Going into law enforcement

[Hank15]

Hi All,

I am going into law enforcement right now and I would like to seek advice and constructive criticism from current or retired law enforcement professionals in the field right now.

Please leave a message in this thread if you're okay with me PM-ing you.

Thanks in advance sirs/mams!

[trendar5]

(This is for the 23 year-old new guy. Sometimes guys and gals start at 35 and don't need all this)

1. Don't buy a $50,000 truck.

2. Keep your mouth shut and listen.

3. When in FTO, get out of the car and take charge of a situation.

4. Save up for a house or condo, don't buy fancy bling on credit.

5. Don't waste too much money on extra gear. It adds up. The longer you work in the job, the less silly gizmos you buy at the police supply store.

6. Don't try to pick up people that are on the ground who can't or won't get up, just by dead lifting them. You can destroy your back, no matter how strong you are.

[Ron-Solo]

Don't go out with "donut dollies" and keep your sex life differs t from your work life.

If it seems wrong, it usually is, and will probably be illegal too.

You are not superman/woman.

Don't do stupid stuff. Especially with alcohol.

[BoJackUSMC]

Wait for back up
Enroll in 401k, ROTH IRA, or Deferred Comp
Dont buy brand new $50K vehicle
Dont waste money on high speed low drag gears (use whatever gear you have right now)
Be humble to your FTO and your Sergeants and work HARD!!!
Dont ever show up LATE to work!!!!

You are late when you show up to work exactly on time... show up early

[4FTTY]

Eyes and ears open, mouth shut.

[9mmepiphany]

(This is for the 23 year-old new guy. Sometimes guys and gals start at 35 and don't need all this)

1. Don't buy a $50,000 truck.

2. Keep your mouth shut and listen.

3. When in FTO, get out of the car and take charge of a situation.

4. Save up for a house or condo, don't buy fancy bling on credit.

5. Don't waste too much money on extra gear. It adds up. The longer you work in the job, the less silly gizmos you buy at the police supply store.

6. Don't try to pick up people that are on the ground who can't or won't get up, just by dead lifting them. You can destroy your back, no matter how strong you are.

These are what I would have posted and would add maxing out your Deferred Comp before any large purchases.

It will seem silly when you are young, but you'll really be thankful you did when you get about 10 years in.

Just to add to #6. There is almost never a time you need someone up some quickly that you can't wait for help doing it. You're already doing enough damage to your lower back with all the gear you carry on your belt and the horrible seats you have to sit on

[DR296]

Stay focused, listen to your gut, it is okay to feel fear just overcome it. Trust no one. There is no such thing as a fair fight, you must win.
Ask your FTO questions, but dont question your FTO.
Work starts an hour before shift, in order to get the proper mindset.
Money, Women and alcohol can get u into trouble
Never Lie to your fellow Officers or Superiors or while testifying.
Never try to cover up or support any wrong doing

[prc104]

Buy your training officer breakfast/lunch/dinner/coffee.

If your TO takes the lead on something, shut up and follow directions.

[ethan454]

NEVER post anything on the Internet you wouldn't want your chief or a jury to see.

[Notorious]

While on probation:

- keep you head down, don't ask why, just do it
- show up to work early despite what other people say, get ready and be reading the briefing boards before briefing starts, sit attentively, take notes, keep quiet, go to work, be the quiet professional who is always ready to go
- don't ever, ever, ever *****, moan, complain, whine, one iota about having to work late, overtime, weekends, nights, holidays, etc., because your FTO is there with you and he has way more seniority than you and he has earned every right to not hear you, a boot, say a peep about it, if you have anything to say about it this early, you ain't making it for 25 years, we don't work at our own convenience in this job and nobody forced us to take this job
- stay home and do not engage in any extra activities, including going to clubs, bars, movies, anything that might involve alcohol, strange women, strangers, crowds, fights, off duty involvement requiring LE intervention, etc., it will save your career and if you can't stand this little sacrifice, don't be a LEO
- do what your FTO tells you, even if you disagree, as long as it is a lawful and valid order, because he holds the keys to your job, you do not work in a democracy where your voice matters and this ain't no Gen-Y drum circle where you need to give your input to feel like you are heard and valued as a person, if you need that, go work for OWS and get raped
- avoid doing anything, anything remotely controversial or noticeable, like dye your hair, get a noticeable tattoo, wax your eyebrows, tailor your uniform to fit like you are a 2 bit stripper, etc., the key is to skate under the radar the whole time
- Booze, Broads, Betting. AVOID messing with it beyond your control at all costs. Forever. Not just on probation. Don't tempt fate and don't think you are that special that you are the one that can get away with it when every other cop that tried lost his job over it. You are not that special.
- On that note, don't be a hero. Do your job. Do your best. Go home and repeat for the next 25 years. That is your goal. You die playing hero, well... here's a flag and some tears, maybe even a picture in the lobby of your department. Next guy in line to take your job starts right away and the department moves on as always. The department was here before you, it will be here after you. Your goal, from day one, is to make it to retirement, while doing the best you can. Both goals can be accomplished and you don't need to be a worthless slug that hides from calls so you can make it to retirement, you can still do a good job and stay alive barring a Rolo Tomasi, but you don't have to be a reckless hero who has to try killing himself on every call either, because when you get yourself killed due to stupidity or recklessness, you might not always succeed, but you will very likely get other cops hurt or killed and that is inexcusable.

If I sound harsh, I am. That's because I had enough years and seen enough crap, and I have been a FTO and I have seen enough new boots come through, some good, some worse than criminals I have arrested. You start losing patience with this. This badge used to mean something. It was fought for and earned. Now some think they are entitled to a badge just because they want it and they are some special minority group so we have to lower our standards to fit them when it should be one standard for everyone or they are too good for the badge but took it because it paid well and had good benefits in this sucky job market. Those people need to get out and make room for those who want it. You know you want it, you can't fake it. It's in you, or it's not. We can see it too.

That being said, good luck and remember my words.

[Hank15]

Thank you sirs!

All the information you guys provided are along the lines of what the officers I've shot IDPA with have told me. It looks like the protocol is standard across various agencies and departments.

I have some followup questions to some of the information provided in this thread.

If any of you gentleman prefer to talk it over PM, please let me know. Otherwise I will ask them on this thread shortly.

[Andykev]

Every day is a new day, your job interview. Keep your mouth shut. Keep your private life private. Say nothing stupid or critical of others or the agency. The guy sitting across from you at line up will be the Deputy Chief someday. They will remember that one time you said something stupid, or screwed up. It takes 100 hero points to fix one "aw SH**". Always, ALWAYS work. Be there early, and don't cry about missing dinner, being forced over, or going to court on your day off for the third week in a row. If you really feel bad about that, become a fireman instead.

[BoJackUSMC]

oh yeah... whatever happens in the briefing room, it stays inside lol...
Just remember.. everyone goes through it, not just you.

[Notorious]

oh yeah... whatever happens in the briefing room, it stays inside lol...
Just remember.. everyone goes through it, not just you.

Whatever happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room.

Whatever happens in your private life, is nobody else's business, unless you want it to be, and you don't want it to be. Trust me.

Everyone goes through it. Those who are still there survived it one way or another. You aren't special.

You know what happens to cops who think they are special?

They either are greeting you at Wal-Mart, behind bars, or have their faces all over the news, and not for anything good either.

[retired]

And if you do get hired and you do follow the good advice given by others, one day you will be able to go by the same name I do here.

Good luck.