I can't speak as a LEO - ain't never been one. But I HAVE worked as a Security Officer.
Best place:
Trucking company as UNarmed security (gag). Once they saw I was on their side:
- If they had food, I ate with them.
- If someone endangered me, well, my friends WERE truckers!
- If it was raining, they pulled their trailers real close to my (guard shack) door so I could get the seal number as quickly as possible.
- The ones with guns in their vehicles, quietly offered to leave their keys with me in case I needed a little "help".
- They frequently stopped by to chat, even when they were off duty.
- I would do this again.
Worst place:
Bar/Party hall - again as unarmed security (jeez!):
- many fights, usually with knives, sometimes with guns, rarely with fists.
- Most spoke only in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish. The other guard spoke Spanish but he was always "far away", "didn't hear anything", and was a devout coward and congenital liar. (He couldn't even tell the truth when it was in his own best interest!)
- I would NOT do this again.
Most interesting place:
- Computer operator (and illegally armed guard) in a house of ill repute. Well, actually, it was a call-girl service. By the time my naive little mind realized what was going on, they were preparing to, uh, move to a new location. ((No, Art, there were no, um, unusual side-benefits!)) Truthfully, the people there were clean, polite, quite intelligent and looked like well-dressed business people. They paid me in cash (surprise, surprise) and were very nice people to work for.
- I would NOT do this again (for legal reasons, of course).
For a short time, in the military, I was assigned as NCOIC of a detachment of bodyguards (about 700 men) for President Lyndon Johnson.
Although 100% true, that is a very misleading explanation. It was true for one day, at one gathering, in Syracuse, NY (shortly after JFK was assassinated).
- I'd do this again. Got to work with some really nice professionals.
I've done other security work, usually legally, both in Germany and the USA. Most of it boring stuff. I will pick and choose pretty carefully.
As you point out, Rob. I was not tasked with routinely seeking out trouble as LEOs must do. THAT job, I'll leave to them. However, if I see a cop endangered, he will not be alone. (I speak from experience.) But I've grown too danged old and fragile
to go "looking" for trouble!