Being a police officer is more than a profession. However, the if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_16',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others. Always remember that one wrong decision in this regard can also take away your own life. It becomes a part of us we share in small circles. In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to protect the people they already know from early childhood. 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. Officers who have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their departments policies. Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. While this can be exhausting and you will see many bad things during your career, you will also get significant action and chances are that you will never get bored as a police officer since so many different things will happen throughout your career. Police officers also have to make really difficult decisions. Consequently, apart from your decent salary, you will also be able to save money on many occasions in your daily life, which makes becoming a police officer even more attractive from a financial standpoint. Consequently, those wrong decisions can really break you in the long run since you will know that a better choice of you could have saved lives and many police officers simply cant deal with those things in an emotionally proper manner. In turn, you will become much more relaxed. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. Each specialized duty boasts about its place in the organization and those assigned sometimes try to outshine the others in performance while respecting the independent functions. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. 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)*. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. It is often very exciting and spotted with adrenaline dumps. Cons of a Career as a Probation Officer. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. Policing is a very interesting job and the situations officers face change constantly. Police officers keep our streets safe and resolve conflicts between people on a daily basis. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. During your career, you will often have the chance to support people who urgently need it. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. Bringing about meaningful police reform requires transformational leadership. Hence, as a policeman, you will have a significant level of freedom regarding where and on what topics you want to work on. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. Official websites use .gov Copyright 2023 Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. It can be a great alternative to a boring desk job. Advantages of Being a Police OfficerPolice officers enjoy a high reputation in society. Cops never get bored. Police officers have a high fitness level. Many police officers have an inner motivation to do good for others. Your colleagues will become your second family. Police officers can earn a decent salary. Good future job prospects. You learn how to deal with people. More items Cops are not immune to the changes in the divisiveness of society and the emotional drama associated with it. Moreover, I also dont think that people want to be supervised and controlled solely by machines. It requires hours of sitting and driving, which can cause weight issues and other health concerns. Most young people have a relatively nave view of how the job as a policeman really looks like and most hopes and wishes will fade soon. 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. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. 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. After finishing university, I traveled around the world. Id like to think it made me a better person. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Law enforcement is ever-evolving, and so is the person occupying the uniform. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. 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. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Since their job can be quite dangerous, many police officers also develop significant paranoia over time. Less likely to use violence. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. Create your account. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. - Definition, Qualifications & Responsibilities, The Office for Victims of Crime: History, Role & Purpose, Discrimination within Police Departments: Law, Incidents & Impact, The Impact of State Prosecutors on Police Practices, The History & Impact of Policing in America, Jury Selection Process | Trial, Civil Cases & Litigation, The U.S. Court Systems & History | Overview & Purpose of the Dual-Court System. The suspect obeys, and Officer Bob makes an arrest. Through regular meetings with the offenders and sometimes with their families, a probation officer monitors these individuals and makes sure they are The principle of police Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. In fact, there is plenty of frustration around in the cop world since many people just had different plans for their lives and thought that being a cop would just be different. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. In fact, being a policeman is not safe at all and you should be aware of the fact that you put your life at risk every time you leave your home. What are five negative and five positive personality adaptations cops undergo after experience on the job? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-3','ezslot_21',193,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-3-0'); Networks are crucial for promotions, not only as a police officer but also in the corporate world. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. 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. Let's look at some examples of when a police officer must use his or her discretion. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. You can get our highlights each weekend. Police officers get to see the impact their profession makes and feel as though they are making a difference, such as when they rescue someone. Good since not many people want to do this job. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. Many police officers just have a hard time dealing with this fact and try to suppress it. The order did not mention the need for police to get a college education, even though higher education was identified in the 2015 Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing as one of six effective ways to reduce crime and build better relations between police and the communities they serve. All rights reserved. Thus, make sure that you have a stable personality before deciding to become a police officer. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you It is awkward at times, but we think we are funny. and LL.M. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol in an area known for drug trafficking. Gaylene Armstrong receives funding from various state and federal granting agencies in support of criminal justice research. Here are eight advantages of being a security officer: 1. 551 lessons. 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. There had even been cases where police officers joined radical groups that are forbidden by our constitution and local laws. America has created its own monster. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. 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. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Copyright 2023 Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. 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. This is quite natural since we all have a strong emotional connection to the places we grew up in and want to keep those places as nice as possible. Many studies have shown that we are happier if we do good for others compared to just living in a purely egoistic manner. Officer Bob sees the person assault a passerby and must now use his discretion to decide whether he will intervene and possibly draw and use his weapon, or call for back up assistance. Being a police officer also means that you will face a high level of insecurity regarding how your day will really look like. However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. 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. 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. Being a police officer assures financial security. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. One benefit of being a police officer is that you will have a pretty good standing in society. Following several deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on June 16 that calls for increased training and credentialing to reduce the use of excessive force by police. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. Denying reality gets you killed. If the police had to consult with other officers or go to a judge every time they needed to make an on-the-job determination, this would result in a drain not only on the economy but also on the overall law enforcement and judicial systems. It permits the police to make quick and appropriate determinations under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement and judicial resources. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. All rights reserved. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Hence, make sure that your career is worth all this emotional stress to you before becoming a police officer. In fact, policemen are at much higher risk to suffer from mental problems since they have to deal with so many conflicts and also see so many bad things during their active careers. As a police officer, you have the power to significantly improve the conditions in your neighborhood since you can send people who behave in a criminal manner to court and many of them will end up in jail and can no longer have a bad influence on your neighborhood. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. In turn, many officers are simply not able to process those experiences in an emotionally healthy manner and will suffer from mental problems like depression later on in their lives. However, this fear will go away over time once you get more experience and learning to deal with this kind of fear is quite important. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues. There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. Hence, your life will depend on the reliability of your colleagues and if you dont want to put your life into the hands of others, chances are that becoming a police officer will not be the right way to go for you. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-banner-1','ezslot_15',144,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-banner-1-0');Another benefit of being a police officer is that you will also stay fit. In fact, shifts of police officers can be quite long and depending on what happens in your district, you will have to work long hours and will come home exhausted. The more ambitious you are, the more people you can help and this can give you a feeling of having a purpose in life. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. 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. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. Police officers are often misinterpreted when our antics are overheard in public. Higher education, including graduate degrees, can enhance the leadership potential of criminal justice professionals and support their promotion through the ranks. and manufacturers. In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we see five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree. These charities bridge community partnerships and sometimes close the gap of societal isolation plaguing officers who disassociate. 7. These are held in a tiny little space inside our heads often referred to as Pandoras box which complicates our moods and influences. In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will experience the next days. 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. Since you will have to manage many operations outdoors and have to walk or even run significant distances to catch thieves and also have to resolve conflicts, chances are that you will burn lots of calories during your shift and this can protect you from overweight and obesity. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. In fact, especially if you have children, it can be quite hard to go to work as a police officer since you know that you might never come back and so do your children and your wife. In fact, you will spend a significant fraction of your day as a police officer writing reports and documenting how things have happened and if you are not willing to do this kind of paperwork, you may want to search for other job opportunities instead. The police discretion definition refers to the freedom of police officers to make decisions as they perform their official duties. Now I can do what I really love to do and I want to enable as many other people as well to go this exciting path towards happiness instead of money. You can also work in many different departments. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Higher education and police reform efforts are at a critical juncture. Crime Measurement Programs: History & Nature, The History of Women & Minority Members in the Police Profession, Recruitment of Women & Minorities in Policing. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. Copyright 2023 Police1. The strategy also calls for officers to analyze the underlying causes of crime, develop appropriate responses, and assess whether those responses are working. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire.