If you have gorged on your dose of Lethal Weapon and Bad Boys, then be assured that police business is very different from what was showed on screen. The career is not as cool as it is made out to be. Also, it is not as risky as the makers of Blitz will like you to believe. Try to speak with police officers in your neighborhood or town and you would realize that most of them just go about their job like ordinary citizens. Being a law enforcement officer has its share of joy and pain. So here is an assessment of the pros and cons of being a police officer.
List of Pros of Being a Police Officer
1. Self Respect
The first pro is not really an advantage. It is more of a reason of satiation. Being a law enforcement officer is a proud feeling. Very few people in the world are actually proud of what they do. A police officer, one who is righteous and harbors the spirit of justice, will be one proud woman or man.
2. Financial Security
Being a police officer assures financial security. The salaries are relatively handsome. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various exceptional expenses. There’s steady career progression if one wants to stick around and there’s financial security after retirement.
Police officers are rarely fired unless they do something really wrong. Even suspended cops get paid.
3. Long Term Benefits
A police officer can retire after a few years of service, take retirement benefits and do anything constructive with one’s life. In most states and departments, a police officer is eligible for retirement with benefits after twenty years of service. One can retire before forty and live a satiating life.
4. Recession Proof Industry
The job of a police officer is relatively recession proof. Unless a department or precinct is shutting down, unless there is a mammoth economical problem, cops will get paid and they wouldn’t lose their jobs. Also, the respect that comes with being a police officer is satiating enough.
List of Cons of Being a Police Officer
1. Risk to Life
According to many studies, a roofer and plumber or an electrician, construction worker and sanitation worker among others would be equally at risk. In that sense, you cannot single out the job or profession of a cop but the likelihood of being threatened by a criminal and risking one’s life is certainly more on the face.
2. Psychological Stress
Cops who have witnessed murders, abuse, have had to kill criminals, been intimidated and threatened, have had to deal with personal tragedies or even threats towards families have reported experiencing extreme psychological distress.
3. Demanding Career
At times, the job of a police officer is very demanding. Crunch situations demand endless hours with little or no sleep, little or no food and almost no time to relax.
