advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer
30.12.2020, , 0
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. Many police officers also suffer from serious mental issues. 1. Since enough sleep is crucial for our body and our brain to work properly, sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health issues and also significantly decreases overall quality of life. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. 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. Similarly, researchers have found that officers with at least a two-year degree were 40% less likely to lose their jobs due to misconduct. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. This is necessary since most unlawful activities happen at nighttime. 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. Copyright 2023 copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. How pleasant your life will be as a police officer also greatly depends on the neighborhood you have to work in. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. Because police officers are in constant danger, we are also overly suspicious of everything and everyone. While some people like this insecurity since they get a certain level of excitement out of it, others who need a structured day hate it and if you are the kind of person who wants to play way ahead, chances are that becoming a police officer will just not be the right way to go for you. We constantly scan our surroundings, look for exits, and keep alert. Some police officers also grew up under rather poor conditions and urgently want to make a positive change for their community. All rights reserved. If your colleagues make mistakes, you could potentially lose your life. You can also work in many different departments. Crime Measurement Programs: History & Nature, The History of Women & Minority Members in the Police Profession, Recruitment of Women & Minorities in Policing. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. Some advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career opportunities for security officers, improved relationship with public police, and increased crime deterrence. Consequently, those wrong decisions can really break you in the long run since you will know that a better choice of you could have saved lives and many police officers simply cant deal with those things in an emotionally proper manner. 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. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. Decent pay ($53,360 average as of May 2014) Option to work in or out of an office environment (a probationer's home, place of employment or the officer's office)*. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. As a police officer, you will also become really good friends with your colleagues over time. In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. While many people who work in office jobs have to go to the gym to stay in shape, you as a police officer dont have to do this since you will stay in shape in a natural manner and can spend your time in a more enjoyable manner. 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. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. To be clear, school resource officers (SROs) are sworn police officers and not security guards. America has created its own monster. It is also not that easy to become a police officer. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. Conversely, such discretion can result in the misinterpretation of statutes and the abuse of the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol when he notices that an automobile is driving in the rain without its lights on, which is against the law in the state. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. Id like to think it made me a better person. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free. 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. interacts online and researches product purchases Many citizens are shielded from the horrors we encounter. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. In turn, you will become much more relaxed. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community Less likely to use violence. By arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer can keep the community safe from people who are committing crimes. 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, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. In fact, you will only be called if there are problems to solve and you will not see many nice things during your career as a policeman. Under the Fourth Amendment, one has the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. There are occasions when our friends or family want us to share our darkest moments, but we usually leave them contained. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can be the last one. Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. 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. Our fuses and energy become shortwith sleep deprivation, long shift hours, societal isolation, and continued exposure to negative human elements. Others think police officers are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and hand out traffic tickets. However, from these experiences, you can really learn how to handle those situations and you can grow in character. WebAdvantages of Being a Police Officer You have a high reputation in society Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe You can help out your family and friends By far, the residual payoffs outweigh the bad. 7. The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer Pros. Check out the top positive things about being a cop. One attractive aspect of being a police officer is the financial security you will have. Cons. Being a police officer is rewarding, but also challenging. Now You Know the Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. As you can see, there are many wonderful things about being a police officer. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. Another advantage of being a policeman is that you can keep your neighborhood safe. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. A high fitness level is not only crucial to stay healthy in the long run, it can also help you in the dating market and makes your life easier in various other aspects. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. Police Subculture Overview & Examples | What is Police Subculture? Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. 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. A police officer can also impact the area they serve as a whole. 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. Since their job can be quite dangerous, many police officers also develop significant paranoia over time. Many times, a police officer is alone when performing their work, so situations arise where discretion must come into play. Professionalism in the police force has several positive impacts that include good service to the public, better pay for the constables, ethical conduct, strong community support as well as respect and a stronger role in a Criminal Justice System. There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. Uniform Stories covers an array of subjects like field stories, entertaining anecdotes, and expert opinions. Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. 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. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. While you will not get rich in most cases, you will still be able to provide a decent life for you and your family. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The disadvantages of police officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone's rights if applied improperly. There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. Pro: Youre a hero! The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. 1. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. Consequently, your family and friends will likely also have an easier time in their daily lives in general. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. Advantages and disadvantages of police.Police officers often work long hours Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. Top 10 Being a Police Officer Pros & Cons Summary List, inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers have a good fitness level, Being a police officer lets you grow in character, Variety of different fields you can work in, Police officers often suffer from mental issues, You can improve conditions in your community, Police officers have to make difficult decisions, Police officers can retire relatively early, Mistakes of your colleagues can cost your life. 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advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer