Would you......???

[1029FD]

Don't do it. I graduated the academy at 36 and I'm just staying long enough (2 years to go) to get my medical for me and the Mrs. And believe you me, after all the physical stuff I got into I'm going to need that coveted benefit.

Ask yourself is it worth for you (and your family) if you got seriously injured on duty at your age. If you still want to get a taste, go through the Reserve academy and keep your day job. At LASD you donate 20 hours a month, but any other time you work you'll get paid.

[odysseus]

It is my personal opinion, that we all can benefit more from having people with longer life experience (and hopefully wisdom) out on the streets with badges, as the mix seems these days on average to be pretty young. In 2019 being 50 years old is not what being 50 in 1990 was about.

One thing to consider is when retirement will be. If you wouldn't be on long enough to be vested in whatever agencies pension and medical programs for retirees, that's a significant factor.

That's one of the biggest factors - these positions are mostly weighted about serving time in for the pension benefits. If those numbers don't work for you with the risk you would undertake and you giving up what you have now, especially with this kind of position, that's a real big consideration.

[micro911]

I know there was a 55? year old female recruit in the academy. She kicked many young ones' butt. There is no age limit that I know now. If one can make it, all the power to the person.

[benjamin101677]

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I don't see the age as a big issue if you really wanted it. But you seem pretty lukewarm about it, and the academy will be a much harder slog if you don’t really want to be there. The older guys I went through with all did well, but they had the fire in their belly to compensate for any physical disadvantages.

If you want it, do it. But it is a commitment and it just gets tougher when you leave the training environment and start doing actual LEO work. I wouldnt have any expectation of landing an admin spot of any sort until you make your bones in the trenches first.

[bigmike82]

Ask yourself this; can you live with the thought that you passed up a chance
to do your best for someone on their worst day..?

if the thought really doesn't register to you- then you're probably good where you are in life.

..but if the thought of the above makes you stop and think of your life so far, and how you can add to it?, Then take that step fwd and find out what difference you can make in someone's life.

I just need to bump this.

[CBR_rider]

No, don’t do it. If it isn’t/hasn’t been a burning desire of yours it ain’t worth the risk, heartache, stress, and likely injuries.

[ls2monaro]

My opinion as someone who has the pleasure of being a full time training officer on patrol with this wonderful millenial generation:

Academy - sure no big deal if you're in shape

Jail - sure easy money but gets boring after a while

Patrol - absolutely not. I've had a few 50+ year old trainees and while they were good people, they quickly realized running around chasing and fighting young criminals around was not for them.

So they either stayed and became a slug on patrol (lazy), or went back to work at the jail.

Obviously I can't speak for everyone but looking at myself I'd say 100% I couldn't start this job in my 50s.

[jmatt511]

Though I miss it every single day, patrol is a young man's game. Sorry.

[tom2]

lots of good input - ultimately depends on you and your goals. In general, it’ll take 5 years to vest in the retirement system

Perhaps help the department as a volunteer, search and rescue

To be a reserve nowadays, will basically require a full academy (full time academy or modular).

[TrailerparkTrash]

Many here keep suggesting that age 50 is really “nothing” for academy PT. While that may be true, in reality though the academy is a mere grain of salt for what’s really to come with the job AFTER the academy. It definitely is a young man’s/woman’s job and when starting out new.

I’d say you’re nuts and if not already divorced from starting a new career like being a cop, you’ll soon end up divorced.

At 50, everyone’s mental acuteness is diminished big time. The job is though and mentally demanding these days, and now more than ever. And you’re just starting out trying to learn all the inns and outs with being in LE at that age?

Plus, your mindset says the job isn’t for you. If one has to hymn and haw and contemplate if the job is for them, then it probably isn’t. That bus for this type of career left you years ago buddy.

[DCH]

I just need to bump this.

Hooah ABN..

I'm seeing too many timid souls, and not enough "**** It, let's see what happens.."

[Che762x39]

Would you consider becoming a deputy sheriff at the age of 50?

Well will it bother you if you got beat up by a 6-3 300# 25 year old thug? Or sucker punch by a 12 year old girl?

For Civil Service why not go to the Postal Service?

[cannon]

I would not do it if I could not vest into retirement and medical.

[RedVines]

Don't do it.

I don't think age is the limiting factor for you. LE doesn't seem to a lifelong dream or anything for you; you sound more curious than anything since your buddy mentioned it. If you're not properly motivated the bull**** in LE will consume you very quickly. Even the "wanted to be a cop my whole life" guys turn very bitter after a while. Looking at your post you seem like a nice enough guy with a fulfilling life. Keep it that way and stay out of LE.

I assume your buddy has time in since he's in an admin position now (not a prerequisite at my agency). He's probably been off the streets for a while and doesn't fully realize how much patrol has changed even in the last five years. Patrol based police work has been dying a slow avocado toast fueled instagram broadcasted death and it will never come back. It is NOT what it used to be. I cannot stress this point enough.

Oh, and you're right. being on someone else's schedule sucks. I cannot even imaging going to midnights with rotating days off after being self employed for 25 years. I just landed in a specialized unit with a "normal" schedule and realized how much 12 years of a patrol schedule has drained me.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your future endeavors.