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Advice on what to do to become a police officer? please help?

Should I become a police officer? Please help me with advice!!!?

  • Hi all! I'm a male, 29 years old, very healthy, single, never married, never had any kids, and I have an Associate's degree and a Bachelor's degree from college. In lieu of our troubled US economy, I want to find a career job, especially because I want to be financially retired at 50 years old. The only realistic way I can reach my retirement age goal is to pick a career in law enforcement, such as a police officer. I have over 11 years of commercial and private security experience. Should I become a police officer? I just don't want to be hurt in any way on the job. I also don't want to be poor or broke at 50, 65 or 75+ years old with no money or pension coming to me on a regular basis. Are police officer pensions really good? Do retired police officers get a good pension and health benefits for life? Please help me with advice!!! Any answers would be appreciated! Thanks!

  • Answer:

    I wouldn't become an officer with the idea of early retirement and a stable job. The departments around here have recently laid people off due to the economy. This particular area you need to have 20 years in for retirement, and you make 3% of your salary for each year of employment at retirement once you've put in your 20 and have reached age 50. You have no medical coverage from the time you retire, so you're looking at paying $1000/mo or so for health coverage from age 50 to 65 when you can get Medicare. Between your health premiums and your mortgage, you'll need to pay your house down or move to a cheaper area at retirement in order to make it financially. Officers here also work 10 hours shifts, and as low man on the totem pole you can expect to have forced overtime if they need more people on and not enough volunteers. Back problems are common due to the 30 lbs your vest and gear weigh - and you'll be wearing them that whole 10 hr shift. It's a high stress job, and the possibility of injury or even death is a daily thing. You have a degree....my advice would be to find some other line of work.

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I don't know the situation with pensions and so forth, but I do know that police have a pretty tough job. You'll have a lot of people trying to get in your way, you'll have to deal with violence, and the like, all the time. Higher ranking cops get ok pay, but it isn't too good for most of the officers. If you can handle it, go for it.

Bob B

Do u like to mess with people? if so then yea, go for it. But if u want to help out others, dont do this. I thought about this too, but people hate cops. Cops have too much power and power will corrupt. Police are not cool!

NOPE. BE AN INMATE.

DDG

Being that your 29 it's probably not realistic to think that you can be retired by the age of 50 if you are just thinking of entering a career in law enforcement. Our state is 25 years until you earn your retirement, which is a good retirement package but again, that doesn't kick in for 25 years. You do get benefits for the rest of your life which does include health insurance and as we all know, that is huge! Each state is different as far as the percentage of your annual salary that you will receive once you retire. My advice would be to contact your local State Police recruiter or which ever department you are interested in applying with, but get your application in now. It's a long process before you are even accepted and enter recruit school. There are interviews, extensive back ground checks, etc. so don't waste any time. On a personal note, if you are considering a career in law enforcement strictly on a financial level, trust me when I say you wont love what you do. This isn't a job that you get into for the money. It's something that either is in your blood and want to do or it's not. Just really think about your reasons before applying. Good luck!!

Blue Diamond

I dont think so. You seem to be a person looking for safety, looking to play it safe ,and that's not the way cops are. Their lives are at risk all the time. Moreover, you have to feel some sort of love for serving and protecting people. You only think about yourself. With that mentality I dont think you can go far... Why dont become a clerk? You have a paycheck, 9 to 5, air conditioning, donuts, coffee, bonuses, you know, all the safe stuff. Please dont be a cop. Usually those guys don't look for help in Yahoo Answers.

Mickey

being a cop isnt a 9-5 job. some places have you work 12 hours, some more or less. you have to be willing to deal with living hell everyday. there are people who refuse to cooperate, on drugs, and often people who just hate cops for no reason. some days you will have nothing to do, other days you are busting your *** for those entire 12 hours. if you are a cop, you are on call. from what ive experienced, its one of the most stressful jobs ive seen

ledzepfan15

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