Compelling Reasons to Become a Police Officer

Working in the police is not your night regular 9-to-5 job. This line of work requires grit and patience to deal with life-threatening situations on an everyday basis. Once you become a police officer, no two working days are going to look the same. You’ll face new challenges every day, and fighting crime will be your life’s motto.

Police and other law enforcement departments expect their members to prioritize civilians’ security, carry out effective investigations, and uphold the law and honor of the country. If you’re ready to dedicate your life to society’s betterment, a police career is the right fit.

Other than honing your cognitive skills, police work can make you a more empathetic and compassionate person. Getting an exclusive insight into other people’s lives has the power to build sensitivity and understanding. Here are some reasons why you should consider a future in this rewarding career:

You can make a meaningful impact

Crime in New York City was at an all-time high in the 1980s and early 1990s amid the crack epidemic. The New York Police Department played a significant role in curbing the crime rate by devising effective strategies and played on their lives to protect communities in high-risk areas.

Police officers who’ve been a part of crackdowns and primary operations during that time can testify to the positive impact they made. Today, New York is one of the safest major cities in the US, with a reduced crime rate.

Police work is a job that doesn’t require you to sit behind a desk 8 hours a day. It motivates you to do something greater than yourself and build a positive environment in the city. While helping out victims, you can ensure that a person who has been wronged is being heard. Sure, police work brings a lot of authority, but the power comes at a price.

A responsible police officer considers it their duty to safeguard citizens’ rights and provide a sense of security when needed.

You can help people improve their quality of lives

One of the most rewarding aspects of working in law enforcement departments is that you get the opportunity to help people make better choices. Petty criminals, gang members, sexual assaulters, and thieves are a few examples of people who’ve made wrong choices and almost ruined their lives.

Being in power gives you a unique opportunity to show them that the world can become a better and safer place if they mend their ways. If treated with kindness and respect, they might listen to what you have to say and make better life choices in the future.

You can be proud of your job

Police officers are problem solvers and lifesavers. This profession provides the rare satisfaction that comes from knowing that you’re serving the greater good. Your friends and family will always be proud to know that they know someone who serves in the police.

Besides the numerous personally rewarding moments that police work offers, you can always relish in the satisfaction that what you do for a living can help scores of people in what may be the most difficult times of their lives. Police officers also enjoy a unique kinship within the police community.

You’d rarely see workplace politics being played out on the field. Police officers have each other’s back and protect their own during times of distress. Cops also enjoy a good rapport among citizens. People in New York are quick to recognize, appreciate, and reward police personnel’s hard work and sacrifices. This can encourage you to do a better job every day.

You can get good compensation and other benefits

The compensation and benefits given to a police officer are quite impressive. Very few other professions offer the same package. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police officers and detectives enjoyed an annual median wage of $65,170 in May 2019.

Pay increases every year, depending on the years of service. The health and retirement benefits offered to police officers are also more significant than those offered in many other professions. Being a cop also allows you to travel and settle in other cities of the country.

Some precincts also offer overtime pay to their police officers to compensate for the long hours they put in. Besides a highly lucrative package, the police department offers excellent upward mobility and career advancement opportunities for young individuals. You could make a detective, sheriff, or a criminal investigator with rough experience, provided you have the skills and expertise.

You can save lives

A police career is one of the very few professions that allow you to save someone’s life. Being the first responder to critical situations, you may be required to administer first aid, give CPR, or provide essential life support.

And when you’re not on the field fighting crime, you can indirectly protect lives by upholding the law. In fact, it’s possible that you may save lives you never find out about. Whenever you stop a criminal or write a ticket, your actions may save lives on the day or somewhere down the road.

Start now to retire early

Many precincts offer the opportunity to retire early. This means that only after serving the police force for 20 to 25 years you can start making retirement plans. So if you become an officer at the age of 25, you can start enjoying your life after retirement at just 45 or 50.

However, surprisingly enough, not many cops want to retire early. The satisfaction of the job allures them to work for as long as they can. In any case, the early retirement option with excellent pensions and retirement packages can give you a chance to spend more time with family and do other things in life.

If you’re planning to take up a police career, you’d have to sit for the Suffolk County Police Test. However, you don’t have to prepare for the nerve-wracking exam on your own. At Civil Service Success, we provide preparation classes for civil service exams.

Our NYS Court Officer Trainee Exam prep and NYC Firefighter preparation classes have helped many young individuals achieve their dreams.