Out of all possible careers, many people feel like law enforcement is a great choice. It’s not the highest-paying job out there, but it can be rewarding when you pursue it for the right reasons.
If working in law enforcement has ever crossed your mind, even briefly, here are some of the best reasons to consider pursuing this career.
- It will push you to be a better person
It’s hard to be a police officer when people are actively working hard to eliminate the entire profession. There are groups of people who are on a mission to defund the police because they don’t feel like police officers are valuable members of society. Thanks to widely publicized tragic incidents, large numbers of people believe the profession is racist and corrupt at its core. This is a lot of pressure to walk into if you’re just starting a new career, but if you do, it will make you a better person.
When you take on a role that is hated by so many people in society, it gives you the opportunity to be the best version of yourself and do everything you can to help people in the face of serious adversity. It will train you not to take other people’s opinions and negativity to heart, and it will shape you into someone who can reach their goals, even when people are trying to drag you down. It will make you a better person and a better police officer because you won’t be swayed by the stress and pressure imposed by the outside world, and you can apply that to other areas of your life, too.
- The anti-police rhetoric is slowing
If the hatred for police is the only thing stopping you from starting a career in law enforcement, keep in mind that this sentiment has slowed down in recent years. There will always be people who hate the police, and it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.
Think about it this way: Positive, inspirational speakers like Wayne Dyer receive hateful comments on their social media channels every single day. There are many people who are always looking for conflict anywhere they can find it, and this can’t be avoided. You will get some shade no matter what profession you choose.
The good news is that anti-police sentiment has died down a bit since the George Floyd riots, and that might be because non-profit groups, like the National Police Association (NPA) have been working hard to educate communities and support constitutional rights in court. Not all police are the bad apples people think they are because of all the media that goes viral every time there’s an incident. The NPA is dedicated to helping neighborhoods bridge that gap so that police officers are seen as valued and trusted members of the community.
- You want to help your local community
Wanting to help people is the reason 68% of officers chose their profession. Building relationships with the people in your community as a police officer will reduce crime rates and establish much-needed trust from residents.
As a police officer, you can also help people in your community in other ways. In addition to keeping neighborhoods safe, you can also perform public service for people who need help. You can sign up to speak at local schools to tell the students about your profession, what you do, and how you make a difference. Law enforcement is definitely a community-oriented career.
- You want to work with high school kids
Usually, police officers don’t work directly with high school kids, but there’s one position that does: the School Resource Officer (SRO). Sometimes referred to as a student resource officer, SROs establish a non-threatening presence in their local high schools and get to know the students on a regular basis. Sometimes SROs even double as sports coaches, which makes students trust them even more.
When an SRO knows their students, it’s easier to spot potential issues before they grow into something bigger. Courts also sometimes ask SROs to keep an eye on certain students who have gotten in trouble with the law.
The most successful SRO programs put their officers in plain clothes so students feel comfortable. Many SROs receive extensive praise from their schools and it helps them earn high marks on their regular employment reviews. If you love working with kids, an SRO position will be rewarding.
Is a career in law enforcement a good fit?
If you still aren’t sure about pursuing law enforcement as a career, sleep on it for a while and trust your intuition. No job will ever be easy, but some jobs – like being a police officer – are more rewarding than others.
