Nothing brought on by a huge crisis or anything, just been thinking about it and trying to decide; looking for some guidance from fellow officers. Most of my input on this subject is coming from family and friends and, though I know they're worried about my safety, I think that bias may be clouding their opinions.
On the other hand, I'm guessing most of ya'll are fairly well set in your career paths. I'm assuming the people here are happy with what they do and over all satisfied with how their lives are turning out. If this is the case likely you'll be wondering how anyone can question the awesomest job ever. Which, in a lot of ways, it is. So I'm expecting advice from the other end of the spectrum which, irrespective of how well it fits me, would serve to counterbalance the other stuff I'm hearing. Though if you fall a bit closer to the middle, that's alright too.
I've worked here for a year and some change. I've found that it's doing what a job needs to do for me to live. It pays my bills and gives me a bit leftover besides. Something that can't be said for a lot of jobs out there.
With this particular job, I don't get a whole lot of action, so I really can't say I'm a cop. Just a guy doing his job. Few, if any, moral hazards, no grizzled veteran of the street am I. I'm more or less the same kid I was when I stepped into the office with the ink still drying on my degrees.
I've got a couple options open, I've pared it down to just three:
1) I can continue working in this system. Whether I stay here or transfer to Guam, Ireland, or whatever. It would certainly change things up a bit.
2) I can try to get into a "better" department. By better, I mean one that really uses me. Here I'm definitely not being challenged by the job.
3) Or I can get out of law enforcement and take a job elsewhere.
---
1) I kinda like my job. I mean, it's better than being a janitor, right? If nothing changes, more likely than not, this will be the kind of job a guy can get, stay for 20 years, and retire off of.
Perks:
-Lots of free time, discretion, and lack of oversight.
-Plenty of pay for very little work.
-Get along well with the entire department.
-High ratings in all performance reviews.
-When actual LE related work occurs, it's totally cool. I get to drive really fast, everyone's happy to see me, and I get letters, decorations, and accolades for being such a productive member of society.
-Service, danger, and spending time with loved ones are my greatest joys. Just life experiences in general, I suppose. Though I haven't gotten too many from here, I have had some.
-Get to completely change location without getting out of the system. I can do the same thing nearly anywhere in the world.
-We have -so- much money to throw at training and gear it's not even funny.
Downsides:
-Too little to do. Part of it has to do with having such a large patrol area with so few people. The other part involves administrative and personnel restrictions that hamper me in finding more stuff to do.
-It's all reactionary. There isn't a crime problem where I work. Thus, everything I go to has already happened and I'm merely there to pick up the pieces.
---
2) Based on what I've heard, learned, and researched, a bigger department lacks the negatives that my current one has. Maybe I'll move to Canada and get a job with VPD. Or maybe I'll stay in the state and try to get on in Tacoma or something. I've got family in California, maybe there's something there for me. I could also just transfer to a department that's more active than the one I'm at now with very little pain in the transition.
(From the perspective of changing agencies)
Perks:
-More LE related work to do. As I actually enjoy that kind of stuff, my job satisfaction could be far greater, methinks.
-Possibility of getting into more proactive law enforcement specialties. Drugs, investigation, intel, high-risk, etc. Or I could just help old ladies get their cats out of trees. It's better than being bored, right?
-Greater quality of off-duty time. I'm a big fan of culture. I like festivals, museums, people watching. Kinda strange, but I actually enjoy vibrant, lively cities. Bad air and all. There's only so many times I can appreciate sagebrush and tumbleweeds before I start questioning my sanity.
Downsides:
-Work life would change to the opposite end of the spectrum. I'd be working my *** off and not getting paid enough to do it. Likely my pay would be greater, even adjusting for changes in cost of living, but it may or may not be enough compensation for dealing with the people.
-I'd be starting off basically from scratch again. There's no guarantee it'd be as easy to get along at the new place as it was in the old. I'd also have to re-learn various tasks and deal with totally new situations.
-Not sure how most department budgets look these days, but they can't be that well off. Probably not enough latitude to send rookies off on bizarre training expeditions or to outfit everyone in the latest and greatest toys.
---
3) Maybe it's not my department. Maybe it's just me. If it is, then going to a larger department will merely serve to stress me out and waste more of my time. I haven't got a whole lot invested into this profession; getting out is an option.
Perks:
-I'll no longer have to worry so much about violating someone's civil rights and torts.
-Not walking the thin blue line is a good idea when attempting to avoid violent, crazy people.
-Easier to meet people and make new friends. Though the quality of those friends may be questionable, lying about what I do for a living is unattractive to me.
-There are far more lucrative opportunities in the civilian world. Cops don't stay in it for the money.
Downsides:
-I'll no longer be a guardian of our society. Just another schmuck trying to get by. Nothing wrong with just living life, right? If I get the hankering for fighting, I'll watch a movie or play some video games. Let the character get shot while I stay safe on the couch.
-Personal fulfillment and self-actualization come from within, no change of jobs or careers will make me happier. Money doesn't get me off, which seems to be about the only thing a civilian job will offer.
-I'll lose out on the camaraderie and no longer have access to the LE circle. Sure, plenty of people do just fine without it. But I actually like most of the LEO's I've met. After getting out of the army, well, I'm not as close to any cops as I was with the guys in my platoon, but it's still a nice group to be a member of and the closest non-military equivalent I have encountered.
-I'd be giving up on my dreams. No, not the high minded ideas you've got. Mine are more juvenile. I want to be the guy people can turn to for help. The guy who keeps it together when everything is falling apart around him. To fight for people who can't do it themselves. To leave this place better than I found it. To make a few more things right in a world full of so much wrong. But sometimes dreams are just dreams. And you gotta let 'em go.
-I would no longer be able to post here or on other LEO forums.
---
Like I said, things are going great from a logical perspective. Just some stuff I've been kicking around over the last couple months. I've been debating putting this up, but some opportunities have arose that are certainly attractive. At worst, this'll be viewed as a -very- long waaah post. At best, I'll get some different opinions on my analysis and there'll be an informative discussion on why we're all staying in, doing what we do. Either way, life goes on.
So, thoughts?
On the other hand, I'm guessing most of ya'll are fairly well set in your career paths. I'm assuming the people here are happy with what they do and over all satisfied with how their lives are turning out. If this is the case likely you'll be wondering how anyone can question the awesomest job ever. Which, in a lot of ways, it is. So I'm expecting advice from the other end of the spectrum which, irrespective of how well it fits me, would serve to counterbalance the other stuff I'm hearing. Though if you fall a bit closer to the middle, that's alright too.
I've worked here for a year and some change. I've found that it's doing what a job needs to do for me to live. It pays my bills and gives me a bit leftover besides. Something that can't be said for a lot of jobs out there.
With this particular job, I don't get a whole lot of action, so I really can't say I'm a cop. Just a guy doing his job. Few, if any, moral hazards, no grizzled veteran of the street am I. I'm more or less the same kid I was when I stepped into the office with the ink still drying on my degrees.
I've got a couple options open, I've pared it down to just three:
1) I can continue working in this system. Whether I stay here or transfer to Guam, Ireland, or whatever. It would certainly change things up a bit.
2) I can try to get into a "better" department. By better, I mean one that really uses me. Here I'm definitely not being challenged by the job.
3) Or I can get out of law enforcement and take a job elsewhere.
---
1) I kinda like my job. I mean, it's better than being a janitor, right? If nothing changes, more likely than not, this will be the kind of job a guy can get, stay for 20 years, and retire off of.
Perks:
-Lots of free time, discretion, and lack of oversight.
-Plenty of pay for very little work.
-Get along well with the entire department.
-High ratings in all performance reviews.
-When actual LE related work occurs, it's totally cool. I get to drive really fast, everyone's happy to see me, and I get letters, decorations, and accolades for being such a productive member of society.
-Service, danger, and spending time with loved ones are my greatest joys. Just life experiences in general, I suppose. Though I haven't gotten too many from here, I have had some.
-Get to completely change location without getting out of the system. I can do the same thing nearly anywhere in the world.
-We have -so- much money to throw at training and gear it's not even funny.
Downsides:
-Too little to do. Part of it has to do with having such a large patrol area with so few people. The other part involves administrative and personnel restrictions that hamper me in finding more stuff to do.
-It's all reactionary. There isn't a crime problem where I work. Thus, everything I go to has already happened and I'm merely there to pick up the pieces.
---
2) Based on what I've heard, learned, and researched, a bigger department lacks the negatives that my current one has. Maybe I'll move to Canada and get a job with VPD. Or maybe I'll stay in the state and try to get on in Tacoma or something. I've got family in California, maybe there's something there for me. I could also just transfer to a department that's more active than the one I'm at now with very little pain in the transition.
(From the perspective of changing agencies)
Perks:
-More LE related work to do. As I actually enjoy that kind of stuff, my job satisfaction could be far greater, methinks.
-Possibility of getting into more proactive law enforcement specialties. Drugs, investigation, intel, high-risk, etc. Or I could just help old ladies get their cats out of trees. It's better than being bored, right?
-Greater quality of off-duty time. I'm a big fan of culture. I like festivals, museums, people watching. Kinda strange, but I actually enjoy vibrant, lively cities. Bad air and all. There's only so many times I can appreciate sagebrush and tumbleweeds before I start questioning my sanity.
Downsides:
-Work life would change to the opposite end of the spectrum. I'd be working my *** off and not getting paid enough to do it. Likely my pay would be greater, even adjusting for changes in cost of living, but it may or may not be enough compensation for dealing with the people.
-I'd be starting off basically from scratch again. There's no guarantee it'd be as easy to get along at the new place as it was in the old. I'd also have to re-learn various tasks and deal with totally new situations.
-Not sure how most department budgets look these days, but they can't be that well off. Probably not enough latitude to send rookies off on bizarre training expeditions or to outfit everyone in the latest and greatest toys.
---
3) Maybe it's not my department. Maybe it's just me. If it is, then going to a larger department will merely serve to stress me out and waste more of my time. I haven't got a whole lot invested into this profession; getting out is an option.
Perks:
-I'll no longer have to worry so much about violating someone's civil rights and torts.
-Not walking the thin blue line is a good idea when attempting to avoid violent, crazy people.
-Easier to meet people and make new friends. Though the quality of those friends may be questionable, lying about what I do for a living is unattractive to me.
-There are far more lucrative opportunities in the civilian world. Cops don't stay in it for the money.
Downsides:
-I'll no longer be a guardian of our society. Just another schmuck trying to get by. Nothing wrong with just living life, right? If I get the hankering for fighting, I'll watch a movie or play some video games. Let the character get shot while I stay safe on the couch.
-Personal fulfillment and self-actualization come from within, no change of jobs or careers will make me happier. Money doesn't get me off, which seems to be about the only thing a civilian job will offer.
-I'll lose out on the camaraderie and no longer have access to the LE circle. Sure, plenty of people do just fine without it. But I actually like most of the LEO's I've met. After getting out of the army, well, I'm not as close to any cops as I was with the guys in my platoon, but it's still a nice group to be a member of and the closest non-military equivalent I have encountered.
-I'd be giving up on my dreams. No, not the high minded ideas you've got. Mine are more juvenile. I want to be the guy people can turn to for help. The guy who keeps it together when everything is falling apart around him. To fight for people who can't do it themselves. To leave this place better than I found it. To make a few more things right in a world full of so much wrong. But sometimes dreams are just dreams. And you gotta let 'em go.
-I would no longer be able to post here or on other LEO forums.
---
Like I said, things are going great from a logical perspective. Just some stuff I've been kicking around over the last couple months. I've been debating putting this up, but some opportunities have arose that are certainly attractive. At worst, this'll be viewed as a -very- long waaah post. At best, I'll get some different opinions on my analysis and there'll be an informative discussion on why we're all staying in, doing what we do. Either way, life goes on.
So, thoughts?
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