I'm out...I've done my time..... (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 2/14/2025 9:42:34 AM EDT
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Wasn't really ready to leave but the job isn't worth it anymore. I didn't get into law enforcement to be the armed relationship counselor or mental health problem solver. I'm not staying so that I can figure out how to solve the problem of the homeless guy that is sh*ting on your sidewalk with 6 contacts, 3 taxi rides and civil citation programs....how about I just arrest him and take him to jail? No one cares about arrests, unless it is a domestic, in that case zero tolerance my man. I will never understand the logic or morality of arresting people when you don't know who started it or someone doesn't want to do anything or you are doing it knowing full well that the state will have to drop the charges. But you are not allowed to use common sense anymore. Hammer them or we will hammer you. My agency has gone full tard and the brass is hammering everyone they can for minor stuff and believe me there is a bunch of higher ups willing to step on everyone they can to make themselves look "good". Used to be, not having many complaints in your district was a good thing, not anymore. I don't need it anymore and I'm out. I've seen people weasel their ways out of working the road, promotions thru weekend fishing trips or sex harassment complaints to special assignments or medical complaints to special assignments (some legit in fairness). Now people with no experience and who don't put their signatures on PCs sit in judgement over the rest of us. Last straw for me is catching a day off for the way my partner handled a call, a call that he handled in good faith and per policy from my POV. He could have "fixed it" if they had given him a chance but they didn't, sent it straight to IA, no second chances for him and I got thrown under the bus because I happened to be backing him up. My advice for new guys...you don't know what you ever going to get dispatched to so get off the road as soon as possible. Suck up to the brass and do as little as possible so you won't get complaints. I truly don't know how anyone can expect to make it thru an entire career at this point. My kid talked about becoming a cop and I said no way. Well somewhere along the way he listened to me, he started messing with boats and got into working on them. He now is a certified small engine boat mechanic and he has started up his own business. Do something you love and you will never work a day in your life. Commons sense has left law enforcement and common sense is becoming less common anyway so you need to watch you back. And this is coming from a someone who works in a good red state. I feel bad for anyone that works in the bluest of the blue states. Peace out. Good luck to you all. I'm a survivor. |
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Originally Posted By urbanredneck: My agency has gone full tard and the brass is hammering everyone they can for minor stuff and believe me there is a bunch of higher ups willing to step on everyone they can to make themselves look "good". Used to be, not having many complaints in your district was a good thing, not anymore. "I can't look good unless I make you look bad" That mentality crept into the military a couple decades ago and has been perpetuated by servicemembers of the entitled generation. Apparently it has infiltrated LE as well. |
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God damn dude! It’s like you read my mind and we work in the same agency!! I have 92 days left before I can punch out. This job is so incredibly un-healthy in so many ways. Glad you made it through! Don’t be bitter and let it hang over you. Good luck homie. Semper… |
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Originally Posted By TexFive-O: God damn dude! It’s like you read my mind and we work in the same agency!! I have 92 days left before I can punch out. This job is so incredibly un-healthy in so many ways. Glad you made it through! Don’t be bitter and let it hang over you. Good luck homie. Semper… Ain't gonna be bitter. Feeling bad for the guys still working. Good luck. This wasnt the plan so I didn't have 3 months to count down. See you on the flip side |
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I'm in a unique spot. I've been at the job long enough to have been in the good ole days. Where people trusted/respected you to do your job. Through to our modern evolution. But I am very fortunate to live in a conservative area where most people support the police. And in a bizarre turn the shitty leadership at my agency is retiring off and things are actually improving. Its been a long ride but things are literally looking up right now. I don't have a son. And if I did part of me would want to encourage him to become a doctor, surgeon, or get into business management then open his own business. But part of me is also proud to be a cop (and a good one). And I'd be proud if I had a son to carry on the tradition. We live here. Our family lives here. We need good people on the road keeping things in check. The best advice I could give to anyone is only work in a conservative area you are appreciated. There will be some bullshit along the way. But I can deal with bullshit if I have people that appreciate me and have my back. |
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Originally Posted By Kraquine: "I can't look good unless I make you look bad" That mentality crept into the military a couple decades ago and has been perpetuated by servicemembers of the entitled generation. Apparently it has infiltrated LE as well. It has infiltrated the entire society |
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Originally Posted By 11b4v: I miss the perception of Law Enforcement, not the reality. Op, Trust me on this, there’s life after LE, you’ll be ok. There sure is! Three years retired and no ragerts. I was where you were OP. Covid and Cuomo retardation. Being threatened with a lockout or paying out of pocket for a weekly Covid test to be allowed to work. Add in it was only a matter of time before frustration overwhelmed common sense and I’d say enough non PC things and get jammed up! Take the money and run! |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
Welcome to the club my brother.
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I have a little under three years left till I hit my ten year mark. Once I am eligible for my departments pension, I’m gone too. Things have changed so much in just the past seven ish years with policing and my agency. The people being hired now, are flat out scary |
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I'm coming up on 30 years this year in the profession. I have seen many examples of what youre referencing OP from the outside. I have always worked for a small town PD and we handle everything for calls. If they don't know who to call they start with the PD. Fortunately I am nearing the eligibility zone for retirement. I have some personal and professional goals to meet in the last few years. I work for a great community and have exellent support from the community and town government (and it looks like it will continue with the current elections). I know I am in a good position for the time being. The field has changed a lot over the years...some good, some bad, and a whole lot of extras. Thank you for your service. Mike |
Joined:
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Posts:
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NC, USA
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I was born in the US, I grew up abroad - Italy. Only returned to this beloved country of mine when I was 45. I am now 57. This is the only country I love. Law enforcement is/was an essential part of our civilization. Without it, no civil entities can exist. You are forced to leave because this society is in decay. It's in decay because of corrupt forces that infiltrated the mind of millions. It was intentional A sign of profound decay We won political elections but the fight just started Get some rest and thank you for all you have done for a country that - unfortunately- doesn't deserve you anymore |
| I got out of uniform at 3.5 years, and smartly out of the PD at 12. Friend of mine is still at the same patrol station after 31 years. He loves that shit. I have a number of PD guys that work for me off duty now that come by and have coffee with me occasionally as they know i worked for the same dept. It's interesting to see what drives them compared to what was in our heads 31 years ago. |
| Welcome to the check of the club month. My advice, avoid your old job & department gossip for at least 6 weeks. It's good to "detoxify" from all that negativity. Work on a normal sleep schedule, watch the booze and keep exercising. Your job is to live a long and healthy life in honor of all those that didn't make it. 0300 Infantry, congratulations Pyle, you made it. |
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Originally Posted By Yankee-Carpet-Bagger: Welcome to the check of the club month. My advice, avoid your old job & department gossip forever. Or this, for those of us that worked ghetto shitholes for decades. |
| Life is good. I left after Floyd & Covid, having to deal with the knee-jerk policy changes and threats from senior management and all the bullshit coming down the pike. I was planning on staying for 3 more years, but I didn't want to wait too long and end up bitter & hating it. Every guy I talk to who is still working confirms my decision. |
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Originally Posted By EamonnWright: Life is good. I left after Floyd & Covid, having to deal with the knee-jerk policy changes and threats from senior management and all the bullshit coming down the pike. I was planning on staying for 3 more years, but I didn't want to wait too long and end up bitter & hating it. Every guy I talk to who is still working confirms my decision. Ditto including the three years I intended to work. 18 years ago I said I would work 33 years to max the retirement program. Then it was three years beyond the 25 year minimum. In the end due to the stupidity surrounding covid, a lock down on OT unless you were in a certain clique and some really aggravating laws to intentionally burden LE court paperwork and I wasn’t going to play those games. I was done. Check please! I had made good strides on banking money in the 457b. I could afford to go. I have been retired over three years now and have yet to touch my 457b. I am about ready to do so though. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
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Originally Posted By fergus556: I had 30+ years on the street. I still miss it some and would do it all again. It lead to a great pension. Sorry some have had negative experiences, I had some but positive over all. Congrats, man. 30 years on the street is no joke. |
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I'm out, did it... And a time bomb went off in my agency on the way out the door. Suspensions, firings, demotions....major incident right after I turned in my paperwork... I can see things getting so much worse in the coming months. "The beatings will Continue until morale improves" is the line that comes to mind. Guy tried to make a complaint on my last shift. Let's his 8 year old daughter play outside unsupervised apparently. The kids are playing tag with a teen on golf cart. Well, surprisingly her foot got run over. So the father calls with no real stated purpose of what he wants to do so I'm trying to get the who what where when why out of him. He stops me as I'm asking all these questions and wants to know why I'm asking all the questions. I tell him, "well you called saying that your daughter was not injured but you are telling me now that she is possibly hurt so I'm gathering information for a report. Is she injured or not?" He goes on that her foot is red and there is a tire mark but he only wants to know if the kid can drive the cart. I wanted to clarify before I answered so I did some checking and called him back. Basically, it appears the kid was on private property and was old enough to operate the golf cart. So the father starts saying I'm pro golf cart and the kids dad is a cop so I must know him..... I stop him and said, "Look, I don't know who you are talking about, I told you I was gathering information to write a report and I'll go talk to the other parties". So the father basically says that he doesn't want to get the cops involved, he only wanted to know the law so he can talk to the father of the driver. OKay...I emailed him the traffic law book that has charts of vehicles that do and do not need a driver's license and sent him the statute that I was referenced to go with it and tell him to call back if he needs further assistance. Well the guy called back the next night because his daughter's foot is fractured and he accused me of not taking a report... FUK YOU ASSHOLE! I tried take a report from you and you did not want it. And the conversation was recorded so eat sh*t. |
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I made it 18 years. 15 of those as a detective doing a lot of UC work. When I came back to the parent agency the job and the other cops were unrecognizable. People I'd looked up to for years were encouraging me to "just play the game" and "learn to hide better" and getting pissed when I wouldn't join them in pretending that they are still the best cops ever. Fuck that. I finally realized my integrity wasn't allowing me to tell the lies to myself that they could, and it was tearing me up inside. I left a year ago, and after a year being gone there's ONE friend from LE who has reached out to check in, see how I'm doing, and ask what happened and why I bailed. Out of thousands of LE contacts in my phone, ONE actually gave enough of a shit to ask what was up when I disappeared from the job suddenly. Kinda puts light to the whole "brotherhood" lie, doesn't it? FYI some companies love hiring former cops especially detectives as sales reps. Lots of the skillset translates directly. Look into it if you want a shot at making way better money for less stress and less work overall. |
Adjunct Instructor Mechanical Design & Fabrication
Joined:
Oct 2001
Posts:
1568
EE: 100% (2)
FL, USA
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Originally Posted By spd1719: After a year being gone there's ONE friend from LE who has reached out to check in, see how I'm doing, and ask what happened and why I bailed. Out of thousands of LE contacts in my phone, ONE actually gave enough of a shit to ask what was up when I disappeared from the job suddenly. Kinda puts light to the whole "brotherhood" lie, doesn't it? FYI some companies love hiring former cops especially detectives as sales reps. Lots of the skillset translates directly. Look into it if you want a shot at making way better money for less stress and less work overall. I also found this to be true after leaving patrol work. Between a physical disability hitting me out of the blue and the politics and extremely toxic work place I left and went to another field of investigations. I just applied all the training of the 15 previous years and made 3 to 4 times what I did in L.E. I don't miss Policing but at times I miss the people. Ive been asked by students about going into police work and I warn them away. Its not a career for everyone. Now I am doing something that has a lot of satisfaction and helps people who want to be there. |
Pensacola area
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December 30, 2028, at 22:45 for me. If things don't change, which they might. My agency is actually really chill except for the fact that the upper level civilian admin types despise police officers. They really don't understand things like having purchase body armor, radios, practice ammo, duty ammo, tires, brakes, gasoline, uniforms, holsters, you get the idea. And they are mortified that we have guns "all over the place". I'm glad you made it out with your liver and your sanity intact OP. It's not the weird and violent calls that burn you out as much as it is the death by a thousand cuts from everyone thinking they know your job way better than you. I know many young officers who are absolutely not willing to make decisions or take action because of their fear of getting reprimanded. |
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I made it almost 21 years. All I can say is NYS is shot and the job is dead. I am so thankful I was able to retire with full medical and a pension. I think back to the first half of my career and compare it to the second half and think WTF? People have lost their minds, society has chosen to protect the criminals and crush the cops. Message sent and received! No regrets leaving, none! God bless OP I am happy for you! 1981 |
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Originally Posted By RD20: At minimum, your time being an LEO will exempt you from any future firearm bans. BTW, you're an excellent writer. Good luck to you, and thank you for your service. I wouldn't be so sure about that. They might narrow any law enforcement exemption down to serving officers only and not exempt retired guys except for whatever version of LEOSA might exist at that time . |
*post contains personal opinion only and should not be considered information released in an official capacity*
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I'm 9 years in and going onto my third department. Last chance before I join you. I have had the same exact issues and more issues ongoing. Hopefully one day I get to talk about it but for now that's all folks. Congratulations. Make the most of it. I'm giving it one more run. |
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I left after 8 years in Air Support (Pilot). 900 officer department. No issues except I was missing A LOT of time with my young daughter. I really loved the job, but I love her much more. So I left. Best decision I ever made. I obviously miss it at times but haven’t regretted it for one second. |
Joined:
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FL, USA
| I did 28 years, just got out last month (5/25). The toxic leadership at my agency is what eventually helped me make the decision to leave when I did. I miss the guys I worked with but I don't miss the BS from the admin or the political BS that's made it's way into LE. I still meet the guys for lunch every couple weeks and they are telling me the same shit that I was dealing with when I left. I do not miss any of that and I'm happy I got out. At first I was mad that I was letting them push me out, but after I changed my way of thinking I realized they were giving me an opportunity to leave earlier than I had originally planned. I was in a good financial position to leave so the agency wasn't able to hold me financially hostage. |
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I did 25 years and retired from a state, I am ashamed to mention. it borders lake Ontario. The law enforcement is a worthless mess, no loyalty, no arrests, the department spends it's time at community affairs events,, and delivering toys and flowers to sick children. Lat week half the dept spent the weekend picking up Trash along the roadways. If anyone works anymore I don't have any idea what they do. I am so glad to be gone. A tip for the new guys, quit, do something else, no one likes you, or wants you. I have been out a while now and I have never received a phone call, e-mail Christmas card from anyone I worked with for 25 years. I walked out the door and never heard a peep from a single person. I am now a proud resident of the great state of Texas glad to be here and as Davey Crocket once said, You all can go to hell, I will go to Texas. mac |
A Man's Home Trailer is his White Castle!
Joined:
Oct 2006
Posts:
50912
EE: 100% (160)
FL, USA
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Originally Posted By TexFive-O: God damn dude! It’s like you read my mind and we work in the same agency!! I have 92 days left before I can punch out. This job is so incredibly un-healthy in so many ways. Glad you made it through! Don’t be bitter and let it hang over you. Good luck homie. Semper… Lot of that “my agency “ shit going around. |
Sweet baby Jesus on fire. Gonna need a damn lawyer and a miracle to pull my ass outta this.
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My only advice is retired ASAP. your job will be replaced soon enough, assuming someone dumb enough can be found to take the job. Just an interesting note, when I came in the job there were over 4000 applicants for 34 positions. Now if an agency doesn't offer a signing bonus they get no one. I don't think it's me but something went very wrong in the past 20 years. mac |
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Originally Posted By Beauseph: What has everyone done after getting out of LE? It's like schadenfreude mixed with relief and disbelief that I subjected myself to that. Fuck you pay me. I plan to live forever out of pure spite. |
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Originally Posted By feudist: Stand by the mailbox once a month and give a big old shit eating grin when the pension check comes. It's like schadenfreude mixed with relief and disbelief that I subjected myself to that. Fuck you pay me. I plan to live forever out of pure spite. Haha I wish I could. I have only 9 years in though and recently got messed with to the max. So now im considering getting out because after what me and my family has been through, im not sure I ever want to go back into it. |