Acting as an intermediary between law and chaos can be stressful, and means that there are many pros and cons of being a cop. Comraderies among peers also deflect negative work thoughts. There are many instances throughout a police officer's day-to-day work where they can decide how to respond to a situation using their own best judgement and wisdom rather than a strict law. Police officers toe the thin blue line between lawfulness and illegal acts, due to their unique position in society. Hence, you will have a huge responsibility in this regard and under pressure, chances are that you will also make wrong decisions sooner or later. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Many organizations allow workouts on duty and participate in dietetic and nutritional training for their employees. Resources in the criminal justice system are limited and must be used efficiently. Probation officers supervise criminal offenders who have been sentenced to a period of probation rather than incarceration. To begin, it can result in unnecessary escalation, injury or death. College-educated officers are also less likely to shoot their guns. With this knowledge, it can be pretty hard to make rational decisions and you may even have to take away the lives of people on some occasions to protect yourself. There are advantages and disadvantages of police discretion, just like there are pros and cons of being a cop. As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. Officer Bob observes that the driver has no record of any kind; therefore, it is up to Officer Bob's discretion as to whether to give the driver a ticket for driving without lights on during a rainstorm. WebOne important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Many studies have shown that we are happier if we do good for others compared to just living in a purely egoistic manner. Officer Bob receives a dispatch alert that there is a suspect on foot in the area who just held up a bank. Police discretion, however, has been criticized because it may result in the incorrect application of certain statutes and thereby violate someone's rights, such as their right to not be subjected to unlawful search and seizure as defined by the Fourth Amendment. Over the past years, there has also been a trend of people losing respect for the police. Pro: Youre a hero! In fact, this can get really nasty, especially if your mistakes have led to serious adverse outcomes. Since you will have to resolve conflicts on a regular basis and also have many stressful days during your career, chances are that you will stay in shape. Hence, if you want to have this high social standing and the admiration of others, becoming a police officer or nurse practitioner can be the right way to go for you in this regard. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. I did the same when I started working in consulting after finishing my Masters degree in Economics. There are various reasons why the use of police discretion is a positive aspect of a police officer's position. In turn, you will have pretty good job prospects and dont have to fear losing your job due to automatization in the near future. Police body cameras provide visual and audio evidence that can independently verify events. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer so you can make a profound decision of whether you still want to become a police officer or not. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. In order to perform their duties, police must make quick determinations and use their best judgment in situations like whether to draw/fire a weapon, issue a traffic ticket, make an arrest, search someone, or stop or assist a person. Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). While you will not get rich in most cases, you will still be able to provide a decent life for you and your family. However, the majority of the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers ensure on our streets. Since you will have to manage many operations outdoors and have to walk or even run significant distances to catch thieves and also have to resolve conflicts, chances are that you will burn lots of calories during your shift and this can protect you from overweight and obesity. The Disadvantages of Being a Police OfficerDanger Is Everywhere. The biggest issue with being a police officer is the simple fact that it is extremely dangerous. Pay Is Disappointing. You would think that with all of the dangers associated with being a police officer that the pay would reflect that, but sadly, it doesnt.Crazy Hours. Training Is Crazy. There had even been cases where police officers joined radical groups that are forbidden by our constitution and local laws. Similarly, community-oriented policing emphasizes building relationships with citizens to identify and respond to community crime problems. Officers utilize their discretion on the job constantly, as they make decisions while performing routine duties, while in the heat of the moment, and while they are alone with no partner or backup to consult with. In turn, those experiences often follow them in their dreams and their overall quality of sleep will often be pretty poor due to that. Hence, you can make really strong bonds during your career as a police officer and can even make friends for a lifetime. Uniform Stories features a variety of contributors. Although juries do have instructions, it is ultimately up to all twelve individuals to use their discretion when hearing a case and evaluating the facts. Police officers have a duty to serve and protect their communities, but some officers may be discouraged by the fact that crimes will continue to be committed no matter what. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. If you make mistakes, you may also get fired. You will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. Hence, dont think that your job as a police officer is entirely safe. Discretion in criminal justice is present at all levels of the system and in its bureaucracies. Police officers are given the freedom to use police discretion and make decisions on the job and in the heat of the moment. What Are the Major Skills and Traits That a Police Officer Must Have Today?Communication Skills. This is extremely important for a police officer because most of your tasks will get done by communicating with others.Writing Skills. Police officers often need to write incidents reports. Active Listen er. Ability to Obtain Knowledge. Adaptability. Attention to Details. Critical Thinking. Friendly. Empathy and Compassion. More items A college education helps officers become better at identifying quality information and scientific evidence. After reading this article, you will get more aware of all the chances and dangers of becoming a police officer and you may even change your mind due to that. And damn, its a great job! For example, internships and service-learning opportunities in college provide future police officers a chance to develop civic engagement skills. Thus, make sure that you are willing to work hard if you really aspire to a police officer career. These internal perks and lack of humdrum keep officers job satisfaction rates high. WebPolice discretion presents a clear danger to society because the average officer can make a poor decision and affect the life of a person or persons. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many Specialty assignments hone in on someones individual talents whether they are born or made. Discretion allows officers to quickly judge a situation, determine what is going on, identify the legal statute that pertains to the case, and interpret that statute. Many police officers receive medical, vision and dental insurance. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol in an area known for drug trafficking. Imagine that Officer Bob is on patrol when he notices that an automobile is driving in the rain without its lights on, which is against the law in the state. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. Share it! Flexible working hours Many security officers have the opportunity to choose their own schedules or work In many states, it is also not easy to become a police officer. This can be quite problematic since police officers may attack uninvolved residents due to their paranoia. Research has found that when police departments use community-policing strategies, people are more satisfied with how police serve their community and view them as more legitimate. Many people will also secretly admire you for what you are doing for them. In fact, it can even make you much stronger and overcoming our fears is crucial to really grow in character and to develop a more stable personality. Being a police officer also implies making difficult decisions. Police discretion allows officers to make decisions when a clear solution may not exist. If your colleagues make mistakes, you could potentially lose your life. Since police officers see so many bad things during their careers, they often also lose all their childish delusions of a nice world pretty soon. All rights reserved. We are selective of where we dine. In fact, teamwork is key during your operations and if you have colleagues that dont have your back, you may even lose your life due to that. Being a police officer in America is a tough job.. However, in reality, there are also many downsides related to this job. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Many police officers are also not happy with their overall working environment. Especially if this case is revealed in public, chances are that there will be huge shitstorms on social media and the pressure to fire you will be enormous. There is just that much insecurity involved in this job that you will never know when you are called to the next operation. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. While police officers can make a decent salary in many states, they will simply not make as much money as a doctor or a lawyer. You may also just not be eligible for a career as a police officer. Cons of a Career as a Probation Officer. We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. Some exposures to police work change us for the better and others for the worse. You should really be convinced about it and should take your mission quite seriously. You still want to become a police officer? In fact, most police officers dont earn more than 70,000 dollars a year and especially in big metropolitan areas, this will imply a rather simple lifestyle since rents will eat up a significant fraction of the income. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. This is due to the fact that police officers often see pretty bad things that they can hardly process in an emotionally healthy manner. During your career, you will often have the chance to support people who urgently need it. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'environmental_conscience_com-leader-1','ezslot_17',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-environmental_conscience_com-leader-1-0');Thus, over time, you will build a high level of trust with each other and after a few years, you will almost blindly rely on your colleagues having your back in case of emergency. However, before you sign your contract, make sure you read this article since I show you all the pros and cons of being a police officer. WebAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Police Officers Working Without Uniform Intellectual stimulation One benefit of the detective career is the intellectual stimulation and America has created its own monster. Denying reality gets you killed. Protecting the community and being on the front lines takes an emotional toll. By far, the residual payoffs outweigh the bad. 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