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Police officers are called upon to think quickly and handle difficult emergency situations and, in some instances, save lives. 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. Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. 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This makes it really difficult since you will never know whether you will be able to pick up your kids the next week or not. In fact, it is not easy at all to be a police officer and to deal with all the emotional burden that comes along with it. Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when 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. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. Police officers usually also get more money if they work on weekends, in the nighttime or on holidays. Nicolet is also a certified nutrition, wellness and weight-management consultant with American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? How pleasant your life will be as a police officer also greatly depends on the neighborhood you have to work in. 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. Hence, if you want to have this high social standing and the admiration of others, becoming a police officer or nurse practitioner can be the right way to go for you in this regard. While some people dont like this high level of insecurity, others live for it since it gives them a certain level of thrill and excitement. 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. In murder cases, an aggravating factor might include whether the defendant committed the crime in an especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. An error occurred trying to load this video. 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. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. Crime Measurement Programs: History & Nature, The History of Women & Minority Members in the Police Profession, Recruitment of Women & Minorities in Policing. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Police Officers Working Without Uniform Intellectual stimulation One benefit of the detective career is the intellectual stimulation and A lock ( Police officers earn above average wages and receive good retirement benefits and pensions at the end of their career. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_19',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Another upside of becoming a police officer is that you will really learn how to deal with many different kinds of people. Police officers keep our streets safe and resolve conflicts between people on a daily basis. In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. As a police officer, you will also become really good friends with your colleagues over time. Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. Copyright 2023 Thus, make sure that you have a stable personality before deciding to become a police officer. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. 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. 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. Denying reality gets you killed. interacts online and researches product purchases Varied hours. 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. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. 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. Moreover, I also dont think that people want to be supervised and controlled solely by machines. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 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. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. What makes us this way? Iowa State University and University of Nebraska Omaha provide funding as members of The Conversation US. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. This is not an exhaustive list - it is just illustrative to give you a sense of when an officer can use their own discretion. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. - Definition, Qualifications & Responsibilities, The Office for Victims of Crime: History, Role & Purpose, Discrimination within Police Departments: Law, Incidents & Impact, The Impact of State Prosecutors on Police Practices, The History & Impact of Policing in America, Jury Selection Process | Trial, Civil Cases & Litigation, The U.S. Court Systems & History | Overview & Purpose of the Dual-Court System. WebShare Cite. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. In turn, you can improve the quality of life of many people and can help them out in difficult periods of their lives. There is just that much insecurity involved in this job that you will never know when you are called to the next operation. 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. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Chances are that there would be many more robberies and other unpleasant things. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. Police work affords theopportunity for giving back both on duty and off. Police discretion examples include an officer's decision whether or not to draw their weapon, to make an arrest, to issue a traffic ticket, to perform a search on a suspect, or to stop and assist someone in need of help. Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. Official websites use .gov Many people also underestimate the amount of paperwork police officers have to deal with. It enhances the status of the profession. While this can be exhausting and you will see many bad things during your career, you will also get significant action and chances are that you will never get bored as a police officer since so many different things will happen throughout your career. Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. 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. Thus, before deciding for a career as police officer, make sure that you are mentally stable enough to deal with those pictures in your head that will not look pretty most of the time. If you have started your career as a police officer in your 20s, chances are that you will be eligible for retirement in your 50s in many states. Id like to think it made me a better person. Of course, to succeed in this regard, you also have to build a strong network over time. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that it can also help you overcome your fears. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. 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. Our fuses and energy become shortwith sleep deprivation, long shift hours, societal isolation, and continued exposure to negative human elements. Almost 90% said they had come to understand the community, which they believed would serve them in their criminal justice careers. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Some regions have pretty demanding hiring processes and you will often also have to prove your abilities as well as a high fitness level before you an become a police officer. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. 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. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. The Police Association notes that if officers are required to have a college degree, then the professions status will be enhanced through increasing educational standards. 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. Because of the high level of responsibility, police are held to high standards by internal affairs and the general public. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. Let's look at some examples of when a police officer must use his or her discretion. During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). Among others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. Its dreadful, really. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. 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. Discretion in criminal justice is present at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies. 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. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, 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. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. 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. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. Many police officers also suffer from serious mental issues. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. This in turn better enables them to more rigorously and regularly evaluate policies and practices adopted by their departments. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. 60,105 police officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. The strategy also calls for officers to analyze the underlying causes of crime, develop appropriate responses, and assess whether those responses are working. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. 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. 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. You still want to become a police officer? Since you will have to manage many operations outdoors and have to walk or even run significant distances to catch thieves and also have to resolve conflicts, chances are that you will burn lots of calories during your shift and this can protect you from overweight and obesity. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. Now let's look at another example. 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. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. This is not only quite sad, it also makes the job of police officers much more difficult since people often just no longer comply with the commands of policemen. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. Make sure to also get detailed information on the salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. Research has also shown that police officers themselves recognize the value of a college degree. Next: 13 reasons why you love being a cop. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. 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