Hello! You can call me bear. The main reason for posting this is that I have severe anxiety and ocd. As a child my dads family raised me to be scared of and resent cops. Obviously I do not hate cops, but the fear they taught me has remained. I am looking to make connections with officers in an attempt to stop having mini panic attacks when I see them while driving/out and about. 💙🖤

having a real tough time deciding my career, so lets see what the community thinks

my plan: ill just apply for the greencard lottery every year until i win, or until i get bored. i have 5 years of uni (doing a law and criminology degree,) if i get the degree i want, which i should, 95% chance i will. so i can apply for the next like, half a decade

ive seen a lot of AU cops complain about the job being boring, and so thats one issue. USA wins when it comes to cars and job opportunities in law enforcement i guess? what do you guys think, drop a comment if you can its helpful to me, thanks

ps: this is based on the following:

safety

equipment

community

the state/city you are in compared to australian cities and states

cost of liveability (dont think matters too much since the only expensive place is cali, and yet theres less taxes than sydney)

trying to see if the hassle of going through the whole immigration is worth it

I am an australian citizen, if i want to go work as a lawyer at 23, i should be able to become a cop at some point, right?

i picked age 23 because thats when i graduate, its a 5 year course. still a kid in year 10, but couple years left and this year is as good as done. when i graduate, i already have a university which should accept me looking at my marks.

double degree, law and criminology, want to become a detective at some point. I should take the BAR exam, work as a lawyer until age 26, and then join an american PD.

how do i get the "allowed to work under united states federal law" green card? cant i just be a lawyer, which is "allowed to work under federal law" and then apply for a PD?

for those wondering on why i cant stay in sydney, well heres why:

1. i know some people in the US and family in miami (ill never go to miami i hate it there)
2. cheaper. now california (major cities, LA, SD, etc) is roughly the same as sydney, but if i move there for a few years, ill be able to afford a house in another state for my retirement or something. and plus the salary is higher and theres less taxes, which is a big difference
3. i want to do good, so domestic violence, drugs, homelessness, etc. i want to make a difference in the community

the list goes on, wont list all the reasons but i have about 6 for this

my question: HOW DO I BECOME A COP IN THE US as an aussie (aiming for San Diego, San José or Los Angeles)

main reason is because i love SD and SJ, LA is just another option. i would go to LA tho despite being a ton of gangs and stuff

at least i can always go back to being a lawyer - no i am not a bot, yes this post was posted in multiple subreddits, so dont ban me for that

also, most cops in australia described it as more of a "park ranger" than a law enforcement job. not sure if thats true or not but i asked 3 different cops and they said that. dont want to be a park ranger

Hey all! LEO here in WI. Looking to relocate to the burbs of Parker County in 4-5 years. Have visited a few times and really looking to relocate. Would love anyone’s input on weather (tornados specifically) flooding, areas to avoid, etc. Being in Law Enforcement…would love to hear what other fellow LEOs think and suggest. Can verify if need be. Thanks so much!

Hey all. Not sure if this is the place for this, but I figured I’d ask anyways.

I am a low level DHS employee (as in basically as low as possible). My job offers a program after a year, where you can take a course in cyber, financial, organized crime, or counterterrorism intelligence. I am certain I want to take advantage of this, but don’t really know which to take.

I am between organized crime and counterterrorism. My life has been impacted in various ways by organized crime. I would love to play a part getting rid of it. That said though, based on recent political events, I am growing increasingly concerned that domestic terrorism is only going to become more common and severe.

I am 50/50 between them, so I guess what I’m asking is if anyone had experience in either, even in some other branch, and basically describe your job, how you like it, how stressful it is, etc. Any incite is appreciated.

I was watching a movie where someone had switched a weapon used in a crime with that of one of the investigating officers in order to hide it in plain site... and somehow managed to switch it back before being arrested and going to jail. That got me to thinking - do departments keep ballistic samples of service weapons in the remote chance that they may get used in a crime?

Am I crazy? I feel like I’m being black listed and run out of town. I live in a small college town on the west coast. After goin to school for a bit I decided my education could wait and became a police officer for the university. Everything was great for a while until I started getting pulled into the office of my Lieutenant more then often. This LT was a well connected guy, smart, and had done 30+ years in the career.

After I graduated the Academy I passed the field training for the department with no issues. I then found I had a skill for finding DUI drivers, I was even sent to a special training to better articulate my arrests and spot other types of DUI drivers besides alcohol DUIs. My department and other co workers saw my potential and one even recommended me for even more training and I was scheduled to become a phlebotomist in the summer. Eventually I started noticing my potential was being cut short due the small size of the department and it being for a college. I began looking for other departments to work for and eventually was offered a position at a new department.

The LT. found out I was leaving and pulled me into his office to confront me. After he confronted me things seemed to go down hill. I used to be able to go off the campus and look for things to do since the campus was a very quiet place to work. I got restricted to only being on campus and was told if I was caught off campus even though there was no policy or state law stating I was to stay only on campus I would be punished.

I eventually got handed an animal abuse case and was able to eventually solve the case even though I only had a year on. I made my arrest and booked the arrestee into jail thinking I would be praised for my work since it was a felony case.

At the same time I began dating a coworker I had become close to. She was a student working at the department and was set to graduate in May. We slowly became friends and were hanging outside of work a lot. She broke up with her boyfriend who also worked at the department. The ex found out we were dating and told the department about it. For reference this man was very emotionally abusive toward my now wife and mother of my son. She even claimed he SA her during the relationship. He was not a great guy to say the least.

Days after I made the arrest I was pulled into an office and confronted about me dating a student, even though we were a year apart in age, and was accused of making a false arrest which is a huge accusation.

The funny part was an officer that used to work the department dated a student but received no punishment and as for my arrest in my report and on body camera the arrestee admitted to committing the crime. They also stated I intimidated a victim into cooperating even though the victim was the university itself. I had a representative from the university state they would be pressing charges and had to explain the process multiple times which I guess was my mistake. And the representative considered it to be intimidation.

I was grilled and I had nothing to hide so I told them what they wanted to hear. After being pulled in the office I was given a lot of paper on my file which cause the department I had gotten an offer from to rescind their offer. I began scrambling and applying for departments across the state but kept getting denied since it appeared to other places I was a bad egg.

I eventually landed a job for another department in the local area which was nice since I didn’t have to move.

Again all was going well until I started my field training. Eventually I found out that since I came from a college department nobody considered me a real candidate or a real cop. I tried to keep my nose clean but eventually I slipped up.

I was late to work due to a miscommunication in the set arrival time. Not to mention my now wife had just lost her father and was pregnant which caused me to not get much sleep since I was taking care of her when I got home. At the time I happened to be riding with a SGT who seemed very eager to get paper on my file.

He wrote me up for being late 1-2 minutes multiple times, speeding, using my phone while driving, and for a bad attitude. Again the funny thing is I have observed other people on the department speeding, using the phones while driving, guy being late by an hour, and having bad attitudes but since I was in training I deserved to be punished. My training was extended and I was put on a work plan the required me to show up to the office 10 mins early and check in with out pay.

I thought things were getting better since after my extended training period I was out on solo status and was able to be by myself finally and pursue my passion for DUIs.

My first day solo I was attacked by 3 dogs and ended up on the hospital for a week for infections. I didn’t even get to finish my first day solo.

Eventually I was discharged and went back to work. I was stuck in court for a DUI trail and eventually won the trial. I was thinking things were going my way finally. I had been out of the hospital, won my first trial, had my newly wed wife by my side and a baby boy on the way. Again I was very wrong.

Eventually I messed up again and I was late due to me and my wife arguing. I believed since I had proven myself to the department I could finally be treated like the other guys who had been late.

I assumed wrong and was reprimanded by my SGT for being late regardless of staying late to make up for the time. I didn’t argue with the SGT I took the reprimand and didn’t contest it. Eventually my SGT pulled me in again and stated I was messing up again. He gave me a list with things he wanted me to change. I took the list to heart and believed I changed.

I was sitting at home when I got a call from my new LT. He came to my home and served me a notice that I was not to return to work. I was placed on a paid administrative leave for unknown reasons. They did have me come in to label evidence videos of mine and correct reports.

After that day I was told to go home and stay by my phone to come in on their request and to notify them if I left town.

Frankly I’m scared. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong since they won’t tell me and I’ve got bills to pay, a wife to support, and a baby on the way.

It seems to me that I’m being forced out and I am not welcome in this town anymore. I live being a cop and helping people, I wanna get dangerous drivers off the street. Am I crazy or am I just bad at my job? Do I deserve this treatment? Please help.

I live in a small unincorporated town with no law enforcement presence and none less than 30 miles. We have some neighbors who like to make loud disturbing noises late at night up and down the road. When we call it in we are told the county has no noise ordinance so they cant do anything. Although, I'm confident my state has applicable laws on this, what gives? How can I handle this without ending up arrested for terroristic threats or something worse?

How do I check if someone has a warrant?? The individual doesn't want to go in person as he is currently in a rehab.

EMT here. Sometimes on calls with PD officers will be there in plain clothes but with an outer vest and visible duty belt. Just wondering what’s the deal with this.

Stay safe

Hello, i was reading this article

https://www.nbcmiami.com/investigations/bso-investigating-complaint-deputy-used-handcuffs-as-brass-knuckles-to-hit-suspect/2942395/

about a cop that used his handcuffs as "brass knuckles" to beat a suspect and it got me thinking

"what other alternative uses are there for handcuffs"?

i have seen things like

https://www.flickr.com/photos/althouse/5513474229

where people handcuffed doors together, i have also heard of prison guards handcuffing prisoners together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1puZ-PhNW4w&ab_channel=DREAMERS

or guys getting handcuffed to fences

so i wanted to ask you guys, what other alternative uses to handcuffs have you seen?

thank you

Recently received a conditional offer of employment. Want to make sure I actually get the job now. What should I expect from the medical and psych exams? Is there anything I should do to prepare and do the medical staff/evaluators get my background packet? Feel like that’s sensitive stuff I don’t want floating around.

Writing a crime drama that takes place in a fictional town in southern Arizona. A section of the story takes place in the 1980's.

If you served anywhere in the southwest it would be helpful. The smaller the town the better.

I want to be up front and say my questions will be dealing with officers that aren't bad people, but make bad choices. Leading to them covering up their own crime.

I passed all the steps to get into the academy but failed the psych because I speak to a psychiatrist once a month and am on anti depressant medication. I have no criminal or drug/alcohol history and have never been suicidal. I have been given the opportunity to appeal the decision by writing a letter explaining why I think the psych decision is wrong, and I would be a good fit to be a police officer. I was hoping you guys could give me some advice on what to put in that letter(as well as stuff I should keep out) I'm thinking my best bet is to talk about my three years experience working as an EMT while on anti depressant medication and speaking to a psychiatrist and how I faced, similar stresses a Police, Officer, might face.

Thank you

I was pulled over on my motorcycle a few weeks ago. The first moment I realized was when the sheriff was holding my handlebar and telling me to step off while I was at a red light. No lights, sirens, or any other indicators that I was being pulled over. Would this fly in court, or is it something that would be thrown out? I feel that it's pretty unsafe to do that, as if I was armed, I would've drawn my handgun, not knowing they were law enforcement; it was 11pm, dark, and no light poles.

I am looking for a Quick Disconnect style release for magazines for my duty belt. Similar to the Safariland QLS or the Bladetech Tek-Mount. Does anyone know of any compatible systems, stand alone systems or have examples I can take a look at?

I have been looking online but haven’t seen any sets ups or both items sold together.

Hey guys. I’m an average guy with a clean record that wants to be a cop. My preference would be sheriffs department but I’d also like to be a municipal if possible.

I’m type one diabetic, the kind that’s insulin dependent. I have a sensor and an insulin pump that I wear at all times and my levels are phenomenal.

What are my chances of getting hired on as a patrol officer? It’s my dream job since I was a kid and I’d hate myself if I didn’t at least try.

Hi all, I plan on becoming a law enforcement officer but haven’t hit the gym in a few years. What is a good routine you can put me on to get to the level I want to be at?

My buddy, let's call him Jared. Jared is a LEO and has just had the shittiest of fuckin' luck as of late and I fear it's getting to him. Earlier this year his partner died from a contact high off of Fent. Last month he responded to a call about a crazed man on PCP wielding a knife threatening a gas station. Man charged Jared and Jared did what he had to do.

We drink and play League of Legends online sometimes, just to shoot the shit which is good because it lets him vent to me. Having a few and playing with the boys is one thing, but he gets black out at least twice a month during these game nights. Let alone the times he's blacked out whenever I'm not around.

He's also in this new relationship and he's having such an incredible time, but since he has Asperger's he's always just so nervous that he's gonna fuck it all up somehow. To make it worse, this girl threw herself a birthday party yesterday but only her family + Jared attended. Man's a god damned wreck but somehow holding it all together, what the fuck can I even say to this man?

So weird question.. I just started in law enforcement in the last couple weeks.. obviously I bring a cooler everyday with lunch/drinks and have to repack ice/ice packs in it everyday.. so my question is.. has anyone ever just put like a small 12V refrigerator in the back of their car? (Obviously one made for vehicles like Dometic, Iceco, etc.. not residential/dorm style ones).. it seems like a stupid idea but also a really smart idea..

Hope the title is clear enough. This can apply to any specialized team at your agency that works on a call out system.

I have recently joined the SWAT team at my agency and on our last training day, we tested our call out system with all of the new members. Currently, the call out system is a text message from out dispatch system. It sends out a customized message that tells officers where to respond. When we did the test message, it took 18 minutes for the first person to receive the message. Some people never received the message. This obviously will not work and we cannot figure out why it is like this.

What other methods/applications does your agency use to call out specialty teams? I am looking to propose new ideas to the team commander and agency.

Alot of members liked the CAD text system because it allowed you to save the phone number as a contact and set special ringtones to that contact (like a loud alarm to wake you up). Being able to customize the alert tone would be nice so officers could choose the tone that would wake them from a deep sleep.

I have been working as an EMT for over 2 years now. Before then never in a million years would I think I would ever want to become a cop. But working alongside law enforcement on many 911 calls has inspired me to pursue a career as a police officer. I used to think being a cop was just "enforcing the law" I see now that it is much more than that. I like how the police are on scene first to almost every call and respond to the widest variety of calls. Anyway, if there are any people here who started out as EMTs or Paramedics and went into LE id love to hear your story about what made you want to become a police officer and also how you feel jobs are similar and different from one another.

Don't get me wrong im glad they are not. The amount of time money and effort these people spend in buying gear, lights and vehicles is much less than what it takes to get through a city police academy. I'm not even trying to make a joke but I feel like the reason most of them are not actual cops is because they cannot pass the psych exam. Because every person I've met who is like this( I work in security and EMS so I have met a lot of people like this) seems not on the spectrum but just kind of "off" I don't know how else to describe it.

I was hoping I could speak with any MTA Police Officers here on what its like to work for the MTA Police and what are typical calls you go on what a typical day is like.

Before you ask, no, I haven't reached out to a recruiter yet. In the same way, I don't talk to a car salesman before I make up my mind on the make/model I want.

I'm a cop in Louisiana. Been working here since I was 20, and switched from one SO (2y) to a PD (3y). I'm 25 yo, so I've got a total of 5 years on.

I'm originally from the South Side and have been visiting a lot recently due to family/funerals/that sort of thing. I've always kinda played with the idea of just working in Chicago. I flew back in yesterday and realized I'm missing too many moments with my family. And I want back in.

So here's what I need to know: How long is the application process now? As a kid, it felt notoriously long, but I have no clue now. I have some business to attend to here, finish paying off my car (End of Year), paid for trips, scheduled surgery, that sort of thing.

So optimally, I wouldn't want to start until midway through 2024, at the earliest.

When should I take the test? It seems like they're coming out almost monthly, so can I apply and just fly out the next month? From passing score to starting the process (POWER Test/Background etc), how long? And what will I be reasonably expected to be in town for? [Where I'm at now, they condense it all into like a week for out of towners, and you just show up - Background done separately.]

How many academies are there a year? And how long from completion of process to start?

I'm mainly trying to see if I should take the test as soon as possible, and then maybe hope to start by 2025. Or if manpower is so low, I may take the test and have to upend my life quicker than I would like. So strategy would be more important.

If available, do y'all do holdovers, where I can do it all and then wait for the next academy within reason?

Bonus points: Should I just move home and become a hose dragger instead?

PS: No house/mortgage, unmarried, two cats, one soon to be paid off vehicle, and pretty decent savings. Realistically, I'm working in a "hellhole city", so that part doesn't worry me too much.

Thanks in advance!

I'm referring to cars that have no police decals(or very faint police deals that can only been seen from up-close) or roof lights but are OBVIOSULY police cars. They cant for undercover operations right? These cars still look exactly like a regular marked police car with the same model, front bumper and spotlight thingy. So what is the purpose of these cars?

Thank You and stay safe