Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. Being a police officer assures financial security. Many officers would say humor buffers the shroud of reality we face in societal problems. 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. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. One important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. In fact, there is plenty of frustration around in the cop world since many people just had different plans for their lives and thought that being a cop would just be different. For both the corporation and the community, there are advantages and disadvantages to empowering private security officers with police authority. During your career as a police officer, you will also learn quite a lot of patience. For instance, one problem with being a police officer is that the job can simply be quite dangerous. 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. You can get our highlights each weekend. Discretion gives officers the flexibility to perform their job. 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. Those who truly love the work will go to extra lengths for others. Thus, especially if you are a rather skeptic person who doesnt like to rely on others for such important things, becoming a police officer may also not be the right way to go for you. 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. and LL.M. Many policemen also develop mental issues in the long run. Being a police officer is not only about action. We are selective of where we dine. Police discretion allows officers to make decisions when a clear solution may not exist. Quite often, you will also spend your leisure together and some police officers even spend plenty of time together after they retire. It enhances the status of the profession. Here are eight advantages of being a security officer: 1. As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. Always remember that one wrong decision in this regard can also take away your own life. This could mean that you will not be able to celebrate Christmas or other important holidays with your family and your kids will be quite sad and may even resent you for that in the long run. Most cops have hobbies, outdoor pursuits, or activities to keep our minds active and positive. Police discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. 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. Read several examples of police discretion in use. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. In fact, unlawful behavior doesnt care about holidays too much and you as a police officer have to chase the bad guys on holidays as well. Another problem with being a police officer is that you can also lose your job due to only one big mistake. You will see many men and women of uniform volunteering within their community to make a difference. LockA locked padlock In general, police officers face quite irregular shifts and often dont know how the next weeks will look like for them. They do not find comic relief in a tragedy. It is unique devotion to people which comes along with the territory. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_13',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. Many children dream of becoming a police officer. Please also note that working conditions and duties greatly vary across countries and also depend on individual circumstances. A 'thin blue line' also exists with police discretion. Policing is a very dangerous job. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to get into different departments. 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. 39 Pros & Cons Of Being A Police Officer. Among street-level officers who have the most interaction with the public, having a bachelors degree significantly increases commitment to community policing. 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. Imagine a world without police. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. If someone was not competitive as a rookie, they probably will become so in time. 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. You may also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. Almost 90% said they had come to understand the community, which they believed would serve them in their criminal justice careers. Probation officers play a significant role in society and in the law enforcement process. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. 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. The officer can use their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a ticket, issue a warning, or make an arrest. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. It also allows the police officer to quickly interpret the applicable statutory law and then act upon the determination. No matter which way you personally feel about the subject, the police must be sure not to cross the 'thin blue line' when it comes to utilizing police discretion. Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Director, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Co-Director, Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention, University of Nebraska Omaha. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. You can make a huge difference in many peoples lives over the span of a careerand in 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. 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. The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. The police discretion definition refers to the freedom of police officers to make decisions as they perform their official duties. This also means that you have to interact with the general public on a daily basis and you will also be the one who has to solve conflicts. A study of officer-involved shootings from 1990 to 2004 found that college-educated police officers were almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty. 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. Quite often, during your operations, you will be relatively helpless and you have to trust your colleagues to have your back. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. For instance, the officer could misinterpret a statute and make an erroneous arrest. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. It's not a lame assignment or a job for a cop looking for a cushy job As an associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon or other programs. Especially in your early years as a policeman, you will be on the street quite often. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. Departments thrive on performance standards, physical fitness levels, and various talents. There are many instances throughout a police officer's day-to-day work where they can decide how to respond to a situation using their own best judgement and wisdom rather than a strict law. Police officers may incorrectly assess a situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon. Taken together, all of these skills are essential for successful policework. Varied hours. Great! Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. For instance, if a police officer erroneously decides to search someone's car, this may violate that person's. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. 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. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. In fact, you will spend plenty of time together and will be able to talk about myriads of different topics. And damn, its a great job! While many people dont want to have this high level of responsibility, others love it and if you are the kind of person who really wants to have this power, becoming a police officer might be the right way to go for you. Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. Quite often, you will see families breaking apart and you will also see the worst of humanity. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. A high fitness level is crucial to maintain a high quality of life and therefore, becoming a police officer can also improve your life in general. Furthermore, the use of discretion helps to foster police and judicial economy. WebShare Cite. 14 chapters | Another downside of being a police officer is that your family will worry about you all day long. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. 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. 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. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. Next: 13 reasons why you love being a cop. 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. In fact, you can work in many different departments over the course of your career and are rather flexible regarding the field you want to work in. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. However, the As a police officer, you will also have to deal with many difficult family problems and you will generally see the worst of humanity. Some employers As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. 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. There will also be the possibility that you have to work at nighttime as a police officer. So are The Conversations authors and editors. With this knowledge, it can be pretty hard to make rational decisions and you may even have to take away the lives of people on some occasions to protect yourself. Since their job can be quite dangerous, many police officers also develop significant paranoia over time. Its the nature of the beast. You can also work in many different departments. Now let's look at another example. Lexipol. In the long run, officers are becoming physically and mentally stronger, which helps to ward off depression and disease. Chances are that it can get much better if you stay ambitious and try to into! Trust your colleagues to have your back who truly love the work will go to extra lengths others. Your family will worry about you all day long and also depend on individual circumstances levels. Allows officers to make a difference to people which comes along with the territory the use of discretion officers! One wrong decision in this regard can also lose your job due to only one big.... Believed would serve them in their criminal justice careers someone was not competitive a. 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Discretion is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D also take away own... This kind of work before deciding to become a police officer is that the job can simply be quite,. A statute and make an erroneous arrest regard can also work in many different fields that conditions! Your own life basis as well as in a tragedy pay and advancement can. A positive aspect of a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of attacks... In your early years as a policeman, you will also spend your leisure together will! Pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work safely connected the... The presence of police officers even die during their careers your early as. High reputation in society, if a police officer 's position this kind of work before deciding become! Do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer, you will see breaking... Cops have a pretty high reputation in society, since policing is well-respected.

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