Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. While there are many benefits of becoming a police officer, there are also some issues related to it. 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. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that it can also help you overcome your fears. This is due to the fact that police officers often see pretty bad things that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner. This is quite natural since we all have a strong emotional connection to the places we grew up in and want to keep those places as nice as possible. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. It becomes a part of us we share in small circles. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Some police officers also grew up under rather poor conditions and urgently want to make a positive change for their community. 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. It enhances the status of the profession. Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. In fact, your colleagues will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them. Police body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events. In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. Danger at Work. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. Many policemen stay awake at night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the day. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. You can also work in many different departments. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. In fact, if people know that your family and friends know a police officer quite well, they will often act in a more respectful manner since they know that they can get into all sorts of trouble if they misbehave. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. The principle of police Police officers run the risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone's rights. We are selective of where we dine. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. 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. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Uniform Stories covers an array of subjects like field stories, entertaining anecdotes, and expert opinions. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. Police officers earn above average wages and receive good retirement benefits and pensions at the end of their career. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. I feel like its a lifeline. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Police officers usually also get more money if they work on weekends, in the nighttime or on holidays. and manufacturers. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Officer Bob decides simply to warn the driver in this instance. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. 1. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. 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. Another problem with being a police officer is that you can also lose your job due to only one big mistake. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. 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 discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. However, the majority of the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers ensure on our streets. Most young people have a relatively nave view of how the job as a policeman really looks like and most hopes and wishes will fade soon. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. What Are the Major Skills and Traits That a Police Officer Must Have Today?Communication Skills. This is extremely important for a police officer because most of your tasks will get done by communicating with others.Writing Skills. Police officers often need to write incidents reports. Active Listen er. Ability to Obtain Knowledge. Adaptability. Attention to Details. Critical Thinking. Friendly. Empathy and Compassion. More items In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. You may also have to work quite long shifts as a policeman. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. Many people also underestimate the amount of paperwork police officers have to deal with. Others think police officers are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and hand out traffic tickets. In fact, you will have to decide when it will be appropriate to use your gun and when there will be no need for it. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. Lexipol. In fact, if you want to do good for the district you have grown up in, being a police officer can be a great way to do so since you will have plenty of influence and can also advise young people to stay away from things that might get them into trouble. The job is simply too hard for that and you would just not become happy if you dont have an inner motivation for it. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. 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. Their responsibilities include not only preserving the peace, preventing criminal acts, enforcing the law, investigating crimes, and arresting those who violate the law but also directing traffic, community relations work, and controlling crowds at public events. 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. 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 Do Not Sell My Personal Information. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. Hence, as a police officer, you will have the power to improve the lives of many people who will be thankful for what you do for them forever. If you are thinking about becoming a police officer, you should first consider the many advantages and disadvantages of this profession. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. In fact, many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. Though each day is going to be different as a police officer, some people might rather have a more predictable, mundane type of job. 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. Since police officers enjoy a high reputation among the general public, they often get additional perks. Probation officers play a significant role in society and in the law enforcement process. 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. Police officers are called upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives. 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. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. Resources in the criminal justice system are limited and must be used efficiently. Varied hours. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. 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. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. 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. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. As a police officer, you have the power to significantly improve the conditions in your neighborhood since you can send people who behave in a criminal manner to court and many of them will end up in jail and can no longer have a bad influence on your neighborhood. 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. 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. Officers with a bachelors degree reportedly: have fewer citizen complaints choose options short of an arrest to resolve problems are less authoritarian are more ethical have fewer disciplinary problems compared to their high school graduate counterparts What are the reported disadvantages of a bachelors degree? Policemen can support local neighborhoods. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. State and local agencies and governments can do more to encourage officers to seek a college degree, including through incentives, like the Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act, which allows for a partial tuition waiver or the Quinn Bill in Massachusetts, which provides scaled bonuses depending on the degree an officer holds or tuition reimbursement scholarships like those offered by the Fraternal Order of Police. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. 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. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. 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. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Add to that the ability to help people on a daily basis and this line of work can be very fulfilling. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Many policemen also develop mental issues in the long run. Create your account. Police Corruption Examples, Types & History | What is Police Corruption? Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. In the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which helps to ward off depression and disease. Everyone and everything is suspicious until proven otherwise. Our ethics and morals have been tossed out the window and replaced with disconnect and desensitized human shells. 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. All of these things have been shown to increase critical thinking, moral reasoning and openness to diversity. This can be rather annoying, especially if you have a family and dont know how to manage your private life since you often dont know the exact hours of your shift. There is also the risk that the police officer might misinterpret a statute when performing their duties. 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. They do not find comic relief in a tragedy. Its the nature of the beast. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. This can be rather unclear in many situations and one mistake in this regard can even cost your life. 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. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. In the long run, this can lead to serious health issues since constant stress is just not good for us. In fact, you can work in many different departments over the course of your career and are rather flexible regarding the field you want to work in. Disadvantages of Security Officers. 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. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. It permits the police to make quick and appropriate determinations under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement and judicial resources. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. Police culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations. Here are the top recognized benefits of community policing: Improved officer morale: The national narrative around policing has had a significantly negative impact on If police officers had to stop and ask permission before making any type of decision, this would greatly diminish their ability to address immediately dangerous or critical situations. For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. Thus, becoming a police officer can also be a great career path for you if you love excitement and action on a regular basis. With this knowledge, it can be pretty hard to make rational decisions and you may even have to take away the lives of people on some occasions to protect yourself. Research has also shown that police officers themselves recognize the value of a college degree. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Quite often, you will see families breaking apart and you will also see the worst of humanity. Those attributes we contract from experience tend to become permanent character traits. They are also terminated less frequently for misconduct and less likely to use force. Police officers may incorrectly assess a situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Why is being professional important? Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. 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? She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University. Police officers are given the freedom to use police discretion and make decisions on the job and in the heat of the moment. Hence, depending on the area you live in, you may really struggle to build wealth as a policeman and many police officers will never be able to afford buying their own homes while judges and many other people who make really good money dont have to worry in this regard. 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