PoliceLink

Do you feel that being an officer has changed you? If it has what has changed?

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

What he said

officer1983 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

What he said

me to, thanks for doing all the hard work!

abrooke0124 says ...

officer1983 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

What he said

He's a she, dude.  

lol Reminds me of that song...Dude looks like a lady song from Aerosmith!

Allen705 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

officer1983 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

What he said

He's a she, dude.  

lol Reminds me of that song...Dude looks like a lady song from Aerosmith!

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

 

 

Okay rookie, wait until you have 30 plus years doing this job then come back and tell me how much MORE it has changed you.  When I started I had this grand idea of what I could do to change things in the areas I was assigned. That was the very first reality check I received during the first year on the job that my presence had a very minimal effect on the city I served.

As a rule I don't trust anyone I haven't known for some time. I never leave the house unarmed (It's like the American Express Card, I don't leave home without it) I always sit with my back to the wall in a public place. I'm always mindfull of whats going on around me. I'm rarely at ease anywhere, but my own home. I quit going to bars and resturants because I was always seeing people I had arrested before. Just the nature of this profession has alienated me from some of my own neighbors.

I drink too much, I smoke too much, I have to take blood pressure medication. I average less than six hours of sleep a night and it's always a fitful sleep at best. I'm more irritable with a much shorter temper and I have to keep my emotions in check now more than ever. I already know that one day this job and the stress that goes along with it will probably kill me. Would I do it all over again, probably, but I would have changed a few things along the way.

I recently spoke with a potential applicant about working in this profession and I gave that person my slant on the job after 30+ years. I suggested that they talk with someone with less time in so they might speak to someone who has a little better outlook than I do. I see this latest disaster in the financial markets as an indicator of a more violent world just around the corner. Lost jobs, lost savings, higher cost of living will be keeping all of us busy for many years to come. Domestic violence is already on the upswing due to increased stress on the bread winner and the ability to make ends meet.

Just my 2 cents.

ValyCop says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

 

 

Okay rookie, wait until you have 30 plus years doing this job then come back and tell me how much MORE it has changed you.  When I started I had this grand idea of what I could do to change things in the areas I was assigned. That was the very first reality check I received during the first year on the job that my presence had a very minimal effect on the city I served.

As a rule I don't trust anyone I haven't known for some time. I never leave the house unarmed (It's like the American Express Card, I don't leave home without it) I always sit with my back to the wall in a public place. I'm always mindfull of whats going on around me. I'm rarely at ease anywhere, but my own home. I quit going to bars and resturants because I was always seeing people I had arrested before. Just the nature of this profession has alienated me from some of my own neighbors.

I drink too much, I smoke too much, I have to take blood pressure medication. I average less than six hours of sleep a night and it's always a fitful sleep at best. I'm more irritable with a much shorter temper and I have to keep my emotions in check now more than ever. I already know that one day this job and the stress that goes along with it will probably kill me. Would I do it all over again, probably, but I would have changed a few things along the way.

I recently spoke with a potential applicant about working in this profession and I gave that person my slant on the job after 30+ years. I suggested that they talk with someone with less time in so they might speak to someone who has a little better outlook than I do. I see this latest disaster in the financial markets as an indicator of a more violent world just around the corner. Lost jobs, lost savings, higher cost of living will be keeping all of us busy for many years to come. Domestic violence is already on the upswing due to increased stress on the bread winner and the ability to make ends meet.

Just my 2 cents.

 

You're right, I AM a rookie. And I have an alarmingly optomistic view on life. But isn't there anything you've gained that's made this all worth it? I mean, there must have been something (and, most likely, not something tangible) that kept you in LE for 30 years.

Sorry rookie, this was not an attack on you personally, just the rantings of a tired old street cop. I'll bet there are a hundred veteran officers on this site right now who would walk up to me and say "Bob, you need to get out of this job." And you know what rookie, they'd be right.

Enough of the lecture.

many people lie.. you get used to it.. I can count the pople I trust on the fingers of one hand

you dont normally get to see normal people.. victims and suspects... not a lot in between

police used to be looked up to.. now we are vidoetaped and mistrusted

I still like service to others.. thats never changed

abrooke0124 says ...

ValyCop says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

 

 

Okay rookie, wait until you have 30 plus years doing this job then come back and tell me how much MORE it has changed you.  When I started I had this grand idea of what I could do to change things in the areas I was assigned. That was the very first reality check I received during the first year on the job that my presence had a very minimal effect on the city I served.

As a rule I don't trust anyone I haven't known for some time. I never leave the house unarmed (It's like the American Express Card, I don't leave home without it) I always sit with my back to the wall in a public place. I'm always mindfull of whats going on around me. I'm rarely at ease anywhere, but my own home. I quit going to bars and resturants because I was always seeing people I had arrested before. Just the nature of this profession has alienated me from some of my own neighbors.

I drink too much, I smoke too much, I have to take blood pressure medication. I average less than six hours of sleep a night and it's always a fitful sleep at best. I'm more irritable with a much shorter temper and I have to keep my emotions in check now more than ever. I already know that one day this job and the stress that goes along with it will probably kill me. Would I do it all over again, probably, but I would have changed a few things along the way.

I recently spoke with a potential applicant about working in this profession and I gave that person my slant on the job after 30+ years. I suggested that they talk with someone with less time in so they might speak to someone who has a little better outlook than I do. I see this latest disaster in the financial markets as an indicator of a more violent world just around the corner. Lost jobs, lost savings, higher cost of living will be keeping all of us busy for many years to come. Domestic violence is already on the upswing due to increased stress on the bread winner and the ability to make ends meet.

Just my 2 cents.

 

You're right, I AM a rookie. And I have an alarmingly optomistic view on life. But isn't there anything you've gained that's made this all worth it? I mean, there must have been something (and, most likely, not something tangible) that kept you in LE for 30 years.

he's lookin for the "I felt compelled to help a society that couldn't do it on it own" speech. I did it cause I needed a job, and the idea of crackin skulls every once in a while appealed to me. and after awhile I got addicted to the work, LOL. thats all it is bro.

Maybe this is naive, but can't this job change you for the better? Valy, you make it sound like it can only change you for the worse. I don't believe that!

Might be quicker to ask how being a LEO has NOT changed your life.

I started out courteous AND professional.  I learned to extend courtesy as far as it's deserved and remain professional to a fault.  I remember having patience.  My patience now extends as far as the first repetition of whatever information is attempting to be conveyed.  That being said drunks now make me nuts if I have to deal with them for more than 5 minutes.  I remember thinking common sense was common (They really need to rename this concept because it's now an oxymoron). 

I remember thinking the suspect/victim ratio had to be pretty close... then I realized there are very few "true" victims.  -Most are kids (victims of their environment/parents).  Run your victims more often and you'll see they have a history almost as lengthy as your suspects or they are professional victims.  Everyone now gets sized up... for their potential weaknesses that I can exploit if necessary.  I remember trying to make something out of nothing (letting them talk themselves into burglary instead of petty larceny) and then realizing that the D.A. is just going to drop it down to petty larceny (plea out) anyway.  I remember thinking D.A.'s actually read your reports before court... I could actually go on for hours with the Court system alone but I won't. 

I wouldn't trade this career for anything though.  It's perfect for the ADD types like me.  -Quickest way I can think to pass 10 hours AND I get paid to do it.  Job security gets better and better every day.  Don't come into this field to drive fast and kick ass.  At this day and age administrations have yanked the reigns in because of civil liability... you won't last long if that's what motivates you.  If circumstances deem it necessary then by all means carry on.  If you want to keep your house, marriage, and pension.... I'd make sure those circumstances are present. 

THIRDWATCHNORTH says ...

officer1983 says ...

Allen705 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

officer1983 says ...

abrooke0124 says ...

Its definitely changed me. People tell me that I walk different now; its probably just the added confidence. I can't sit with my back to a window or the rest of a restaurant anymore. I ALWAYS lock my front door and my car doors now, especially when I'm inside. I'm probably a lot more cynical than I used to be, and a lot less free with my trust. When I walk into a place, I'm autommatically scanning for all exits and for any threats. Now, I carry concealed pretty much everywhere, even to church, because I know threats don't go away when the uniform comes off. I've made friendships--deep, quality friendships--with people who are so vastly different from me that its almost funny. I also think I enjoy life more; I'm putting more into it, so I take more out.

Those are just a few of the ways being an LEO has changed me; there are SO many more!

What he said

He's a she, dude.  

lol Reminds me of that song...Dude looks like a lady song from Aerosmith!

Is Joan Rivers looking more and more like Steven Tyler or visa versa?

Holy Olympic Go-rilla Craps Batman! You're right!