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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. During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. In other words, the statute may indicate that a certain act is illegal; the police officer can then expeditiously make an arrest based upon his interpretation. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. Inside our minds are images, voices, screams, visions, smells, and dreams which have been influenced by our career. Between January 2021 and September 2021, 59 police officers in the United States were killed in the line of duty. In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. Another disadvantage of being a police officer is that you will have to put your life in the hands of your colleagues. Furthermore, the use of discretion helps to foster police and judicial economy. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. Police officers are given the freedom to use police discretion and make decisions on the job and in the heat of the moment. 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. This knowledge alone can be mentally challenging and if you need to develop a certain mindset to be able to deal with those sad facts. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Being a police officer assures financial security. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. You may also be quite scared since you know that you will have to deal with armed people sooner or later. Another said they felt safer while walking home. The salaries are relatively handsome. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. It means that police in their blue uniforms often act as a line between lawfulness and illegal acts. Johan Renck, Directorif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-2','ezslot_7',613,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-2-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'environmental_conscience_com-box-3','ezslot_2',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-box-3-0');You want to become a police officer? We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. Hence, if you are not able to process those issues in an emotionally healthy manner, chances are that you will be quite unhappy as a policeman. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. In fact, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. Most police officers get paid to work overtime, and many receive hefty pensions when they retire. Decent pay ($53,360 average as of May 2014) Option to work in or out of an office environment (a probationer's home, place of employment or the officer's office)*. 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For both the corporation and the community, there are advantages and disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. As a police officer, you will also enjoy many additional perks. 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. Some people may enjoy the commitment and camaraderie, but others may seek a change in career after a few years. Almost 90% said they had come to understand the community, which they believed would serve them in their criminal justice careers. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. 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. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot. Read several examples of police discretion in use. Many police officers are also not able to deal with the emotional burden that comes along with their job. Many policemen stay awake at night and think about the bad things that they have experienced during the day. However, the majority of the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers ensure on our streets. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. Advantages of Being a Police OfficerPolice officers enjoy a high reputation in society. Cops never get bored. Police officers have a high fitness level. Many police officers have an inner motivation to do good for others. Your colleagues will become your second family. Police officers can earn a decent salary. Good future job prospects. You learn how to deal with people. More items Some people may find this type of job exciting and like doing new tasks every day. Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. 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. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. In fact, many police officers have to spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and other administrative tasks. He draws his weapon and orders the suspect to freeze. Police officers can keep their neighborhoods safe, Police officers get high levels of responsibility, Plenty of different fields you can work in, You learn how to deal with difficult people, Police officers get action on a regular basis, You will become really good friends with your colleagues, Most police officers have a high fitness level, Police officers can retire relatively early, Many people have lost respect for the police, You can lose your job due to one big mistake, Being a police officer is not the safest job, Police officers have to work at nighttime, Many police officers suffer from sleeping problems, Some police officers cant deal with events from the past, Especially problematic if you have to work in bad neighborhoods, Police officers have to deal with plenty of paperwork, Top 10 Being a Policeman Pros & Cons Summary List, salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers, 10 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Art Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing An Economics Degree, 18 Things To Do After Failing Your Communication Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Education Degree, 19 Things To Do After Failing Your Engineering Degree, 19 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Biology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Psychology Degree, 18 Smart Things To Do After Failing Your Business Degree, 33 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Casino Dealer, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being An Underwriter, 30 Noble Pros & Cons Of Working For A Hedge Fund, 32 Nerdy Pros & Cons Of Being A Data Scientist, 31 Key Pros & Cons Of Being A Loan Officer. Consequently, many police officers are also unable to unplug from what has happened during their shift and carry their worries and emotional issues back home. Many citizens are shielded from the horrors we encounter. There is also the risk that the police officer might misinterpret a statute when performing their duties. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. Officer Bob observes that the driver has no record of any kind; therefore, it is up to Officer Bob's discretion as to whether to give the driver a ticket for driving without lights on during a rainstorm. He uses his own discretion to make this decision. In addition, incidents of police misconduct and discipline will be reduced. Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. As a police officer, you have the power to significantly improve the conditions in your neighborhood since you can send people who behave in a criminal manner to court and many of them will end up in jail and can no longer have a bad influence on your neighborhood. Recall examples of decisions that involve police discretion, Discuss the pros and cons of police discretion. 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. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. WebOne important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. We have come to an age where the public thinks the system and the police have a solution for their every problem. Higher education, including graduate degrees, can enhance the leadership potential of criminal justice professionals and support their promotion through the ranks. 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. 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. Officer Bob decides simply to warn the driver in this instance. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. All rights reserved. Also, the prosecutor can determine if there are aggravating factors that make a crime even worse. 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. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Nicolet is also a certified nutrition, wellness and weight-management consultant with American Fitness Professionals and Associates. Thus, no job is the same and job descriptions may not completely fit your individual experiences. College-educated officers are also less likely to shoot their guns. 1. She has tutored English and History, as well as STEM classes, such as Statics, Calculus, and Thermodynamics. Good since not many people want to do this job. Use of force is defined as actions that range from verbal threats to use force to actually using force that could cause physical harm. This is not only quite sad, it also makes the job of police officers much more difficult since people often just no longer comply with the commands of policemen. This can be rather annoying, especially if you have a family and dont know how to manage your private life since you often dont know the exact hours of your shift. You can make a huge difference in many peoples lives over the span of a careerand in In fact, this can get really nasty, especially if your mistakes have led to serious adverse outcomes. In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. Individual experiences uses his own discretion to make this decision support their promotion through the ranks not fit... Killed in the hands of your colleagues spend significant amounts of time on paperwork and administrative... Of decisions that involve police discretion and discipline will be reduced whove from. 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