Do You Want to Be Hired as a Police Officer? Good news for you, but not necessarily for the rest of us: virtually every law enforcement agency across the United States is hiring. Many of these agencies are extremely short-staffed due to retirements and personnel leaving for other departments. For more news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and numerous other social media platforms.
Before I discuss the downside, let me emphasize that I pray for you. Being a police officer, deputy sheriff, state trooper, constable, or agent is still a very honorable profession and offers a chance to do a lot of good. All of our great interviews are available as a free podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or most major podcast platforms.
Do You Want to Be Hired as a Police Officer? The Manpower Crisis: How It Affects Everyone.
Slower Emergency Responses: Manpower shortages lead to slower responses to emergency calls.
Overworked Officers: More forced overtime means officers get fewer breaks, making them overworked, overstressed, and tired—a dangerous combination when we demand their best service.
Reduced Non-Emergency Response: Calls deemed non-emergencies may receive delayed responses, affecting quality of life issues.
Do You Want to Be Hired as a Police Officer? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, MeWe and other social media platforms. Qualified Immunity and Its Impact.
Hesitation in Action: The loss of qualified immunity in many jurisdictions means officers might hesitate or refrain from taking action due to potential civil liabilities.
Lack of Support: Officers often face persecution by local media, command staff, and city hall. Financial coverage for officers' families can be lost if they are indicted, arrested, and suspended without pay. Even if cleared in court later, the financial damage to their families can be severe, including foreclosures, evictions, and loss of insurance.
Do You Want to Be Hired as a Police Officer? Listen to numerous episodes of the radio show as a free podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website or most major podcast platforms. What to Consider If You Want to Be a Police Officer.
Qualified Immunity: Research if qualified immunity exists in your desired state and if agencies have a history of providing it. Qualified immunity allows state and local officials to avoid personal consequences related to their professional actions unless they violate “clearly established law.” It should not cover corruption or real violations of the law.
Retirement and Benefits: Pay close attention to which agencies offer the shortest retirement plans and best benefits. High salaries are important, but length of service and benefits matter even more.
Family Coverage: Ensure that your family will be covered if you are permanently injured or killed in the line of duty. Some states and local agencies have laws that deny a surviving spouse the deceased officer’s salary unless they had at least 20 years of service. Others may not offer pensions to officers who are permanently injured, relying instead on Social Security.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, MeWe, Pinterest and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news.
If you want to be hired as a police officer, do your homework and be fully prepared. I pray for you and your journey ahead.
Do You Want to Be Hired as a Police Officer? For more law enforcement stories and insights, tune in to the Law Enforcement Talk Radio show, a nationally syndicated weekly program broadcast on 116 affiliate stations reaching over 44 million listeners. Podcast versions of the show are available on the website, and updates can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
