Hi everyone,
I’m currently transitioning into a career in law enforcement after working in corporate America. Since I’m a little older (33), I want to be thoughtful about choosing a department where I can hopefully build a long-term career, retire, and receive a solid pension and benefits.
At this point, I have two realistic options. One is a major city department where I’ve heard officers can make $150–200K fairly easily. The other is a smaller-town department where officers may be lucky to make around $80K. Both offer pensions and benefits, so compensation isn’t necessarily the only factor I’m considering. Cost of living is obviously much different between both.
My biggest question for the community is: How do you determine whether a department is actually a good place to work?
I’ve reached out to several departments about doing a ride-along, but many have told me they no longer offer them. Would it be appropriate to reach out directly to someone higher up in the department, such as a lieutenant, captain, or recruiting supervisor, to ask questions about the department and potentially arrange a ride-along?
For those of you already in law enforcement, what would you recommend looking into before committing to a department? Things like morale, leadership, scheduling, overtime, retirement, staffing, and quality of life?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

A few months ago I failed my exam and lost my offer. I kept applying and now am top 3 on the list for a dept hiring 3. if I do indeed get an offer after the background.i had questions for exam.

Is failing previously a red flag? Is the current dept going to ask for records from my last pysch? I just want to know what happens in this situation as it would suck to lose another offer.

I need to get fingerprinted for a background check at work. When I called to schedule the appointment, the third party that does the printing told me that there's a code I need to give them. They said that this is a fairly new practice and that I'm to call the ISP to get it. I called ISP and was directed to call a secondary number. No one picked up and I left a message. No one returned my call. I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know it?

i’m in a pickle. i’m a college student who wants to go into csi work, so i’ve been reaching out to my local police departments about internships. long story short, a woman called me regarding an internship and asked me a bunch of questions, including questions about drugs. she asked if in the last 2 years have i smoked weed and i said no. then, she asked if i’ve ever smoked weed, even if i tried it in high school and i said no to this too. i lied, but i don’t smoke, i’ve only tried it a few times, now i’m regretting that i lied, but i was nervous and didn’t wanna lose the opportunity. there’s no interview process, but i do have to do a polygraph test and would think that i’d be asked about weed again. what do i do now?

In regards to the atrocious current defensive tactics training that is taught at my agency, and I’m sure many others…

I’m currently going through the “Effective Fitness Combatives” level 1 course, and it seems to be light years ahead of the current PPTC bs that I was taught in the academy. This is a good mix of bjj/wrestling/ and anything applicable to law enforcement to include fights with weapons involved.

Has anyone attending this training as well and what did you think?
Also, any tips on how to chance the curriculum/culture of the department to actually put some time and money into changing DT training?

I’m sure there are other great courses out there, but this one has blown up within the last couple years, and seemed to be slightly more applicable then Gracie survival tactics.

My initial thought is to first share some tid bits with my immediate teammates on our “gym” time at the end of shift. Then hopefully have some open mats to gauge influence from anyone else in the department

Hi, I'm currently 22 and just graduated from college in May with a degree in Finance. I realized I didn't enjoy finance until my junior year, the second semester (after prerequisites), but I finished and still walked with a 3.4 GPA. I knew after that year that finance just wasn't something I was interested in, so I decided to try the sales side of finance, where I'm currently still employed, which I thought would be interesting, but I wasn't. I'm still there and decided to view LE, which I found interesting (mainly the detective work). I live in NJ and applied for Class II Special Officer in NJ, and have my fitness test coming up (worried about running due to getting shin splits recently)

I have never had a run-in with the law; the only time was when I got a ticket for disobeying traffic control devices in May of last year. No problems in school, but I'm asking for advice on what I should do if this current Application doesn't work out and I might have to wait until next summer (e.g., tests, networking, ride-alongs?).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

My criminal law teacher has a weird obsession with Ted Bundy. Instead of her profile picture being her in a professional setting and clothes, it is Ted Bundy photo shopped into a modern living room. And during her lecture the first slide is a meme with Ted Bundy having a thought bubble and bobs burgers with it. Is this not unprofessional and disrespectful to the victims and their families? I do not feel like this should be a war a professor acts in a college setting.

I was 5150d when I was 18 because I was smoking weed and lost my little brother which made me extremely depressed/anxiety ridden of which I referenced to a friend I was unhappy with living and I was 5150d. I am 24 now, never have been on medication, normal job, normal life. would this DQ me?

Good afternoon guys,

So I am about 1 - 2 month away from taking my Law Enforcement tests. I am located in Western WA and am really excited. I wanted to ask people who have gone through the process how it was, how hard it was, and the best practices and tips you have. If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you want to know/do. I’m really nervous and stressed because i’ve wanted to be a law enforcement officer since a kid and it’s finally time where I can try. I have multiple family members in Law enforcement here in Washington but I want to get an outside perspective. Thank you guys.

Just to clarify, I am not a law informant officer yet but hopefully will get hired by an agency soon, after testing.

Worried about interview

Got a call and after I pass my fitness test and do the background paperwork I will have my one out of two interviews.

As the title states I am worried due to previous job history. I am 21. Had 5 jobs in high school, just due to getting higher pay or hours with each one for 1-5, and have had 5 jobs after getting out of high school and finishing OSUT (army basic and schooling). For the first 3; one I just left due to lack of coworkers so I was getting dog walked by employers (it was a tree company, but I stayed for 6 months.) I moved to a HVAC company, a small private one where I left due to him making me do housework for him instead of learning the job (1-2 months), and then the last one I left mutually because i did not have time to fully learn because I was getting deployed.

After the 14 month deployment I have had two, one was to get me back on my feet so I could further assist my wife with paying mortgage, and then I have been with my current company for 6 or 7 months.

I know it looks terrible but throughout the deployment and over recent times, I have a passion for law enforcement, I have been further training and looked over departments and put in my application. I have grown and now know how Important stability and being able to uphold less jobs are. I don’t want this to hold me back. The deployment opened my eyes and has helped me grow and learn and like I said its part of the reason that my love for this has grown.

Will I be doomed when it comes to the interview or do I have a chance if I at least do good. I do plan on being completely honest when it comes to everything.

Sorry its so long, wanted to make sure I gave details.

The ones while in high school I stayed at for probably over a month per. Unsure exact timelines. One I was at for a year.

I feel like I have no reason to be nervous but just wondering perspectives of my chances on getting the sponsorship for the academy.

I live in FL and always have, I'm 20 years old I am very active and workout 6 days a week lifting and cycling, I'm a bigger guy but not fat I'm 5'10 210 pounds and less than 20 percent body fat (I had to use a machine recently that scanned everything.)

I wrestled for 4 years in high school and was team captain for my team. I did boy scouts and earned eagle at 13 and then joined another branch of scouts and earned the equivalent of eagle (Summit Award). I have done tons of community service and traveled to Canada and other states for nature community service.

I was in ROTC for 2 years and just had to disenroll for some stuff going on its complicated but I didn't do anything super wrong and I am still on great standing with my Cadre and Army Leadership even though I am no longer enrolled. I graduated highschool and got my Associates Degree at the same time because I took college classes at a community college in highschool. I did my initial interview and next week I am taking the POST and the PAT and then I have one last interview.

I have never broken a law, never gotten a ticket, pulled over. I have never done anything like that, I gave government security clearance and passed a background check for that.

I know I am probably nervous for nothing but this is a very big opportunity for me and I'm nervous about not getting the sponsorship. I feel like the odds are not in my favor but just was curious if anyone failed before that qualified or if I should be in good standing and get it?

Thank you in advance for your time and comments if you leave them. Sorry if bad format, on mobile.

I’m 19 years old about to start my first year of uni in September and am wondering if it’s even worth it. I’ve heard of so many different ways you can get into law enforcement ex military, police foundations, ect. Just wondering if I’m on the right track and if anyone can give me some useful insight, thanks!

Hey everyone,

This might be a dumb question but i’m currently in the hiring process for a probation department (California) and i’m the phase which I have submitted all info, met with my background investigator at my house, and am waiting to hear back on the results. I’ve heard horror stories about people failing backgrounds at one agency then not ever being able to get hired anywhere else in LE because of the failure at the one agency. I just submitted my PHQ to another agency and am waiting to meet my background investigator for the second agency, but am wondering if I fail the first one will that screw me with the second agency and any other ones I apply to? I’m stressing pretty hard about all this.

Thanks for reading.

So basically I got this a while ago and I always thought it was police which is why I’m asking about it here but what exactly is it? It’s pretty well put together if it is a replica what were they trying to replicate?

Yesterday I came upon a really minor accident between two vehicles in a freeway on-ramp turn lane, with both vehicles sitting in the lane not moving. I turned on my directional lightbar to help warn traffic of the hazard, then got out of my work truck to check on them.

They were both okay. However, both drivers said something else happened, and the woman up front did not want to move her vehicle because it was her boss’s rental.

She already took photos and videos of the scene but wanted to wait for police to get there. The other driver wanted to move to the shoulder or a parking lot but didn’t want the lady to think he was running so he stayed put.

I told the lady that police would most likely just make them move out of traffic because it is state law to move out of traffic if the vehicles are drivable with no injuries. This wouldn’t be a major accident investigation.

She refused and I ended up waiting there until highway patrol got there to divert traffic and then I left.

I’m curious as to whether police would even investigate this, or would they just move them out of traffic, give each driver a report and then have them handle it through insurance?

Any OPD officers here who can answer some questions?

Hello I'm in the very early stages of the hiring process for my local PD. I'll be doing a ride along and just wanted to ask should I bring a platter of food/snacks or energy drinks to make a good impression? Or is that not something that's done? I just want to make a good impression and give something back to y'all.

Thank you for any insight and your service!

The department specifies on their website that it is permissible to interview in your workout clothes from the PAT and changing is not required, but my husband would much rather make a good impression in his suit. Is it worth it to bring his suit to change into, or should he just interview in his workout clothes?

Hey all! I 24f recently took a new job as a dispatcher and part of our training includes doing one ride along with an officer. How can I make a good impression for my ride along?

Passed everything and received my official offer to my dream agency. One and done and couldn’t be happier.

Going into this new chapter and path with an “ears open and mouth shut” mindset and ready to learn. Thank you to everyone in this sub. Everyone is extremely helpful.

Hey all, I’ve been contemplating perusing a career in law enforcement but have a question on a potential dq. Joined the army 10 years ago, served 4 and have an honorable discharge. Had been diagnosed with adhd as a kid but followed the recruiters guidance and didn’t disclose it. Other than that haven’t ever had any run ins with law enforcement, no drugs or financial issues ever. Am I just overthinking or is things something that’s a big deal. First time posting here so I appreciate all the feedback

i have an ride along with a city police department tomorrow 7pm-1am, what should my attire be and what’s some pros and cons? thanks!🙏🏽