Each specialized duty boasts about its place in the organization and those assigned sometimes try to outshine the others in performance while respecting the independent functions. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. It is awkward at times, but we think we are funny. Free gym memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job. As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. Colleges and universities can help officers acquire the skills needed to help to reestablish trust between our communities and those who are sworn to protect and serve. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. This also means that you have to interact with the general public on a daily basis and you will also be the one who has to solve conflicts. Among others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. Among students who participated in a criminal justice service-learning course working with young people in the community, 80% reported a change from stereotypical assumptions that all of them would be criminals to a better understanding of them as individuals with goals and potential - some not so different from the students own dreams. Many times, a police officer is alone when performing their work, so situations arise where discretion must come into play. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. Lexipol. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. You may not only lose your job, you may even have to pay high fines and this could ruin you also from a financial perspective. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. In addition to the personal satisfaction that you gain, you will receive a competitive salary as well as a number of other benefits. Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe, Police officers get high levels of responsibility, Plenty of different fields you can work in, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers get action on a regular basis, You will become really good friends with your colleagues, Most police officers have a high fitness level, Police officers can retire relatively early, Many people have lost respect for the police, You can lose your job due to one big mistake, Being a police officer is not the safest job, Police officers have to work at nighttime, Many police officers suffer from sleeping problems, Some police officers cant deal with events from the past, Especially problematic if you have to work in bad neighborhoods, Police officers have to deal with plenty of paperwork, Top 10 Being a Policeman Pros & Cons Summary List, salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers, 10 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Art Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Economics Degree, 18 Things To Do After Failing Your Communication Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Education Degree, 19 Things To Do After Failing Your Engineering Degree, 19 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Biology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Psychology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Business Degree, 33 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Casino Dealer, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being An Underwriter, 30 Noble Pros & Cons Of Working For A Hedge Fund, 32 Nerdy Pros & Cons Of Being A Data Scientist, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Loan Officer. Lexipol. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. This does not mean that police officers can make unlawful decisions, but rather that they must use their knowledge of what is lawful and reasonable and what is unlawful and unreasonable to make appropriate decisions in stressful circumstances. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. Policemen can also retire earlier than people in most other jobs. Another downside of becoming a police officer is that you will also have to work at nighttime. In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks. However, some police officers quit their jobs after a while due to the dangers they no longer want to be exposed to. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. In turn, you will get to know each other quite well and your colleagues will become your second family. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_16',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. Following several deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on June 16 that calls for increased training and credentialing to reduce the use of excessive force by police. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. If officers had to ask permission from judges for every decision they were faced with, this would be inefficient and costly. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various Police officers also have to make really difficult decisions. Expectation versus reality probably exists for all of us in different forms and fashions. Police officers run the risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone's rights. If you do your job well and if you are really ambitious and do what it takes, you can pursue a demanding career and many doors will open to you. succeed. Police officers with at least some college experience are more focused on promotion and expect to retire at a higher rank compared to officers with no college. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. The more ambitious you are, the more people you can help and this can give you a feeling of having a purpose in life. As a police officer, you can also help your family and friends in case they get problems with neighbors or suffer from any other injustice. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. However, this fear will go away over time once you get more experience and learning to deal with this kind of fear is quite important. Officers utilize their discretion on the job constantly, as they make decisions while performing routine duties, while in the heat of the moment, and while they are alone with no partner or backup to consult with. Here are eight advantages of being a security officer: 1. In fact, especially if you have children, it can be quite hard to go to work as a police officer since you know that you might never come back and so do your children and your wife. In Texas, a police officer was fired, charged with murder, and sentenced to a $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison after body-worn camera footage contradicted his initial statement in the Apr. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. In turn, many officers are simply not able to process those experiences in an emotionally healthy manner and will suffer from mental problems like depression later on in their lives. Also make sure to check out the following articles: Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a dentist, Advantages and disadvantages of becoming an actor, https://golawenforcement.com/articles/tips-for-going-into-law-enforcement/, https://www.how2become.com/blog/5-tips-to-pass-the-police-officer-selection-process/. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. If the judge decides on life imprisonment, they can decide whether or not the convicted party will ever get the chance for parole, and after how many years they will be eligible for parole. Next: 13 reasons why you love being a cop. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. Read several examples of police discretion in use. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Thus, especially if you are a rather skeptic person who doesnt like to rely on others for such important things, becoming a police officer may also not be the right way to go for you. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. They are also terminated less frequently for misconduct and less likely to use force. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. However, the Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. Denying reality gets you killed. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. Thus, becoming a police officer can also be a great career path for you if you love excitement and action on a regular basis. If the police had to consult with other officers or go to a judge every time they needed to make an on-the-job determination, this would result in a drain not only on the economy but also on the overall law enforcement and judicial systems. In fact, many police officers see things during their career that are that disgusting that they have difficulties to mentally process and to forget them their whole lives. The job is simply too hard for that and you would just not become happy if you dont have an inner motivation for it. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. For example, internships and service-learning opportunities in college provide future police officers a chance to develop civic engagement skills. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. Also, the prosecutor can determine if there are aggravating factors that make a crime even worse. In fact, being a policeman is not safe at all and you should be aware of the fact that you put your life at risk every time you leave your home. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Studies have found that a small proportion of police officers about 5% produce most citizen complaints, and officers with a two-year degree are about half as likely to be in the high-rate complaint group. Being a police officer assures financial security. In fact, night shifts are rather common and if you dont want to work at night, you should just go for another occupation instead. You can make a huge difference in many peoples lives over the span of a careerand in Consequently, your family and friends will likely also have an easier time in their daily lives in general. In other words, the statute may indicate that a certain act is illegal; the police officer can then expeditiously make an arrest based upon his interpretation. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. A study of officer-involved shootings from 1990 to 2004 found that college-educated police officers were almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty. The officers deter criminal activity such as theft, vandalism and terrorism, protect their employers investments and enforce The job is difficult and risky because it requires the officer to protect the individuals and property where he works. In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. Copyright 2023 Police1. New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, 'Hold your heart open': Officers, community members attend funeral for Kansas City cop, K-9, keep officers job satisfaction rates high, Open the tools menu in your browser. This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. In the long run, this can lead to serious health issues since constant stress is just not good for us. Everyone and everything is suspicious until proven otherwise. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. However, before you sign your contract, make sure you read this article since I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer. Let's look at some examples of when a police officer must use his or her discretion. Policing is a very interesting job and the situations officers face change constantly. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. Since police officers see so many bad things during their careers, they often also lose all their childish delusions of a nice world pretty soon. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Co-Director, Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention, University of Nebraska Omaha. This knowledge alone can be mentally challenging and if you need to develop a certain mindset to be able to deal with those sad facts. If you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting career that will allow you to make a difference in your community, you may enjoy being a police officer. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when applying statutory law, and fostering judicial economy. Cons of a Career as a Probation Officer. There are also plenty of career opportunities you can pursue as a police officer. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. A lock ( 14 chapters | The definition of especially heinous, however, is left up to the prosecutor's discretion. It resonates at home with spouses and children. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. WebPhotos by Chris Roussakis. Pro: Youre a hero! From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. You may start your career as normal patrolman, but you can get promoted pretty soon if you are ambitious enough and are willing to put in the work. Police work is rife with circumstantial stressors. ], Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing, almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty, lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians, more satisfied with how police serve their community, increases commitment to community policing, moral reasoning and openness to diversity, identifying quality information and scientific evidence, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. They also get confronted with really bad things during their careers exists for all of us in different forms fashions. On this website is to My best knowledge your life in the long run, this would be and. Your homepage, check your browsers help menu is left up to the prosecutor 's discretion check. 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advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer