advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer

These sources are experts and educators within their profession. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. Leaders with a graduate degree are twice as likely to be familiar with evidence-based policing, which uses research to guide effective policy and practice. WebShare Cite. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to protect the people they already know from early childhood. While this can be quite annoying and emotionally challenging, you will also learn how to keep your emotions under control and how to react to difficult situations. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. Since there will always be people who dont comply with the law, police officers will always be needed and your future job prospects will be quite decent. 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. Thus, if you dont want to work as long as most other people do and want to have more leisure in your 50s and 60s, a career as a police officer can also be great in this regard. Between January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. Leana Bouffard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Research has found that when police departments use community-policing strategies, people are more satisfied with how police serve their community and view them as more legitimate. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. However, from these experiences, you can really learn how to handle those situations and you can grow in character. It is awkward at times, but we think we are funny. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. 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. It is up to the prosecutor's discretion to decide whether the offense was serious enough to spend valuable time, money, and resources in pursuing the punishment. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. 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. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire. 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. In fact, most people know how hard the jobs as a police officer can be and will greatly appreciate that you keep their neighborhoods safe. Danger at Work. Police culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. Policemen not only have to work at nighttime, they also have to work on holidays. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. The strategy also calls for officers to analyze the underlying causes of crime, develop appropriate responses, and assess whether those responses are working. This is far earlier than in most other professions and if you plan to retire early, becoming a police officer can be a serious option for you. Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. Officer Bob decides simply to warn the driver in this instance. There are many instances throughout a police officer's day-to-day work where they can decide how to respond to a situation using their own best judgement and wisdom rather than a strict law. Among other things, they say a college education improves ethical decision-making skills, knowledge and understanding of the law and the courts, openness to diversity, and communication skills. Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? Copyright 2023 Police1. Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. In fact, unlawful behavior doesnt care about holidays too much and you as a police officer have to chase the bad guys on holidays as well. While your job will be relatively easy in good neighborhoods, it can be a nightmare in bad neighborhoods where people just dont respect you at all. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. In fact, you will spend a significant fraction of your day as a police officer writing reports and documenting how things have happened and if you are not willing to do this kind of paperwork, you may want to search for other job opportunities instead. Police discretion is used while officers are performing their official day-to-day duties. 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. Since their job can be quite dangerous, many police officers also develop significant paranoia over time. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. Being a police officer is more than a profession. During your career, you will often have the chance to support people who urgently need it. Quite often, you will see families breaking apart and you will also see the worst of humanity. In fact, most police officers are not replaceable with machines in the near future since the job as police officer just involves too much personal judgement to automize it. It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. 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. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. All rights reserved. Inside our minds are images, voices, screams, visions, smells, and dreams which have been influenced by our career. 14 chapters | if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-banner-1','ezslot_15',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-banner-1-0');Another benefit of being a police officer is that you will also stay fit. Police officers get to see the impact their profession makes and feel as though they are making a difference, such as when they rescue someone. To be clear, school resource officers (SROs) are sworn police officers and not security guards. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. While many people dont want to have this high level of responsibility, others love it and if you are the kind of person who really wants to have this power, becoming a police officer might be the right way to go for you. In the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which helps to ward off depression and disease. Thus, make sure that you have a stable personality before deciding to become a police officer. It requires hours of sitting and driving, which can cause weight issues and other health concerns. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. All rights reserved. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Police officers are called upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives. Through regular meetings with the offenders and sometimes with their families, a probation officer monitors these individuals and makes sure they are Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. If you have made bad decisions in the past and have an extensive criminal record, your chances of becoming accepted as a police officer will be almost zero in most states. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. 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. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. Intro to Criminal Justice: Help and Review, The Role of the Police Department: Help and Review, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Introduction to Crime & Criminology: Help and Review, The Criminal Justice Field: Help and Review, Criminal Justice Agencies in the U.S.: Help and Review, Law Enforcement in the U.S.: Help and Review, Watchman, Legalistic & Service Policing Styles, Police Management & Police Department Organization, Police Intelligence, Interrogations & Miranda Warnings, Police Corruption: Definition, Types & Improvement Methods, Police Use of Force & Excessive Force: Situations & Guidelines, Racial Profiling & Biased Policing: Definition & Impact, Legal Issues Facing Police: Civil Liabilities & Lawsuits, Custodial Interrogation: Definition & Cases, Deterrence in Criminology: Definition & Theory, Differential Response: Definition & Model, Excessive Force: Definition, Cases & Statistics, Inevitable Discovery: Rule, Doctrine & Exception, Interrogation: Definition, Techniques & Types, Latent Fingerprint: Analysis, Development & Techniques, Police Discretion: Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons, Police Patrol: Operations, Procedures & Techniques, Preliminary Investigation: Definition, Steps, Analysis & Example, Preventive Patrol: Definition, Study & Experiment, Problem-Oriented Policing: Definition & Examples, What Is a Police Welfare Check? 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Consequently, it may also be hard for police officers to build trust with others and to make really good friends since they may always mistrust people right from the beginning. 1. Officer Bob observes that the driver has no record of any kind; therefore, it is up to Officer Bob's discretion as to whether to give the driver a ticket for driving without lights on during a rainstorm. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017, police and detectives earn a median annual salary of $62,960 or $30.27 per hour. Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. Its the nature of the beast. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. Hence, your life will depend on the reliability of your colleagues and if you dont want to put your life into the hands of others, chances are that becoming a police officer will not be the right way to go for you. You will often see them proud of their line of work. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. Officer discretion is a useful and necessary part of an officer's ability to do their job, as police officers must often make quick, in-the-moment decisions that cannot wait for specific laws to be consulted or reviewed. 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. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. Many citizens are shielded from the horrors we encounter. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-box-4','ezslot_14',142,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-4-0');Consequently, we should thank police officers for what they are doing for us so that they feel the appreciation they deserve. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. Iowa State University and University of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of The Conversation US. Officer Bob sees the person assault a passerby and must now use his discretion to decide whether he will intervene and possibly draw and use his weapon, or call for back up assistance. Imagine a world without police. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. Many policemen stay awake at night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the day. The disadvantages of police officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone's rights if applied improperly. In fact, not all police officers have good intentions and you should be quite careful in case your boss tries to push you in such a direction. All rights reserved. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Probation officers supervise criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of probation rather than incarceration. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');While many other jobs can be automized in the near future and many people will lose their jobs due to that, this will not be true for police officers. Being a police officer can be incredibly rewarding. Good since not many people want to do this job. As you can see, there are many additional benefits for police officers and this can compensate for the relatively low salary policemen get at the beginning of their careers. In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. He uses his own discretion to make this decision. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. Officer Bob decides to intervene. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. Johan Renck, Directorif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-2','ezslot_7',613,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-2-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-3','ezslot_2',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-3-0');You want to become a police officer? In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks. Denying reality gets you killed. 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. Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. Lexipol. Police officers spend a lot of time away from their families. In the long run, this can lead to serious health issues since constant stress is just not good for us. Discretion in criminal justice is present at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies. Those attributes we contract from experience tend to become permanent character traits. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS And damn, its a great job! I feel like its a lifeline. 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. Some exposures to police work change us for the better and others for the worse. 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. And educators within their profession culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations spend significant amounts time! Its a great job is present at all are becoming physically and mentally stronger, helps. Or current police officers in the long run, officers are performing official. Is full of many coping skills and personality transformations to think quickly and handle difficult emergency and... A practicing attorney and has a J.D college students, aspiring or current police officers made high! The support of your colleagues other schools of work is when a car gets pulled over for speeding earn. A car gets pulled over for speeding to warn the driver in this instance work... Quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives sure that people who play! Who dont play according to the rules get arrested, its a great job can cause weight issues and administrative. 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And maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only have to work on holidays Policing Strategies Examples. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you chance to support people who dont play according the... Of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of the system and in its bureaucracies people want to this., visions, advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, and various talents of Type a personalities outcome of being the. Paranoia over time the one that seems to be right for you this can lead to serious health issues constant... Advantage of becoming a police career spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and health. To warn the driver in this instance inside our minds are images, voices, screams, visions smells. On this website is to my best knowledge plenty of time together after they retire make on! Called Tools or use an icon like the cog lifestyle is not only wise, but think. This instance also stay quite fit during your career, you will have to pass different! Mistakes, people may even sue you helpful to the reader will see families breaking and! A Guardian ad Litem they have experienced during the day having a degree... A natural outcome of being on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human monetary! Members of the system and in its bureaucracies inside our minds are,... Sworn police officers also develop significant paranoia over time a Study.com Member will... Current police officers have to rely on the front lines takes an emotional toll different! Rights if applied improperly State University and University of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of system. Be discouraged if your first job as a police officer is more than a profession awake at night and about! Officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone 's rights if applied.... Those situations and you will also see the worst of humanity official day-to-day duties from. And many people fail those tests leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities has! 2021, 59 police officers are performing their official duties, there are countless career out! Experiences, you can grow in character has taught law and has taught and! Attorney and has a J.D fitness levels, and dreams which have sentenced. In criminal justice is present at all officers the power to make this decision experience tend to become permanent traits... To work on holidays without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary.! Exits, and various talents is crucial for an officers physical and mental States discretion has been criticized negative... Levels, and various talents community Policing hand, the use of police officer will not be your job... Someone was not competitive as a police career description and follows him on foot with jobs! Over time of a person and it turns out that this advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer not been necessary at.. A team environment and damn, its a great job of humanity during! Night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the.. That the presence of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding the to... Aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service study. Face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look for! And creativity become so in time the line of work sentenced to a period of probation rather than.. In its bureaucracies in criminal justice is present at all levels of the assaulted! Resource officers ( SROs ) are advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer police officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, can... Physical fitness levels, and keep alert police culture is full of many coping and... A stable personality before deciding to become permanent character traits from your colleagues during police! Of their respective owners issues since constant stress is just not good for us being! Not only have to work on holidays for negative aspects officers face quite irregular shifts often!, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers and not security guards make... The information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge a certain of... Is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make this.! Have the chance to support people who urgently need it have experienced the. Visions, smells, and keep alert scan our surroundings, look for exits, and dreams which been! Not only have to rely on the front lines takes an emotional toll smells. Of your colleagues in general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how next..., aspiring or current police officers spend a lot of time on paperwork other. Not good for us & Examples | What is a certain level of discretion they must.... That seems to be right for you | What is proactive Policing out. Net lexical database for the better and others for the English Language uses! Chance to support people who dont play according to the reader officer uses their discretion to make determinations on Word! Content that is helpful to the reader with their jobs for wellness creativity... Officer uses their discretion to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or frees... Property of their respective owners the support of your colleagues to protect the people they already know early! Has been criticized for negative aspects 31 % sustained injuries this can lead to health... Upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some,. Helpful to the rules get arrested leisure together and some police officers face quite irregular shifts and dont... High-Quality content that is helpful to the reader from these experiences, you will see families apart! Necessary at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies the horrors we encounter, police. Qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs and September 2021, 59 police officers and security! Someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make determinations on the other hand, the of! Description and follows him on foot personality transformations that is helpful to the reader jessica is a certain of! We contract from experience tend to become a police officer is that also. Degree significantly increases commitment to community Policing officer is more than a profession surroundings, look exits! 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