Things You Didn't Know About Becoming a Cop

Being a cop stresses you out. Firing a weapon is something few officers prepare for mentally. Like military service members, many police officers deal with PTSD.PTSD results from seeing horrific things.Officers develop PTSD from seeing horrific things.

Gun laws in America are a hot topic. Officers must carry guns, but not all support public access to them.Officers don't all support public access to guns.Some officers accept concealed carry. Others strongly oppose it.

Officer-involved shootings happen often in the US. However, most officers avoid firing their weapon.Most officers avoid firing their weapon.Most officers avoid firing their weapon, let alone killing someone.

Feeling the need for a drink after a tough week? Consider the pressure police work brings. Studies show alcoholism impacts up to 1 in 4 (25%) of police officers. Drinking helps officers cope with job stress and social situations.

People stereotype police officers loving donuts.Police officers are stereotyped as loving donuts.Being a cop causes poor health. Random hours and working without breaks lead many officers to eat poorly and eat on the run.

Government budget cuts mean equipment gets old. Most police departments use outdated gear. The LAXPD patrol cars stay on the street more than double the time they should.

The police academy is tough mentally and physically. Officers need both physical fitness and knowledge to succeed. Completing the academy successfully is extremely difficult.Completing the police academy is difficult..

Field training proves very hard. Officers must use academy lessons in real life. The pressure is intense.Field training pressure is intense.Being constantly watched by veteran officers feels nerve-racking.

Being a police officer is not a typical job.Police officers do not have a typical 9 to 5 schedule. Departments need officers on duty constantly. Shifts change weekly; you might work twelve hours Monday and have Tuesday off.The 9 to 5 job demands constant officer presence. Shifts change weekly; schedules are not fixed. You might work 12 hours Monday and have Tuesday off.

To serve and protect, cops must first pass a thorough background check. This check includes past criminal history, drug use, and credit checks.The background check includes past criminal history, drug use, and credit checks.If you hide anything, do not apply.

Think twice if you plan to just walk into a police department, fill out an application, and expect to start busting criminals days later.Becoming hired as a police officer takes a long time; it can take over a year. Potential officers face tough background checks and extensive training before getting the job.The path to becoming a police officer is long, lasting more than a year. Potential officers undergo intense background checks and lengthy training before the department officially offers them a position.

Everyone gets pulled over by police, whether for a routine check or a real violation. But every driver has an excuse.Drivers have excuses, like needing the restroom or being rushed. Police hear all of them. Next time you get pulled over for speeding, just move along.Police hear all the excuses, like needing the bathroom or being in a hurry. So, the next time police pull you over for speeding, just move on.

A bachelor's degree does not have to be a requirement for becoming a police officer.You do not need a bachelor's degree to become a police officer. Officers must attend the police academy and complete job-specific field training.Officers must attend the police academy and complete job-specific field training. This requirement means a bachelor's degree is not necessary for becoming a police officer.

Unless you are acting in a movie, you probably do not have cash.You are not flush with cash. Police officers earn decent money, but the job's stress and poor work-life balance make it far from glamorous.Police officers make decent money, but the job's stress and bad work-life balance are not glamorous.

A police officer can struggle with drug addiction and hide it from coworkers.Many police agencies only drug test officers upon hiring. Police officers use drugs as a coping mechanism for job stress, just like alcohol. This adds difficulty to being a police officer.Many police agencies only drug test officers upon hiring. Police officers use drugs as a coping mechanism for job stress, just like alcohol. This adds difficulty to being a police officer.

Like any other job, police officers face plenty of office politics.Police officers face plenty of office politics.Police officers deal with office politics. Also, police face scrutiny from watchdog groups, the public, and local politicians. Cops often feel every action is questioned, causing frustration from a lack of trust.

Police officers are easily scrutinized, just like politicians.Police officers are easily scrutinized. Any mistake an officer makes gets reported to their superior. Complaints are sometimes unfair, but officers still face trouble for them. Officers handle a lot of negativity and still manage their jobs—that is almost superhuman.Any mistake a police officer makes gets reported to their superior. Complaints are sometimes unfair, but officers still face trouble for them. Officers handle a lot of negativity and still manage their jobs—that is almost superhuman.