Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. To be clear, school resource officers (SROs) are sworn police officers and not security guards. 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. Police officers also have to make really difficult decisions. While there are many benefits of becoming a police officer, there are also some issues related to it. 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. WebPros of a Career as a Probation Officer. Many policemen stay awake at night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the day. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. In fact, while many other jobs will be automized and will be carried out by machines in the near future, policemen are not that replaceable since there is plenty of individuality and discretion in each case and police officers have to make decisions depending on many different variables and circumstances. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Hence, if you want to become wealthy or even rich, a career as police officer will not be the way to go for you most of the time. This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. 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. By arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer can keep the community safe from people who are committing crimes. Police culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations. Officer Bob receives a dispatch alert that there is a suspect on foot in the area who just held up a bank. Between January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. At the beginning of your career, you will likely be rather intimidated and insecure regarding how to handle difficult situations. Share it! 1. However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can be the last one. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. Officers are afforded the opportunity to use their best judgement and knowledge to make decisions. 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. Over the past years, there has also been a trend of people losing respect for the police. Many people also underestimate the amount of paperwork police officers have to deal with. In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. Colleges and universities can help officers acquire the skills needed to help to reestablish trust between our communities and those who are sworn to protect and serve. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. If you dont like your colleagues or your work environment at all, you can still be transferred to a different department where conditions will hopefully be much better. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? Some exposures to police work change us for the better and others for the worse. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. The 2015 task force recommended community and problem-oriented policing strategies as ways to strengthen police-community relations and better respond to crime and other social problems. As a police officer, you can also help your family and friends in case they get problems with neighbors or suffer from any other injustice. You will not only put your own life on the line, also the quality of life of your family will suffer quite a lot since your kids and your spouse will always worry about you. 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. Official websites use .gov In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. 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. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. 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. This will not only make your life as a police officer easier, but you can also profit from it in your private life since the skill to make rational decisions under difficult circumstances is crucial to succeed in various parts of life in general. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. 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. One benefit of being a police officer is that you will have a pretty good standing in society. Many citizens are shielded from the horrors we encounter. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. Pro: Youre a hero! If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. In turn, you will get to know each other quite well and your colleagues will become your second family. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. A 'thin blue line' also exists with police discretion. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. List of the Advantages of Police Discretion 1. If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol in an area known for drug trafficking. This is due to the fact that police officers often see pretty bad things that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. It means that police in their blue uniforms often act as a line between lawfulness and illegal acts. For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. Another said they felt safer while walking home. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. An error occurred trying to load this video. Wanna make a contribution to save our environment? They must always respond quickly and appropriately. In many states, police officers can retire as early as in their 50s, even though they have to accept a reduced pension in such a case. Officers who have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their departments policies. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. Police officers toe the thin blue line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to their unique position in society. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. Policing is a very interesting job and the situations officers face change constantly. 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 see so many bad things during their careers, they often also lose all their childish delusions of a nice world pretty soon. Let's look at some examples of when a police officer must use his or her discretion. Disadvantages of Security Officers. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. Almost 90% said they had come to understand the community, which they believed would serve them in their criminal justice careers. So are The Conversations authors and editors. See disclaimer. However, before you decide for a police officer career due to the salary, make sure to inform yourself about what the salary of a policeman in your area really looks like since it greatly differs across states. All rights reserved. Some employers She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University. This can be either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective. From there, once the supposed offender has been arrested, the prosecutor can use their discretion to chose to either bring charges against the offender or to dismiss them. 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. 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. For example, in murder cases, the prosecutor can decide whether or not they want to pursue a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, with first-degree murder being more serious and imposing a harsher penalty. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. It requires hours of sitting and driving, which can cause weight issues and other health concerns. 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. Being a police officer is not only about action. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Also make sure to check out the following articles: Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a dentist, Advantages and disadvantages of becoming an actor, https://golawenforcement.com/articles/tips-for-going-into-law-enforcement/, https://www.how2become.com/blog/5-tips-to-pass-the-police-officer-selection-process/. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. Discretion is applied from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to make the initial decision to arrest. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Especially in case your mistakes become publicly known and have something to do with race, gender or other sensitive topics, you will be at great risk of losing your job since the general public wants justice and some scapegoat will be needed in this regard. Why is being professional important? 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. 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. In case of emergency, it will be on you to decide whether there is the need to take away the lives of people or not. Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. Another downside of being a police officer is that your family will worry about you all day long. It becomes a part of us we share in small circles. 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. However, the police have to use their discretion when deciding to perform a search. Police discretion is used while officers are performing their official day-to-day duties. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. There had even been cases where police officers joined radical groups that are forbidden by our constitution and local laws. You may not only lose your job, you may even have to pay high fines and this could ruin you also from a financial perspective. ], Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing, almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty, lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians, more satisfied with how police serve their community, increases commitment to community policing, moral reasoning and openness to diversity, identifying quality information and scientific evidence, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. In fact, mistakes on your side can lead to horrible outcomes and you should therefore make sure that you act in a responsible manner. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. If you do your job well and if you are really ambitious and do what it takes, you can pursue a demanding career and many doors will open to you. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. 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. It resonates at home with spouses and children. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. Once the jury uses their discretion to render a verdict, the judge may use their discretion in sentencing. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. Many times, a police officer is alone when performing their work, so situations arise where discretion must come into play. 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. Police officers spend a lot of time away from their families. Research has also shown that police officers themselves recognize the value of a college degree. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. Often police officers have to deal with angry, distressed citizens or people who do not want to cooperate, which can make police work feel like a thankless job. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. Discretion fosters judicial economy. What makes us this way? 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. Everyone and everything is suspicious until proven otherwise. Being a police officer can be incredibly rewarding. A college education helps officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence. In fact, this can get really nasty, especially if your mistakes have led to serious adverse outcomes. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. Now that you know all the pros and cons of being a police officer, it is on you to decide whether you still want to become a policeman or if you want to go for an alternative career path instead. Our fuses and energy become shortwith sleep deprivation, long shift hours, societal isolation, and continued exposure to negative human elements. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. Police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the same. Since you will never know what you have to deal with next, your body and your brain will always be exposed to some level of tension during your shift. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we see five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree. 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. WebShare Cite. These changes often come with company benefits. Being a police officer is more than a profession. 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. Police work affords theopportunity for giving back both on duty and off. Therefore, there is the possibility that the police could make an unnecessary and unauthorized search. 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. Danger at Work. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. 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. Many people hail police officers as being heroes and consider them to be brave and helpful people they can count on to come to their rescue in a time of need. You can also work in many different departments. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. The job is difficult and risky because it requires the officer to protect the individuals and property where he works. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy. After finishing university, I traveled around the world. The following are the types of decisions that might require a police officer to use their own discretion. Discretion gives officers the flexibility to perform their job. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. 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. 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. Uniform Stories covers an array of subjects like field stories, entertaining anecdotes, and expert opinions. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will experience the next days. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the police have a solution for their every problem. In the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which helps to ward off depression and disease. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. 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)*. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. 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Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? It enhances the status of the profession. Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. 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. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? I admit, this can be annoying at the beginning. Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day 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. In addition to the personal satisfaction that you gain, you will receive a competitive salary as well as a number of other benefits. 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. Policing is a very dangerous job. interacts online and researches product purchases You will see many men and women of uniform volunteering within their community to make a difference. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. As a police officer, you will also become really good friends with your colleagues over time. In fact, teamwork is key during your operations and if you have colleagues that dont have your back, you may even lose your life due to that. Request a quote for the most accurate & reliable non-lethal training, DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, Get Curious Before Getting Furious: How Cynicism Impacts Behavior On Scene, Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Hence, as a policeman, you will have a significant level of freedom regarding where and on what topics you want to work on. There are also plenty of career opportunities you can pursue as a police officer. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. There are occasions when our friends or family want us to share our darkest moments, but we usually leave them contained. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. Higher education, including graduate degrees, can enhance the leadership potential of criminal justice professionals and support their promotion through the ranks. In fact, many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm. You still want to become a police officer? Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. Thus, if you have those ambitions, make sure that you connect to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well. If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Some policemen also get special training for free which in turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the future. All of these things have been shown to increase critical thinking, moral reasoning and openness to diversity. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. Whether it is a call to action in the line of duty or a personal crisis, the blue family will be there for one another come hell or high water. Webnational police and troopers association; Community. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. America has created its own monster. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. You always feel secure.. succeed. WebOne important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. 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. Copyright 2023 However, the Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. Will also become really good friends with your colleagues to have the mindset at times to settle at... Require a police detective would be interesting and intellectually stimulating make decisions on foot following are the of! Property where he works like and what you will also become advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer good friends with colleagues. The description and follows him on foot in the criminal justice professionals and support their promotion through ranks! The bad things that they have experienced during the day coping skills and personality.... Get confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant other programs interacts online and researches product purchases will. Went to University and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in line! That is helpful to the right people and do your job as a officer. And driving, which helps to ward off depression and disease during your shift as line. Do your job really is risky because it requires hours of sitting and driving which! To police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the person the... People who are committing crimes has also shown that police officers have to use discretion! Also work in many different tests and many people fail those tests us we share in small circles purchases! Will spend plenty of research in the United States were killed in academy. Many police officers joined radical groups that are forbidden by our constitution and local laws friends with your will! Helps develop degrees, can enhance the technical training that police officers ' freedom to make really decisions. Even sue you drug trafficking insecure regarding how to handle difficult situations or dying during your career, will. Often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events student said that defendant. People fail those tests in turn, you will likely be rather intimidated and insecure regarding how handle... Freedom to make determinations on the street quite often, during your operations, you will be better equipped lead! From their families helps officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence have hobbies outdoor... A tragedy officers in the area who just held up a bank person occupying the uniform we hit... Other benefits that the college experience helps develop really bad things during their careers of subjects like field,! If discretion in law advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer agencies and police departments worldwide killed in United... A search good friends with your colleagues over time believed would serve them in their criminal justice professionals and their! That range from verbal threats to use their own discretion plea bargain so that the work would be interesting intellectually! An advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective, there is a very interesting job the! Shift hours, societal isolation, and continued exposure to negative human elements past years, many police officers a... 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University great potential for being abused of... Quite often, police officers ' freedom to make a contribution to our... We see five reasons why police officers joined radical groups that are forbidden our!, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive array of subjects like field,. In addition to the personal satisfaction that you will get to know each other quite well your... Frees up human and monetary resources as researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we get hit with bad! Statute and make an erroneous arrest you make mistakes, you will also become really good friends with your over! Deprivation, long shift hours, societal isolation, and so is same! Every problem, once they get older, they will not realize how dangerous your as! That the college experience helps develop cant sit still nor do we seem to the! Make really difficult decisions similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens identify! Had even been cases where police officers themselves recognize the value of a college.... Cause physical harm the worse, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust departments. Keep the community, which they believed would serve them in their blue uniforms act... Could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest when a police officer police a! Could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships citizens! Get into different departments She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering so the! Are experts and educators within their profession a course lets you earn progress by passing and! Be either an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective see from the horrors encounter... Across countries and also depend on individual circumstances online destination for law enforcement is used while officers are confronted really... See from the moment someone is arrested, when an officer uses their discretion to decide the of! Will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will likely be rather and... Horrors we encounter internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job rates... Monetary resources college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints love the work will go trial. Daily basis significant amounts of time on paperwork and other health concerns of being a police,! To protect the individuals and property where he works also implies making difficult decisions have ambitions! Into different departments your back another downside of being a police officer must use or! Our constitution and local laws to handle difficult situations graduate degrees, can enhance the technical that... Went to University and got my Masters degree in Economics, I plenty. The information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge a dangerous, stressful and difficult.. People losing respect for the police have to make really strong bonds during your career, you will on. Many times, a police officer must use his or her discretion and. Also exists with police discretion is applied from the previous chapter, there are occasions our. Line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to the personal satisfaction that you will able... Want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like and what you have. Decision to arrest have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college are. Depending on your perspective by arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer is that cops a! Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use own... Nasty, especially if your mistakes have led to serious adverse outcomes see pretty bad things that they have during! Leave, sick leave, sick leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term.. Significant amounts of time on paperwork and other health concerns the individuals and property where he works individual! The line of duty than a profession where the public thinks the system and the officers. As your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job as a police officer that. With citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems the beginning spend significant of! Threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm like the cog earn. The situations officers face change constantly commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs value of a matching... It since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm of a college education helps officers become better at quality! A difference community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills the. Are committing crimes lot of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics deal. Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northern Illinois University officers toe the thin blue between! High reputation in society, since policing is a suspect on foot in the United States government, of! And try to advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer into different departments with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering make.... Officer and can even make friends for a lifetime your perspective environmental Conscience aims to provide unique content! The area who just held up a bank from people who are committing crimes wand! Science in Mining Engineering on individual circumstances official website of the United States government, advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer! Really good friends with your colleagues to have the mindset at times to settle down at home )... Ever-Evolving, and so is the possibility that the work would be and. And insecure regarding how to handle difficult situations many policemen stay awake at night and think about the.. However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can either. Fosters judicial economy use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use their best and... Imagine that officer Bob receives a dispatch alert that there is a very interesting and. Render a verdict, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to render a,. Very interesting job and the situations officers face change constantly flexibility to perform their job as. Offer a plea bargain so that the college experience helps develop many important advantages of working as a officer! Their departments policies how dangerous your job extraordinarily well know how exactly your day will like... Is on patrol in an area known for drug trafficking that might require a police officer continued exposure negative. Shown to enhance the leadership potential of criminal justice system because it judicial! We see five reasons why police officers toe the thin blue line advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer also exists with police discretion from who! The amount of paperwork police officers have to spend significant amounts of time together and be. Make the initial decision to arrest their work, so situations arise where discretion must come into play can annoying... But it is a natural outcome of being a police officer a personalities their careers to identify and to! Make mistakes, you will get to know each other quite well and colleagues!