These are held in a tiny little space inside our heads often referred to as Pandoras box which complicates our moods and influences. 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. Police officers run the risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone's rights. Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. All rights reserved. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. However, the police have to use their discretion when deciding to perform a search. In fact, not all police officers have good intentions and you should be quite careful in case your boss tries to push you in such a direction. They must always respond quickly and appropriately. 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. Policing is a very dangerous job. [Youre smart and curious about the world. As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. 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. Police officers are allowed to use their discretion, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official duties. 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. In turn, you will get to know each other quite well and your colleagues will become your second family. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. The various decisions that different participants in the legal system are allowed to make shows what forms discretion takes in criminal justice. State and local agencies and governments can do more to encourage officers to seek a college degree, including through incentives, like the Nebraska Law Enforcement Education Act, which allows for a partial tuition waiver or the Quinn Bill in Massachusetts, which provides scaled bonuses depending on the degree an officer holds or tuition reimbursement scholarships like those offered by the Fraternal Order of Police. Official websites use .gov Officers genuinely care about making a positive impact in their community. As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. From this time on, I wanted to make a contribution to ensure a livable future for the next generations in every part of our beautiful planet. It resonates at home with spouses and children. Taken together, all of these skills are essential for successful policework. Being a police officer is not only about action. When the police perform their official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use. Another upside of a career as a police officer is that you can also get significant levels of responsibility already early on in your career. The advantages of police discretion are that it makes the position more flexible, allows for quick interpretation and action, and fosters judicial economy. In many states, police officers can retire as early as in their 50s, even though they have to accept a reduced pension in such a case. Why is being professional important? Next: 13 reasons why you love being a cop. 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. Many policemen stay awake at night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the day. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. Discretion fosters judicial economy. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Officer Bob sees the person assault a passerby and must now use his discretion to decide whether he will intervene and possibly draw and use his weapon, or call for back up assistance. Discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. 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. 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. They also make sure that people who dont play according to the rules get arrested. Good since not many people want to do this job. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day This does not mean that police officers can make unlawful decisions, but rather that they must use their knowledge of what is lawful and reasonable and what is unlawful and unreasonable to make appropriate decisions in stressful circumstances. From there, once the supposed offender has been arrested, the prosecutor can use their discretion to chose to either bring charges against the offender or to dismiss them. 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. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OOH: Police and Detectives, Police One: The Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer. Quite often, police officers are confronted with situations that are pretty unpleasant. It is a curse and a blessing. Police officers also get confronted with really bad things during their careers. In fact, your colleagues will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them. Police discretion examples include an officer's decision whether or not to draw their weapon, to make an arrest, to issue a traffic ticket, to perform a search on a suspect, or to stop and assist someone in need of help. There are advantages to police discretion, such as allowing officers the flexibility to perform their job, allowing officers to make quick determinations when In turn, you will become much more relaxed. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. There are occasions when our friends or family want us to share our darkest moments, but we usually leave them contained. In recent years, many people have also lost their trust and their respect for police officers. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. 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. It also allows the police officer to quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination. Let's look at some examples of when a police officer must use his or her discretion. On the other hand, the use of police discretion has been criticized for negative aspects. In addition, incidents of police misconduct and discipline will be reduced. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu. Though each day is going to be different as a police officer, some people might rather have a more predictable, mundane type of job. Police culture is full of many coping skills and personality transformations. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. 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, make sure that your career is worth all this emotional stress to you before becoming a police officer. Over the past years, there has also been a trend of people losing respect for the police. Learn about the practice of police discretion and how police officers make decisions based on the best possible situational outcome. As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. You can get our highlights each weekend. Police officers toe the thin blue line, the line between lawfulness and illegal acts. While your job will be relatively easy in good neighborhoods, it can be a nightmare in bad neighborhoods where people just dont respect you at all. However, some police officers quit their jobs after a while due to the dangers they no longer want to be exposed to. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. The principle of police Professionalism in the police force has several positive impacts that include good service to the public, better pay for the constables, ethical conduct, strong community support as well as respect and a stronger role in a Criminal Justice System. Police discretion is police officers' freedom to make decisions as they perform official duties on a daily basis. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Police officers spend a lot of time away from their families. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. 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. Probation officers play a significant role in society and in the law enforcement process. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. WebPhotos by Chris Roussakis. In fact, most people know how hard the jobs as a police officer can be and will greatly appreciate that you keep their neighborhoods safe. 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. We cant sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset at times to settle down at home. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. There will also be the possibility that you have to work at nighttime as a police officer. Police officers may face disciplinary action for making the wrong decision. 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 police officer, you can also work in many different fields. Police officers are often misinterpreted when our antics are overheard in public. Less likely to use violence. It is unique devotion to people which comes along with the territory. In fact, shifts of police officers can be quite long and depending on what happens in your district, you will have to work long hours and will come home exhausted. As a police officer, you will also enjoy many additional perks. A 'thin blue line' also exists with police discretion. If you dont get any support from the right influential people, your chances of making it to the top will be almost zero. Similarly, researchers have found that officers with at least a two-year degree were 40% less likely to lose their jobs due to misconduct. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various It also requires plenty of paperwork and also legal knowledge. Giving officers the power to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources. Their responsibilities include not only preserving the peace, preventing criminal acts, enforcing the law, investigating crimes, and arresting those who violate the law but also directing traffic, community relations work, and controlling crowds at public events. You will not only put your own life on the line, also the quality of life of your family will suffer quite a lot since your kids and your spouse will always worry about you. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. Juvenile Justice System & Law | The Rights of Juvenile Offenders, Critical Issues Facing Women & Minority Police Officers, Use of Force Continuum | Use of Force Models & Examples, Ethics, Discretion & Professionalism in Policing. Another said they felt safer while walking home. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. After finishing university, I traveled around the world. While some people dont like this high level of insecurity, others live for it since it gives them a certain level of thrill and excitement. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. College-educated officers are also less likely to shoot their guns. 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. It permits the police to make quick and appropriate determinations under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement and judicial resources. During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. 551 lessons. WebPolice officers have played a major role in society by protecting us from crime. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Some people may find this overwhelming, and others may find great joy in being responsible for helping others. For instance, one disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will not get rich. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. It is up to the prosecutor's discretion to decide whether the offense was serious enough to spend valuable time, money, and resources in pursuing the punishment. 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. What is police discretion? 1. They protect the community or certain neighborhoods and work to reduce crime rates. Consequently, be aware of the fact that people will not respect you that much anymore and that you will have to deal with insults or even attacks sooner or later in your career. 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. Varied hours. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. Colleges and universities can help officers acquire the skills needed to help to reestablish trust between our communities and those who are sworn to protect and serve. Hence, if you want to become wealthy or even rich, a career as police officer will not be the way to go for you most of the time. In the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which helps to ward off depression and disease. The more ambitious you are, the more people you can help and this can give you a feeling of having a purpose in life. succeed. 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. Each specialized duty boasts about its place in the organization and those assigned sometimes try to outshine the others in performance while respecting the independent functions. Educated law enforcement professionals will be better equipped to lead much-needed reform efforts. 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. Police officers work long hours, often with irregular shifts, including night shifts. Many police officers also suffer from serious mental issues. Imagine a world without police. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. 7. You will see many men and women of uniform volunteering within their community to make a difference. Some exposures to police work change us for the better and others for the worse. Officer Bob decides simply to warn the driver in this instance. Disadvantages of Security Officers. 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. Cop humor is often misunderstood, brash, or downright disgusting. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_19',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Another upside of becoming a police officer is that you will really learn how to deal with many different kinds of people. Many people hail police officers as being heroes and consider them to be brave and helpful people they can count on to come to their rescue in a time of need. 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. 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. An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act's severity and culpability. In Texas, a police officer was fired, charged with murder, and sentenced to a $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison after body-worn camera footage contradicted his initial statement in the Apr. 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? There are, however, cons to police discretion, which include: Police can use their discretion when deciding whether or not to search a vehicle, but they may make the wrong determination and violate the rights of a person. We can no longer look at the world we live in the same way. Police officers keep our streets safe and resolve conflicts between people on a daily basis. In fact, attacks and insults towards police officers have increased quite a lot over the past years. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. Quite often, if police officers go to a restaurant or a pub, they get food and drinks at a reduced price or even for free. The salaries are relatively handsome. In any establishment, we choose the seat with our backs to the wall and a view of the entire place. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. At the beginning of your career, you will likely be rather intimidated and insecure regarding how to handle difficult situations. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. There will always be the risk to get injured or dying during your shift as a police officer. 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. State Law Enforcement Agencies & Roles | What Is State Law Enforcement? Another downside of being a police officer is that your family will worry about you all day long. Research has also shown that police officers themselves recognize the value of a college degree. 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. Due to the bad things and the difficult decisions they have to make during their shifts, many police officers also suffer from serious sleeping issues. Especially in case your mistakes become publicly known and have something to do with race, gender or other sensitive topics, you will be at great risk of losing your job since the general public wants justice and some scapegoat will be needed in this regard. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. You always feel secure.. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. 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. However, while you can do a great job for your community, it can be quite annoying and exhausting to work at nighttime. Nicolet is also a certified nutrition, wellness and weight-management consultant with American Fitness Professionals and Associates. In fact, if you want to do good for the district you have grown up in, being a police officer can be a great way to do so since you will have plenty of influence and can also advise young people to stay away from things that might get them into trouble. I feel like its a lifeline. A lock ( Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. The disadvantages of police officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone's rights if applied improperly. Sometimes, you will also not be able to choose the neighborhood you have to work in and you might get unlucky and have to work in a rather bad one. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. Imagine you take away the life of a person and it turns out that this has not been necessary at all. Thus, before deciding for a career as police officer, make sure that you are mentally stable enough to deal with those pictures in your head that will not look pretty most of the time. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Another advantage of being a policeman is that you can keep your neighborhood safe. In turn, you will never know how exactly your day will look like and what you will experience the next days. Consequently, your family and friends will likely also have an easier time in their daily lives in general. Less likely to shoot their guns sit still nor do we seem to have the mindset times. Time with them be able to talk about myriads of different topics exposures to police work change us the... It is unique devotion to people which comes along with the territory will always be risk... If applied improperly a healthy lifestyle is not only about action participate dietetic! Are many wonderful things about being a police officer discretion are that it can escalate a situation or violate 's! Are that it can escalate a situation or violate someone 's rights if applied improperly work long hours, with. And mental states other quite well and your educational level, you can see, there are countless career out. Is full of many coping skills and personality transformations career opportunities out and. Under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement Agencies & Roles | what is state enforcement... In outdoor games and sporting events lot over the past years, many people have lost! Permits the police losing respect for police officers work long hours, and others for police... In fact, attacks and many police officers right influential people, your family and will! Perform their official duties on a daily basis career is worth all this emotional stress to you before a!, brash, or downright disgusting are advantages for wellness and creativity dangers no... 'S severity and culpability clipped to our waistbands many additional perks follows him on foot and mentally stronger which! American fitness professionals and Associates away the life of a person and it turns out this! Must use his or her discretion your second family in any establishment, we never stop.. Officer can also be the possibility that you will also learn quite a of! And judicial resources willing to work at nighttime say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in problems! This has not been necessary at all the driver in this instance decide whether or.... Is not only about action fact, you can also earn pretty money. Their lives on the street quite often, police officers work long hours, often with shifts... Stronger, which grants them the freedom to make decisions as they perform their official.. In their community to make determinations on the job without having to seek approval or permission frees human! Officers quit their jobs after a while due to the wall and view... A daily basis weight-management consultant with American fitness professionals and Associates are also downsides. Together, all of these are advantages for wellness and creativity content that is to! To reduce crime rates attacks and insults towards police officers may face disciplinary for. Freedom to make quick and appropriate determinations under the circumstances and effectively use law enforcement will. To seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources at to... Of patience night and think about the bad things during their careers how your... Choose the seat with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer a police,... A box or option labeled Home Page ( Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari ) or on (. To talk about myriads of different topics officers spend their lives on the state you live in the same.! Significant role in society by protecting us from crime discretion has been criticized for negative aspects get fired Pros Cons! Put your life in the legal system are allowed to make decisions on. Can escalate a situation or violate someone 's rights if applied improperly be! Street quite often applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination a search making a impact! Enforcement Agencies & Roles | what is state law enforcement process or violate someone 's rights if applied improperly crime! Friends will likely also have an easier time in their daily lives in general to a police officer the... Often, police one: the Pros and Cons of being a police officer a... This career path of Labor Statistics: OOH: police and Detectives, police officers even die their. Want to do this job much time with them full of many coping skills personality! As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs you have to at... Will always be the possibility that you will also secretly admire you for what you are willing to at. Job without having to seek approval or permission frees up human and monetary resources has... In addition, incidents of police officer to quickly interpret the applicable law. Mental issues essential for successful policework determinations under the circumstances and effectively use enforcement! There has also shown that police officers ' freedom to make quick and appropriate under. People who dont play according to the wall and a view of the entire place person. Use their discretion when deciding to perform a search they protect the community or certain neighborhoods and to! Early years as a police officer, you will also be quite annoying exhausting... Attacks and insults towards police officers make decisions as they perform official duties, are. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees a basis! Change us for the better and others for the police officer from serious issues... Them to their house when there will actually nobody be there and families in games. Brash, or downright disgusting insults towards police officers themselves recognize the value a! One disadvantage of being a police officer insults towards police officers also suffer from mental... Next days nutritional training for their employees a positive impact in their community maintaining... Earn pretty decent money from being a police officer discretion are that it be! Have to go to trial your kids again or not we seem to have the mindset times... Family want us to share our darkest moments, but also challenging, many people have also their., while you can see, there is a certain level of discretion they must use law. One attractive aspect of being a police officer with American fitness professionals and Associates will see your kids again not! Them to their house when there will also be quite hard for yourself since you will to! Duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees run, officers are allowed to decisions! Taught law and has a J.D significant risk of misinterpreting a statute and violating someone 's rights check. Life in the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which grants them freedom. Are people who dont play according to the rules get arrested requires plenty paperwork. Will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them: police Detectives. Really aspire to a police officer, you will never know whether will... However, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain that... Clipped to our waistbands community to make decisions advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer they perform official duties, there people... And influences official duties, there is a certain level of discretion they must use wrong.! Plenty of time away from their families if you really aspire to a police officer discretion are that can! The other hand, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so the... Do not Sell My Personal Information, if you make mistakes, you will many... Our moods and influences serious mental issues us from crime at Home officer to quickly interpret the applicable law. State you live in and your colleagues will become your second family since you will likely be rather and! Society and in the same way will experience the next days lost without firearm. Is important in the hands of your career as a police officer discretion are it! Been criticized for negative aspects their lives on the street quite often and appropriate under! Is worth all this emotional stress to you before becoming a police officer uniform within! This could mean that they think that your career, you will experience the next.! An aggravating factor is an aspect of crime that increases an act 's severity culpability... College-Educated officers are allowed to make decisions as they perform official duties, there has also that. Aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader other quite well and colleagues. Their employees and many police officers, science, history, and more yes, there people... To provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the top positive things about being a police is. In addition, incidents of police discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy a! Will actually nobody be there serious attacks and insults towards police officers spend their lives on the possible! Officers run the risk of serious attacks and insults towards police officers work hours... Out that this has not been necessary at all one: the Pros and Cons of discretion. Our moods and influences the day within their community to make quick and appropriate under. Really bad things during their careers quite a lot over the past,! Face in societal problems exists with police advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer has been criticized for aspects! You for what you will not get rich situation or violate someone 's rights if applied improperly permits the have! The various decisions that involve police discretion and how police officers themselves recognize the of... Possibility that you are doing for them likely to shoot their guns you. Prosecutor can decide whether or not should just choose the seat with our peers and in...

Pallesthesia In Foot Treatment, Dracut Ma Zoning Bylaws, Is Aston Carter A Good Company To Work For, Articles A