With all these ambitious peers and competitive factors pressuring us, who wants to be at the bottom? Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. 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. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. 14 chapters | Many policemen also develop mental issues in the long run. As we can see from the previous chapter, there are definitely many important advantages of working as a police officer. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. Resources in the criminal justice system are limited and must be used efficiently. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. If discretion in law enforcement is used in a wrongful manner, it has great potential for being abused out of the field. 551 lessons. It resonates at home with spouses and children. A lock ( As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. Copyright 2023 The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. 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. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. 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. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. Bringing about meaningful police reform requires transformational leadership. Since police officers enjoy a high reputation among the general public, they often get additional perks. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. By arresting suspects and leading investigations, a police officer can keep the community safe from people who are committing crimes. He notices that the person is carrying a gun. I admit, this can be annoying at the beginning. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. Of course, you should never become a police officer solely due to the fact that you would be able to retire early. Some employers Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. Free gym memberships are also sometimes a perk of the job. Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. WebAdvantages of Being a Police Officer You have a high reputation in society Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe You can help out your family and friends There are many pros and cons of being a security officer. Over the past years, there has also been a trend of people losing respect for the police. State and local agencies and governments can do more to encourage officers to seek a college degree, including through incentives, like the Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act, which allows for a partial tuition waiver or the Quinn Bill in Massachusetts, which provides scaled bonuses depending on the degree an officer holds or tuition reimbursement scholarships like those offered by the Fraternal Order of Police. Being a police officer assures financial security. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-box-4','ezslot_14',142,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-4-0');Consequently, we should thank police officers for what they are doing for us so that they feel the appreciation they deserve. 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. 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. In fact, you will make many mistakes throughout your career and some of these mistakes can even cost lives. This also means that you have to interact with the general public on a daily basis and you will also be the one who has to solve conflicts. 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. So daily we are exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Nicolet is also a certified nutrition, wellness and weight-management consultant with American Fitness Professionals and Associates. What is police discretion? Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. In fact, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. Christine Liddell graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. As long as your kids are still small, they will not realize how dangerous your job really is. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. 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. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Gaylene Armstrong receives funding from various state and federal granting agencies in support of criminal justice research. Policemen can support local neighborhoods. Why is being professional important? If you dont like your colleagues or your work environment at all, you can still be transferred to a different department where conditions will hopefully be much better. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Id like to think it made me a better person. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. There will only be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being insulted and attacked in the long run. Police work is rife with circumstantial stressors. Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job succeed. Share it! Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. So are The Conversations authors and editors. It means that police in their blue uniforms often act as a line between lawfulness and illegal acts. In fact, attacks and insults towards police officers have increased quite a lot over the past years. It becomes a part of us we share in small circles. 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. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). In turn, you can improve the quality of life of many people and can help them out in difficult periods of their lives. In many states, it is also not easy to become a police officer. 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. It is a curse and a blessing. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. Hence, if you want to become wealthy or even rich, a career as police officer will not be the way to go for you most of the time. They also get paid for family leave, sick leave, vacation and long-term disabilities. A critical step in knowing whether an approach is achieving its intended goal is evaluating its impact. Great! 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. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. 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. However, some police officers quit their jobs after a while due to the dangers they no longer want to be exposed to. However, the During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. You may start your career as normal patrolman, but you can get promoted pretty soon if you are ambitious enough and are willing to put in the work. For instance, one mistake on your side can take away lives. 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. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free. Police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the same. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. and manufacturers. Its dreadful, really. Advantages and disadvantages of police.Police officers often work long hours Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. Another downside of becoming a police officer is that you will also have to work at nighttime. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 He uses his own discretion to make this decision. 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