"Just kinda fell into" a law enforcement career

[bsd13]

Last week I was talking to an officer and asked how he got into his line of work. His response was "I just kinda fell into it". When he expounded on it he had been laid off from his job doing school maintenance and was trying to get unemployment. They required he put out a certain number of applications a week to remain eligible. One of them was for a LEO position. He said he didn't expect to hear back and didn't really like police as it was so figured even if he did hear back they'd never hire him on. Long story short he heard back and after 3 weeks was hired on and riding around with an experienced officer. Now he's been doing it for 23 years.

So my question has anything similar happened to others? Did you just throw your name into a hat not really expecting or especially wanting to get into law enforcement?

[mikeymedic]

Hell no. This day and age you have to bring your A game and really want it. I am only 23 so I had to really try. Now, some Officers on here who are a bit older may have been around when LE was a job that not every Tom, Dick and Harry wanted so there were many openings if you fit the mold.

[PhilipCal]

Your story while possible, is far from typical. In fact, I find it a little hard to believe. I'm not going to go into the myriad of reasons why people really want to be cops. I'm not going to go into the many questions we're asked daily by applicants who really seem to want the job. Use the Search Feature, go back through the numerous threads for those. As I said, the "officer's" story is possible, but certainly not typical.

[bsd13]

Hell no. This day and age you have to bring your A game and really want it. I am only 23 so I had to really try. Now, some Officers on here who are a bit older may have been around when LE was a job that not every Tom, Dick and Harry wanted so there were many openings if you fit the mold.

That's what surprised me. People act as if they'd been preparing to get into law enforcement for the past 10 - 15 years of their lives and this guy didn't do anything, at least not knowingly.

[bsd13]

Your story while possible, is far from typical. In fact, I find it a little hard to believe. I'm not going to go into the myriad of reasons why people really want to be cops. I'm not going to go into the many questions we're asked daily by applicants who really seem to want the job. Use the Search Feature, go back through the numerous threads for those. As I said, the "officer's" story is possible, but certainly not typical.

I agree. It's very strange sounding. Like I said every other officer I've ever asked has made me believe they've dedicated a large part of their lives prior to getting on somewhere to, well, getting on somewhere. That's why it surprised me. This guy is passionate about what he does now, but apparently it didn't start out that way. At least not during the application process.

[Iowa #1603]

Hell no. This day and age you have to bring your A game and really want it. I am only 23 so I had to really try. Now, some Officers on here who are a bit older may have been around when LE was a job that not every Tom, Dick and Harry wanted so there were many openings if you fit the mold.

I resemble that remark Mikey

Remember the fact that he has 23 yrs in the career.

It was not unusual for this type of thing to happen back when I was coming into the business in the mid 1970's. There were lots of second career officers around and yes------a few that fell into it.

I can remember working with & around many officers that you wouldn't think could have made the cut------and probably wouldn't make the cut today.

[SRT936]

Yea, back in the day it happened. Those days are gone however.

One of the guys I used to work with (now retired) said that after getting out of the army, he applied to the fire department, the sheriff's department and the paper mill. The sheriff called him first so he took that job.

[TheKansan]

Your story is typical, in corrections

I don't think anyone I work with actually planned on becoming a correctional officer.

[SinePari]

I believe his story. I got off of active duty and had a few cops in my NG unit. A few encouraged me to take the test and give it a shot because I was looking for something different. I was self-employed making great money, and was a bit older than most recuits. I'm not one who gets sexually aroused looking at Galls catalogs, but I can say with 100% certainty that this was NOT my first choice for careers. Just because someone doesn't have a poster of Vic Mackey on their wall doesn't mean they're not passionate about the job.

[ftlaudcop]

I got laid off in illinois at age 22,and knew from living their how hard or what connections you had to have to get a police job,
so here i was in florida at $5.37 hour in 1983 working for the local s.o...then a recruitment seminar in whore-lando, and working my 2 days off working for a private prisoner transport company, plus a long 5 day's of fun in ft lauderdale, prompted me to apply and move here, working for SHERIFF NICK NAVARRO WAS A GOOD THING..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChiTownDet]

I've heard numerous stories like that over here. One guy told his brother who just got out of the service (and didn't know what he wanted to do) to take the test. He got hired and ended up a Lt. Another guy's brother took the test on a lark and ended up working UC and infiltrated the SDS. Numerous guys took the test and got hired who had worked in the steel mills (when they were closing). Heard a few stories from guys, of friends that got them to "tag along" with them when they went to the test, they got hired, the friend didn't..

In my Academy class, one instructor asked each of us to stand up and tell the class why we were here. One guy in my class stood up and said "I'm here waiting for the Fire Dept. to call me."

[bsd13]

I've heard numerous stories like that over here. One guy told his brother who just got out of the service (and didn't know what he wanted to do) to take the test. He got hired and ended up a Lt. Another guy's brother took the test on a lark and ended up working UC and infiltrated the SDS. Numerous guys took the test and got hired who had worked in the steel mills (when they were closing). Heard a few stories from guys, of friends that got them to "tag along" with them when they went to the test, they got hired, the friend didn't..

In my Academy class, one instructor asked each of us to stand up and tell the class why we were here. One guy in my class stood up and said "I'm here waiting for the Fire Dept. to call me."

How'd that turn out for him?

All in all I'm surprised this happens just because when I read these and other forums it always sounds like you folks who are police officers started getting ready for your career sometime between your first tooth and taking your first steps.

[School Cop]

Well, I didn't plan from birth on being a LEO, but once I decided, that was it. I pursued it passionately and I couldn't imagine doing anything else now. Only have 5 years on but I will probably go 25 total before pulling the plug. And then, retirement - no security job or one-man departments for me.

[JTShooter]

I never wanted to be a cop.

I joined the military on a whim and awoke the inner sheepdog. I left the military for my family.

I fell into law enforcement.

There was only one person in my academy class of 45 that wanted to be a cop for a long time, and he quit within the first 2 weeks of FTO. Most were there because they were laid off somewhere else. Only two were prior cops.

[SinePari]

All in all I'm surprised this happens just because when I read these and other forums it always sounds like you folks who are police officers started getting ready for your career sometime between your first tooth and taking your first steps.

I was in my 30s when I took the test for my department and in my mid 40s now. There's no rhyme or reason why and when people get the bug. Some are suburbanite thrill-seekers. Some are just looking for a job. Some had parents who encouraged them to take the same path. Some believe in public service. Some just want to drive fast, carry a gun and beat people up. Some just want to get on the gubmint teet and play hide-and-seek for a grand-a-week.