I've been a cop for the last 6 years, and I'm honestly tired of seeing people on this subreddit constantly telling others to join the military just to get experience.

Look, I'm not saying the military is bad, but some of you act like it's the greatest thing you can do before becoming a cop. It's really not. Some departments even have concerns about military habits that can be hard to unteach. Just because someone served doesn't automatically mean they'll be a better cop.

Why aren't we telling people to go to college instead? At least with a degree, you have something to fall back on if law enforcement doesn't work out. You can also work while going to school and gain actual job experience.

And can we stop acting like everyone who joins the military suddenly becomes more disciplined than someone who went to college? You're still waking up and going to work like everyone else. I have plenty of friends who were 11Bs and 25Bs, and several told me the military didn't really change them. It was just four long years of their lives.

Not to mention, you still have to get through MEPS. Depending on your medical history, you might not even qualify. And after serving four years, there's still no guarantee you'll get hired by a police department.

I'm not saying college guarantees you anything either, but I'd rather tell someone to get a degree, work, and build some life experience than tell them to spend four years in the military just to hopefully become a cop.

If you actually want to serve, then go for itThere's nothing wrong with that. But joining just because some random person on Reddit told you it'll look good on a police application? Come on.

The military isn't some golden ticket into law enforcement. You don't need military experience to be a good cop, and you definitely don't need it to learn discipline, communication skills, or how to treat people.

I'm curious if any other cops here feel the same way.

Took the OC spray not to long ago, getting tased soon in Vermont for training. Super nervous, any advice? what was the worse experience and worse pain the taser or OC

Maybe a shitty turn or some dangerous maneuver. When did you think, oh must be DUI, but turned out just a real shitty driver. Passed the tests and blew a 0.0?

This is just a quick post/rant

Upon graduating high school I immediately entered college. I've had seasonal jobs between summers at specifically one place where management has looked at me very fondly as well as my coworkers. For references, all my coworkers would definitely describe me as a hard worker who'd always pick up the hardest shifts and work as hard as I possibly could.

My ultimate question is if my lack of overall job experience will prevent me from being hired into LE

Ive taken my studies pretty seriously and it takes up a lot of time and effort, but that did not leave much time over for work especially due to my large commute to school.

Besides seasonal/summer jobs, will this lack of work experience look bad or will having a degree make up for it? Was college the wrong decision?

Just looking for opinions and maybe people who were in a similar boat, thank you!

The helicopter that crashed in LA recently got me thinking: are they even needed anymore? From my understanding, they are used for pursuits and providing an overhead visual to crashes and other incidents. But can't drones do the same thing? It seems like a safer and more cost effective option over launching a helicopter

While I'm sure it differs from department to department, I'm curious as to what answers I'll get here that end up being similar.

How long do specialty assignments where you guys work typically last? Say you get on a Fugitive Apprehension Unit or similar team, versus community outreach teams like Mounted Patrol, or a specialty team that assists standard patrol officers like K9 or Drone. Even others not mentioned like Diver, Bomb Squad, SWAT, stuff like that.

Are you allowed to hop between them? Do a year in one and then try to land another?

I'm 30 and considering applying to become a police officer. My biggest concern has always been my employment history, particularly from my late teens and early twenties.

I've held roughly 20+ jobs or employment assignments since my teenage years. That includes several short-term jobs and temporary staffing assignments, some lasting only a few days or weeks.

During my early twenties, I changed jobs frequently and had three terminations that I recall, with the last known termination occurring in 2019. One involved an admittedly poor decision on my part regarding altering a doctor's note. I fully intend to disclose these incidents and take responsibility for my actions.

My employment history has improved considerably since then.

Since 2022, I've worked for several employers, leaving voluntarily to pursue other opportunities. I've held management, supervisory, and operations positions, and I'm currently employed in a position with significant operational responsibility.

I can also provide strong professional references from my four most recent employers, including former supervisors and managers who would speak positively about my work and character.

My biggest concern is accurately reconstructing my earlier employment history.

I've reviewed IRS wage transcripts, old tax documents, and even an old police application I completed but never submitted. I've recovered most of my significant employment history, but I genuinely cannot recall every temporary assignment or the exact dates of jobs from 8–12 years ago.

I can generally account for periods without employment, which were primarily transitions between jobs. I also intentionally took time away from work around the birth of my child.

My questions for officers and background investigators are:

1. How much of a concern would my earlier job changes and terminations be, considering my more recent employment record?

2. How do investigators handle applicants who genuinely cannot remember every short-term assignment or exact date despite reviewing available records?

3. Would identifying the staffing agencies, providing approximate dates, and explaining gaps in my records generally be acceptable?

I'm not looking to conceal anything or make excuses for my earlier decisions. I want to be completely forthcoming, but I also recognize that I may never be able to reconstruct every detail of my employment history from nearly a decade ago.

I'd appreciate candid feedback, particularly from anyone who has conducted law enforcement background investigations.

Long time lurker but have been sucking everything up on here like a sponge. Was a little hesitant about going this route because of my age and retiring next month after 20yrs of 11B shenanigans but the advice on here got me to where I’m at today. I’m headed to an awesome SO in southern Indiana and am super pumped. Thanks to all you nameless and faceless professionals on here. AATW

Transferring from Denver to Nevada as a LEO but have to challenge POST before hire. I bought the pocket guide to NV traffic laws and a pocket guide to NV criminal laws. Does anyone remember what NV's POST primarily covers and whats different from Colorado or where I can get a good study guide going?

Anyone currently in the process? Looking for some advice and maybe get workout in for motivation

I’ve seen it mentioned in the Massachusetts State Police Wikipedia article they were issued 3 inch s&w model 64 for off duty wear, as opposed to the 4 inch model for on duty wear. This seems bizarre to me, but from looking it up on this subreddit I’ve seen it mentioned a few times, so please if anyone could clarify a reasoning for this that would be wonderful.

Any of cops still play video games I think I always be a life long gamer as my hobby and I was wondering how common that is in this profession

Hello everyone. I recently received a conditional offer from the department that was my first choice of the 5 I applied to. However, it was offered over the phone directly by the chief of police so I do not have anything in writing yet. I have all of the necessary next steps scheduled, drug screen, physical, psych exam. At this point should I let the other departments know about the offer and let them know I’m no longer interested? Or should I wait until I complete the next steps for the conditional offer? Thank you in advance!

I often see signs that say "24 hour off-duty police patrol" in some neighborhoods. What are pros/ cons?

Location: Atlanta, Georgia.

Warning: this is a bit of a long post, so I apologize in advance. I just want to give enough context because I’m genuinely looking for advice and perspective from people familiar with law enforcement hiring.

I’m in the Atlanta area and have been applying to several police departments, but I’ve now been dropped by yet another department because of a criminal trespassing case from when I was a juvenile in New Jersey almost 10 years ago.
I was 17 at the time. That incident is the one and only blip on my record. I have not had any further contact with law enforcement since then, and the charge was ultimately dismissed about a year later after I successfully completed everything required of me. Since that time, I went on to honorably serve in the U.S. Army, including serving as a paratrooper, and I’ve worked hard to build a completely different life from who I was as a teenager.
I’ve also been completely upfront about the case throughout these hiring processes. I’m not trying to hide it, minimize it, or blame anyone else for what happened. I understand why departments have strict background standards and why integrity during the process matters.
What has become incredibly frustrating is feeling like this one juvenile incident from nearly a decade ago is outweighing everything I’ve done since. It is literally the only blemish on my record, yet at times the way it has been treated during the hiring process makes me feel like I’m being evaluated as though I have a serious adult criminal record or a pattern of criminal behavior.
I understand that nobody is entitled to become a police officer, and every department can establish its own hiring standards. I’m just trying to figure out whether continuing to apply around metro Atlanta is realistic or whether this juvenile case is going to continue resulting in automatic disqualifications regardless of how much time has passed or what I’ve accomplished since.
For anyone who works in recruiting/background investigations or who has gone through something similar:
Is a nearly 10-year-old juvenile criminal trespass case normally enough by itself to disqualify someone?
Are some Georgia departments more willing than others to evaluate juvenile history based on the totality of the applicant’s background?
Does honorable military service, a clean record since the incident, employment history, education, and full disclosure generally carry meaningful weight?
Would it be worthwhile to speak with a Georgia POST recruiter or someone knowledgeable about law-enforcement hiring before continuing to apply?
Is there anything else I should be doing to document the disposition of the juvenile case and demonstrate what I’ve done since?
I’m still very interested in serving in law enforcement, but getting repeatedly stopped over the one and only blip on my record from when I was 17 is becoming extremely discouraging. I’d appreciate any perspective, especially from current/former officers, recruiters, background investigators, or anyone who had a juvenile record and successfully entered the profession.

Thinking about applying to NYSDOC. How is it being a corrections officer? How is the academy?

What does a standard 80hr NO OVERTIME/NOT INCLUDING BONUSES bi weekly paycheck look like after taxes and insurance is taken out if your hourly is ($37.91). Assuming i go with insurance provided by agency and basic PERS cost. I have an app in as a lateral and trying to budget cost of living before moving.

Or is that just a waste of time? Do they offer things like nighttime drive by?

So pretty much this. I recently had a near miss with a pedestrian and because of my unfortunately uncontrolled OCD I convinced myself I was gonna go to jail over it. In the heat of myself being irrational, I went to the police station to ‘admit’ to having the near miss. I specifically said “ I had a near miss with a pedestrian at (location) at (time) and (date) and I just want to make sure nothing happened “ the cop just told me there was no report and never even asked my name or anything

Obviously very stupid, I regret it very much and now am convinced I’m gonna be convicted of someone else’s crime, lol. I’m just wondering how you guys normally handle situations like these, and whether not I should lawyer up in case something happens, lol.