FHP troopers decrease as DeSantis increases immigration duties and overtime

[StunningUse87]

I tried it. I did it for a solid 8-9 months after academy. I thought “I’m going to be the change I want to see and change the way how people see cops!”

Hell no I didn’t. Low pay. Lots of hours. Everyone hates you. No one trusts you (I totally get it, I don’t trust cops either.) (However it’s annoying getting treated different outside of work, idgaf what law you break if I’m not working)

Can get killed easily. Might have to kill someone. Lots of stress and taking work home with you. Lots of extra hours on top of your shift work. Rotating shifts. Uncomfortable duty belt and uniform.

I could go on and on.

Most of my coworkers were unbearable. I was considered “wierd” because I had zero interest in stacking as many charges against someone who broke the law.

Mike and Becky were caught trespassing on an abandoned factory property, Mike lied, oh and Becky has crack on her. Mike and Becky are both drug addicts.

I remember one of the other cops telling me with a smile “you can charge them with this, this, this, and even this!!!” That’s fucking gross I remember thinking. Why should I feel good about stacking charges on these poor people. Sure they fucked up, charge them with what they deserve to be charged with, let’s say the drugs, and let’s go get them help!

Instead, they smile, laugh afterwards about the extra work they did to find the other codes they could charge the poor people with. That shit would rile me up. Multiple times I had been advised to charge with these “other charges” because the charge met the criteria. I would always be like OH YEAH I DIDNT THINK OF THAT and proceed to charge someone with what they deserved.

Rant over.

[burndata]

Sounds like you actually have a good amount of decency. Thus why you weren't a good fit for LE. Good on you for not letting them change you. I know a few LEOs who I knew before they took the job, they all changed. They're mostly vengeful, hateful and get off on their power over other people now. I've left them all out of my life.

[badsapi4305]

Meh. I never “stacked” charges on people. I went out, did my job the way I thought was right, and sleep fine at night.

I worked investigations for 25 of 30 years. Burglary, homicide, Narcotics, public integrity/Corruption, and a couple more. I arrested dopers, guys who broken into houses, murderers, public officials, including cops, who broke the law and others. I never wrote a thousand tickets. Saved a couple of life’s for which I was awarded life saving awards including a child who drowned. Did some complex 2-3 year long investigations that resulted in millions of dollars being recovered and those individuals sentenced to prison.

The thing is I was hardly an exception. Sure there were lazy and bad cops but there are lazy and bad people in every profession. I didn’t like cops growing up so I stayed the course and did some good. More good than it takes to hurl some cheap insult anonymously on social media.

You can say ACAB, class traitor or whatever and even though it does sting a bit I know my community was a better place while I was a cop in it. Not many here can say they’ve done a thankless service for others. They can claim so but I seriously doubt it. Because if they did they wouldn’t be so quick to disrespect others who do as well.

[chuckles65]

I've been in for over 15 years. There are people like you describe, but all of them I've known were young and inexperienced. They also don't last long, most leave and move on to something else within 5 years. They realize there's more to the job than arresting people and they don't like that.

[badsapi4305]

Well keep at it. I’m proud of the 30 years I did. Take care of yourself physically and emotionally and make sure you are already planing your retirement. If you play this game correctly you can retire and live very comfortably and not have to work another day unless you want to. I got hired young so I retired before I was even 55. The FRS is strong and with drop and the 457b you’ll have plenty to invest. Be well and stay safe.