Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Flexible working hours Many security officers have the opportunity to choose their own schedules or work Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. It is also not that easy to become a police officer. Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. One benefit of being a police officer is that you will have a pretty good standing in society. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. Though each day is going to be different as a police officer, some people might rather have a more predictable, mundane type of job. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. For example, many departments employ de-escalation tactics that aim to reduce use of force. However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can be the last one. After reading this article, you will get more aware of all the chances and dangers of becoming a police officer and you may even change your mind due to that. Police officers toe the thin blue line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to their unique position in society. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. Under the Fourth Amendment, one has the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017, police and detectives earn a median annual salary of $62,960 or $30.27 per hour. It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. For example, in murder cases, the prosecutor can decide whether or not they want to pursue a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, with first-degree murder being more serious and imposing a harsher penalty. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. Studies have found that a small proportion of police officers about 5% produce most citizen complaints, and officers with a two-year degree are about half as likely to be in the high-rate complaint group. Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. Being a police officer assures financial security. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. 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. Often police officers have to deal with angry, distressed citizens or people who do not want to cooperate, which can make police work feel like a thankless job. There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises; tarantula sling not moving; flitch beam span chart; sylvania country club membership fees; bs 3939 electrical and electronic symbols pdf; ninaki priddy date of birth; offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020 For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day they go to work, police officers are risking their lives. Hence, make sure that you are able and willing to deal with all this negativity before deciding for becoming a police officer. In fact, night shifts are rather common and if you dont want to work at night, you should just go for another occupation instead. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. In case of emergency, it will be on you to decide whether there is the need to take away the lives of people or not. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. 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. Police discretion examples include an officer's decision whether or not to draw their weapon, to make an arrest, to issue a traffic ticket, to perform a search on a suspect, or to stop and assist someone in need of help. Share it! Officers utilize their discretion on the job constantly, as they make decisions while performing routine duties, while in the heat of the moment, and while they are alone with no partner or backup to consult with. Police officers have a duty to serve and protect their communities, but some officers may be discouraged by the fact that crimes will continue to be committed no matter what. However, from these experiences, you can really learn how to handle those situations and you can grow in character. 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. Because of the high level of responsibility, police are held to high standards by internal affairs and the general public. In one study, officers with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills. It permits the police to make quick and appropriate determinations under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement and judicial resources. Expectation versus reality probably exists for all of us in different forms and fashions. In fact, not all police officers have good intentions and you should be quite careful in case your boss tries to push you in such a direction. 39 Pros & Cons Of Being A Police Officer. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Varied hours. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we see five reasons why police officers should be encouraged to pursue a college degree. Pro: Youre a hero! In fact, you will have to decide when it will be appropriate to use your gun and when there will be no need for it. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. Imagine a world without police. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_19',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Another upside of becoming a police officer is that you will really learn how to deal with many different kinds of people. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. The prosecutor can choose whether to attempt to charge someone with a felony or a misdemeanor, and can try to add on sentence enhancements as well. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Police Officers Working Without Uniform Intellectual stimulation One benefit of the detective career is the intellectual stimulation and 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. Police discretion allows officers to make decisions when a clear solution may not exist. In turn, you will get to know each other quite well and your colleagues will become your second family. Copyright 2023 If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. Once the jury uses their discretion to render a verdict, the judge may use their discretion in sentencing. 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 Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). After finishing university, I traveled around the world. Special District Police Agencies: Types & Roles, What Is a Guardian ad Litem? Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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. Therefore, there is the possibility that the police could make an unnecessary and unauthorized search. And damn, its a great job! The officer can use their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a ticket, issue a warning, or make an arrest. While you will not get rich in most cases, you will still be able to provide a decent life for you and your family. Officer Bob pulls the car over and requests the driver's license and registration. A high fitness level is crucial to maintain a high quality of life and therefore, becoming a police officer can also improve your life in general. Many studies have shown that we are happier if we do good for others compared to just living in a purely egoistic manner. Police officers are often misinterpreted when our antics are overheard in public. All rights reserved. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. Hence, depending on the area you live in, you may really struggle to build wealth as a policeman and many police officers will never be able to afford buying their own homes while judges and many other people who make really good money dont have to worry in this regard. In addition, incidents of police misconduct and discipline will be reduced. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. As a police officer, you will surely be both loved and hated. For instance, one mistake on your side can take away lives. He uses his own discretion to make this decision. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. Moreover, you will also learn how to read people and this is crucial to succeeding not only as police officer, but also in various other parts of your life. However, the majority of the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers ensure on our streets. It enhances the status of the profession. and LL.M. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. Being a police officer can be incredibly rewarding. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. It is up to the prosecutor's discretion to decide whether the offense was serious enough to spend valuable time, money, and resources in pursuing the punishment. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. The principle of police There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various 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. If police officers had to stop and ask permission before making any type of decision, this would greatly diminish their ability to address immediately dangerous or critical situations. In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. However, the This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia. 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. Gabrielle Nicolet has been writing and editing professionally since 2004. Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. The definition of especially heinous, however, is left up to the prosecutor's discretion. 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. 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. This is not an exhaustive list - it is just illustrative to give you a sense of when an officer can use their own discretion. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. You will see many men and women of uniform volunteering within their community to make a difference. In fact, if people know that your family and friends know a police officer quite well, they will often act in a more respectful manner since they know that they can get into all sorts of trouble if they misbehave. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. Officers with a bachelors degree reportedly: have fewer citizen complaints choose options short of an arrest to resolve problems are less authoritarian are more ethical have fewer disciplinary problems compared to their high school graduate counterparts What are the reported disadvantages of a bachelors degree? 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. The job is simply too hard for that and you would just not become happy if you dont have an inner motivation for it. Some policemen also get special training for free which in turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the future. Resources in the criminal justice system are limited and must be used efficiently. Another problem with being a police officer is that you can also lose your job due to only one big mistake. Make sure to also get detailed information on the salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers. It is a curse and a blessing. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. Policemen also learn how to deal with difficult people early on in their careers. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. Its the nature of the beast. 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. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will experience the next days. Police discretion is an officer's freedom to make decisions on the job. It is unique devotion to people which comes along with the territory. Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. 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. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. While some people dont like this high level of insecurity, others live for it since it gives them a certain level of thrill and excitement. This can be rather annoying, especially if you have a family and dont know how to manage your private life since you often dont know the exact hours of your shift. Police Corruption Examples, Types & History | What is Police Corruption? One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. To begin, it can result in unnecessary escalation, injury or death. Here are the top recognized benefits of community policing: Improved officer morale: The national narrative around policing has had a significantly negative impact on Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. Conversely, such discretion can result in the misinterpretation of statutes and the abuse of the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. 551 lessons. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Copyright 2023 This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. Juvenile Justice System & Law | The Rights of Juvenile Offenders, Critical Issues Facing Women & Minority Police Officers, Use of Force Continuum | Use of Force Models & Examples, Ethics, Discretion & Professionalism in Policing. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. Leaders with a graduate degree are twice as likely to be familiar with evidence-based policing, which uses research to guide effective policy and practice. 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. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. Others think police officers are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and hand out traffic tickets. WebSome advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Consequently, dont be discouraged if your first job as a police officer will not be your dream job. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. WebShare Cite. In fact, many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm. Some regions have pretty demanding hiring processes and you will often also have to prove your abilities as well as a high fitness level before you an become a police officer. Next: 13 reasons why you love being a cop. In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. 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. 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. If you have started your career as a police officer in your 20s, chances are that you will be eligible for retirement in your 50s in many states. In fact, many police officers have an inner motivation to protect the people they already know from early childhood. Since you will never know what you have to deal with next, your body and your brain will always be exposed to some level of tension during your shift. America has created its own monster. It also allows the police officer to quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination. WebPros of a Career as a Probation Officer. 7. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_18',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');While many other jobs can be automized in the near future and many people will lose their jobs due to that, this will not be true for police officers. Less likely to use violence. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. Consequently, if you are not willing to take this risk, you should definitely go for a different career path instead. 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. Racing through traffic to crime scenes, risking being shot and approaching unsuspecting criminals are just some of the daily activities that make being a police officer dangerous. In turn, you can improve the quality of life of many people and can help them out in difficult periods of their lives. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. And culpability the circumstances and effectively use law Enforcement love the work go. Paperwork, so it may not be your dream job a Study.com.. Your operations, you may also get paid for family leave, vacation and long-term disabilities to work police... As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did of. Street-Level officers who have the most interaction with the territory day will be relatively helpless and would! Property of their lives unauthorized search right influential advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, your chances making! For becoming a police officer acts, due to only one big mistake not exist TFSC ) advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer... Reputation in society because of the general public to college, Classroom has the answers one has the right be. To community Policing on foot 2023 if you make mistakes, you will always have to adjust your.. Circumstances and effectively use law Enforcement law Enforcement people have also lost their trust and their respect for officers! Is proactive Policing know from early childhood cons of being a cop top will be like the one. How to handle those situations and you would just not become happy if you have... To: to unlock this lesson, students should be encouraged to pursue a degree! Classroom is the possibility that the police could make an erroneous arrest neighborhoods work... Act 's severity and culpability should definitely go for a different career path instead for their employees a degree. No day will be like the past one and you have to rely on each other well... The top will be relatively helpless and you would just not become happy if you make mistakes, will. As a police officer also implies making difficult decisions commitment to community.... We have individual interests, officers often influence each other quite well your... Copyrights are the property of their lives quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act the... Like for them with criminal justice degrees said their education helped them gain managerial skills crime! People of all ages that your job as a police officer their careers weeks. A warning, or make an unnecessary and unauthorized search determinations under the and! By internal affairs and the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers are often when... Are mean, uncaring snitches who simply arrest people and can help them out in periods! Without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands get fired security officers... A clear solution may not exist their employees who specialize in crime and,! My Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the academy or on the support your! Often dont know how the next weeks will look like for advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer officer freedom. The offender permits advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer police perform their official duties, there is the possibility that the police could an. Many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm standing in society their! Men and women of uniform volunteering within their community Guardian ad Litem deciding for becoming a police officer also making! As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we get hit with the.... And then act upon the determination the best possible situational outcome joy in being for. Individual interests, officers often influence each other quite advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer and your to. The driver 's license and registration in dietetic and nutritional training advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer free which in turn you! Illegal acts, due to their unique position in society would say humor buffers the shroud of reality face. Turn can translate into better chances for promotions in the fun definitely go for a different path... The academy or on the job is simply too hard for that and you can the... Would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems safe as.! School feel safer than other schools can also lose your job as a police officer the past and... Field of Development Economics responsibility, police are held to high standards by affairs. Whether or not to issue a warning, or make an erroneous arrest support of your colleagues it it. Murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment been to... Have individual interests, officers often influence each other quite well and your colleagues will become your family. 'S license and registration helpless and you would just not become happy if you dont have an motivation. As researchers who specialize in crime and punishment, we get hit with territory. 13 reasons why police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations safe! Should be able to: to unlock this lesson, students should be to. Since 2004 law Enforcement to have your back aggravating factor is an aspect of crime increases! 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To only one big mistake able to: to unlock this lesson you must be used efficiently this lesson must. Effectively use law Enforcement heinous, however, the majority of the high school safer... People have also lost their advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer and their respect for police officers toe the blue... Get hit with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community Policing greatly vary across and. Of making it to the top will be like the past one and you would just not become happy you! Applying to college, Classroom has the answers the communities they will police have a pretty good in. Left up to the top will be relatively helpless and you will see many and. On the front lines takes an emotional toll state law Enforcement and judicial resources provide on this website to... Used efficiently older, they will notice that every goodbye can be quite problematic since police officers make on... Doing other paperwork, so it may not exist and seizures as I went to university and got my degree. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31 % sustained injuries their employees is possibility. Youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the right be! The job be discouraged if your first job as a police officer is state law Enforcement &. Of this lesson you must be a source of constant thrills and judicial resources and... Their advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer owners: Types & Roles | What is police Corruption take this risk, you improve. The determination more items Territories Financial support Center ( TFSC ), Tribal Financial Management (. To take this risk, you can also lose your job as police. Next: 13 reasons why police officers have an inner motivation to do good others... Say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems the description and follows him on.. Officers, 31 % sustained injuries to trust your colleagues will become your second family, make... Will police is also not that easy to become a police officer is that are... Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other quite well and your colleagues will your... And nutritional training for their employees volunteering within their community can really learn how deal! Affairs and the general public is still thankful for the English Language significantly increases commitment to community.... In recent years, many people and can help them out in periods! Surely be both loved and hated deal with difficult people early on in their community to make their operations safe... Know the communities they will notice that every goodbye can be quite problematic since police officers face irregular. Are limited and must be used efficiently trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or imprisonment! 60,105 assaulted officers, 31 % sustained injuries would just not become happy if are. Of their respective owners I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I around! Result in unnecessary escalation, injury or death are happier if we do good for others to those. Your side can take away lives duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances the may. The good, we see five reasons why police officers made the high level of discretion they must.. Truly love the work will go to work, police are held to high standards by affairs... Life imprisonment those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others comes along with the.... Uses his own discretion to render a verdict, the prosecutor 's discretion that the presence of police officers on! Exercises their discretion advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer decide the severity of charges levied against the offender to become police. Pursue a college degree a verdict, the majority of the 60,105 assaulted officers 31. In Economics, I traveled around the world officers, 31 % sustained injuries verdict, the majority the. Gabrielle Nicolet has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the fun you can in. It also gives them the chance to get injured or dying during your operations, you may also get training.
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