Should I become an LEO?

[Rocksteady1]

Which departments in Bay Area would anyone recommend for the reserve program? Do you get paid to be reserve? I'd like to try it out. It makes sense to try it first. I appreciate everyone's opinion on here. Thank you.

[TripleThreat]

Most every Police Dept. has a Reserve devision. some get paid, I think Los Gatos PD is one of them. Some give you a lot of flexibility on what you can do, such as the Santa Clara Sheriff's office (S.O.) and let go solo all the time. Some allow you to work pay-jobs which is where the real money is at, but many are pure volunteer positions. Some departments treat their Reserve's like dog ****, so be careful. Do a ride-a-long where you're interested and talk to those Reserves' they'll tell you what's up. Some give their Reserves CCW's and some don't. Some departments make you work with a regular officer each and every time, so lot's to consider.

Reserves don't work for the money, but for experience and the love of the job, forget the money part for now and find a department that treats their Reserves good and provides top notch training. Personally, I like how the S.O. treats their Reserves' it's one of the best programs that I know of and you get to work in the entire County and not you're not stuck in some tiny area. Personally, I say avoid small jurisdictions at all cost.

But first you must complete the Academy prior to applying, so after that hurdle, which could take up to a year, you'll be able to talk to lots of folks and find out what and where is the best fit for you. The good news is, once you have your P.O.S.T Certificate (Police Officers Standards & Training), you can lateral over full time and not have to go to the Academy again.

PM if you have any more specific questions.

Good luck,

Triple

[glennbtw]

I had a some what different approach to the job. I was in my early twenties and having second thoughts about my chosen career path (aviation oriented). A local agency was running a add on the radio, looking for entry level applicants. I didn't really know any officers, never took any AJ classes, no ridealongs, and will be the first to admit I didn't really have a clue what I was getting into.

But I thought "what the hell" and applied. Standing outside city hall waiting for the first written to start I started to talk to some of the other guys waiting to test. A lot of them were AJ majors or had some other type of LE background and I began to think "I don't have a snowball's chance in hell" at this job. The city was running a pretty quick testing process and had the results posted in the afternoon. The AJ guys I had talked to flunked, I passed.

In the end I scored well and was hired.

When I saw this could work out I got pretty excited. I gave it 100% and made it through the academy, FTO, and probation with no real problems.

38 years and two agencies later I retired. I have no regrets, it was a great adventure. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

If you decide it's for you, you must give it your all, nothing half assed. Your family must be supportive as they will have to deal with the working conditions almost as much as you.

[TripleThreat]

OP,

Lots of good information here, coming from officers with a lot of experience. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Triple

[Full Clip]

Sorry, but that's not going to happen for a long time. Look at the fiscal projection for 2013. The economy is getting worse. Cali taxes are rising, Fed taxes are rising.... We're screwed. I know, "doom and gloom" here, but one can see it as fact. Didn't Oakland PD not fill like 34 police officer positions recently? San Bernardino city is going bankrupt and they haven't paid into CalPERS for a while.........

Surrrrrrre, the economy is improving. Police departments will always hire here and there, but it's not going to be like it was in the 90's. No more mass hiring.

This. Unless you have a burning passion for it, don't move into a job market where there are no jobs and plenty of experienced people waiting in he wings.

[Raider510]

Which departments in Bay Area would anyone recommend for the reserve program? Do you get paid to be reserve? I'd like to try it out. It makes sense to try it first. I appreciate everyone's opinion on here. Thank you.

Palo Alto has a paid reserve program.

[TrailerparkTrash]

I respectfully disagree with the thing about comparing a reserve to a full time "regular" officer/deputy. It's NOT the same thing. A book can be written on the differences between the two, but it's too long to mention here. Also, many reserves tend to get offended when a regular happens to mention that fact in a civil manner.

Again, it's not the same thing. Being a cop day in and day out full time is a life commitment as someone else already pointed out. I come from a family (immediate family) of both full time and reserve cops. There is a total difference between the two classes.

Nothing wrong with the reserve route, but it never has been, nor never will be a "full time" life of a cop. A reserve can never understand that the ups and downs of being a cop on duty 40+ hours per week for 10, 20, 30+ years etc.... really puts a damper on ones "soul" (for lack of better words). So, to the OP, my point is just remember that the two positions might wear the same uniform, but it's not the same thing. Again, a book can be written about explaining the difference and this format isn't long enough.

[TripleThreat]

Sometimes a taste is all you need

I respectfully disagree with the thing about comparing a reserve to a full time "regular" officer/deputy. It's NOT the same thing.

I pretty much tried to convey that message with most of the post I've written here. But I can't help but think that having a Father that was full time for many, paired with being a Reserve Officer for over 17 years myself, gives me "some" insight to what it must being a full time officer.

I've working as a Reserve 5 days this week alone, one of my assignments is considered the most violent (busy, pain the as is a better choice) assignments in our City; currently working there twice a week until who knows when. I feel I can stretch and imagine what it could be like to be a full time officer and admittedly partly because of that, I'm glad I'm not.

I'll add this: About 10 year ago, I had went on patrol twice in one week, both of those days I had handled a dead body call, both bodies were in the restrooms of businesses that were open and had lots of customers coming and going during my investigation. I was glad I didn't have to come back the next day, very glad.

Triple

[Mikelarry]

Its a job

[Armed24-7]

Here is what your LE career would be like:

30% Paperwork
30% Responding to "routine" calls for service (nothing is really routine)
20% Trying to catch bad guys
5% Actually taking a bad guy to jail
5% Doing the plethora of paperwork just to book the bad guy
5% Going to Court
2% Laughs over a cup of coffee with your partners
2% Miscellaneous stuff
1% sheer terror

Enjoy


All things considered, I have had a good time. You need to have good common sense, thick skin, a good sense of humor, and calmness when Pooh hits the fan. LEO's, especially in busy areas see a LOT of horrible things. They also see a lot of funny things. Although there are some people out there who show their appreciation for the what we do, don't expect to see that appreciation, except on rare occasions. What keeps you going, is the fact you know you are doing the right thing and simply by doing your job, you are making the streets safe enough so people can sleep comfortably in their beds and so they can live their life. There will be let-downs and disappointments in your career, but also real highs.

Although most of your time will be taken doing a lot of "routine" stuff and dealing with thugs, there will be times when you are able to do something extraordinary that will have a positive impact on someone's life. It only takes ONE time to save a life to realize that if it weren't for you, that person would have died. For me, it was doing CPR on a drowned toddler who survived and is now living a normal life. When the call was being dispatched, other units were over 4 minutes away. I was 1 minute away. I did CPR for 2-3 minutes before paramedics arrived. That made my career. Scenarios like that are rare for LEO's.

One of the most important things; Realize that NOTHING is routine. I know I threw that word around a bit, but anything can happen and it sometimes will.

[Armed24-7]

I respectfully disagree with the thing about comparing a reserve to a full time "regular" officer/deputy. It's NOT the same thing. A book can be written on the differences between the two, but it's too long to mention here. Also, many reserves tend to get offended when a regular happens to mention that fact in a civil manner.

Again, it's not the same thing. Being a cop day in and day out full time is a life commitment as someone else already pointed out. I come from a family (immediate family) of both full time and reserve cops. There is a total difference between the two classes.

Nothing wrong with the reserve route, but it never has been, nor never will be a "full time" life of a cop. A reserve can never understand that the ups and downs of being a cop on duty 40+ hours per week for 10, 20, 30+ years etc.... really puts a damper on ones "soul" (for lack of better words). So, to the OP, my point is just remember that the two positions might wear the same uniform, but it's not the same thing. Again, a book can be written about explaining the difference and this format isn't long enough.

On LASD, reserves are appreciated. I respect them for volunteering their time to the cause. But I have to agree with the above comments. Reserves do not get nearly the training we do. On LASD, reserves are generally sheltered. The dispatchers are careful not to give them many calls and they are not dispatched to handle high risk calls. However, reserves are allowed to roll to our high risk calls to help out.

I know a couple of reserves that can handle quite a bit and have good heads on their shoulders. But most reserves have NO business working patrol. I have seen them do some pretty scary stuff.

[Armed24-7]

I pretty much tried to convey that message with most of the post I've written here. But I can't help but think that having a Father that was full time for many, paired with being a Reserve Officer for over 17 years myself, gives me "some" insight to what it must being a full time officer.

I've working as a Reserve 5 days this week alone, one of my assignments is consider the most violent assignment in our City; currently working there twice a week until who knows when. I think I can stretch and imagine what it could be like to be a full time officer locally and admitted partly because of that, I'm glad I'm not.

I'll add this: About 10 year ago, I had went on patrol twice in one week, both of those days I had handled a dead body call, both bodies were in the restrooms of businesses that were open and had lots of customers coming and going during my investigation. I was glad I didn't have to come back the next day, very glad.

Triple

Wow....5 days a week? How do you find time to do your regular job? Also, I would like to know which department allows a reserve to handle a "dead body" call. Reserves do not get the training and education necessary to handle such a thing. Although I could see you assisting another officer with a dead body call.

[TripleThreat]

Wow....5 days a week? How do you find time to do your regular job?

Don't recall saying I had a regular job? I retired 3 years ago this February, from my regular job. Just got another call this morning, I'm working 6 days this week. But the pay job rate is great, so I'm not complaining.

Also, I would like to know which department allows a reserve to handle a "dead body" call. Reserves do not get the training and education necessary to handle such a thing. Although I could see you assisting another officer with a dead body call.

I can't speak for your department, I can tell you our department is vastly different form the examples you've given, we are trained to the level of a solo beat officers (that's just the culture of our Department) and we handle all the calls in our beat, there are no different patrols or beats for Reserves Officers, and as such, we are expected to perform as regulars while on duty or at least be able to figure out we needs to done, and if in doubt we can alway ask another Officer. At our Department we have the same training as the Regulars, plus we do our own in-house training that is specific to the Reserves. Seems there are varying differences between Reserve programs. As far as the dead bodies, they weren't murders, just bodies (both overdoses), but had it been a murder, I would taken the initial report and then the Homicide Unit would take it from there. It's really no different than any other report.

Worth noting, in no shape or form do I think I am as qualified or knowledgeable as most of our regulars Officers, I've been handling solo beats for 17 years and have yet have an issue as it relates to being a Reserve of being under trained. Each time I go out I learn something new. I try to use a level head, I have lots of examples to follow in my reports logs and I continue to enjoy learning (sharping the sword) .

Triple

[Dirty dirt]

I have a pretty good job/career in banking but its not something I'm truly excited about. I'm interest in law enforcement because I feel there would be more excitement. What am I in for? I live north of San Fran and was thinking about CHP or SFPD. About me: no college degree, 33 years old, married no kids. Thoughts, critiques, what have you?

I think the people you should be asking this question are,
1 you- do you like working graveyard, weekends and holidays.
2 your wife- is she good with the above.
3 your family and friends- should have a gauge on whether your aptitude, sand in you craw and descision making abilities are.

[NorCalXJ]

If you really want to be a cop, you wouldn't ask this question. You would go ahead and do whatever it takes. Police work is very hard work and isn't something you wake up the next day and decide to do.