| Chapter 1 |
| Are You Ready for a Career as a Police Officer? |
| …the best education on Earth |
There is no other profession, occupation, or endeavor you could
undertake where you'll experience the realities of life at their best and
worst. If you keep at it long enough, you'll interact with every level of
society, and you'll learn there's not a lot of difference among people
regardless of their educational or economic achievements. People sit in
classrooms for years trying to learn why people do the things they do.
In the end, their education is nearly all based on theory and hearsay.
As a police officer, you'll be a participant in, and an eyewitness to, the
realities most people only read about. It's the best education on Earth.
undertake where you'll experience the realities of life at their best and
worst. If you keep at it long enough, you'll interact with every level of
society, and you'll learn there's not a lot of difference among people
regardless of their educational or economic achievements. People sit in
classrooms for years trying to learn why people do the things they do.
In the end, their education is nearly all based on theory and hearsay.
As a police officer, you'll be a participant in, and an eyewitness to, the
realities most people only read about. It's the best education on Earth.
| …compassion…adventure |
You must possess the elements of compassion and adventure to be a
police officer. The proportion of these elements relative to the other
will change as your career progresses. Your compassion will be
tempered by the unbelievable deceit you'll experience, and the
adventure will be tempered by some really scary, life threatening
situations.
police officer. The proportion of these elements relative to the other
will change as your career progresses. Your compassion will be
tempered by the unbelievable deceit you'll experience, and the
adventure will be tempered by some really scary, life threatening
situations.
| ...entrusted with enormous power |
As a police officer, you'll be entrusted with enormous power. You will
routinely, and lawfully, deprive your fellow citizens of their liberty.
More importantly, you may find yourself in a situation where you could
be forced to take a human life. This power separates you from the rest
of society. No other government official possesses the breadth and
depth of authority as does a police officer.
routinely, and lawfully, deprive your fellow citizens of their liberty.
More importantly, you may find yourself in a situation where you could
be forced to take a human life. This power separates you from the rest
of society. No other government official possesses the breadth and
depth of authority as does a police officer.
| ...higher level of scrutiny |
The weight of authority brings one particular burden. There's really no
way to assess this burden until you've completed your training and
you're thrown into the fray. You'll have a head start if you realize from
the outset that you'll be held to a higher level of scrutiny than any other
government official. Unlike other government officials, your behavior
off-duty will be expected to mirror your on-duty behavior. You must be
prepared to conduct your personal life with the same degree of
discretion as your professional life.
way to assess this burden until you've completed your training and
you're thrown into the fray. You'll have a head start if you realize from
the outset that you'll be held to a higher level of scrutiny than any other
government official. Unlike other government officials, your behavior
off-duty will be expected to mirror your on-duty behavior. You must be
prepared to conduct your personal life with the same degree of
discretion as your professional life.
| …the true test |
There's no way to know if you're truly suited to be a police officer until
you experience the true test. That test will probably come during the
first year of your career. It will be totally unexpected. You'll probably
be alone, and you'll be attacked by a person armed with a deadly
weapon sufficient to take your life. You will react, and your reaction
will provide you with the answers to the test. It will be a terrifying
experience, but the terror will test your ability to act soundly and
decisively. As long as you take the person alive and uninjured, you'll
be the only person grading your test. Your mind will be able to view the
incident like a slow motion video over and over, and you'll never forget
a single detail of it for the rest of your life. There will be a short period
afterward where you'll evaluate whether or not to continue your career,
but once you determine that you acted free of panic, you'll probably
continue your career and be better for the experience.
you experience the true test. That test will probably come during the
first year of your career. It will be totally unexpected. You'll probably
be alone, and you'll be attacked by a person armed with a deadly
weapon sufficient to take your life. You will react, and your reaction
will provide you with the answers to the test. It will be a terrifying
experience, but the terror will test your ability to act soundly and
decisively. As long as you take the person alive and uninjured, you'll
be the only person grading your test. Your mind will be able to view the
incident like a slow motion video over and over, and you'll never forget
a single detail of it for the rest of your life. There will be a short period
afterward where you'll evaluate whether or not to continue your career,
but once you determine that you acted free of panic, you'll probably
continue your career and be better for the experience.
| ...literacy helps |
Police work is not limited to chasing and capturing criminals. In fact, all
the chasing and capturing doesn't amount to much unless the police
officer has the ability to communicate events in writing so that criminals
can be prosecuted, so literacy helps. Now, don't let this requirement for
literacy scare you, because police officers are, in fact, some of the
worst at communicating events in writing. With all the hype about police
departments hiring college graduates, I doubt you'd find many with
degrees in English.
the chasing and capturing doesn't amount to much unless the police
officer has the ability to communicate events in writing so that criminals
can be prosecuted, so literacy helps. Now, don't let this requirement for
literacy scare you, because police officers are, in fact, some of the
worst at communicating events in writing. With all the hype about police
departments hiring college graduates, I doubt you'd find many with
degrees in English.
| …longevity it's not |
The first thing you should notice is that nearly every police department
is hiring. Another thing you should realize is that attrition for police
officers is very high. Even with the attractive salary and benefit
packages offered by nearly all departments, it's safe to say that fewer
than half continue their careers to retirement, so longevity it's not.
Many people join only for the attractive salary and benefits while
ignoring the true demands of the career, so the high attrition rate
should not be surprising. If you're considering a career as a police
officer based solely on the salary and benefits, you'd be better off, for
the long run, seeking another vocation.
is hiring. Another thing you should realize is that attrition for police
officers is very high. Even with the attractive salary and benefit
packages offered by nearly all departments, it's safe to say that fewer
than half continue their careers to retirement, so longevity it's not.
Many people join only for the attractive salary and benefits while
ignoring the true demands of the career, so the high attrition rate
should not be surprising. If you're considering a career as a police
officer based solely on the salary and benefits, you'd be better off, for
the long run, seeking another vocation.
| …indispensable character trait |
If you're a person who thrives on attention and recognition, you could
run into problems. While you'll find some police officers who will do just
about anything to grab the credit for just about everything, you'll soon
recognize these people and tire of them even sooner. An individual who
craves constant recognition usually exudes reckless self confidence in
everything he or she does. As a police officer, particularly a brand new
one, this exercise of self confidence can lead to disaster. Self
confidence is an indispensable character trait for a police officer, but
you must realize that your self confidence is only as good as the
knowledge and experience upon which it is built. If you understand that
you're entering a twenty to thirty year ongoing learning experience,
you'll do just fine, and your self confidence will never fail you.
run into problems. While you'll find some police officers who will do just
about anything to grab the credit for just about everything, you'll soon
recognize these people and tire of them even sooner. An individual who
craves constant recognition usually exudes reckless self confidence in
everything he or she does. As a police officer, particularly a brand new
one, this exercise of self confidence can lead to disaster. Self
confidence is an indispensable character trait for a police officer, but
you must realize that your self confidence is only as good as the
knowledge and experience upon which it is built. If you understand that
you're entering a twenty to thirty year ongoing learning experience,
you'll do just fine, and your self confidence will never fail you.
| …self satisfaction |
If you thrive on self satisfaction, this is the job for you. Among all the
aggravations and pitfalls you'll encounter during your career, you'll
experience countless opportunities to affect the lives of countless people in so
many positive ways. If you decide to become a police officer now, that
decision will actually save lives in the future. You'll know when you save a
life by the overt action you take. You'll never know how many lives you've
saved by just simply being there. Either way, how much more self
satisfaction could anyone desire?
aggravations and pitfalls you'll encounter during your career, you'll
experience countless opportunities to affect the lives of countless people in so
many positive ways. If you decide to become a police officer now, that
decision will actually save lives in the future. You'll know when you save a
life by the overt action you take. You'll never know how many lives you've
saved by just simply being there. Either way, how much more self
satisfaction could anyone desire?
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| The Career Police Officer is the Keystone of Law Enforcement |
| Amazon.com |
| Barnes & Noble.com |
| iUniverse.com |
| Becoming a Police Officer An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement |
| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Discover the Amazing Breakthrough
Yet Surprisingly Simple Method to
Pass the Police Test and Become a
Police Officer... 100% Guaranteed!
Yet Surprisingly Simple Method to
Pass the Police Test and Become a
Police Officer... 100% Guaranteed!
| A step-by-step |
| system |
| YOU can use |
| to secure a top score on ANY Police Exam |