So, I've actually been tossing around the idea of getting into law enforcement since I was a kid. Yeah, I know...

But, when I went to college I took all IT courses. The SP always required Criminal Justice courses(understandably so).

I found out today that they officially changed their requirement to any college credits, because they want the diverse background. Cool! I have north of 200.

I did take some of the CJ courses as electives for fun.


Now, the question is, do I drop the 20lbs of weight and go for it? Tough choice...

You live close enough to affect me
Did I ever tell you
I consider you one ,if not our best member

LMFAO! Suck *#$! Just kidding Baack don't ban me.

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And this road goes on forever
I've been traveling all my life
I've seen the rain I've felt the thunder
But it never changed my mind
I'm going back to Carolina

Drop the weight and go for it. It's a great job if you can get it. Plus you get to carry a gun and drive a really fast car. What else could you ask for? Best of luck to you.

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"We must rapidly begin the shift from a "thing-oriented" society to a "person-oriented" society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered."
— Martin Luther King Jr

There are good benifits & job security in law enforcement. They usually pay more when you have a CDL.

Yep, if you have a IT degree and add a few CJ courses. Your a valuable asset right now to state and federal government. There is a HUGE need right now for digital forensics. I know this personally because I'm currently enrolled in a three degree plan. The school where I'm at, has recruiters sending job positions all the time. The positions are not just state and government jobs either, but lawyers and other big firms as well. In Austin alone, they have a backlog of 45 cases because they don't have the personnel to process these cases.


I like to drive truck but as the trucking industry is changing, the advice I have recieved from some old hands is. Stay in school and pursue a degree. They can't DAC/USIS my degree

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I've always wanted to be a cop, I plan to do the CJ courses once I've gotten all the other bills paid off and try to join the Dallas police one day.

If I were you, I'd totally go for it.

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I am a Camaro Girl because IROC!

You have unlimited chances to go too slow, but only one to go too fast.

OK, I'm gonna say it like I see it here. If you really have to ask "do I drop the 20lbs of weight and go for it? " and then add "tough choice," I have to say that you probably should NOT.

And here is why.

As you know, law enforcement is not for everyone. You are pretty well rewarded for the job, with decent pay and benefits, and a really bitchin' retirement plan, at least in most areas.

But the job takes a lot out of you. It takes a special type of person to be able to make LE a career. Like truck driving, the majority of folks who become cops don't make it past the first or second year. OTOH, if they make it for five, they will probably be in it for life.

The majority of your daily contacts are of a negative nature. People you have known all your life are likely to shun you. Folks who have no more experience than watching COPS on TV, will tell you how you are screwing up, and what you SHOULD have done or be doing.

You are going to see some really horrible things. Things that would give the average person nightmares for years, you will experience quite often.

You will find that while your job is putting people in jail, the system is working against you. The district attorney will try to find a reason to avoid filing charges on the schmuck you have arrested. You will find that when you testify in court, the defense attorney will try to turn YOU into the accused.

The people who really should be the most supportive of you, your departments administrators, are so busy play the CYA game that they will gladly throw you to the wolves at the least provocation. You make a split second life or death decision, the rest of the world has months and years to pick schidt with the chickens over what you SHOULD have done.

Hell I could go on here for pages, but nobody would be interested in it. So to give it the short version, LE is something that has to almost be a "calling" if you are going to do justice to the job.

Oh hell, that is another thing. Get over the idea that we have a "justice" system in this country. There ain't no such thing. We have a "criminal" system, but it should never be confused with "justice."

Anyway, I hope you get the drift of my thoughts here. And it is just my opinion.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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My wife asked, "What will you be doing today?"

I replied,"nothing."

She said, "but you did that yesterday."

I said, "right, but I haven't finished it."

Don,

I completely understand where you are coming from. This actually is the biggest reason for the "tough choice" comment. The weight is nothing, I am dropping about 10lbs every 3-4 weeks right now anyhow. I had a knee injury that took me out for a bit and I gained a bunch of weight. Knee healed perfect, so I'm now working on dropping the rest of the 80lbs I gained.

However, I've been on the other side of the law, and watched how it is most definitely set up for failure. I've seen hard criminals go free and innocent people get locked up for years. It sucks, but a few people can make a difference. I have seen a few officers I know who did the right thing, regardless of what someone else thought. They are out there, and they are good people. Its 10 times harder to be that type of cop, but it can be far more rewarding if you learn to work through the corruption in the system.

I'm looking into taking a couple refreshers in my CJ coursework, and seeing what all the academy is going to cost me. If all pans out, I'll probably go for it.

Then I'll be watching you Baack...