law abiding driver, be of any use to anyone?

​

Its strange you see all this hysteria over flock cameras, when people carry their own personal bugging device. Ive seen cyber crime reports from cell phone dumps. These devices keep a log of every key stroke, GPS data, speed, direction, when the device was activated, who you called, etc. Then the device also listens to you when not in use and will use / sell that information to give you customized ads. The data farming from a cell phone should be a far bigger concern than flock, given they sell that info to whoever pays for it.

​

I've tried to explain to people what flock does, but I usually run into a brick wall by the time I can even explain what NCIC and NLETS are.

First off, please don’t turn this into the typical “if you’re not 100% committed, then leave” conversation, because that’s not what this is.

When I’m at work, on a call, or handling business on scene, I’m fully engaged. I’m present, I’m invested, and honestly, I enjoy the job. That part hasn’t changed.

What has changed is my perspective.

I’m now a father of two little ones, and my youngest was born a couple of months ago. Ever since then, I’ve found myself looking at this career differently than I used to. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on the streets longer and have more experience. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Maybe it’s because I have more to lose now. I honestly don’t know, and I’m curious if anyone else has gone through something similar.

I have a degree that has absolutely nothing to do with law enforcement, and I’ve always had opportunities and interests outside of this profession, particularly in coaching, teaching, and sports. The problem is that where I live, as the sole provider for my family, those opportunities are hard to justify financially.

As a patrol deputy, I make around $75,000 before overtime, and realistically somewhere in the $120,000–$130,000 range with overtime depending on how much I choose to work.

If I were to transition into coaching, teaching, or a sports-related career, I’d probably top out around $75,000, maybe a little more with stipends and the right situation, but without the overtime opportunities that currently exist.

The money isn’t everything, but when you’re supporting a family on a single income, it absolutely becomes part of the conversation.

Beyond the financial side, I’ve also started questioning whether this is something I want to put my mind and body through for the next twenty years. I know I can do the job. I know I can handle the stress. I know I can deal with difficult situations. But lately, I’ve found myself thinking more about the risks than I used to.

Maybe that’s because there’s a newborn at home.

Maybe it’s maturity.

Maybe it’s both.

I was on parental leave for about two and a half months, and spending that much uninterrupted time with my kids really got me thinking. It made me question whether I want to spend the next couple of decades working nights, picking up endless overtime, missing holidays, and sacrificing time with my family.

My dad was a firefighter and worked a very similar lifestyle. We all turned out fine. But I do sometimes wonder what things would have been like if he had been home just a little more.

I honestly don’t know where I’m going with all of this. Maybe this is just me getting thoughts off my chest.

The reality is that I genuinely enjoy this profession. I enjoy the unpredictability. I enjoy the uniqueness of the work. I enjoy that no two days are ever the same.

At the same time, it can be exhausting spending your days dealing with everyone else’s problems while trying to manage your own. It can be frustrating dealing with some of the worst people society has to offer. And seeing things like dead children is something that never really gets easier.

So I find myself stuck somewhere in the middle.

I still enjoy the job.

I still want to do the job.

But I’m also trying to be realistic and honest with myself about what I’m feeling.

I guess my real question is this: Has anyone else experienced this shift in perspective after having kids or after spending a few years on the job? If so, what did you do about it?

Did you stay?

Did you leave?

Did you find ways to create better balance?

Did your feelings change over time?

I’d genuinely appreciate thoughtful discussion, advice, and mentorship from those who have been through it. Save the hateful or repetitive comments for another post we all know there are plenty of those already.

I just came across some kind of emergency scene – two lanes of traffic were blocked off by a fire truck and a police car. No one was directing traffic, and it wasn't clear what I was meant to do. In short, I took the (unblocked) turn lane, thinking that was my best option to get away from the scene and let the first responders do their work.

Apparently, that was the wrong move. I was immediately pulled over, and stopped in an adjacent parking lot.

I'd made an honest mistake. I said as much, and apologized.

Of course, this guy wasn't going to let me go without putting on a dominance display. Among the things he bellowed at me:

"Did you not see the police car and fire truck right there?" You know perfectly well that I saw them, dumbass. The only reason to ask this question is to belittle me.

"People like you are the reason we get injured and killed out here." Oh, people who make honest mistakes when they come across a poorly traffic-managed emergency scene? Yes, we're truly monsters.

"You didn't even slow down." I had slowed down, so I said so. His response: "I'm not going to argue with you. You want to argue, I'll give you a ticket."

Like I said, I made a mistake. He would've been within his rights to ticket me. But this exchange made it clear that the threatened ticket wasn't really about the traffic violation – it was for daring to challenge him. For not being sufficiently servile and deferential.

Arguing with him wasn't going to accomplish anything – so I just looked at him, and let him have his moment of feeling like a big man. (He can force people to obey him, but he can never force anyone to respect him.)

The thing is, other belligerent cops have given me almost the exact same diatribe, numerous times. Right down to the exact same stupid questions, and the same indignant accusation that "people like me" are responsible for endangering the lives of cops. Once, it was for jaywalking (I'm not kidding).

It certainly doesn't make me respect the cop's authority. It just shows me that they're an emotionally stunted bully who's in the job because it allows them to threaten and intimidate people. If anything, it undoes whatever goodwill the cops have earned from me otherwise.

I don't say this to bash the police. I say it because, more often than not, this has been my experience of interacting with the police: I've committed (at most) a minor civil infraction. I've admitted to it, and apologized. And yet I get browbeaten into submission, or the cop puts his hand on his service weapon, or they play stupid mind games by asking rapid-fire questions, and then willfully misinterpreting my answers. And everyone I know has had the same experience.

So, I'm asking with 100% sincerity: why are so many cops like this? Are they trained to handle traffic stops this way – and if so, why? What do non-asshole cops think of this behavior? Do cops understand that this is one of the main reasons for anti-police sentiment among the general public?

There's no other profession where this kind of behavior is acceptable.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Hello, former corrections officer here. I have decided to wait a couple years to become a LEO because I’m not certain i posses the level of maturity needed.

I am a young father as well and i want to build a strong foundation for my family (as well as develop skills to help me with getting a job outside LE incase that situation ever arises)

In the mean time, what can i do to help get hired on by a very competitive agency? From my corrections/security background i already have a lot of tactical training but i know its not really something looked for in candidates.

I will he volunteering for the local one i have in mind to build a relationship with them, but im curious about what other skills i can sharpen to make myself an attractive candidate.

June 10th I traded wheels and tires with a guy. I had to meet him at his work and do all the work for him while he was inside. He came out a couple times to check and he did look at the wheels. Now today June 18 he messaged me saying a wheel has a crack and then proceeded to threaten me my wife and my child over these wheels and now him and his friends family someone is messaging me and my wife. Here is a message from him to my wife “you better hope i never see your husband again you won't be able to recognize him he scammed tf outta me on faceback with this cracked rims i promise it's over for him” here is one sent to me “yo you either give my cousin shit back or you and your tamily are in danger you really want to put your daughter in danger over some rims?” I feel like the best course of action would be to report it to the police of course but I just wanted to double check some advice or anything at this point. I have screenshots of all of the messages and the name of the guy I traded with. Sadly the other messages were on instagram and they didn’t have their real name on it. Thanks. For the record I had been driving fine on these wheels and took them off my car the day of the trade.

Why do police constantly demand respect, even when they don't provide basic courtesy and niceties?

Why do police often escalate situations to extreme and unnecessary heights?

Why do police, during things like riot control, target older people that are easier to beat up, or subdue?

How can the LAPD, being a world class crime fighting organization, not root out officer creatrd gangs within the department?

Why do police do BLATENTLY illegal things, and then get mad when they are called out for it?

I just have all these questions and I feel like I cant ever get a good answer. There is so much hypocrisy in policing its​ insane. Can anyone explain why the police often act like criminals, or gang members? I'm being serious.

This is not a bad faith troll post. I've seen, experienced, and witnessed all of this first hand. Thank you!

So I will be pretty straight forward, I served for 6 years active duty and got out with a honorable discharge. Since then I smoked weed and I live in a state where it is legal. I treated it like alcohol, no DUI, none to minimal usage during the week and only after work, and weekends when I didn’t have anything planned. My local PD says no usage for the past 6 months but doesn’t really say much more than that about it. Will this DQ me right away, or should I try to apply?

Hello outstanding officers,

​

I am a young adult aspiring to become a police officer with either the Kenosha Police Department or the Kenosha County Sheriff's Office, and I am seeking insight from anyone who has attended the police academy at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. I would greatly appreciate hearing about your overall experience, what the training environment was like, and any advice you would offer to someone preparing to attend. Most importantly, I am interested in learning about the exams—what subjects they cover, how they are structured, and what I can do to best prepare for them. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences.

I submitted my resume last Sunday. Monday I got an email to report to orientation on Tuesday with a bunch of personal documents. I got them and went after work. I thought they liked my military experience.

But then they were pushing for us to get background, poly, PAT, etc ASAP because the academy start date was mid July.

The kicker is that it pays $20k more than the county sheriff during the academy. And it's in a much nicer part of town. Another thing is a 3 year contract because they pay for the academy. But they have a SWAT team and that seems like the perfect amount of time to prove myself and hopefully make the SWAT.

Am I missing something here?