How Many LEOs Would Do It Again?

R

Robert Foote

New member
I am prompted to post this after all the pro-and-con on the 'Elian' nonsense. How many experienced LEOs (local, state, federal) would pursue this as a career if they had it to do again, and why or why not? Those of you who are not LEOs ought to pay some attention as well, because most of these people took the job for the best of reasons. Personally, I would not do it again, because working for the public today is like having a schizophrenic spouse--no matter what you do, you're a bastard--and it's getting worse.

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Your damned if you do, your damned if you don't. This pretty well sums up law enforcement today. I would not go back to packin a badge and gun for love or money. I always tried to play fair. Went after the crooks that needed to be put away, but didn't go around violating everyones civil rights. I never lost sight of the fact that most of the public were law abiding and deserved my respect. L.E. has forgot who they work for today. There is the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. It seems the spirit of the law has been forgotten. Domestic violence laws are out of hand. Yes people need protection from domestic violence, but now any claim of DV results in someone going to jail. It's the law makers taking the decision making away from the people who are best able to make it, the officer and judges. I think they want to get as many people into the system as possible in order to limit their freedoms and gain control of their lives. Storm trooper tactics like we has seen under the Clinton admin. have further polorized L.E. from the public they are sworn to protect. Glad to be retired-John K

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NRA MEMBER? GREAT, NOW JOIN GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA
 
Every person has a line in the sand and perhaps a different line on different issues. Drawing the line before doing harm seems to be a good place, except in self defense.
 
I was a cop back in the 70's & 80's. The profession changed over those two decades and the changes were not all for the good.

Positive changes, which I am proud to say I had a hand in at my department, involved training. I was fortunate to be responsible for upgrading the firearms training at my department and for six years it was the best in the state.

If I went back to those days, yes I would do it again. If I had to be a cop now, no I would not. As stated above, now you are wrong no matter what you do.

Dave T (PCSD Ret)
 
Due to the nature of my LEO experience I cannot discuss in detail. I would say 50/50. Love to get bad guy's!!! Hated the first time I had at look at a parents faces when I explained how their child was killed (7 times, 6MVA's and 1 OD). LEO's have feelings too. I did not cry until I was oof shift and looked at my own children. REMEMBER this next time you get pulled over and think that the LEO is an A-HOLE.

1.)Did he/she just have to turn over a baby/Juvenile to CPS because mommy and daddy had their nose in a baggy?

2.)Did he/she just seee abeautiful child get tagged and bagged?

3.)????

Sign the ticket and be nice and thank the officer. He may have just saved you or someones child due to your bad judgement.
 
I am a cop. Yes, I'd do it again. In fact, I just got back in on Jan 1, 2000. It's the only job that I've ever had that just feels right. Hard to explain. I have to agree that it ain't what it used to be, even three years ago when I got out.

FWIW, domestic laws are out of control because domsetic violence is out of control. In four years on patrol, before getting out in 1997, I never worked a hostage situation/kidnapping. I have personally worked three domestic dispute gone spousal kidnapping/hostage situations since coming back Jan 1. There has been two others in our jurisdiction during this year that I wasn't in on. Keep in mind, this is in a city with a population of approximately 3K, not downtown Atlanta.

I really love my job and catching the bad guys but sometimes I do have to ask myself if it's still worth it. So far, the answer I give myself is a resounding YES.

Why? I guess it's the satisfaction I get when I get to hook up a bottom feeding scum bag for wronging an innocent person, or maybe it's being the one who gets to stand up to some POS that likes to intimidate and brutalize others. Then again, maybe it's the reality of the job.

...or, maybe it's the great pay and the fact that I get to play with those cool blue lights. :D

Nah, I'm pretty sure it's those first three reasons. ;)

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For Sale: SIG P220 - see handgun classified forum.

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R6...aka...Chris
 
I'll make this short and sweet because anyone who needs a long explaination would never really understand it anyway.

Hell Yes! All day and twice on Sundays.

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Tom Whitman
SSgt, USAF
 
16 years in New Zealand Law Enforcement and yes, I'd do it again.

Why? Many reasons.

Helping those who need it. I've eben a victim of burglary too and know the feeling of dispair that ocmes when you walk into your home andsee prized possetions gone. Insurance doesn't rplace everything.

Knowing at the end of the day that you can make a difference most times.

A sense of freedom and anticipation. No two days are the same.

Things I hate?

Dealing with the same no hopers day in, day out.

The courts being soft on offenders.

Other cops who don't understand that when attending a crime sceen we don't work for the department, we work for he victim, and should do everything possible to find the offender and put him before the courts. Instead they just take down the details and throw the file into that bottomless hole with the sign saying "All crimes with no further avenues of enquiry in here".
 
I retired from LE in '97 after 25 years.

I can't say if I would actually do it again but I do know that I wouldn't want to be starting my career in LE now with all the BS that dictates how you will do your job.

I guess I'm saying no, I wouldn't!

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Jim - NRA Life Member

www.geocities.com/jimc_07874/home.html
 
Just hit 20 years. Seen alot of good, bad, FUNNY, exciting, scary, disgusting sh*t. Worked with some great guys and gals. Yeah, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
 
If I could go back and do it all over again, I probably would. I like the work, and hate the b.s. just like everyone else. However, when the b.s. starts, I like to throw it back in the faces of the idiot(s) who started it, whenever I can. Especially the indoctrination garbage that gets spouted as part of "training".


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It is the people who are prisoners of their own ignorance about firearms that pose the greatest threat to our 2nd Amendment Rights.
 
Other jobs suck, too. I'm not a LEO, but my brother in law did 25 years and I ride motorcycles with three cops. From their talk I gather that there are times that are bad (telling the parents where to pick up their kids's body, for instance) and times that are gratifying (seeing a bad guy get what's coming to him, etc.).

It takes more grit and mental toughness to be a cop than it does to be an auto mechanic. It's often a thankless job, and like firefighters, EMTs and teachers, they are not paid what they're worth.

All you cops out there, thanks for putting up with all the crap you get while in the service of the public.
 
I got out of law enforcement and went into education. You can't believe the similarities between teaching and law enforcement. When people need help and you provide it, you are a good guy. The rest of the time you are a no good dirty s.o.b.

I am getting out of education as soon as I can (after 20 years) and if I had it to do over, I wouldn't go into law enforcement or education.
 
I retired in 94 in my 20th year. Got out a little early due to heart problems. I was talking today to one of the part timers where I live now and he is applying for full time in another state. Even though knowing what I know, I didn`t try to discourage him. If I was his age again, he`s 22, I`d probably go for it.
 
I was an Army Criminal Investigator for 20 years. Retired in '91. I loved every minute of it (some more than others). I looked forward to going to work every day -- you could work a thousand housebreak/larceny cases and every one was different. Every one a challenge. That's what I loved -- the challenge of catching crooks.

Sure, there were aspects I didn't enjoy, but the good memories far outweighed the bad.


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Gary L. Griffiths
Chief Instructor
Advanced Force Tactics, Inc.
 
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