r/AskLE

How many of you guys are a bunch of nerds. Like hobby wise. How many of you are also neurodivergent as well.

I'm very curious.

I'm asking this since I plan on becoming a detective and I'm hoping to find fellow detectives with the same interests so I don't feel like an outcast.

Curious how common it is for departments to carry them and the interest in them.

Asking because we run a small nonprofit started after losing our son to choking. We've been donating LifeVac devices to police departments and 7 agencies we've equipped have already used theirs to save a life.

We have a simple matching grant program for any departments that want them. Happy to share details in the comments.

Do I have to start as a police officer? I’m interested in trying go FBI route, if possible

I'm an only child and I want to be a cop, so naturally my mom is going to absolutely lose her mind and freak out when I tell her. I want to get a bunch of different perspectives from people on how dangerous they think the job REALLY is.

10 would be people pulling weapons on you, attacking you, all the things that would make it onto the news. 1 would be literally sitting around all day. I don't care if you're big city, small town, sheriff's department, etc. I just want a general picture on what you think

Location: California. Would love to get some insight and perspective from fellow officers here. Basically i got into an altercation with my roommate earlier today. We were arguing over the fridge space - he removes all my belongings out the fridge and replaces it with his stuff so I take the milk carton(that was his) and I chucked it at the floor, he advances towards me and starts pushing me back and looking like he wants to hit me so then i begin to push him off of me, then immediately he strikes me in the face and we get to a struggle where i wrestle him to the ground and assume mount position over him until i could control the situation - note: I did not strike him once ever during the contact.

It was an open fisted blow and so it left cuts all around my lips(since it was his fingernails which caught me in the face) and I was also bleeding. There is a live feed camera in the kitchen but the landlords husband couldn’t recover the footage due to “no memory card.” Anyways, at first when the cop got my side of the story and he sees the marks on my face, he asks if i would like to file charges for assault and battery and i agreed. But then when he went to go talk to my roommate he changed his mind and said we would both have to spend the night in jail if I wanted to press charges so I declined obviously since i am working the next day and can’t afford to have something like that in my name. I have a crystal clear background record with zero cases to my name whatsoever, not even a citation or traffic violation.

Tbh i feel it’s a bit unfair since he was the primary aggressor and there is marks on my lips + the bleeding as evidence while the roommate's face is clean without any damages at all not even redness, also he touched me first by pushing me (though yes i instigated by throwing his milk carton but he touched my belongings first so…). I did not get a police report, but the sheriff left me his personal number in case i can retrieve the footage or something else comes up. Anyways was hoping if you guys can let me know if i was wronged here, I 100% understand the sheriffs perspective since it’s a “my word vs his word” scenario and no video evidence. But now the roommate is gonna get the impression he can hit me and get away with it so that concerns me. Will I be able to get a restraining order at least? Should I got back to the station to get photo evidence and a police report to use it as evidence for the restraining order? Thx.

I've already applied to both these agencies and I am having a difficult time still deciding which department to go with. If one agency DQ's me and the other accepts me, its obviously an easy decision at that point, however there is a very likelihood that both these departments could give me an offer (they are both agencies that are very much in need to hire many new officers compared to other agencies due to understaffing).

I am curious if there is anyone here who is knowledgeable about either of these agencies or have gone through the process with them. Feel free to comment or please send me a pm, we can discuss.

1. I compared the pay and benefits of these two agencies and they both seem fairly decent. Baltimore starts at 67,000, and DC is at 75,000, however Baltimore is cheaper cost of living, so technically you might save more than DC. I'd still think the pay and benefits are similar though.

2. Both agencies you have opportunities to experience lots of action. Everyone knows about Baltimore's reputation as having lots of action, and DC police gets its fair share of action in parts of SE DC (Anacostia area).

3. In terms of culture, Baltimore PD might have the edge to old school policing, they are still allowed to use the old wooden batons, they have tasers, they even are allowed to get in pursuits. I heard that DC police aren't issued tasers to new officers, no wood batons, and the pursuit policy is heavily restricted. It sounds like DC has lots of strict rules. If your someone who prefers old school ways baltimore might seem more like it but if your someone who wants more strict rules then maybe DC might be your lane (I heard DC is more strict because it has lots of federal overlap). DC might have the advantage of the most latest new inventions possibly( I am not sure on this one).

One of the concerns I have with DC is being called constantly to do protests where your standing for a whole shift watching some protest in DC (even if I am not working in the main capital buildings area). I'm not a fan of doing protest duty (most cops during the 2020 riots didn't enjoy that)

One of the concerns I have with Baltimore is the city leadership historically. Generally they don't seem to be a tough on crime law and order type city like some of these florida sheriffs. In DC for example, they sent the feds in to clean up DC (im not sure if that makes DC police look good or incompetent)

What did you guys get yelled at for? Real Funny stories only.

I'll start, i kept turning my head to look at cadre when they came to yell at me from the side.

I’m a college student, and earlier this year I was investigated by campus police for damaging school property. I never attacked or physically hurt anyone, but I know other people were still affected by what happened, and I feel terrible about that. The police ended up turning the punishment side over to my school, so I was not arrested or charged or anything. Honestly, my school has been a lot more understanding than I probably deserve, and I am really grateful for that second chance.

Right after the incident, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and it was determined that I was having a manic episode at the time everything happened. Before this, I was not in therapy and genuinely did not know I had bipolar disorder. Looking back now, there were definitely warning signs, and I know I probably should have asked for help earlier, but at the time I was honestly terrified of being labeled crazy or being sent to a mental hospital.

Since the incident, I’ve started medication and therapy, and I have been trying really hard to work on myself and process some abusive things from my past that were huge trigger for the episode.

One of the hardest parts for me is that I genuinely do not remember a lot from that time period. I know that sounds made up, but I barely remember my birthday or other major events from around that time either.

Realizing afterward that I damaged property and hurt people emotionally while not fully understanding what was happening to me has honestly been one of the scariest and most painful experiences of my life. I don’t want to sound self-centered saying that because I know other people were impacted too.

I also do not want to sound like I’m blaming everything on bipolar disorder or trying to avoid accountability. It still happened. There was still damage. There was still an impact, even if there was no intent. I fully understand that.

At the same time, I’ve spent so much time crying and blaming myself for not getting help sooner. The people handling my school discipline keep telling me not to beat myself up over it because I didn’t know I had it  and didn’t choose to have bipolar disorder, but it’s honestly hard not to feel ashamed and guilty.

One of my school punishments is apologizing directly to the police officers for the time and energy they spent dealing with everything. I have the conversation with them soon over Zoom, and I am honestly really nervous. I’m a shy person, and I want to come across as genuine and respectful without sounding defensive or like I’m making excuses.

So I guess my question is: from a law enforcement perspective, what would you want to hear in an apology from someone in my situation? Are there things I should focus on or avoid saying?

Any advice would genuinely mean a lot to me. Thank you.

I know they have the power to since they are peace officers, but I’m wondering realistically do Investigators for either police departments or for state agencies, go code 3 or do traffic stops?

For state agencies I know most of the time they leave to field work straight from their house, so I would find it hard to think they do traffic stops but I’m wondering if anyone knows?

What’s the stupidest thing you’ve seen an applicant say or do during the hiring process that got them DQ’d?

Hello everyone, just wanted to share the good news that I've been working towards.. i have officially been hired/ sponsored by a local PD of mine and have been accepted into the Police Academy in my area. Any uncommon advice for a newcomer besides the normal warnings?

Long story short. I was just involved in a Hit and Run. I was stopped at a light and a truck kept going and rear ended me. He fled as i pulled to the side.
No major injuries, my car ended up in better shape than I anticipated. Still, minor car damage and whiplash on impact.
My Tesla dashcam recorded it. I have license plate. I am insured.
I was afraid to call the police… here’s why:
1)unpaid speeding ticket from slightly over a year ago
2)registration sticker is 2 years expired
3)my drivers license is a year expired

Realizing how stupid of it was for me to be lazy and not take care of these things.

Regardless, if you were to be the one to come onto my accident scene, what are the chances I would be arrested? Can I still report it hours later? Thank you!!

Hello! I’ve posted on here before about a few months ago and getting rejected from an agency because I “displayed a lot of anxiety and my personality wouldn’t fit the department” and I’m still having trouble getting a job. I was on a really good roll with one department but after my psychological they decided not to move forward with me and they wouldn’t tell me why. I think it’s cause I mentioned suicide at like 13 (never actually tried, it was only ever a thought) and never went to therapy for my past trauma but I also just never had the time or money to go to therapy. I just don’t know what departments want to hear. Like should I be honest about my past or should I have just not said anything? Getting my third rejection from a department makes it feel like I’m just not good enough to be an officer and should consider a different career path. I really don’t want to consider a different profession because this is what I want to do and this is what I’ve worked for so I feel like if I give up on myself now, what was the point of all my hard work and all that I’ve been working towards. I just need tips or advice cause I’m seriously not giving up.

Hey everyone, I just got the news I was non selected or placed on an eligibility list. I find it odd as I received a text from the chief three weeks ago asking if I was still interested, which to me seemed like we were about to move onto the chiefs interview. I’ve now gotten an email that says they moved onto another candidate and I can’t reapply within three years? Is that an excessive time? I was in backgrounds for about two months, and I’m confused that it would have taken this long to DQ me? I also took a CVSA but wasn’t told whether I passed or failed, and that itself was a month and a half ago with no word until the text.

Any speculation or thoughts are appreciated, I’m very bummed about this.

For all my fellow active LEOs out there, Im looking to see how many of you guys are choosing or are carrying non striker fired systems for a duty handgun.

Are any of you guys still carrying legacy DA/SA platforms like the Beretta 92 or SIG P226? If you are not, would you consider choosing it as an option?

I’ve been carrying the Beretta 92G (LTT Elite) for about a year now and it has been great to me. I’ll probably carry it for a long time.

Hello! I have decided to deep dive into law enforcement careers, and education. I want to eventually within a few years gradually become sworn in and have the job as a police officer. What are the best ways to start? How can I study to be prepared for the POST testing? Are there steps before POST? I want to help out my community, but also learn about crisis management.

Hey all. I’ve recently been given an opportunity to attend a DNR ICO recruit screening later this month and I’ve been going through it and got to the Social Media section and got slightly confused. It wants me to list my social media and video game usernames which isn’t an issue.

My first problem is that I’m trying to figure out if Discord falls under the “Instant Messaging” or not.

And my second issue is that in the past I had a e6 account which is something I am not proud of and terribly embarrassed about. I only had the account briefly (about one month) and I only used it to get access to a backup of a Wattpad story that had been taken down. I never made comments, liked or posted anything.

I am asking this because I would really like an opportunity to really help and protect people and I don’t want to accidentally omit any information on my application.

I did find posts on this sub saying that they only searched their facebook and such. I thought I would ask those of you here who are Law Enforcement about this.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

I’m a new officer, fresh out of academy. I feel slightly catfished by my department, the ego trips here are insane. There are a ton of other red flags that were hidden until I was mid academy, do I push through FTO or bounce now hoping I make it through fto?