Thinking of joining the police

[Saladfork]

In my continued search for a job, I found myself considering joining the police. My question, Escapist community, is, if anyone here has experience in law-enforcement, whether they would recommend the job or not.

Also, on a side note, my vision is really quite bad. I have corrective glasses and can see well enough with them, but do you think I would be wasting my time jumping through the recruitment hoops on that regard?

(No, I'm not basing my career path solely on the consensus of an internet forum, but I don't know any cops myself and I'm always quite reluctant to try the 'contact us' option on pretty much any given website.)

 

[Thaluikhain]

You really need to give details. Where you are, for example, is a big one.

Also, what type of police officer you'd be wouldn't hurt.

 

[DoPo]

I don't think I know policemen with glasses. Also, I know very few policemen. Besides, they may wear contacts for all I know.

Anyway, if you do get into the police, I suggest not having a pension fund. Just go and spend all those money for yourself - have a great time. Then when you get shot a week before retirement, you won't lose as much.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well one of my uncle is a police officer and I one of my cousin want to join his father footstep (same uncle I mention) however here in the UK they ain't recruiting any more officers at the moment. I saw your profile that you're from Canada so I not sure if it's the same thing here in the UK.

 

[Da Orky Man]

No direct experience,, but my Dad is in the police. He wears glasses, pretty much blind without them, so you should be ok on that front. The shifts can be a killer, but if you can get used to them, then it's ok. Pay good as well.
Though some more info would be nice.

 

[wooty]

No idea what conditions are like within the Canadian police forces, but if you want to do it then go right ahead. Choices are limited these days.

At least your not joining the british police, powerless, useless, broke and ridiculed. You have to be brave or insane to join our bobbies.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I work at a police department as a dispatcher and I love it! I don't know requirements to be a police officer there but it varies from state to state here. A friend of mine was unable to become an officer in my department simply because he was color blind, so the vision could play a role.
There are other roles in law enforcement besides a patrol officer though.

 

[Saladfork]

You really need to give details. Where you are, for example, is a big one.

Also, what type of police officer you'd be wouldn't hurt.

Well, they're actively recruiting here in Edmonton, which is how I got interested in the first place.

I don't really know what kind of cop I'd want to be. Whatever they need most, I suppose.

 

[GistoftheFist]

Careful, if you're forced to knock out or shoot someone everyone here on The Escapist will make a huge thread arguing how you were wrong.

 

[Kinokohatake]

I have several family members in the force and just so you know it is hard. Long hours, a lot of paperwork and you see some awful shit. I honestly don't really respect the police all that much because I know what their real job is but a lot of people do and you can get automatic respect from a lot of people.

 

[Tipsy Giant]

I applied for the police but didn't pass the tests, apparently i'm 1% too racist

 

[Rude as HECK]

Join the Navy Seals instead, they give free laser eye surgery.

The interview process *may* be a bit harsher though.

 

[ace_of_something]

In my continued search for a job, I found myself considering joining the police. My question, Escapist community, is, if anyone here has experience in law-enforcement, whether they would recommend the job or not.

Also, on a side note, my vision is really quite bad. I have corrective glasses and can see well enough with them, but do you think I would be wasting my time jumping through the recruitment hoops on that regard?

(No, I'm not basing my career path solely on the consensus of an internet forum, but I don't know any cops myself and I'm always quite reluctant to try the 'contact us' option on pretty much any given website.)

I have [a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.177017-Ask-a-detective-undercover-cop?page=1]some experience.[/a] In American law enforcement to my knowledge procedurally there is very little difference between us and our northern neighbors except for jurisdictional standards.

Eyesight is rarely an issue if it can be corrected with lenses. My brother (who is a detective in el paso, tx) Had a partner who was legally blind without his glasses. Most officers I know that need vision correction wear contact lenses a few wear rec-specs. Unless they get a desk job.

The most important thing is to be honest about your past. For example I got an assault charge when I was 13. (restitution and 3 months probation in case you're wondering) But I put it on my applications I've been hired at 3 different departments of varying sizes so it must not matter too much especially since I haven't so much as had a speeding ticket since. (knock on wood).

Also keep yourself in good shape they usually won't hire you unless you can pass an obstacle course or run an 8 minute mile or something like that.

Many departments now also look at your financial records too (not sure about canada) because there is a proven connection between poor credit and poor crises management decisions.

If you have more specific questions PM me I'll answer it when I can. Always happy to help.

 

[lacktheknack]

You really need to give details. Where you are, for example, is a big one.

Also, what type of police officer you'd be wouldn't hurt.

Well, they're actively recruiting here in Edmonton, which is how I got interested in the first place.

I don't really know what kind of cop I'd want to be. Whatever they need most, I suppose.

Edmonton? Dang. Aren't we the murder capital of Canada? I wonder if the police force ever stops hiring.

OT: My cousin's a cop, and he likes it. My friend's training to be a cop, he says it's not bad. My Mom got an offer for a cushy desk job at the police department, but she hasn't accepted (yet).

I say go for it, if you can take the billions of barrels of bile the internet will heap upon you.

 

[lacktheknack]

Join the Navy Seals instead, they give free laser eye surgery.

The interview process *may* be a bit harsher though.

Wrong country. I don't know if the RCMP do free laser-eye.

 

[Guffe]

I'm trying to get into the Police academy in Finland, got past the first tests and next friday I am going for round 2. Let's see how it goes and good luck if you decide to give it a shot.

 

[Dags90]

Screw that noise. You're Canadian. You should become a Mountie, they have way cooler uniforms.