LEO applicant 'Reality Check" checklist

[Caddis]

[micro911]

I applied 28 years ago, and 579 day to go to retire.

[Watchur6]

Sticky?

[SloChicken]

That tirade above just reads like a ***** list - your own personal one at that.

We all have a job to do dude. Generally they aren't easy. If they were, it wouldn't be work. Being a cop has its benefits too, such as pensions after 20 years (that many don't get).

If you don't like it, either suck it up, or move on.

(helmet going on now)

[RickD427]

That's quite a list of disqualifiers.

I really can't take issue with it. It looks like a lot of thought and experience went into it.

One the other hand, more than 20 years ago, I had the honor of participating in a "Think Tank" that sought to identify the traits of our most successful newly hired deputies so that we could better focus our recruiting efforts. Here's the list of what we thought were the three most important qualifiers for police work:

1) You have to fundamentally like people

2) You need a lot of common sense

3) You need a very long fuse.

[SloChicken]

That's quite a list of disqualifiers.

I really can't take issue with it. It looks like a lot of thought and experience went into it.

One the other hand, more than 20 years ago, I had the honor of participating in a "Think Tank" that sought to identify the traits of our most successful newly hired deputies so that we could better focus our recruiting efforts. Here's the list of what we thought were the three most important qualifiers for police work:

1) You have to fundamentally like people

2) You need a lot of common sense

3) You need a very long fuse.

This ...

[infringed711]

Lol'd at "you think you will get good assignments and be promoted based on merit". So basically what I got out of it it's like being in the military but you need people skills and can quit

[SOAR79]

1) You have to fundamentally like people

2) You need a lot of common sense

3) You need a very long fuse.

nice, short list

[Track Rat]

LEO's crack me up.

[constable]

Lol, almost all of these apply.... (if you fall into a few no big deal) but a pretty applicable list. Very nice.

Did you make it or find it?

[IrishJoe3]

I've never seem Adam 12...should I turn my badge in?

[JohnnyPark805]

I have a real problem with

"You would give a traffic ticket to a fellow police officer"

I'm sorry, you must have a valid reason to be screwing up. having a badge doesn't mean you're allowed to not follow certain laws.

[Caddis]

Constable,

It's homemade based on what I've seen and the numerous "boots" I've had as an FTO and worked with in numerous units in the three agencies I've been with.

Just to clarify and not rattle too many non-LEO's, I said if you have "a lot" of these issues. Having a few can get you in but may cause problems later but you may see the light and adapt and overcome these issues with age. If you do slip through with too many, you will have a short career or an unhappy one.

If you're not an LEO or an LEO not working your career as a "street cop," you may not get all of this.

[JohnnyPark805]

Lol'd at "you think you will get good assignments and be promoted based on merit". So basically what I got out of it it's like being in the military but you need people skills and can quit

sounds a lot like it, oh, and you can be fired.

[infringed711]

sounds a lot like it, oh, and you can be fired.

The military can fire you too, just harder and they ruin the rest of your life