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Main Page Is it worth it?
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: eastsidesc

Is it worth it to become a police officer? I am currently a Umass Amherst student majoring in Economics w/ a minor in IT and Sociology w/ a concentration in Criminal Justice entering my last year soon. I've always been interested in becoming a police officer and am not even really sure about the process to becoming one. Does everyone have to go to an academy? I'm also chinese, after reading some of these posts it seems as though racial/language preferences may actually help in getting a job. I live in quincy where there is a large asian community as well. What I really want is some insight into what type of a future police work would bring, should I explore police work or is there a related field that I might want to go into? How's the pay and chances of promotion, assuming I would be able to even get a job?

Posted by: Crvtte65

No don't do it, never ever ever, run for it!! ....you'll make more competition for me

Really though, for my standpoint at least, I want to because I absolutely know I want to and not because of benefits (education this and that) or pay (definitely not because of the pay) or anything else. If you think really hard and think you want to go and request a few ride-a-longs and see if you can deal with the mundane parts of the job and also more importantly the adrenaline rushes of crimes in progress.

Everyone has to go through an academy, either a Criminal Justice Training Counsel Approved one or the State Police (or Special State Police) to get the appropriate job. Minorities and those that speak fluently in other languages does add more "points" on civil service towns.

My

Posted by: eastsidesc

It's not just the benefits or pay, I think I would enjoy the job. I like interacting with people and helping people. I've only had business jobs and I would hate to see myself working in a cubicle for the rest of my life.

Posted by: DUKE1005

eastsidesc-

I say go for it! However, don't limit yourself to location. If you read over the different forums on this website you will find that many and most of the jobs available right now are either up North or down South. Also, getting onto a civil service department in Mass is near impossible. There are though, more non-civil service departments than I had previously realized, so there is still some hope. I too am very new to this field. I have worked as a campus police officer for just under a year now and first started as a security guard. Prior to that I worked in Physical Therapy and computers. After graduating college, the PT field sucked so I went into computers. After about a 1 1/2 years working in a cubicle, I realized I was not happy at all. I am slowly working towards a bachelors degree in CJ and have just graduated from the MCJTC Reserve Academy. I realize I have a lot more education and training to go in order to compete with a lot of the other officers out there but if you are persistent and determined, I say go for it! If you are without connections (as I'm not sure that really helps out anymore) try getting a job as a dispatcher for a non-civil service town or a college and work your way up that way. Good luck.

Posted by: Tackleberry22

It is a rewarding field to be in. It is fun and exciting, as well as boring when nothing happens. Lets face it, this is the only job were you can take away a persons freedom (arrest) and "play cops and robbers" for a living. For me, I knew this was a job that I want to do. It is not a job for everyone. There is the good and the bad to this job. Its fun getting in high speed chases, saving lives, and arresting Mr. Bad Guy. However, seeing people shot up, disfigured, and cut to pieces is enough to make a person sick. Another factor is can you shoot a person who is about to kill you or an innocent person. Many people go through the academy and once they get out onto the streets, find out that they miss the office cubicle. If you work in a city or large town one deals with these aspects more often than a small town department would (so they say).
However, no matter what department you work for, every day you are a target for some jerk off who cares only about him/herself and he or she will do anything to avoid capture. Another thing is if you have a bad day or you're not concentrating on your job somebody could get killed or injured.
I agree with DUKE, don't narrow you're search to just Mass. As of now it is very hard to get on a department in Mass. because of economic slump that the state is in. If you didn't take the Civil Service test this April you are going to have to wait until 2005 to take it.
If you feel that you are up to the task, I say go for it.

Posted by: j809

Quote:

I like interacting with people and helping people

Boy, I've heard that about a million times from every candidate we interviewed.

P.S. You only interact with people when they have a problem and need your services, unless you're a DARE or GREAT or school resource officer. People call the cops when things go wrong in their lives, oh yeag and when you write them a speeding ticket ,they really enjoy interacting with you. Do the job if you really love it and think it is for you. Start out as a special or part timer or whatever and see if you like the dynamics of police work, otherwise you might be a very miserable person, unfortunately, like many people on the job now. Good luck

Posted by: drewpopo

Im not sure if others here have the same problem maybe i just had a poor choice of friends. One Major aspect of the job is your changes. you slowly relize your old friends dont want to be around you, you have to look around a bar before you sit down, unless yur with a few other guys on the job. You cant go into this job if you are not sure if you want it, you are setting yourself up for working overnight, weekends, and holidays.

Posted by: Air Force Cop

Why are there so many wanna be cops in MA.? I was looking to MA for a job when I seperate from the AF, but it seems like everyone wants to be a cop. Guys in my unit say it a psychological thing, it makes them feel like they are importain and can make up for when they were picked on in high school. I think thats bull shit but why are there so many wannbe's?

Posted by: j809

Anyone who is an Air Force Cop is the biggest wannabe I know, because you would never make it on your own on a local PD, especially in MA.

Posted by: Air Force Cop

yea, i know serving your county does make me the bugest wanna be. Look into security forces(air force cops) and see what we do, I'm pritty sure we would do just fine as a mass cop.
Thats a crappy thing to say to someone who just got back from 4 months in the desert, SO YOU COULD BE FREE and be a cop.
I was just wondering why mass pumped out so many cops, everywhere I talk to in New England say that got alot of the mass boys coming up to take there exam. [/quote]

Posted by: j809

Quote:

Guys in my unit say it a psychological thing, it makes them feel like they are importain and can make up for when they were picked on in high school.

Saying crap like that makes you sound like a little 18 year old that enlisted and has no clue. Besides if you were a real man you'd have joined the Marines. Everyone knows the AFSP pulls people over on bases for going 2 miles over the speed limit or guards airplanes for 16 hours straight. Don't make inflamatory remarks like you did and you won't sound like such a fool. Stay safe and come back to Massachusetts. Join the rest of the wannabes.

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

yea, i know serving your county does make me the bugest wanna be. Look into security forces(air force cops) and see what we do, I'm pritty sure we would do just fine as a mass cop.
Thats a crappy thing to say to someone who just got back from 4 months in the desert, SO YOU COULD BE FREE and be a cop.
I was just wondering why mass pumped out so many cops, everywhere I talk to in New England say that got alot of the mass boys coming up to take there exam.

[/quote]

Chill out Fly boy! He's just bustin ya mild on the side, ja noe what i meen?
Seriously. O.K. then;

Are you SP or LE (don't lie)?
What was your best felony arrest?
How many domestics? where?
How many fights at the Top 4 club?

Come on, you can do it! get with the program. Housing Cop will take you off the flight line and onto the bricks and teach you what it's REALLY like to be "da man"

Posted by: Burner1

Hey AF Cop...

MPD61 already beat me to it. As an ex-"SP" not "LE", please, stop the cliche' "So you could be free" bit. It's old, especially for those of us on the board that have done it as well. Move on, and move forward...and use SPELLCHECK! I'm probably the biggest "wanna be" on the board! Not only did I have my nice cozy civil circus job, but through poor decision making, I'm no longer there! Sure I miss it, it would be nice to get back on again, but life goes on...So what if there are a lot of people that "want to be" cops. At some point in your life, didn't you "want to be" something?

Posted by: drewpopo

Fly boy

Even the wannabee's in Mass know enough to use spell check

Posted by: Mikey682

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

yea, i know serving your county does make me the bugest wanna be. Look into security forces(air force cops) and see what we do, I'm pritty sure we would do just fine as a mass cop.

[/quote]

Yeah, I checked out what you guys do...

clicky clicky:

http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/med...s/AFPolice.JPG

watch out for those parked F-15's!!

Posted by: eastsidesc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burner1

So what if there are a lot of people that "want to be" cops. At some point in your life, didn't you "want to be" something?

Well said, everyone starts somewhere.

Posted by: Air Force Cop

hey mikey thanks for the pic, we've been looking for that one for a while, the story behind that pic is, a SP driving the flightline talking on his cell phone while his partner (a female) was asleep because she was sick, he drops the phone and while he was picking it up the plane got in the way
(YEA RIGHT)suckey suckey.

OH, and on the wanna be thing:you guys get too bend out of shape,its prob sunny outside, you can go outside and enjoy it DO IT, stop sitting behind the computer and bitching, im stuck in the rain and AFN TV the only thing to watch.
I was just curious if mass police dept. help with the push of so many cops(ride alongs and Civilan acadamies) or just alot of collages offering up a CJ degree or is it just a state of mind?

P.S. Marines are only good for catching bullets and beating their wives.
but they get the job done! and can drink a beer with me any time.

Posted by: Mikey682

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

he drops the phone and while he was picking it up the plane got in the way
(YEA RIGHT)suckey suckey.

haha yeah thats the story I was told too when I was shown that pic by an ex-AF cop

Posted by: Officer Dunngeon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

I was just curious if mass police dept. help with the push of so many cops(ride alongs and Civilan acadamies) or just alot of collages offering up a CJ degree or is it just a state of mind?

...I don't understand this, anyone else? What exactly is the question here? Are you trying to speak English?

Quote:

P.S. Marines are only good for catching bullets and beating their wives.
but they get the job done! and can drink a beer with me any time.

So, are you saying that you condone women getting beat up by willingly drinking alongside a wife beater?

Posted by: mpd61

[quote="mpd61"]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

yea, i know serving your county does make me the bugest wanna be. Look into security forces(air force

Are you SP or LE (don't lie)?
What was your best felony arrest?
How many domestics? where?
How many fights at the Top 4 club?

And the answers would be??????????????

Posted by: Crvtte65

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

Why are there so many wanna be cops in MA.? I was looking to MA for a job when I seperate from the AF, but it seems like everyone wants to be a cop. Guys in my unit say it a psychological thing, it makes them feel like they are importain and can make up for when they were picked on in high school. I think thats bull shit but why are there so many wannbe's?

How many are from MA?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air Force Cop

Nah I don't think you gave us our freedom. I think those that actually you know...infantry did it. You kinda protected their food when they were fighting. I think the few officers here did a hellofa lot more than you. Militray paramedic, Staff Sergant, few former Marines, and some others. So no...you didn't give me my freedom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey682

watch out for those parked F-15's!!

Those just fly right out ya.....

Posted by: Air Force Cop

Man some of you guys are Losers, why dont you go back to first security and watch the parking lot you fools, all i asked was a simple question and you winners get bent out of shape,

i know your all jelious cause I got vet preference, haha

Posted by: Air Force Cop

your good at quote me, try and get your own words

Posted by: Air Force Cop

For mpd61
I've done both LE and security, nukes in montana and LE in charlestown, and ravens here in germany, I've been really luckey to do all that I have done since I came in.
theres no top 4 club, its only the enlisted club now.
any the of the LE stuff has been mostly minor stuff; mip,dui,assalts, people being just plain stuiped

oh, Crvtte65, I never said I GAVE you freedom, I just protect it, so you can act hard behind a computer, all of the military plays a part, without one it all falls apart.
The all guys who have served before me, THANKS[/quote]

Posted by: Burner1

Is it me, or is someone not familiar with the English language and its usage? Again...

Posted by: Officer Dunngeon

I'm sorry, but this really burns me. This is the perfect example of what happens when you send your kids to public schools.

AirForce, I'm sorry that you feel as though you are being attacked on this board, but nobody appreciates the "I protect your freedom" bit. Respect and honor is earned, and you won't get it by demanding it.

The vet status/jealous/HAHA comment is really 15 year old and chat room-ish. Please save it for AOL, we like to act like grown-ups here.

Your spelling and grammar is not helping either as well, you are only making yourself look like more and more of a fool because you are trying to discredit others when you can't even spell the word "S-T-U-P-I-D."

If you would like to remain a member of this site and continue to contribute to worthwhile topics or discuss other issues, please refrain from acting like a caveman. Also, there is a spellcheck key to the lower right hand corner of the text box (this way ----->). You may want to get into the habit of using it if you would like to be a police officer some day.

Ok, time to get back on track!

Posted by: Gil

Ok are we done now?

Air Force Cop welcome to the board, but please refrain from calling the members of this site "losers". I am not sure how many Marines would want to go toss down a few with you after that ignorant comment about them.

It may be a text based site but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to read between the lines. If you come off as a cocky newbie to the site then you are fair game for all.

Just stick to the topics...

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