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.
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.
Different states have different laws. You might want to look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Involuntary_commitment
You should contact the recruiter for the department you want to work for.
Call your local police department and ask for their assistance. They will know what to do.
Track and Field Coach
Sommelier
Emergency Room Manager
Possibly. Try contacting the state patrol for information.
HGN - http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/alcohol/sfst/appendix_a.htm
TV and the movies rarely portray law enforcement (or anything else for that matter) in a realistic manner. Even the so-called reality shows are heavily edited to present what the network wants to show you.
As for their reasoning...well it all revolves around $$$. The better the story, the more viewers they get. More viewers = more advertising dollars. Everything on TV is about making money. That is the reason why "news" programs are sensationalistic rather than objective.
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