However, the However, from these experiences, you can really learn how to handle those situations and you can grow in character. WebShare Cite. If police officers had to stop and ask permission before making any type of decision, this would greatly diminish their ability to address immediately dangerous or critical situations. As a police officer, you can also work in many different fields. However, before you decide for a police officer career due to the salary, make sure to inform yourself about what the salary of a policeman in your area really looks like since it greatly differs across states. A study of officer-involved shootings from 1990 to 2004 found that college-educated police officers were almost 30% less likely to fire their weapons in the line of duty. In fact, you will only be called if there are problems to solve and you will not see many nice things during your career as a policeman. There are allowances and plenty of financial coverage taking care of various Expectation versus reality probably exists for all of us in different forms and fashions. 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. Read several examples of police discretion in use. Professionalism in the police force has several positive impacts that include good service to the public, better pay for the constables, ethical conduct, strong community support as well as respect and a stronger role in a Criminal Justice System. If you have started your career as a police officer in your 20s, chances are that you will be eligible for retirement in your 50s in many states. Studies have found that a small proportion of police officers about 5% produce most citizen complaints, and officers with a two-year degree are about half as likely to be in the high-rate complaint group. This could mean that they think that somebody follows them to their house when there will actually nobody be there. The use of discretion allows the police officer the flexibility necessary to perform their job. You will also have to make difficult decisions within minutes or even seconds and your life will not be as easy as you might think now. Police enjoy a high status and reputation in society, since policing is a well-respected position. This will also be quite hard for yourself since you will never know whether you will see your kids again or not. This can be rather unclear in many situations and one mistake in this regard can even cost your life. Less likely to use violence. Copyright 2023 Research shows that, overall, college-educated officers generate fewer citizen complaints. A lock ( We often compete with our peers and families in outdoor games and sporting events. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. So daily we are exposed to human misery and conflict which gives us a very narrow version of society. Why is being professional important? Racing through traffic to crime scenes, risking being shot and approaching unsuspecting criminals are just some of the daily activities that make being a police officer dangerous. An example of police discretion is when a car gets pulled over for speeding. Many of these are advantages for wellness and creativity. succeed. Yes, there are people who simply dont like them. Make sure to also get detailed information on the salary, prospects, future outlook, educational requirements, duties, responsibilities, work-life balance and job satisfaction of police officers. 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 will have to pass many different tests and many people fail those tests. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Some disadvantages of empowering private police with full police authority are the attraction which such authority holds for many undesirable candidates, the risk of increasing unnecessary arrests, limited constitutional restraints on private security employees compared to public police, the increased liability of government entities for actions of private security officers they have licensed, the risk of inequitable enforcement, and expanded administrative responsibilities for municipal governments licensing private police. As a policeman, you will also have the power to do good for others. Being a police officer is inherently dangerous, and each day You may not only lose your job, you may even have to pay high fines and this could ruin you also from a financial perspective. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Many police officers are also just not happy with their jobs. What is police discretion? The suspect obeys, and Officer Bob makes an arrest. If you do your job well and if you are really ambitious and do what it takes, you can pursue a demanding career and many doors will open to you. Research has also shown that police officers themselves recognize the value of a college degree. Jessica is a practicing attorney and has taught law and has a J.D. Being a police officer also includes writing police reports and doing other paperwork, so it may not be a source of constant thrills. As a police officer, you will also have to rely on the support of your colleagues. It should come as little surprise, then, that police administrators, including police chiefs, are more likely to hold college and post-graduate degrees. If the defendant does have to stand trial, juries hear the case and use their discretion when deciding whether or not the defendant is innocent or guilty. Discretion affords police officers autonomy and authority. Fraternal relationships in law enforcement are very strong. Because of the high level of responsibility, police are held to high standards by internal affairs and the general public. To begin, it can result in unnecessary escalation, injury or death. These officers tend to work more proactively with community members to resolve issues and prevent problems rather than only reacting to incidents when called. In fact, you will have the authority to stop injustice and unlawful behavior whenever you see it and can therefore improve the circumstances of the majority of people in our society. Higher education has been shown to enhance the technical training that police get in the academy or on the job. Another downside of becoming a police officer is that you will also have to work at nighttime. As a police officer, you have the power to significantly improve the conditions in your neighborhood since you can send people who behave in a criminal manner to court and many of them will end up in jail and can no longer have a bad influence on your neighborhood. Whether it is a call to action in the line of duty or a personal crisis, the blue family will be there for one another come hell or high water. Policemen not only have to work at nighttime, they also have to work on holidays. Environmental Conscience aims to provide unique high-quality content that is helpful to the reader. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In fact, there are countless career opportunities out there and you should just choose the one that seems to be right for you. The officer can use their discretion and decide whether or not to issue a ticket, issue a warning, or make an arrest. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Also, the prosecutor exercises their discretion to decide the severity of charges levied against the offender. Officer discretion is a useful and necessary part of an officer's ability to do their job, as police officers must often make quick, in-the-moment decisions that cannot wait for specific laws to be consulted or reviewed. This also means that you have to interact with the general public on a daily basis and you will also be the one who has to solve conflicts. Discretion is important in the criminal justice system because it fosters judicial economy. 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. Conversely, the prosecutor can decide whether or not offer a plea bargain so that the defendant does not have to go to trial. Flexible working hours Many security officers have the opportunity to choose their own schedules or work However, the majority of the general public is still thankful for the help and security police officers ensure on our streets. You may start your career as normal patrolman, but you can get promoted pretty soon if you are ambitious enough and are willing to put in the work. Policemen can also retire earlier than people in most other jobs. The salaries are relatively handsome. In turn, you will also become more patient in case things dont work out the way you want them to be. We would be lost without our firearm and badged clipped to our waistbands. Being a police officer can also be quite stressful. If the judge decides on life imprisonment, they can decide whether or not the convicted party will ever get the chance for parole, and after how many years they will be eligible for parole. Opportunity to help offenders follow the law*. WebOne important advantage of being a police officer is that cops have a pretty high reputation in society. Some people may find this type of job exciting and like doing new tasks every day. Regarding the use of force, officers whove graduated from college are almost 40% less likely to use force. However, there are also many downsides related to this career path. Because police officers are in constant danger, we are also overly suspicious of everything and everyone. Among other things, they say a college education improves ethical decision-making skills, knowledge and understanding of the law and the courts, openness to diversity, and communication skills. Police officers spend a lot of time away from their families. Crime Measurement Programs: History & Nature, The History of Women & Minority Members in the Police Profession, Recruitment of Women & Minorities in Policing. Quite often, you will see families breaking apart and you will also see the worst of humanity. 2017 shooting of an unarmed youth. Great! Thus, if you have those ambitions, make sure that you connect to the right people and do your job extraordinarily well. The strategy also calls for officers to analyze the underlying causes of crime, develop appropriate responses, and assess whether those responses are working. Community policing and problem-oriented policing require problem solving and creative thinking skills that the college experience helps develop. Imagine a world without police. Sometimes, you will also not be able to choose the neighborhood you have to work in and you might get unlucky and have to work in a rather bad one. Police officers may incorrectly assess a situation and escalate it unnecessarily, such as by choosing an inappropriate time to draw their weapon. All rights reserved. Many police officers also suffer from sleep deprivation or even insomnia. In this case, police are given discretion, or freedom to decide, on the job to make decisions, but there is a 'thin blue line' that the police cannot cross or they will be in violation of the law. 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Thus, make sure that you also have backup plans in case you will not be suitable for a police career. 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. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. WebThe advantages of being a probation officer. Discretion fosters judicial economy. Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer, it is on you to evaluate all the arguments carefully to decide whether you want to become a cop or not. 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. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). In fact, your colleagues will become your second family since you simply spend so much time with them. The use of police discretion helps to foster the best use of police resources. and manufacturers. If you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting career that will allow you to make a difference in your community, you may enjoy being a police officer. Depending on the state you live in and your educational level, you can also earn pretty decent money from being a police officer. The order did not mention the need for police to get a college education, even though higher education was identified in the 2015 Presidents Task Force on 21st Century Policing as one of six effective ways to reduce crime and build better relations between police and the communities they serve. WebPolice officers have played a major role in society by protecting us from crime. Copyright 2023 Police1. As a police officer, you will also be at significant risk of serious attacks and many police officers even die during their careers. The major pro of being a police detective would be that the work would be interesting and intellectually stimulating. Along with the good, we get hit with the bad. Officers get to work on an individual basis as well as in a team environment. One Grade 9 student said that the presence of police officers made the high school feel safer than other schools. You may also have to work quite long shifts as a policeman. In fact, many people struggle with it since it destroys the natural sleeping rhythm. These sources are experts and educators within their profession. The job requires long hours, and many officers spend their lives on the force. In fact, there is plenty of hate around on the streets and you will no longer experience the level of respect previous police officer generations got from the general public. This is quite logical since whenever you need the police, something bad has happened to others. Of course, to succeed in this regard, you also have to build a strong network over time. While some people still believe in the best of people, police officers just have a hard time doing so since they experience so many bad things every day. In fact, you will spend a significant fraction of your day as a police officer writing reports and documenting how things have happened and if you are not willing to do this kind of paperwork, you may want to search for other job opportunities instead. Lexipol. Police officers usually also get more money if they work on weekends, in the nighttime or on holidays. If the police had to consult with other officers or go to a judge every time they needed to make an on-the-job determination, this would result in a drain not only on the economy but also on the overall law enforcement and judicial systems. The pay and advancement opportunities can be good depending on where you work. Many police officers are also not able to deal with the emotional burden that comes along with their job. In fact, being a policeman is not safe at all and you should be aware of the fact that you put your life at risk every time you leave your home. Here are the top recognized benefits of community policing: Improved officer morale: The national narrative around policing has had a significantly negative impact on Of the 60,105 assaulted officers, 31% sustained injuries. Consequently, make sure that you are also willing to do this kind of work before deciding to become a police officer. 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. There are many pros and cons of being a security officer. In fact, shifts of 10 hours+ are quite common and this can be really exhausting, especially at nighttime when you will often count every minute until it will eventually be time to go home and fall into your bed. Among others, articles have been cited by NPOs, Wikipedia, Medium.com as well as on several college websites and lifestyle blogs. Being fit and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only wise, but it is crucial for an officers physical and mental states. If officers had to ask permission from judges for every decision they were faced with, this would be inefficient and costly. Hence, make sure that you are able and willing to deal with all this negativity before deciding for becoming a police officer. Consequently, the police officer must decide on their own in the particular moment what to do. Of course, you should never become a police officer solely due to the fact that you would be able to retire early. Others may feel the risk is not worth the benefits that come with being a police officer. Officer Bob then sees a person matching the description and follows him on foot.
advantages and disadvantages of being a police officer