Decreased Interest In Law Enforcement Jobs

W

WhatInThe

SF VIP
Apparently this is decrease in the interest of law enforcement jobs or those who want to become a police officer. Some blame it on the scrutiny a cop might come under.

http://wbay.com/2015/02/19/target-2-investigates-dramatic-drop-in-law-enforcement-careers/

Personally I think many have torpedoed a potential law enforcement career with some criminal behavior before or after 18 like drug use or culture. I heard years ago many departments were having problems find enough applicants who had limited drug use in their lives. Heard some department had to raise the number of previous uses of drugs to over a dozen-that's not an experimenting college freshman at that point.
 

I worked for a Sheriff's Dept. for over 26 years as a general (non L.E.) employee, retiring in 2012. I recently applied to return to my former position, and had to undergo the same background investigation as new-hires. I didn't pass, due to substance abuse from the late 60s-early 70s. O.K., just wasn't meant to be.

My take: public agencies, particularly law enforcement agencies are guided through the minefield of the litigious enviornment that is today's society by their legal counsel. As such, the department's legal counsel advises tight hiring procedures, period. If they have to reject 99 out of 100 job applicants, it's work the effort so as to insure that all employees are "bullet-proof" while being cross examined by 'hostile' counsel.
 
The funny thing as in many a location unless you have an adult felony conviction/record a politician can shoe horn in some of the most questionable candidates as they can with any government job. And that's another issue I know people that refuse to play the political game no matter what's at stake. Here it's known that if you want a government job, especially one in law enforcement you need a politician as a reference. If you don't know one you are supposed to volunteer for a politician of the party in power. Work at least one election and volunteer in their office and/or for odd jobs. Creepy.

But when the military can't recruit people who can do a push up or walk a mile finding qualified police candidates shouldn't be a surprise. I still think such a large percentage of the job pool is so contaminated early in life their career choices are limited by the time they are 21.
 

I agree with all the above comments but consider this: the police are being subjected to extreme criticism from all sides because EVERYONE thinks they know what a police officer does and those folks could do it much better. I'll grant that there are a few bad apples, those come with the territory. But the vast majority of the ones I knew were the original Don Quixotes. They are there to serve and protect but when they've been beaten over the head and shoulders about how bad they are, they start to look elsewhere. Why would anyone put their life on the line, go through the academy for as little money as they make starting out and the rotten hours. Plus as we've seen over the past several years, their pensions can be put into jeopardy by any municipality. My hats off to the ones who stay, but I understand why a young person wouldn't want to take those kinds of chances for what they make in the beginning.
 
mporta said:
I agree with all the above comments but consider this: the police are being subjected to extreme criticism from all sides because EVERYONE thinks they know what a police officer does and those folks could do it much better. I'll grant that there are a few bad apples, those come with the territory. But the vast majority of the ones I knew were the original Don Quixotes. They are there to serve and protect but when they've been beaten over the head and shoulders about how bad they are, they start to look elsewhere. Why would anyone put their life on the line, go through the academy for as little money as they make starting out and the rotten hours. Plus as we've seen over the past several years, their pensions can be put into jeopardy by any municipality. My hats off to the ones who stay, but I understand why a young person wouldn't want to take those kinds of chances for what they make in the beginning.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
The media and the Brown shooting last fall has so vilified police that I can't blame anyone for not going into law enforcement.

Risk being killed for peanuts? No thanks.

Gene
 
There are smaller towns/cities in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Colorado that don't have to put up with the crap that most "big city" Officer's have to.
 
GeneMO said:
The media and the Brown shooting last fall has so vilified police that I can't blame anyone for not going into law enforcement.

Risk being killed for peanuts? No thanks.

Gene
Click to expand...

Yeah..... Hell... why shouldn't they be allowed to shoot unarmed kids and choke sick fat men who are begging to breathe... Heck.. If they can't do that, why WOULD they want to go into law enforcement... takes all the fun out of it..
 
Oh boy.......here we go AGAIN!! Guess someone needs to explain to you that a person doesn't need a weapon to hurt/kill someone. They can do it with their body. Another thing, COOPERATING with Officers is the best thing to do so bad things don't happen. Of course, your idea of "cooperating" and mine, along with law enforcement, could definitely be different. But, oh well. Whatever "floats your boat" or "to each their own".

QuickSilver said:
Yeah..... Hell... why shouldn't they be allowed to shoot unarmed kids and choke sick fat men who are begging
Click to expand...
 
City police departments face shortages all the time. The reasons are obvious; bad guys out number police officers, bad guys have better weapons than local police officers, local police officers are often found guilty of crimes before all the facts are even presented and other reasons. State Police have been called upon in several cities and small towns to support the local police.

In PA, the State Police is usually in full force. We do not have unlimited funds for training and weapons, but we are well prepared to protect the public. I don't believe anyone outside the force has ever seen all the resources that we have available. I think Texas does an outstanding job of supporting their Rangers, or at least they did.
 
Thank you, 911, for stating this. Now, if more folks would listen and understand.

911 said:
City police departments face shortages all the time. The reasons are obvious; bad guys out number police officers, bad guys have better weapons than local police officers, local police officers are often found guilty of crimes before all the facts are even presented and other reasons. State Police have been called upon in several cities and small towns to support the local police.

In PA, the State Police is usually in full force. We do not have unlimited funds for training and weapons, but we are well prepared to protect the public. I don't believe anyone outside the force has ever seen all the resources that we have available. I think Texas does an outstanding job of supporting their Rangers, or at least they did.
Click to expand...
 
Many cities are facing budget cuts and financial messes, at least here in PA they are. Cities can't afford the weapons that police need to do their jobs effectively. Carrying a pistol or a shotgun will help, no doubt about it, but with the bad guys carrying automatic weapons that fire off a hundred rounds in the blink of an eye, why shouldn't the local police be very cautious when facing them down? This is why I used to tell every school kid when I visited them at their school to comply when a policeman gives you an order. They have no idea what you may be carrying and they don't want to play nicey nicey and find out that you had a FN 57 that shoots armor piercing rounds stuck behind your belt. Most State Police have much more powerful weapons available to them. The cops have to be on an equal playing field with the bad guys. I carried a .45, a taser, a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun and another really nice persuader, which I can't mention. I know some people disagree with the "military" styles that the police carry out, but we cannot allow the bad guys to have an edge on us. Just look at some of the stuff they carry. Most of it comes in from out of the country and is illegal in the U.S. for a reason.
 
Thank you AGAIN, 911! Keep it up!

911 said:
Many cities are facing budget cuts and financial messes, at least here in PA they are. Cities can't afford the weapons that police need to do their jobs effectively. Carrying a pistol or a shotgun will help, no doubt about it, but with the bad guys carrying automatic weapons that fire off a hundred rounds in the blink of an eye, why shouldn't the local police be very cautious when facing them down? This is why I used to tell every school kid when I visited them at their school to comply when a policeman gives you an order. They have no idea what you may be carrying and they don't want to play nicey nicey and find out that you had a FN 57 that shoots armor piercing rounds stuck behind your belt. Most State Police have much more powerful weapons available to them. The cops have to be on an equal playing field with the bad guys. I carried a .45, a taser, a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun and another really nice persuader, which I can't mention. I know some people disagree with the "military" styles that the police carry out, but we cannot allow the bad guys to have an edge on us. Just look at some of the stuff they carry. Most of it comes in from out of the country and is illegal in the U.S. for a reason.
Click to expand...
 
QuickSilver said:
Yeah..... Hell... why shouldn't they be allowed to shoot unarmed kids and choke sick fat men who are begging to breathe... Heck.. If they can't do that, why WOULD they want to go into law enforcement... takes all the fun out of it..
Click to expand...

Aww grouchy bear needs a big hug.
 
Being a Police Officer is quickly becoming the Most Thankless Job in the country. Between all the the bad publicity the police have received as a result of a couple of questionable incidents in the past year, and people like Al Sharpton who are using these types of incidents to incite public opinion for personal gain, the police are having to walk softly every time they approach a suspect. Most of us will never have any interaction with the police, other than perhaps a minor traffic violation stop, but a policeman never knows if he will make it home on a given day after having to confront a deranged criminal.

There is certainly room for some improvement in the attitudes of that small percentage of "Rambo" types that might be present in many police departments, but they are probably only a small percentage of the overall force. Most of the police are just trying to keep the lid on the millions of misfits that are roaming our streets, and keeping the bulk of us from becoming victims and statistics. As such, it serves No Good purpose to vilify all police for the rare actions of a few. Unless a person wants to walk around with a pistol on their hip, we Need to support our law enforcement agencies.
 
Unfortunately... it's the Rambo types that seem to make it in the news... isn't it? AND it casts all Police officers in a bad light.. BUT that isn't any different than any other group.. It's really only the law breakers... or the gang bangers, or the Radicals that make it to our collective consciousness.. It's NEVER the law abiding people who go to work, support their families and live respectably. So lamenting over Police officers isn't taking into consideration ALL the other people that are tarnished by the misbehavers in their group and the stereotyping that has gone on forever.
 
Not necessarily true (in red below). Look at all the GOOD "family" type people who do good things for other folks during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

And, there are really DESCENT/NICE officers that make the news quite a bit. The news shows them getting awards for bravery, etc. National News even showed that one officer who was hugging the little black kid who wanted peace in his neighborhood.

Believe me, I know there are some bad officers out there, but when it comes to defending themselves, I will continue to support those that see it necessary to use deadly force to do it. I will also continue to say "it's simple......follow the orders an officer gives!" And, I will also give full support to what our member "911" says.


QuickSilver said:
Unfortunately... it's the Rambo types that seem to make it in the news... isn't it? AND it casts all Police officers in a bad light.. BUT that isn't any different than any other group.. It's really only the law breakers... or the gang bangers, or the Radicals that make it to our collective consciousness.. It's NEVER the law abiding people who go to work, support their families and live respectably.
Click to expand...
 
ClassicRockr said:
Not necessarily true (in red below). Look at all the GOOD "family" type people who do good things for other folks during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

And, there are really DESCENT/NICE officers that make the news quite a bit. The news shows them getting awards for bravery, etc. National News even showed that one officer who was hugging the little black kid who wanted peace in his neighborhood.

Believe me, I know there are some bad officers out there, but when it comes to defending yourself, as an officer, I will continue to back those that have to use deadly force to do it. I will CONTINUE to say "it's simple......follow the orders an officer gives!" And, I will also CONTINUE to support what our member "911" says.
Click to expand...

tsk
 
QuickSilver said:
Unfortunately... it's the Rambo types that seem to make it in the news... isn't it? AND it casts all Police officers in a bad light.. BUT that isn't any different than any other group.. It's really only the law breakers... or the gang bangers, or the Radicals that make it to our collective consciousness.. It's NEVER the law abiding people who go to work, support their families and live respectably. So lamenting over Police officers isn't taking into consideration ALL the other people that are tarnished by the misbehavers in their group and the stereotyping that has gone on forever.
Click to expand...
So what is your point? The media is biased ?
collective consious - haven' t heard that Socialist term since studing sociology in college, differences in tribes, capitalism, communism, Lenism, Marxism, democracy, when the terms get misused. Thanks -- Don't feel sad though I will mentally tag it next to Jungs collective subconscious, were the name was taken.
 
Love University of Chicaga stuff, especially Milton Freedman. In Econometrics we used to get out Durkheims Division of Labor for some laughs. That's the guy that invented collective consious, but you knew that. What most people don't know is that Karl Marx was a collaborator and co-author.
 
My take. When I first worked for General Dynamics I was in the communications Dept., Still and Video section. I worked night and weekends as a photo journalist. I worked very closely with Law Enforcement/Fire operations in Southern California. While doing than I gained many friends in both Police an Fire. I saw many fine officers, guys who actually loved their job and wanted to help. I also saw the rare exception within the police/Sheriff/Highway Patrol officers. Violence is the name of the game often, mostly less than injury or fatal violence. Back in my day, while working in this capacity I saw many instances where I marveled at the patience of some officers when dealing with belligerent citizens. I also saw situations where officers baited subject into more trouble than they originally could be charged with and were subsequently able to tack on a resisting or assault on officer charge, or maybe a attempted escape. Cops jobs are tougher now and they should be. Citizens need to feel their law enforcement is fair. Scrutiny ensures professionalism in the field. Police are often bum rapped by media, but not always.
The word is balance. I will say that since I worked in the field police face more violence by far than they once did.
Cops are people, only people. Even most cops don't like the "hotdog" cop.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top