<p>Hello parents,
I don’t usually post in the parents’ cafe as I am a student, but I wondered what you all thought about students becoming police officers. Do you think that with degrees from elite schools it is still worth going into this field?
I am a student at an elite school and am seriously considering becoming a police officer. I wonder if you have advice because any of you are in the law enforcement field or because you have children who have gone into law enforcement. Thank you for your time.</p>
<p>What about FBI CIA, NSA, ATF, Homeland Security,etc? That’s a whole different ball game… I know that the first two agencies recruit through career services at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>And if you’re good at EE/CS/EECS/CompE/Math, well, the NSA is expanding rapidly ;).</p>
<p>Add to that languages, poli sci, international relations, etc etc etc etc.</p>
<p>The recent book, Blue Blood, by Edward Conlon, is quite good. He has a Harvard degree and is a New York City cop.</p>
<p>I would have serious reservations about recommending police work to my kids, however, because I think the job will almost certainly, over time, change a person in a negative way.</p>
<p>I know a Harvard grad who worked as a policeman in New Orleans for a few years then went back to grad school.</p>
<p>Really an individual preference. It is not a career I would want, nor would I recommend it to my children, but if law enforcement were their passion, I would certainly be supportive.</p>
<p>JESSETFAN - my only advice - follow your heart - if that is what you really want to pursue - go for it.</p>
<p>To give a little background on where I’m coming from, being a police officer is the family business. It’s something I really think I could be proud of myself for doing, and I think it’s a great way to help people. My dad, a retired police officer, thinks it’s a waste of education to go into police work after earning a bachelor’s degree from a good school or in anything other than criminal justice. I’m seriously considering law enforcement, but my family isn’t really behind the idea, despite the fact that it’s what most of them do.</p>
<p>JESS there are other agencies in law enforcement that you may want to investigate where your education/degree will make a big difference. If law inforcement is what you really want to do tho - you will find a way.</p>
<p>The police need good leaders and such a career is probably very interersting if not highly paid. Most police chiefs and detectives have degrees.</p>
<p>Here’s a Federal cop joke I was told when I worked for the Executive Office for US Attorneys in DOJ. </p>
<p>Q:How can you tell when an FBI agent is undercover? </p>
<p>A: He’s taken his vest off.</p>
<p>jess here is the career path a friend of mine took. Graduated from a top 5 LAC, worked as a police officer for a few years. Went to law school. Became a DA. Now works for the FBI and has a very interesting career.</p>
<p>We need the most intelligent and informed police officers we can get, if you are not hesitant about carrying and using a leathal weapon I think you should try it out. Upper level police positions pay considerably less than CEOs at mid sized firms…this might concern you later in life.</p>
<p>Two aunts and an uncle, and an aunt’s boyfriend work in this field (and all on the same side of the family!). It’s something you should really research- it’s not for everyone. There are undeniable risks, you have to work on holidays, and make sure you know it’s for you.</p>
<p>hi jess,
My nephew went to Northeastern U. and majored in criminal justice. (I realize it’s not an “elite” school.) He had a number of co-op oportunities there which led him to realize that he wanted to become a police officer. He has now been on the job with the NYPD for about a year. He will take the sergeant’s exam as soon as possible. He will be able to retire from the force with a good pension in 20 years when he is in his early 40’s. Many police departments are looking for their new officers to have college degrees. Our whole family was shocked when he chose this profession, as there are no law enforcement personnel in the family. Please follow your heart, Jess. My nephew is very happy with his decision and we fully support him, with our fingers crossed for his safety.</p>
<p>Most people are not headed to become CEO’s of much of anything except maybe the Smith family. A police chief makes a decent income these days. More than most profs.</p>
<p>I would suggest you give some thought about how a police officer spends his/her days, and whether you can imagine yourself happy doing the same on a day to day basis.</p>
<p>My son is currently in a program with our local sheriff’s department that will guarantee him a slot in the police academy as soon as he reaches the required minimum age. That being said, in that particular agency the vast majority of officers in our local agency have at least some college, a Bachelor’s Degree or military. I for one have a great deal of respect (though certainly I am hardly unbiased) for people who go into police work as a career.</p>
<p>My brother is a police officer and my father was in federal law enforcement. (My grandfather was a cop too…starting way back in the 1920’s). It is a demanding and interesting career. As others have said you can work your way into it via many different routes. Certainly you can join the force as a patrolman without a college diploma, but most who want to move up in the ranks will eventually earn a college degree.</p>
<p>My brother for many years did not pursue this career directly, even though he’s been fascinated by it since he was a little boy. Tried a bunch of other jobs, went to school part-time for crim. justice and after several years earned a bachelors. Went to a police academy, worked security part-time and eventually was hired as a full-time officer when he was close to 30. Happier than he’s ever been and good at what he does.
Good luck to you in pursuing this career.</p>