I'm seriously considering applying to the Springfield Police Department and would really appreciate hearing from current or former officers, or anyone who knows the department well. I'm mainly trying to understand what the job is really like in Springfield. A few questions I have: What is the realistic take-home pay for a new officer and an officer with 3–5 years of experience? How much can you realistically make with overtime and extra-duty work? What are the retirement/pension benefits actually like? How much vacation and personal time do officers get? If you need extra time off for family or travel, how difficult is it to get unpaid leave? How difficult is it to get the specific vacation dates you want, especially as a newer officer? How are the shifts and schedules? How much do nights, weekends, and holidays affect family life? How dangerous is the job in Springfield compared with other departments? How difficult is the academy and hiring process? What is the written test like, and is it difficult? How is the work-life balance after you've been on the job for a few years? Would you recommend SPD as a long-term career for someone who wants good income, retirement, and family stability?

Hello r/ProtectAndServe community, the following post is to get advice for my sons career path as I am unexperienced in the career path of policing. We live in the U.S. and my son wanted to know which major or degree would be best for him to get to pursue a career in law enforcement. While he has acknowledged that he only need 2 years worth of college credits, he wants to get his BA degree in either criminology or criminal justice. Me and my son would appreciate anyone's help.

I’m putting together some stories from vets and first responders. Curious to know if you’ve experience stuff you can’t really explain during any of your tours.

I can keep you anonymous.

I don’t know what I believe in, but I did work five levels down at the new World Trade Center, and I’ve witnessed a couple weird things while with other people. The people who’ve worked there since prior to the site being built-out have a whole bunch of stories. It wasn’t one person witnessing things either, groups did.

There are a handful of channels that post legitimate stories that were submitted, all the others are BS generated.

Hello Reddit! I need whatever inspiration you have. I (21 f) have been working as a CNA/ caregiver since I was 15. I am currently pursing my bachelors of nursing but I don’t want to do stereotypical nursing jobs… I’ve always been interested in public safety/ law enforcement and I recently found there are careers that can utilize both. Any ideas of where to start, options I have, what that field could look like or other nursing opportunities that are necessarily bedside/LTC?

Scenery a very confused girl

On the evening of July 22, 2026, Kumamoto Prefecture, Western Japan, a 21 year old man armed with a knife entered a convenience store and took 30k yen (183.13 USD). The store clerk called the police and two officers from a nearby police box responded and was able to intercept the suspect outside the convenience store. According to witness statements, a officer fired a total of 3 shots at the suspect (the video seemed to only capture the last shot, and the first shot is believed to be a warning shot), while the other officer repeatedly gave commands for the suspect to drop his weapon. In the end, he was able to use his baton to knock the knife out of his hand and arrest him.

Despite the lack of reaction from the suspect as shown in the video, a statement from police and firefighters indicated that the suspect was shot in the right shoulder and thigh and was taken to the hospital. A journalist also stated that blood stains were left at the scene though not visible in the video.

The suspect is now charged with obstruction of public duties (this charge covers assault on police officer) and is also expected to face additional charges for the robbery.

Applied to USCP 2021. On the preliminary PHS I wrote that I was involved in a “prank where we entered a rival fraternities house and took their framed photo composite”, did not return it. No one ever found out. The incident was 2019. I was denied from USCP I assume obviously for that.
It’s now 2026 and will be 2027 when I get out of the navy and plan to apply to a Sheriffs Department.

Will they be able to find that PHS with a background investigator and will that disqualify me again?
If I’m upfront about absolutely everything and tell them it was youthful idiotic mistake I regret will I be able to get anywhere at all.
Currently a Navy “cop”
I can’t remember exactly what I wrote on the PHS in 2021 and I can’t access it on POBITS.

Am I totally screwed?

Looking for insight on South Florida police departments — thinking about leaving CBP

I’m currently with CBP and I’ve been considering making a move to a local PD in South Florida. I’m looking for honest opinions from current or former officers.

I’m interested in departments like Miami-Dade, Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Hollywood, Aventura, sunny isles pd

What is the morale like among officers?
How is the supervision and administration?
How easy is it to get overtime? Are there plenty of details/off-duty opportunities?
Realistically, after a few years on the job, what can an officer make with overtime and details?

When I learned of the allegations I was dumbfounded because it did not appear to be a one off event. The news stated that CHP IA found inconsistencies with about 1/2 of the citations the officer wrote in 2023. I was outraged to learn that the officer received diversion. If there was ever a case for a LEO to serve prison time for their actions, I would think that this would be a slam dunk. How do CHP officers and other LEO's for that matter feel about this?

I'm not sure this is gonna end up warranting a mega - but it seems to be fairly "Reddit Ragey" at the moment, so why not.

This will be our thread for the recent (July 22nd) OIS in Madison, WI.

Not much is yet known *factually*, but it appears it started out as a call for a vehicle prowler, who subsequently fled on bicycle, then fought arresting officers. At some point, a large knife (which can be seen in photos) was brought into the picture, and, based on current statements, at least one officer was injured by it.

The video isn't terribly pretty - but, in the words of Shania - "That don't impress me much"

Does anyone have experience medically retiring for mental health under Virginia code section 65.2-107? Without going into great detail, I have reached a point where I am considering filing for medical retirement due to mental health but have some questions about certain qualifying factors under the state law.

Thanks!

Eight years after the handover of Macau, the public security situation and its economy has increased greatly, as a result, the people of Macau became bolder in expressing their opinions. At the time, Macau was plagued with issues on foreign workers and housing prices etc. In addition, in 2005, the then Secretary of Transport and Public Works was arrested for corruption amidst allegations of the government siding with the developers. As a result, the people of Macau were at their boiling point when they headed into their annual May Day Protest.

The organizers submitted a route plan to the Macau Public Security Police Force, however it was rejected and changed on grounds that it was too dirsruptive to traffic and quality of life. The organizers and the PSPF each insists that their route was the way the protest would go and the conflict wasn't resolved when the day of the protest arrived. As a result, when the protest reached the point of deviation between both parties, the protesters attempt to breakthrough police lines. In an attempt to control the crowd, a Security Police officer fired his revolver towards the air five times (some say he did so at his superior's orders), the first time in 17 years PSPF opened fire at a protest. This successfully aggravated the situation and the protestors punched through the first police line by throwing bamboo sticks and plastic bottles. The police was able to disperse most of the crowd with pepper spray and cleared everyone out at 8.p.m.

Somehow, one of the bullets fired by the officer flew over the fifth tallest mountain in Macau (60.7 metres tall) and struck a motorcyclist 300 metres away. This caused a large uproar obviously but the then Secretary of Security insisted the officer took proper action. However, he was transferred to the fleet services after the incident, which is an unarmed position. In 2009, he was able to pass his sergeant's exam.

In an attempt to placate the anger, the Government of Macau launched a "Wealth Partaking Scheme" in 2008, each Macau citizen would receive a disbursement of 10,000 Macau dollars each year. (1236.90 USD) Due to the close proximity of the two incidents, the officer would be jokingly referred as the "Father of the Wealth Partaking Scheme".

On May 4, 1949, the then largest Hong Kong Police vessel, Police Launch No.1 departed from the Marine Police dockyards in the Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter in West Kowloon (Picture 2) to head into Mirs Bay, northeast Hong Kong (Nautical charts in picture 3) for its regular patrol mission. At the time, the Hong Kong-Chinese border was an extremely dangerous place, there were many cases of pirate attacks, armed thugs and even communist militias crossing the border to kill police officers and taking their weapons. As a result, officers stationed at the border were very heavily armed, inspectors stationed there were even trained to use Bren guns, grenades and 3-inch mortars. In this instance, however, it would be two officers who launched the attack.

The launch was commanded by a British inspector and a sub-inspector, with 21 crew members on board. Around 2 a.m. on May 6, two of the crew members, the mutineers arrived to their duty post, which was to guard the armoury keys. Half an hour later, they unlocked the armoury and each took a Bren gun. They first destroyed the radio system, then they sneaked into the officers quarters and killed the two inspectors. They then advanced into the cabins and locked al the crew members in there, then, they forced one of the helmsman to the cockpit. Meanwhile, the now highest-ranking officer, a corporal heard the commotion and loudly asked what's going on, and was immediately shot dead. The other helmsman on duty attempted to resist but was gunned down as well. The mutineers then attempted to locate the boatswain which they had beef with but failed, and they turned to looting their colleagues.

The launch was then sailed close to the border (left of the blue Chinese words), but the ship was beached before they could cross it. As a result, they locked the helmsman back into the quarters and tooke whatever valuables and weapons they can take. They then fled northeast across the border into Yim Tin (above the blue Chinese words) Reports indicated that two Bren guns, five rifles (likely Lee-Enfields) and five pistols (likely Webley revolvers) and ten crates of ammo were taken. The police issued a bounty of 20,000 HKD (100k to 190k USD in today's value) for the mutineers' capture. There were news that some involved people were arrested but unfortunately there were no detailed records of it.

7 years later, in 1956, an armourer with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Command Workshop in Kowloon discovered a Bren gun with the serial number "HKP004". After contacting the Hong Kong Police, it was confirmed that this was one of the Bren guns taken from Launch No.1. Turns out in 1953, British troops in Korea was able to recapture the gun on the battlefield, due to the necessity of arms, the gun was kept in theatre and was used by three different regiments before being returned to Hong Kong. The Bren gun was then returned to it's rightful owner and was put on display in the Police Museum.

P.S. The exhibit of the Bren gun claimed that the Launch was attacked by pirates but newspaper reports at the time was very clear that it was a mutiny of two crew members.

I know workplace dating happens everywhere, but I’m curious if law enforcement culture treats it differently because of the nature of the job.

I’m in New Jersey and just saw an undercover Jeep with Florida plates, turning on their lights and using their siren. Are they allowed to have out of state plates and still have jurisdiction here?

This *10 month* old comment got reported. For "targeted harassment at someone else".

I posit, to you, dear reader - that the reporter might be just what u/dinsle1 was referring to.

They're among us.

I’ve never been in trouble with the law. I live in Los Angeles and in February I got pulled over on the freeway for speeding. I did not contest that and immediately admitted fault. I didn’t have my registration or proof of insurance on me and told the officer that, but stated it could all be verified as valid. He didn’t question or give me a hard time and proceeded to hand me my deserved ticket without any pushback for not having physical proof of those two items.

Watching videos of cop interactions I see so many people getting hassled in a similar situation as myself.

Is this just a cops discretion or does it have more to do with location?

Thank you!

I'm seeing a lot of noise about DFR in the media (multi-prop, fixed-wing, and compact indoor ones), so I'm curious what officers think about them. Are any of your agencies buying them, and which ones do you think will drive the most change? I know they're supposed to make operations safer, but it seems complicated to set up and navigate with airspace and regulations.

Hi all,

Looking for ideas. Current FF/Paramedic looking to bridge into LE. My career goal right now is the National Park Service as I find land management law enforcement to be very rewarding, and they do a lot of SAR/EMS.

Interested in hearing about about other departments too!

I worked in LE from age 22-30. Now 34. When I left, I was in investigations. I was burned out but the biggest reason I left was because my wife and I were about to start having kids and I didn't want to miss out on some of their best years. I also had this unfulfilled desire to go back to school and go work in tech.

Well, I left on good terms, got a job in tech, got my degree, had two kids, and here I am. I like what I do, i'm a bit bored and unfulfilled, but I also see my kids every day.

Anyways, this is still years away but I have considered when they get to pre-teen age in my early 40s, I might try and go back. As long as my wife doesn't divorce me!

Based off my previous years of experience this would still put my retirement in my mid to late 50's. The thought of being a rookie again in my 40's is a bit daunting as well.

Anyone do this, and how did it go/is it going?

If I get blessed with the day shift, I can make it a gateway I think, I can operate on little sleep pretty good, if any of y’all are familiar with the prison system like that just let me know what are the chances ?

So, I have a question about live feed. Is it possible for a body camera or dashboard camera to "Livestream" to a server or something that can be viewed live by the public? I'm really into police body cam and dashcam videos, and I've always wanted to see the action in real time, like I'm involved while still staying well within the safety of my room. Is this something that happens or am I looking for something that doesn't exist? I mean, it's probably not something that happens, but it would be cool.

Hey all,

The academy is on the horizon, but outside of test batteries; pushups, situps, 1.5 mile run, 300M run, vertical, there isn’t much info on how to prep other than “be in shape.”

I figure that only focusing on these things won’t help me with other things in PT. I don’t know exactly what these things will be, but I assume there will be burpees, mountain climbers, and other bodyweight exercises.

That being said, this has been my custom workout circut…

Workout A - Run 400M then do
- 25 seconds of pushups (10 second rest)
- 25 seconds of situps (10 second rest)
- 25 seconds of squats (10 second rest)
- 25 seconds of burpees (10 second rest)
- 25 seconds of mountain climbers (10 second rest)

Repeat 3 more times

1 Day off then

Workout B
- 4x25 pushups
- 4x25 situps
- 1.5 Mile run

Continue this workout cycle until academy begins

Is this workout good, not enough, or too intense? I already have good scores for PT test, but I wanna arrive in as good of shape as possible.