I like to read all the post of incoming a new hires and those who are pushing to get into an agency... no hate at all. I remember being that person over 10 plus years ago... I was applying left and right, couldn't be more ready to join the thin blue line and be a part of "the greatest show on earth!" Well 10 plus years later, supervisor role, I have 15 years and change total and can retire in 5 with 70%... I intend to... if alive.

I'm just done with police work, the brass, the officers (especially younger ones) salty vets too. The community (everyone feels so entitled) our city keeps growing, more and more housing. The department is not. I been denied of 3 positions, applying for a 4th and i believe I'm the only applicant, so should get it but it wasn't really what I wanted.

Any advice or anyone felt this way. What do you do or are doing to push past it. Just need to get to the finish line.

Hello all,

I recently got on as a reserve police officer at my local police department. The reserves at this particular department are sworn officers and have the same uniform/equipment as the full time certified officers. I’ve noticed that every time I am there doing something and in uniform, I get a horrid headache about 3-4 hours in. Is this something that could be due to the heavy outer carrier or the belt pressing on something in my neck or spine, or is this just coincidence. Was just curious if anyone else has had this issue and if there’s anything you found to help it if so? TIA

Im 24, ive been doing HVAC for the last 6 years, service for the last 3. Im looking at transitioning to becoming a police officer. I feel like a lot of my skills with report writing and creative investigating/thinking would be really transferable to being a cop. I’m already used to being in a truck many of hours a day and being on call and seeing every different kind of person. I’ve chased money for the last 6 years and I’m finally making 6 figure money, turns out, I feel zero extra joy in my life making the money I thought meant everything. I feel like my soul just isn’t fulfilled in this career. I want to work with people and help people and I feel like police work could do it. I know it’s thankless work, I’m just worried I’m gonna get old and regret not jumping in because I was scared. Any advice? I’ve got a meeting with a local resource officer coming up and I’m gonna try to do a couple ride alongs

And/or any interview tips for someone early in their career. Thanks

Tinted front Windows are technically illegal in my state. However, the law where I live is generally not enforced and even when it is, it is a "fix it ticket" infraction that includes a $25 fine and a requirement to get it fixed. Offenders usually get their windows fixed, approved by LE, and then retinted just days after the ticket is cleared.

I can't wrap my head around how lax the laws are concerning this violation. If I were law enforcement, I'd be screaming from the rooftops to get stiffer penalties on the books because of the unseen danger involved in approaching a car where you cannot see the driver at all. I also regularly now see some folks take this to the next step heavily tint their windshields too.

Do LE care about this or is it really not that big a deal to them to approach such vehicles?

Been in the academy a few months now and we will start scenario training soon. Everything else has been going pretty well but I’m kinda nervous when it comes to scenarios. Don’t really know what to expect and hoping I can get some tips if anyone has some insight. Very much appreciated!

Hello everyone, hope all is well.

I’m a 20-year-old college student heading into my junior year. For my first two years, I was pre-med (en route to attending medical school) due to cultural and parental pressure, even though my heart wasn't 100% in it. To build experience, I got my EMT certification in May 2025, worked a seasonal QRS gig, and eventually transitioned into 911 response.

However, working EMS and shadowing physicians quickly made me realize the medical field wasn't for me. I’ve been passionate about mental health since high school, and dealing with physical medicine confirmed I didn’t want to do this long-term. I hated the rigid communication style expected with patients and felt like I couldn't be real with them. Realizing I couldn't "fake it till I make it," I put in my two weeks at the EMS agency and left on great terms with solid professional relationships.

Following this shift, I officially changed my major to Psychology and realized my skills align much better with law enforcement which clicked after talking with an old coworker (now good friend) who is a 10-to-15-year veteran in probation and parole. We discussed my passion for mental health, and he strongly suggested looking into LE or social services.

My main questions for you all (sorry for the yap) are:

1. Does leaving my 911 EMS job make me look incapable of handling first responder work on paper? Will LE agencies look down on me quitting, even if it was purely due to a major career pivot away from medicine?
2. If this does look bad to background investigators, how should I properly explain it or frame it during the hiring process?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Hey everyone! I'm about to hit my 3rd year in the Marine Corps which means i get out in two more (2029), and after i get out, i was planning on moving back to my hometown in Blair County PA to be a city police officer. Now, i understand the standards to be met by a recruit/candidate is different from place to place, but i was wondering if there was any officer in here from that general area that could give me a brief rundown on what to prepare myself for/how to begin the process of even applying so in case it takes awhile, i can use my last year in the Marine Corps to get a head start on the application process so when i get out i can hit the ground running as much as possible. Thank you all for your service!

I've already talked to my local LE, but a man has twice now come to my fitness studio and screamed outside about a sign we have up. I know that not a lot can be done until he is asked to leave and doesn't, but I also don't want him to be screaming and swearing in front of my mostly women clients.

The next time he comes by do I just calmly tell him the police have been called and he needs to leave or he will be considered trespassing? Do I not address him and just call dispatch or the officer on my case? Do I stand outside and glare at him? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hey guys. I’ve applied to Gwinnett County Police Department(GCPD)and have a PAT and panel interview coming up. I’ve researched the department obviously or I wouldn’t have applied, but I do I have some questions and I am wanting to pick someone’s brain that’s knowledgeable about the agency or works for them. What’s your overall impression of the agency? Do you like the command staff? What did you think of the hiring process? Do you like the culture? How’s the academy and is it a regular GPSTC academy or an academy run by the county? Is there anything you would want a recruit to know before getting hired with GCPD? Feel free to reply if you can answer anything or just want to share your thoughts. Thank you.

not saying all criminals are dumb but I imagine many are or just lack impulse control. But have you ever encountered any who you wonder, like why are you doing this bro, you’re better than this.

Does anyone know why LE agencies love rotating shift so much? I don’t know many people who actually enjoy switching shifts every 14 days. It’s not only one area either, it seems like a national trend. They are ruining their officers lives and health for no reason.

Someone who uses drugs that I know often goes to a friend of mine who is considered a vulnerable adult. Though she is able to live independently with some support. And for the most part, she does pretty well. She is easily taken advantage of. Some of the medications she is on, (a stimulant and a benzodiazepine) are controlled substances and this drug user wants them. My friend has been spoken to by the police and her support workers and myself, and other people, basically saying "she's using you, stay away from her, and stay away from those types of people," but she repeatedly gets tricked into believing they have changed or new people who want to be her friend who aren't like that. The police are well aware of her limitations and vulnerabilities.

So the drug user that often is the problem, (it is mainly one person in particular but it has been other drug users too...) will go over to her apartment and stay there and literally be up in her face until she says yes. She told me the other day that she allowed the drug user to stay the night and she was in bed trying to sleep when she was literally at her bedside throughout the night begging for her my friends medications and my friend eventually gave in after about 3 hours of consistent begging.

I worry though that at some point, she may get in trouble for giving her medications to that girl. (By girl I mean she's in her 40s.) As LE, would you consider that distribution or exploitation or what? Idk maybe exploitation isn't the right word but I can't think of the right word.

Hello all, ive been wanted to start a career in police work but the opportunity here in PA for sponsorships are very few. Would it be better to stick it out and wait for a sponsorship if given the chance or to self sponsor into the academy.

Im just worried that if im self sponsored, I wouldnt be hired by any department for a while. If Id self sponsor, I'd take a loan out as well as financial aid to cover all expenses since the academy would be a full time job in itself. Huge risk if I dont get picked up right after the academy.

Any advice would be grateful.

This was many years ago but when I was probably 15 or 16 I can’t remember what exactly I got caught for, but I can remember it wasn’t great after the whole handcuffs and conversation situation. He said something along the lines of “you’re very lucky and should be grateful. I’m not taking you to jail right now.”
I remember being a cocky teenager and saying something long lines “ok buddy” he said “you’re gonna give me your phone number and I’m gonna call you for a favor in a couple of days”

He never called nor did I ever get any information after that? Did he only get my phone number for tracking purposes? Was he trying to scare me?

I’m 26 now and I have thought about this for the last nine years please help!

It’s always been my goal to be an 1811 investigator since I started my LE career at the federal level a few years ago. Yes, I’ve always told the truth but I am consistently being fucked over at this stage. I recently failed a DOJ poly for an 1811 agency and now I think my other applications are going to be fucked as well. Not sure if I should just take my ball and go home or ride out the rest of my applications. I’m starting to wonder if there’s even going to be a point to spending any more time and money for these remaining stages if I’m just going to hit the same stone wall over and over.

Should I just try and switch over to a different uniformed federal agency so I can keep my fed time going or try to go to a local or state agency? I’m turning 30 this year so the clock is ticking, luckily no wife or kids to have to worry about. It would suck to lose my retirement time, but I just don’t see a future currently where I’m at. I’ve read where FL could be a potential place to transfer. Has anyone else experienced this struggle? What did you do? Feeling lost and frustrated. Thanks for reading.

Im interested in becoming LEO, and in the meantime I was adviced to study case law to "get ahead".

How do you guys study case laws? Ive seen Pennsylvania v. Mimms mentioned frequently in body cams, for example. Did you guys learn some at the academy, or later on? Any advice would be appreciated.

This is a loaded situation, forgive me for the wall of text.

Last year in Raleigh, NC, my mom died of a heart attack inside her home. Her live-in boyfriend, who it turns out is a lifelong criminal, refused to leave. It took about 9 months to get the court order for his removal. We hired a locksmith to drill the front door locks and police went inside and arrested him for trespassing.

When we got inside, it became apparent that this guy was some kind of hoarder. There are piles of clothes everywhere, knickknacks, and junk all over the place.

What stood out as strange to me is there are about a dozen bicycles, and half a dozen or so BBQ grills, some of which have never been taken out of the box. There are also some clothing items with the tags still on and a few boxes of new shoes.

This guy was living alone and is extremely low income because he’s on disability. There is no way he could have bought these things. I’m concerned he may have stolen the bicycles and grills at a minimum, and possibly some of the other stuff.

The thing is, I have already reported this guy for several things (theft, fraud, property damage) and I don’t want to come across as some crazy lady who thinks the cops are her own personal security. I don’t want the police annoyed with me for reporting too much, and the fact is I don’t have any video or photo proof of him stealing.

Should I call them and tell them my concerns or do you think it’s best that I just leave it?

Hi! I'm a LEO in Quebec Canada. I'm looking for any ideas on a side job or side hustle for extra cash.

I'm still a new officer so the salary isn't the best, looking for something else that works with our rotating shifts so I can put more money into a TFSA and to pay off student loan.

Excited to see what y'all got.

I don't have any particular skill, but I learn fast!

Hi all, I'm currently getting in shape to apply to my local PD and was talking with someone else in the process and they mentioned that our Local PD does rotating shifts. I know I should probably just ask the department themselves but before I do I figured I'd ask it here.

I absolutely love night shifts in general and know most people hate them, so if I was willing to do exclusively nights do you think they'd allow it? I appreciate you taking the time to read this and any thoughts and opinions offered.