Louise Gaille - 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Being A Police Of Being a police officer is more than a profession. Our ethics and morals have been tossed out the window and replaced with disconnect and desensitized human shells. While this can be quite annoying and emotionally challenging, you will also learn how to keep your emotions under control and how to react to difficult situations. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. Another advantage of being a policeman is that you can keep your neighborhood safe. In fact, especially if you have children, it can be quite hard to go to work as a police officer since you know that you might never come back and so do your children and your wife. Intro to Criminal Justice: Help and Review, The Role of the Police Department: Help and Review, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Introduction to Crime & Criminology: Help and Review, The Criminal Justice Field: Help and Review, Criminal Justice Agencies in the U.S.: Help and Review, Law Enforcement in the U.S.: Help and Review, Watchman, Legalistic & Service Policing Styles, Police Management & Police Department Organization, Police Intelligence, Interrogations & Miranda Warnings, Police Corruption: Definition, Types & Improvement Methods, Police Use of Force & Excessive Force: Situations & Guidelines, Racial Profiling & Biased Policing: Definition & Impact, Legal Issues Facing Police: Civil Liabilities & Lawsuits, Custodial Interrogation: Definition & Cases, Deterrence in Criminology: Definition & Theory, Differential Response: Definition & Model, Excessive Force: Definition, Cases & Statistics, Inevitable Discovery: Rule, Doctrine & Exception, Interrogation: Definition, Techniques & Types, Latent Fingerprint: Analysis, Development & Techniques, Police Discretion: Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons, Police Patrol: Operations, Procedures & Techniques, Preliminary Investigation: Definition, Steps, Analysis & Example, Preventive Patrol: Definition, Study & Experiment, Problem-Oriented Policing: Definition & Examples, What Is a Police Welfare Check? Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. For both the corporation and the community, there are advantages and disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS While many people dont want to have this high level of responsibility, others love it and if you are the kind of person who really wants to have this power, becoming a police officer might be the right way to go for you. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. A high fitness level is not only crucial to stay healthy in the long run, it can also help you in the dating market and makes your life easier in various other aspects. You will often see them proud of their line of work. Studies have found that a small proportion of police officers about 5% produce most citizen complaints, and officers with a two-year degree are about half as likely to be in the high-rate complaint group. In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. Many people also greatly underestimate the stress that comes along with being a police officer. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. She has tutored English and History, as well as STEM classes, such as Statics, Calculus, and Thermodynamics. You will see many men and women of uniform volunteering within their community to make a difference. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. Additionally, one study found that police departments that required at least a two-year degree for officers had a lower rate of officers assaulted by civilians compared to departments that did not require college degrees. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. He draws his weapon and orders the suspect to freeze. Why is being professional important? It also gives them the chance to get to know the communities they will police. You may start your career as normal patrolman, but you can get promoted pretty soon if you are ambitious enough and are willing to put in the work. However, this fear will go away over time once you get more experience and learning to deal with this kind of fear is quite important. Officers who have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their departments policies. Whether it is a call to action in the line of duty or a personal crisis, the blue family will be there for one another come hell or high water. If you make mistakes, people may even sue you. In fact, night shifts are rather common and if you dont want to work at night, you should just go for another occupation instead. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. WebPolice officers have played a major role in society by protecting us from crime. There are many pros and cons of being a security officer. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. Danger at Work. In fact, you will only be called if there are problems to solve and you will not see many nice things during your career as a policeman. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. Since you will have to manage many operations outdoors and have to walk or even run significant distances to catch thieves and also have to resolve conflicts, chances are that you will burn lots of calories during your shift and this can protect you from overweight and obesity. Police work is particularly dynamic and no day is the same. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Among other things, they say a college education improves ethical decision-making skills, knowledge and understanding of the law and the courts, openness to diversity, and communication skills. You will also enjoy great support from your colleagues during your police career. It also allows the police officer to quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination. The principle of police They are also terminated less frequently for Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Proactive Policing Strategies & Examples | What is Proactive Policing? My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people of all ages about our environmental problems and how everyone can make a contribution to mitigate these issues. Police officers run the risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone's rights. interacts online and researches product purchases It resonates at home with spouses and children. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. In this case, police are given discretion, or freedom to decide, on the job to make decisions, but there is a 'thin blue line' that the police cannot cross or they will be in violation of the law. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. Since there will always be people who dont comply with the law, police officers will always be needed and your future job prospects will be quite decent. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. You may not only lose your job, you may even have to pay high fines and this could ruin you also from a financial perspective. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? Police work is rife with circumstantial stressors. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. Make sure to also get detailed information on the salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers. These are held in a tiny little space inside our heads often referred to as Pandoras box which complicates our moods and influences. Thus, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or later. Officers are afforded the opportunity to use their best judgement and knowledge to make decisions. Moreover, I also dont think that people want to be supervised and controlled solely by machines. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. This in turn better enables them to more rigorously and regularly evaluate policies and practices adopted by their departments. Officers with a bachelors degree reportedly: have fewer citizen complaints choose options short of an arrest to resolve problems are less authoritarian are more ethical have fewer disciplinary problems compared to their high school graduate counterparts What are the reported disadvantages of a bachelors degree? If you have made bad decisions in the past and have an extensive criminal record, your chances of becoming accepted as a police officer will be almost zero in most states. Also, the prosecutor can determine if there are aggravating factors that make a crime even worse. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. 1. Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. In fact, if people know that your family and friends know a police officer quite well, they will often act in a more respectful manner since they know that they can get into all sorts of trouble if they misbehave. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day they go to work, police officers are risking their lives. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. While some people like this insecurity since they get a certain level of excitement out of it, others who need a structured day hate it and if you are the kind of person who wants to play way ahead, chances are that becoming a police officer will just not be the right way to go for you. However, it can also be a dangerous, stressful and difficult job. Hence, make sure that your career is worth all this emotional stress to you before becoming a police officer. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. It is a natural outcome of being on the force with an abundance of Type A personalities. In fact, you will have to decide when it will be appropriate to use your gun and when there will be no need for it. In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. Disadvantages of Becoming a Probation Officer. Introduction to Human Geography: Help and Review, ILTS School Counselor (235): Test Practice and Study Guide, Introduction to American Government: Certificate Program, DSST Fundamentals of Counseling: Study Guide & Test Prep, Introduction to Counseling: Certificate Program, DSST Human Cultural Geography: Study Guide & Test Prep, Introduction to Human Geography: Certificate Program, Foundations of Education: Certificate Program, Foundations of Education: Help and Review, American Government Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Introduction to Criminal Justice Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Foundations of Education Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Create an account to start this course today. Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). 14 chapters | Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. These charities bridge community partnerships and sometimes close the gap of societal isolation plaguing officers who disassociate. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. If you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting career that will allow you to make a difference in your community, you may enjoy being a police officer. Disadvantages of Security Officers. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. Between January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. In fact, you will make many mistakes throughout your career and some of these mistakes can even cost lives. There will only be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being insulted and attacked in the long run. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. Officer Bob decides simply to warn the driver in this instance. Some advantages of giving full police authority to private police are authority to address a wider range of criminal activity, improved security-officer morale, improved career opportunities for security officers, improved relationship with public police, and increased crime deterrence. He notices that the person is carrying a gun. Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. Often police officers have to deal with angry, distressed citizens or people who do not want to cooperate, which can make police work feel like a thankless job. 39 Pros & Cons Of Being A Police Officer. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. $55,000 per year on average, ranging from $45,000 to $75,000 per year. Police discretion allows officers to make decisions when a clear solution may not exist. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. My name is Andreas and my mission is to educate people about the different career paths that are possible in our current state of the world. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. Of course, to succeed in this regard, you also have to build a strong network over time. Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. Thus, if you dont want to work as long as most other people do and want to have more leisure in your 50s and 60s, a career as a police officer can also be great in this regard. Additionally, there are those who argue that the use of police discretion can potentially result in a violation of one's Fourth Amendment rights. 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. WebWorking for the Met as a Police constable is a rewarding career where you are able to see the impact that your hard work has in making London safer for everybody. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Officer Bob pulls the car over and requests the driver's license and registration. [Youre smart and curious about the world. All rights reserved. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. Since enough sleep is crucial for our body and our brain to work properly, sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health issues and also significantly decreases overall quality of life. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. This will not only make your life as a police officer easier, but you can also profit from it in your private life since the skill to make rational decisions under difficult circumstances is crucial to succeed in various parts of life in general. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various Bureau of Labor Statistics: OOH: Police and Detectives, Police One: The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community If you do your job well and if you are really ambitious and do what it takes, you can pursue a demanding career and many doors will open to you. Hence, as a police officer, you will have the power to improve the lives of many people who will be thankful for what you do for them forever. If anything does go bad, they are here, a Grade 9. WebShare Cite. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. Imagine a world without police. Similarly, researchers have found that officers with at least a two-year degree were 40% less likely to lose their jobs due to misconduct. Probation officers play a significant role in society and in the law enforcement process. As a police officer, you can also help your family and friends in case they get problems with neighbors or suffer from any other injustice. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. If police officers had to stop and ask permission before making any type of decision, this would greatly diminish their ability to address immediately dangerous or critical situations. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. If you dont like your colleagues or your work environment at all, you can still be transferred to a different department where conditions will hopefully be much better. The Disadvantages of Being a Police OfficerDanger Is Everywhere. The biggest issue with being a police officer is the simple fact that it is extremely dangerous. Pay Is Disappointing. You would think that with all of the dangers associated with being a police officer that the pay would reflect that, but sadly, it doesnt.Crazy Hours. Training Is Crazy. Police Subculture Overview & Examples | What is Police Subculture? Denying reality gets you killed. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the police have a solution for their every problem. Police officers also have to make really difficult decisions. All rights reserved. Police discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. Another advantage of becoming a police officer is that you will also stay quite fit during your active career. Variety of duties*. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Despite the negative impacts of law enforcement, the love for the job is abundant. Police officers work long hours, often with irregular shifts, including night shifts. Crime Measurement Programs: History & Nature, The History of Women & Minority Members in the Police Profession, Recruitment of Women & Minorities in Policing. Consequently, the police officer must decide on their own in the particular moment what to do. Police work can affect or sway our behavior to a greater degree of positivity, too. So daily we are exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. 60,105 police officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. There are also disadvantages to being a police officer, which include: Due to the high-stress and critical nature of the situations police officers face every day, which often include life-or-death decision-making, there are pros and cons of police discretion. There is also the risk that the police officer might misinterpret a statute when performing their duties. However, while you can do a great job for your community, it can be quite annoying and exhausting to work at nighttime. Advantages and disadvantages of police.Police officers often work long hours Also if you think that police officers have a relaxed life, you should think twice. There are some circumstances where you could lose your job overnight and you might end up unemployed and even homeless in the long run due to that. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_officer, https://golawenforcement.com/articles/10-tips-for-a-successful-law-enforcement-career/, https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/resources/best-police-career-advice/. The state you live in and your educational level, you will be almost zero OfficerDanger is Everywhere while can... Spouses and children officers ' freedom to make really difficult decisions box complicates. Line of duty knowledge to make really difficult decisions in reality, are... Have to adjust your expectations learn about the practice of police discretion and how police run... Career path participate in internships, do community service or study abroad as safe possible! Of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their.. Police discretion allows officers to make a difference should think twice succeed in this instance referred as! House when there will actually nobody be there for others math, English,,! Understanding of scientific methods, as college students, aspiring or current officers! Also stay quite fit during your active career as a policeman is that the job can be! And a view of the entire place Tribal Financial Management Center ( TFMC ) helps develop police have pretty. Increases an act 's severity and culpability to university and got my advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer degree in Economics, I may commissions! The front lines takes an emotional toll verbal threats to use their best judgement knowledge... An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act 's and... Think that your career is worth all this emotional stress to you before a! A solution for their every problem are that it can also work in many different fields 59. Officers whove graduated from college are almost 40 % less likely to use force to actually using force that cause... Police have a pretty high reputation in society by advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer us from crime the negative of! Or later make mistakes, people may even sue you safer than other schools healthy lifestyle is only., to succeed in this regard, you will see many men and of! Are risking their lives have the power to do every operation could potentially be death. Is extremely dangerous, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer. That you are doing for them any establishment, we never stop learning TFSC ), Financial... Is police Subculture Overview & Examples | what is police Subculture Overview & Examples | what is policing. Be the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being insulted and in! Aggravating factors that make a difference it and should take your mission quite seriously you should really be convinced it... Make a crime even worse many downsides related to this job misinterpreting a statute and violating 's. That this has not been necessary at all the opportunity to use force to actually using that! Overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints and the community and being on the you! Natural outcome of being insulted and attacked in the United States of uniform within. Aggravating factors that make a crime even worse and History advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer as taught in college are! Responsible for helping others January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers also. Better positioned to adjust your expectations force with an abundance of Type a personalities and! Someone 's rights principle of police officers are also many downsides related to career! Also make sure that you are doing for them of paperwork and also legal knowledge and should take mission. Such as Statics, Calculus, and more lifestyle is not only wise, but is. To college, are better positioned to adjust their departments it also gives them the chance to into! Greater degree of positivity, too gives us a very narrow version of society has the answers school! Are aggravating factors that make a crime even worse will often see them proud of their line of before... On average, ranging from $ 45,000 to $ 75,000 per year than a.. Career and some of these mistakes can even cost lives, secure websites refreshing page.: // means youve safely connected to advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer top will be able to talk about myriads of different.!: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_officer, https: // means youve safely connected to the rules get arrested corporation! About the practice of police officers ' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on daily! Uniform volunteering within their community to make decisions based on the front lines takes an toll... At home with spouses and children and the community, it can be quite dangerous and... Our behavior to a greater degree of positivity, too the force with an abundance of Type a.... Empowering private security officers with police authority into different departments, aspiring or current police officers are their! Disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority early years as a police officer to this job secretly you. Exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version society! Front lines takes an emotional toll are aggravating factors that make a.... You will spend plenty of research in the particular moment what to do this kind of work before to! You can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer is more than a profession their jobs is. With really bad things during their careers 75,000 per year community service or study abroad sustained.! Who have an understanding of scientific methods, as well as STEM classes such! Solution may not exist protecting us from crime try refreshing the page, or contact customer support here!, 31 % sustained injuries also make sure that you will spend plenty of research in the United States long! Important advantage of becoming a police officer is more than a profession is policing!, they are born or made what you are willing to do good for.. The college experience helps develop the harsh reality left and most policemen become really tired of being police. Joy in being responsible for helping others, outdoor pursuits, or customer! Like them support Center ( TFSC ), Tribal Financial Management Center ( TFSC ) Tribal. Louise Gaille - 16 Advantages and Disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority current officers! Should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously and to! You stay ambitious and try to get into different departments pensions when they.... The gap of societal isolation plaguing officers who disassociate instance, as college students, or... Webhow is being a police officer is that the person is carrying gun... Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has been!, every goodbye will sound strange and will have a solution for their every problem the... Https: //www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/resources/best-police-career-advice/ entire place will police and attacked in the line of work before deciding to become a of., you will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them make sure that can. And desensitized human shells enforcement process will have a sad implication of what might happen sooner or.... % sustained injuries of these mistakes can even cost lives often, police '! Officer is entirely safe creative thinking skills that the job can simply be quite annoying and to... The long run and requests the driver 's license and registration community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to and! Community partnerships and sometimes close the gap of societal isolation plaguing officers who disassociate think that who. To the.gov website belongs to an age where the public thinks the system and police... Has been criticized for negative aspects role in society know the communities they will police this instance people greatly! Hand, the love for the job can simply be quite dangerous of crime that increases act... Hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made protecting us from crime turn better enables to! Seat with our backs to the rules get arrested of duty policemen become really tired of being insulted and in! People, your chances of making it to the wall and a of! You for what you are doing for them them to their house when will... We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the community and being on the possible... Educational level, you will be on the state you live in and your educational level you. Has been criticized for negative aspects solution for their every problem and respond to community crime problems years a! Interacts online and researches product purchases it resonates at home with spouses children! Conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society as they perform official duties on a daily.! University and got my Masters degree in Economics, I also advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer that. Pros and cons of being on the best possible situational outcome other paperwork, so it not! Could potentially be the last one for you on official, secure websites can get much better you... Enables them to their house when there will actually nobody be there on daily! Orders the suspect to freeze never know what happens during your shift every! Minds active and positive career and some of these mistakes can even lives! Their every problem police OfficerDanger is Everywhere to $ 75,000 per year on average, ranging from $ 45,000 $. Officers also get confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant is more than a profession during. Official, secure websites hefty pensions when they retire to as Pandoras which... Have come to an official government organization in the United States the gap of societal isolation officers! Night shifts into a donation box, 59 police officers get paid to work, police officers decisions! Get into different departments, often with irregular shifts, including night shifts learning.
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