Police Officer

Police Officer

BlueSheepdog

10 Years Experience

Around the Way, FL

Male, 40

Cheating death and fighting communism: that is how a fellow officer once described our job. It was meant to be funny, but as time went on it seemed all too true.

I spent more than ten years in law enforcement, all of it on the street in uniform patrol. I've been a patrol officer, instructor, sergeant and lieutenant.

Do not report crimes here. Nothing here should be considered legal advice. All opinions are my own.

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Last Answer on October 29, 2014

Best Rated

In your experience (or in general) if a patrol officer calls for one backup officer for assistance (not a serious emergency), will that person come from another patrol area or will more than one officer patrol one area at the same time? Thanks.

Asked by 456 over 11 years ago

In a smaller department, only one officer may be assigned to a specific area.  In that case, the back up officer will come from another area.  In medium or larger agencies, there may be two or more officers assigned to a specific area.  In that case the backup officer will probably come from inside that area.

In response to my first question what makes you do it every day?

Asked by Emily over 11 years ago

The desire to help people - to make a difference.  All of those things I mentioned above suck the life out of you.  But with good friends, family and faith in God supporting you, the job can be done.

There were many times that I was going to a call that I would have preferred avoid, but I knew I had the skills and disposition to handle it.  Who wants to go to the call where a man just committed suicide in front of his wife by sticking a gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger?  No one.  But, as I often questioned myself, "if not me, then who?"

There are upsides to the job, though they are rarely visible to, or understood by, anyone outside of law enforcement. 

In your department, how was the city divided up? (Districts, precincts, etc.) And what did those mean as far as how many stations there were in that area, who was in charge at the different levels, etc. Thank you!

Asked by Rob over 11 years ago

At one department, there were three patrol zones and only a single station.  A sergeant plus three or four officers were on duty at any given time. (Not including any specialty units.)

At a larger agency, there were six patrol zones with multiple officers assigned to each zone.  There were three "sector offices" plus the main station.  There were up to 24 patrol officers on the road.  Generally there were 2-3 sergeants on duty at any given time plus a lieutenant and possibly a captain depending on time of day/day of week.  Those staffing numbers did not include specialty units that might have also been working.  For example, three traffic units plus a sergeant, a gang unit plus sergeant, etc.

Hi i have a question my husband dropped his wallet full of money it had at least $900 and he had his ID in the wallet. Can the person whom took the wallet get in trouble?

Asked by Angela about 11 years ago

Yes. It is called theft.

In your experience are a lot of police officers former-military? If so, are they usually former enlisted or former officers?

Thanks.

Asked by Johan over 11 years ago

I'd say about 1/4 to 1/3 of the officers I have worked with are former military.  Of those about 90% were enlisted/NCOs.

Hey, thanks for all the time you take to answer! You mentioned you avoid police shows? Is there any reason why? Also Is this a common thing in law enforcement?

Asked by Ali G over 11 years ago

When I did the job for 8-12 hours a day, I had no interest in watching more of it on the tv.  

Besides, the way the editors cut the reality shows like Cops up to make them fit between commercials is not realistic.  You only see a fraction of a case, say 10 minutes of something that took the officers hourse to resolve.  It might be exciting, but it builds a very unrealistic expecation in the public.

Oh, and about 95% of what you see in CSI is b.s.  I can't tell you how many times I had someone tell me to do something impossible that they saw in that show.

Hello Sir,

I am checking if a PND issued in a police station for Shoplifting is ever deleted from some ones record? COnsidering this is the only offence the person ever committed.

Asked by Question1 over 11 years ago

I have no idea what a PND is.

Generally, if you have ever been charged with a crime, then it is part of your official criminal history.