How many LEO's do we have here?

Federal law enforcement for 24 years come this October. The ONLY regrets I've had has been the last 5 years, after our agency was merged with two others. Slowly but surely, the kinks are getting ironed out and the quality of the job is improving. 13 years in uniform and the last 11 in plain clothes. I recommend law enforcement for any person who has the desire to do so, but for no person who is just seeking "a job".
 
Welcome ZENSHEEPDOG; and thanks to all you guys who try to keep Society from imploding upon itself day in and day out. Seems that the way folks are raised definitely determines their attitude towards LE folks. I was on my way through the CT SP Academy when I got creamed on my motorcycle on a weekend ride. That ended my dreams of working in LE, but it was nice to have gone the distance I did just the same.

Funny the things you guys mentioned...some local PD guys are aquaintences of mine and we get to speaking when we meet on the road. The politics are something they mention frequently, sometimes it's the part of the job that bugs them most.
 
Went to college for Administration of Justice then to the area police academy. After grad while looking for a LEO job ended up doing EMS/Rescue. Been doing that now for the last 12 years. Don't really have the desire to be a LEO now.
 
cmgray said:
Ive been a cop here in Austin Tx now for 10 years. I've faced indictment, was tried in a criminal court and found not guilty, then sued for a million dollars and found not liable, and I still like it. Like anything else it has its good and bad, but it truly is what you make of it. On the street when I'm out there, policy, politics, none of it matters except me going home safely. Some people that you help do t want it or take it but we do it because no one else will. I personally like being the one people rely on to restore order to their chaos. Hope that helps Feel free to contact me further
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I,m pretty sure you maced me down on 6th st.....:D:D
 
Midwest Ninja said:
That would be "me gusta" there, dylside. :p
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Cut me a break man. I can speak a little, can't spell it though. lol. I try.

Thanks guys for talking about it. Here's my situation. My whole life before my 17th birthday, I knew I was going straight into the military. I signed up for everything similar I could find up to that point trying to make myself a better soldier before I even got there. ROTC, everything. Then I joined. Eveyrthing was on the right track. I skip the next part because i don't like to talk about it. Don't worry, not a dishonorable discharge or anything. I just don't like going into it. Anyways, my dreams of a full military career were taken away. Now I find myself, many many years later with this huge whole in my soul. I know a lot of people want to do it for "a job" or the perks or just because they want the power of the badge, but for me, it's a matter of having that feeling. Not the rush or anything. Guys who have served and good cops know what I mean. It's just that feeling. There are a million ways to describe it and none describe it enough. Even with all the BS that naturally comes with any job like that, You know who you are and what you're doing. You know that what you're doing is saving lives and making the world a better place. Now I know some people say "you're not making anything better in society. You're only keeping it from getting worse faster than if there was one less of you out there." The way I look at it, I AM making the world a better place, but it's for the person who for the moment that might have come with the bad guy who might have created it that isn't there to do it anymore, or the situation in which they might have been hurt or killed that didn't happen that particular time. I'm from some of the worst parts of the country and have been through enough. I'm familiar with gun fire directed at me. I've been in more than my share of scraps that could have ended with my death. So, none of the "scary stuff" really makes me not want to do it. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to act tough or say I wouldn't be scared. That is some scary sh!t. lol. It always is. What I mean is that I'm not going into it without the knowledge of what it's like. Experience is definitely being factored into this decision.

So, that's where my head is at. It's more about feeling I'm doing what I'm supposed to do and what I wanted to do with my life, making a difference for somebody and having that feeling that you're doing good, that your life means something. I can tell you this much, the bike shop doesn't do it.
 
Law enforcement is like anything else. An individual won;t save the world, they just have to do their small part. It doesn;t matter what facet of law enforcement, an agent or officer can often feel overwhelmed, as if there's no end to crime and violence, as if they're not making a bit of difference. There is no end, but the officer IS making a difference, one step at a time.
 
StretchNM said:
Law enforcement is like anything else. An individual won;t save the world, they just have to do their small part. It doesn;t matter what facet of law enforcement, an agent or officer can often feel overwhelmed, as if there's no end to crime and violence, as if they're not making a bit of difference. There is no end, but the officer IS making a difference, one step at a time.
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My thoughts exactly.
 
Dylside said:
Cut So, that's where my head is at. It's more about feeling I'm doing what I'm supposed to do and what I wanted to do with my life, making a difference for somebody and having that feeling that you're doing good, that your life means something. I can tell you this much, the bike shop doesn't do it.
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Its exactly that line of thinking that is leading me towards an education and career in law enforcement as well. I got laid off last year and have been doing contract work since but for years now there's been that feeling that working in IT and making a business money just isn't "enough" for me. The thought of doing something to make society a better place, even in little ways, has a strong draw to it. My university application is going in 2 weeks, so with any luck it will be accepted soon.
 
Dylside, if you feel "led" or "called" to the profession, maybe that's what is right for you. Go for it. You'll find out soon enough if it is right for you. Sounds to me like you'd do just fine. -Matt- (Dispatcher)
 
DC :D

You have to love what you do at the heart. The day to day is overrun with so much crap, you need to be able to go home at night and believe you made a difference. It's not, for me at least, a paycheck job.

It does change your whole life though. I have a hard time wondering if I could live day to day without the badge, and I've forgotten what it was like before.

Good people, though.

Best,

-Coop
 
I have been on with a mid-sized department for about 3 years. Honestly I know I could have gotten a job that paid more, had better benefits, better hours, and less BS, but honestly I don't care. I want to be a LEO, I really can't imagine myself doing anything else.

I had always thought about doing it and thought it might be fun, but I always had greater ambitions for myself. One day I just decided I would at least give it a shot that way I would never wonder about what have been and it just took. Honestly the only way you can know if its for you is to try it.
 
cmgray said:
That's certainly possible. I've taken you visited our good city before.
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I lived in Austin for 7 years, I also spent some time there when I was in the Army stationed at FT Hood. I have never been sprayed down with mace or anything:D...but I was out during Mardi Gras, and witnessed the supposed RIOT...that was basically tons of people getting TearGassed for being out spending thier money. Not trying to stir the pot, really, I was just really mad at the whole situation..I was out with my first wife, and she did not handle it very well...I saw it as a grand experiment, and totally BS. Needless to say, I steered clear of the downtown area alot after that.
Overall, the city of Austin is a really cool place to live if you are 22 and single. Lots of great restuarants and nightclubs..and a pretty cool vibe as a whole. Great music, and Lots of really attractive college girls too! :thumbup:
 
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