If your current college student, or recent college graduate, told you they plan to pursue a career in law enforcement, what would your gut reaction be?
Would you share that gut reaction with them?
Would your feelings differ between local, state or federal pathways?
What would be on your list of potential pros and cons?
For most typical city or county law enforcement, consider a major in social work, since that is what police officers actually do a lot of, since there are not enough actual social workers, leaving police officers as the social workers of last resort when social work problems like addiction, homelessness, mental health, domestic disputes, etc. become big enough to result in calls to police.
I would be proud. Yes, there is a higher level of danger than in other careers, but society needs people who are willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others. I feel the same about the military.
My reaction would be that I was glad they found a career path that they wanted to pursue. We have several family members in law enforcement and consider it a very hard honorable job.
@gkunion I’m curious about why you are asking the question? Would you have a problem with it if your child did this?
The same thing I say when someone tells me that their child wants to enter the armed services.
I’m so happy that they chose to serve. That we are lucky that they had that calling and I’m so proud of them.
I come from a long line of people who have served.
A good friend of mine, her husband was in law enforcement, taught at the university level and her son now is in law enforcement at the federal level. I have a new appreciation for those who choose law enforcement.
My cousin is a law enforcement officer. He had a difficult adolescence but has turned into a man I am so proud of.
It’s a job with great benefits and a great retirement plan.
(I’m sorry but I am a wimp.)
My gut reaction: “I love you and respect you, and whatever you want to do, I will always support. That doesn’t mean that I am not concerned about your safety. It does scare me.”
My brother was a corrections officer with lifers. I was scared every time that I heard about issues in the prison.
@me29034 My 2022 graduate actually chose this career path, and is currently in the academy. I am in the same camp as you, @deb922 and @PB1961, but I get the feeling many others don’t share our opinion.
I was pleasantly surprised by the compensation and benefits package.
My brother had phenomenal benefits and had lots of time off. He liked the night shift .
Police officer is #22 on this list of dangerous jobs: Top 25 most dangerous jobs in the United States | ISHN . It says:
“How dangerous is it to be a police officer? Working as a police officer is about 4.1 times as dangerous compared with the average job nationwide, based upon the workplace fatality rate. Police officers have a workplace fatality rate similar to maintenance workers, construction workers, and heavy vehicle mechanics.”
#1 on the list is loggers, with a death rate of about 7.9 times that of police officers (111 per 100,000 versus 14 per 100,000). But they do not list President of the United States, 8 of whom died on the job.
#12 on the list is crossing guards. Somehow, it does not seem that the typical crossing guard helping kids cross the street to get to the school realizes the risk level of the job.
I would be petrified - the job itself as a law enforcement officer is dangerous, and the stories of alcoholism/drug abuse, suicide and more are plenty.
I feel the same about someone enlisting (voluntary) in the military.
I understand that someone has to do it, I just would hope that someone wasn’t my (adult) child.
Would I share my gut reaction? I suppose the immediate tears would tell my reaction.
It wouldn’t be my preference for them (but then again, neither is SW and that’s the path D20 has chosen), but as with any career…if they feel called to it and are enthusiastic about pursuing it, I would be happy for them and proud of them.
I have such respect for law enforcement officers and people who serve in the military. It’s a calling.
The thing I learned from my friends husband was how much his students learned how to be careful and aware of your surroundings. That it is dangerous in a way I didn’t understand before. But that there is a lot of training and mentoring. People looking out for you.
I think I must know people who do dangerous jobs and so I think of these things as an honest living. Safety, safety, safety. Electric linemen, that’s a hard job but one that you are well compensated for.
Accidents usually happen when your guard is let down.
That’s interesting.
The only job on that list that categorizes the most common cause of death at work as “violence by persons” is police officer. Each of the other occupations listed categorize the danger at work as accidental in nature.
@JustaMom I appreciate your honesty, and I can totally sympathize.
That list was made in 2020, before full year 2020 (or 2021) numbers became available. Looks like some things have changed…
According to https://nleomf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2021-EOY-Fatality-Report-Final-web.pdf and Causes of Law Enforcement Deaths - National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund , police officer deaths increased greatly in 2020 and even more so in 2021. The main cause of the huge increase was COVID-19, which accounted for 301 out of 458 police officer deaths in 2021 (compared to 62 firearms-related, 58 traffic-related, and 37 other). Since law enforcement may require close contact with other people who may have COVID-19, that is not too surprising.
Outside of COVID-19, historically, it looks like being shot was the biggest cause of death, but not the majority (other methods of violence were rare in terms of cause of death, although they may be encountered frequently). Automobile crashes, being struck by a vehicle, and job related illness (other than COVID-19) were the other relatively large categories.
@ucbalumnus I was surprised your first link had Delivery Driver and Firefighter Supervisor listed as more dangerous due to traffic accidents. A majority of police officers appear to drive around quite a bit. I wonder why their fatality rate is lower?
It is also interesting that firefighter (not supervisor) did not make the top 25 list. NFPA statistics - Firefighter deaths by cause and nature of injury lists causes of death of firefighters (not supervisor). But supervisors may have different patterns of risk.
Regarding delivery drivers, perhaps it is because many of them frequently get out of their vehicles and walk into traffic to cross the street to make deliveries, and get hit by vehicles while doing so. Police officers patrolling from cars may not get out and walk into traffic as often as delivery drivers.
Of course, COVID-19 may perturb the rankings as well raise the absolute risks.
I am not making a political statement.
Police officers were out in the public but they were also slow to embrace vaccines. So many passed away unfortunately.
Lots of articles about it
Could be defensive driving training and also respect for flashing lights in a way UPS drivers, and other delivery drivers aren’t.
It’s sad to see so many workplace deaths that are entirely preventable
I’d be incredibly proud and supportive.