r/ProtectAndServe

I'm in my late 20s, and have somewhat built the beginning of my career in operations for a small business. I don't particularly enjoy what I do, and am looking to make a change.

I have always been interested in civil service since I was at least 16, but for a number of personal reasons I never made the jump. I'm at a point in my life I think I need to try and find out if this is what I want to do.

I've been doing a bunch of homework and read many threads, but wanted to see if I could get any direct advice about potentially becoming a LEO when you're in your late 20s and still figuring out your career.

Hi. Thank you to all who took the time to read my post. I’m interested in joining law enforcement but I actually have no idea where to start. I sent an email to my local city’s police recruit office but I didn’t get a reply. I go to the gym already but I focus mostly on lifting, plan is to focus on cardio/endurance. I’m currently enrolled in college for my undergrad in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic psychology - hoping this will help me in the future. I also was looking at the self sponsored route but unsure if that is a waste of time as I have not seen much online about this. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

So, this guy is in handcuffs and the police woman asks him if he’s ever been arrested for anything before? He mentions possession. They had found meth hidden in seat. He mentions a woman named “Sarah”. I started watching late, so I didn’t know exactly who she was to him. maybe a friend or his girlfriend. They also find a bottle prescription of Xanax. It has her name on it. Now, I don’t know if it was tampered with or not. What he told the officer tngggthat he went to the pharmacy to pick up the medication for his friend. The officer tells him that he can’t do that. It’s illegal. I literally looked at the screen and said, “what????? Since when”? But, what the fck? Is this true in different states?

I believe it was Florida, but I’m not sure.

Hey all, I wanted to get everyone’s thoughts on this. I am a recently retired LEO and will unfortunately be attending a LODD funeral for an old coworker of mine.

In the past, I have always saluted during LODD funerals, but I was actively serving as an LEO and in uniform.

Do I still salute now that I am a civilian and not in uniform? Or is it more acceptable to place my hand on my heart.

Thanks.

I’m 18 and I want to be a cop for my city it’s not that big but has a good amount of action but I just wanna know if any cops in SoCal or anyone that just knows a lot about SoCal police departments can give me there opinion on the best department to work for
And this mean how good is the pay
The politics
The action, I don’t wanna be sitting around all day and writing tickets
And what not

Irvine, CA

Everyday between 1 am to 5 am local business just on other side of small street here has truck deliveries. Large semi trucks with hydraulic gates, mechanical dollies and at least a ton of supplies they drop off. Graveyard shift police either ignore them or complain I am the one with problem that I should just move and close my windows. Even with windows all closed, you can still hear all the beeping and hydraulic clanking. Impossible to sleep when always woken up. The police said they are in commercial zone so entitled to do whatever they want and it's my fault for choosing apartment by there. How was I suppose to know they would deliver crazy hours in middle of night when everyone else tries to sleep?

I’m 19, and a volunteer police cadet in a college town in Oregon. I’ve been doing it for 3 years and I love being a cadet, it’s given me structure, and I’m grateful for all the mentorship I’ve received from officers.

I’m finishing up my first year of college right now, and it’s been going well, but one thing I’ve struggled with is not really being able to do the same stuff that my peers do because I am a cadet. Feels like all my friends everyone I went to high school with is in the party scene at the local college or using weed, both of which I’m technically prohibited from doing under the cadet code of conduct. I guess I’m just struggling because I want to do ‘normal’ college stuff, a lot of it, especially highly visible stuff like partying doesn’t feel right while being w cadet. Even a couple advisors who were cadets previously, have talked about drinking in college, and said that pretty much everyone including cops did it. On one of my first ride alongs the officer even told me “don’t let this program stop you from having fun.”

Anyone have any advice or navigate college while being in cadets/explorers? Should I just loosen up and have fun while being smart about it? Should I find friends who are into different stuff? If it matters I’m not dead set on going into law enforcement, and if I do I’m considering only doing it after working a few years in education. Any perspective is appreciated.

Hi everyone,
I am in England and about to start a job in a residential children's home next week. My manager is about to submit my Enhanced DBS check.
Last year, I was stopped and searched by the police. No arrest was made, I was not taken to the station, and I did not receive a caution, cannabis warning, or fine. It resulted in completely No Further Action (NFA).
I am really anxious that this local police log will show up under the "other relevant information" section of my Enhanced DBS check and ruin my job opportunity.
Has anyone seen a standard, non-arrest stop-and-search get disclosed on an Enhanced check before? Does it meet the threshold for a safeguarding risk? Thanks in advance.
(I did have a small spliff)

My husband recently retired after serving for 14 years. He wasn't up for retirement, nor did he want to. But mentally he couldn't take the judicial system anymore.

For my husband it was a particular case. Frequent flyers for a decade, husband constantly beating the shit out of his wife. She finally left him in 2021. Ex started a campaign of terror against her. Every 3 months or so he would "cross the line" and get arrested, let out the next day. Repeat. For 5 years. My husband went to every single hearing, spoke directly to the DA, tried to show the body cam footage of that POS laughing while being arrested and saying "I'll be out tomorrow they don't give a shit about that bitch." Last time he was arrested was January 26. He was actually kept in jail for the weekend. He got released Monday, went straight to his ex wives work and stabbed her to death.

That man had been arrested TWENTY THREE times in a 5 year period for stalking, agg assault, harassment, you name it. Multiple members of the force would speak to the DA's office explaining how much of a danger and threat he was. The ex wife had protective orders and even when my husband arrest him for violating them, the judges wouldn't do shit.

He just felt there was no point in putting his life at risk to protect the public, when the judicial system made it impossible.

I'm curious how others cope with this sort of PTSD? I knew mentally it was heavy on my husband. After she was killed, he was first on scene and apparently completely broke down. He had to be taken away in an ambulance. When I go to the hospital he just looked at me and said "I'm done." and I knew he meant it. His LT tried to convince him to stay on for pension, but he was done. He's in counseling and seems to be getting slightly better. But still has nightmares almost every night.

I suppose this post is to vent about the judicial system, ask about helping him and really just to see if this is a one off thing. I'm not a police officer. He tried very hard not to mix family and work so I'm not even a creepy wife of a LEO who thinks she's a cop. I'm just trying to get understanding. Thank you all for reading.

I work in a certain retail store, on more than one occasion an officer will pull someone over in the store's parking lot. Most of the time they let the person go. But there have been times when the driver is arrested and the vehicle is just left in the lot. Is there a reason why the store manager is never informed of what happened? Is it a privacy or confidentiality matter of the person who was arrested? It can cause confusion when there is a vehicle in the lot but no customer in the store. We are not supposed to have cars there over night. We had an issue once where the vehicle was in the way of a delivery truck. It would just be nice to be notified. "Yeah, we had to arrest dipshit But he says he will have his brother pick his car up."

Hello everyone! I’m going for my first ride along next week and am wondering if anyone has any tips? Like If you’ve been on a ride along, what can I do to prepare and what can I do to help make the most of my experience? If you’re an officer, what types of things can I do/not do to help make it as smooth as possible for everyone. I’ll be bringing snacks and water and dressing comfortably but presentable. Any advice is appreciated and welcome! Thank you in advance!