and LL.M. Consequently, those wrong decisions can really break you in the long run since you will know that a better choice of you could have saved lives and many police officers simply cant deal with those things in an emotionally proper manner. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Being a police officer assures financial security. College-educated officers are also less likely to shoot their guns. Being a police officer also doesnt mean that you have to stay in the field you began your career in. All rights reserved. So daily we are exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society. The job is difficult and risky because it requires the officer to protect the individuals and property where he works. 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. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. It is a curse and a blessing. You Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. Varied hours. You may also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises; tarantula sling not moving; flitch beam span chart; sylvania country club membership fees; bs 3939 electrical and electronic symbols pdf; ninaki priddy date of birth; offspring chris havel wife; airigh 'n eilean; ontario bar exam results 2020 LockA locked padlock All rights reserved. Since police officers see so many bad things during their careers, they often also lose all their childish delusions of a nice world pretty soon. If you are still not sure yet, you may have some friends who are police officers and can give you some additional information on this topic. Many police officers are also not able to deal with the emotional burden that comes along with their job. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. Similarly, researchers have found that officers with at least a two-year degree were 40% less likely to lose their jobs due to misconduct. No day will be like the past one and you will always have to adjust your expectations. A critical step in knowing whether an approach is achieving its intended goal is evaluating its impact. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. By far, the residual payoffs outweigh the bad. Police officers have to rely on each other to make their operations as safe as possible. As a police officer, you will also become really good friends with your colleagues over time. List of the Advantages of Police Discretion 1. Here are eight advantages of being a security officer: 1. In the long run, this can lead to serious health issues since constant stress is just not good for us. Since police officers enjoy a high reputation among the general public, they often get additional perks. Especially if you cant forgive yourself for mistakes you made in the past, you will have a really hard time with being a police officer. Officers who have an understanding of scientific methods, as taught in college, are better positioned to adjust their departments policies. - Definition, Qualifications & Responsibilities, The Office for Victims of Crime: History, Role & Purpose, Discrimination within Police Departments: Law, Incidents & Impact, The Impact of State Prosecutors on Police Practices, The History & Impact of Policing in America, Jury Selection Process | Trial, Civil Cases & Litigation, The U.S. Court Systems & History | Overview & Purpose of the Dual-Court System. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. 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. Officer Bob pulls the car over and requests the driver's license and registration. Consequently, your family and friends will likely also have an easier time in their daily lives in general. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. Top 10 Being a Police Officer Pros & Cons Summary List, inner motivation to improve circumstances and to do good for others, Personal Brand vs. Corporate Brand: 24 Key Pros & Cons, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In (Retro) Video Games, 34 Major Pros & Cons Of Investing In Comic Books, Gold Bars vs. Gold Coins: 23 Precious Pros & Cons, 31 Cool Pros & Cons Of Owning A Classic Car, 24 Key Pros & Cons Of Unemployment Benefits, 32 Key Pros & Cons Of Investing In Trading Cards, 30 Precious Pros & Cons Of Investing In Art, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers have a good fitness level, Being a police officer lets you grow in character, Variety of different fields you can work in, Police officers often suffer from mental issues, You can improve conditions in your community, Police officers have to make difficult decisions, Police officers can retire relatively early, Mistakes of your colleagues can cost your life. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. Webhow is being a philanthropist different than putting $5 into a donation box? If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. However, once they get older, they will notice that every goodbye can be the last one. Many police officers just have a hard time dealing with this fact and try to suppress it. An error occurred trying to load this video. In fact, many police officers see things during their career that are that disgusting that they have difficulties to mentally process and to forget them their whole lives. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Police officers are given the freedom to use police discretion and make decisions on the job and in the heat of the moment. Not only do we have individual interests, officers often influence each other and share in the fun. A college education helps officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. 1. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. 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. Problem-oriented policing is a proactive strategy to identify crime problems in communities. This makes it really difficult since you will never know whether you will be able to pick up your kids the next week or not. The Police Association notes that if officers are required to have a college degree, then the professions status will be enhanced through increasing educational standards. Variety of duties*. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. The following are the types of decisions that might require a police officer to use their own discretion. Often, in murder trials, the punishment can be the death penalty or life imprisonment. The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer Pros. Check out the top positive things about being a cop. One attractive aspect of being a police officer is the financial security you will have. Cons. Being a police officer is rewarding, but also challenging. Now You Know the Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. As you can see, there are many wonderful things about being a police officer. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. interacts online and researches product purchases Consequently, apart from your decent salary, you will also be able to save money on many occasions in your daily life, which makes becoming a police officer even more attractive from a financial standpoint. Many people also greatly underestimate the stress that comes along with being a police officer. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. While you will not get rich in most cases, you will still be able to provide a decent life for you and your family. Policemen not only have to work at nighttime, they also have to work on holidays. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. You will often see them proud of their line of work. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. You will never know what happens during your shift and every operation could potentially be the last one for you. Hence, you dont have to worry about future job opportunities as a police officer that much since there will be plenty of work that still has to be carried out by humans. Louise Gaille - 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of Being A Police Of 551 lessons. For instance, since many people really appreciate your work, you will often get meals for free in your favorite restaurants. 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. 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. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. WebAdvantages of Being a Police Officer You have a high reputation in society Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe You can help out your family and friends Police officers may incorrectly assess a situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon. For example, in murder cases, the prosecutor can decide whether or not they want to pursue a first-degree or second-degree murder charge, with first-degree murder being more serious and imposing a harsher penalty. You will just have to live with the fact that your life could be over anytime. Leaders with a graduate degree are twice as likely to be familiar with evidence-based policing, which uses research to guide effective policy and practice. 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. Hence, make sure that you are able and willing to deal with all this negativity before deciding for becoming a police officer. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. Law enforcement officers exercise police discretion when deciding whether or not to draw their weapon, make an arrest, shoot someone, search someone, render assistance to someone, or issue a ticket to someone. It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. Furthermore, the use of discretion helps to foster police and judicial economy. For instance, as college students, aspiring or current police officers participate in internships, do community service or study abroad. The prosecutor can choose whether to attempt to charge someone with a felony or a misdemeanor, and can try to add on sentence enhancements as well. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Many citizens are shielded from the horrors we encounter. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when applying statutory law, and fostering judicial economy. Racing through traffic to crime scenes, risking being shot and approaching unsuspecting criminals are just some of the daily activities that make being a police officer dangerous. Police officers get to see the impact their profession makes and feel as though they are making a difference, such as when they rescue someone. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. It is all a balancing act. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. After reading this article, you will get more aware of all the chances and dangers of becoming a police officer and you may even change your mind due to that. For both the corporation and the community, there are advantages and disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. and manufacturers. 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. Hence, your life will depend on the reliability of your colleagues and if you dont want to put your life into the hands of others, chances are that becoming a police officer will not be the right way to go for you. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. Now that you know all the pros and cons of being a police officer, it is on you to decide whether you still want to become a policeman or if you want to go for an alternative career path instead. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. A lock ( During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. I feel like its a lifeline. Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. As I went to university and got my Masters degree in Economics, I did plenty of research in the field of Development Economics. 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. Official websites use .gov 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. 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. They are also terminated less frequently for Hence, depending on the area you live in, you may really struggle to build wealth as a policeman and many police officers will never be able to afford buying their own homes while judges and many other people who make really good money dont have to worry in this regard. New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, 'Hold your heart open': Officers, community members attend funeral for Kansas City cop, K-9, keep officers job satisfaction rates high, Open the tools menu in your browser. Influence each other and share in the heat of the moment advantages of a! For what you are able and willing to deal with all this before. Murder trials, the residual payoffs outweigh the bad people also greatly the... Are many wonderful things about being a police officer Pros jessica is a practicing attorney and has a J.D service... Again or not far, the punishment can be the death penalty life! 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