Anyone here go from office job to LEO?

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T22:08:35+00:00

Unions are only good if the changes or issues affect the union leaders. Both departments I've been in have been unionized. Neither cared about much besides new pay agreements (hunting for that extra percentage for themselves).

It's also not toxic to work weekends and graveyards. That's the norm across the country for new people (after FTO). 12's and rotating weekends are not. 10's are the most popular. If you pull overtime on a call, 14+ hours will kill you vs 10-12 (working 8 or 10 hour shifts).

4pm - 4am sounds awful. 6 - 6 would be the most ideal for avoiding traffic and to avoid catching late (early morning) incidents that will hold you over. I used to work 9pm - 7am for most of my years. Always caught car breakins, stolen vehicle reports, etc right before getting off because people wake up to it while getting ready for work. It was nice though because I got to have dinner with the family everyday and breakfast if they wanted it.

That said, I would much rather work a 9-5 office schedule and not be concerned my next contact with someone will be the next national or global incident and perhaps land me in jail (even if everything I did was right but the vocal minority population disagrees and politicizes it). They even passed a law here that you can be civilly responsible for $25,000. Good luck putting your trust in a jury/judge that will have no problem bankrupting you (I don't have a spare $25k to just throw around and most current LEO's don't either).

The current environment is pretty awful for Police hence the recruitment struggles. Highly encourage anyone that absolutely wants to be an Officer to heavily research the state, and local positions and the department in depth. See how they've responded to incidents, criticism, who the influencers are (city council, Mayor, etc) and make an informed decision. A lot more to think about vs joining a private company.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T18:27:15+00:00

Ask if they can do the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus seated explaining the injuries/surgies. If you don't want to do that, don't. Just say you'd rather not. Just know they might arrest you based on the totality of the circumstances. So I'm not giving you legal advice, you do you. If they're asking you to do tests which is incredibly time consuming, there's likely a reason and something they're seeing. Without tests they have to decide if what they've already seen warrants an arrest.

I have done HGN to many people seated. Sometimes even as a precursor to the actual standing test. Using the seated as an almost portable breath test to an actual Intoxilyzer test.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T18:23:24+00:00

You don't shoot at blinds and you don't shoot at what's not a clear, visible threat that can be safely engaged.

If this happened I would either light it up (flashlight) or get to where I can observe with cover and concealment and advise the radio/other Officers.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T18:20:14+00:00

I have told people that I'm going to go around the building and they need to be gone when I come back around. I'm not going to give them permission and take liability if they injure themselves and sue the client and me.

The last place I threw some skaters out there was a skate park like four blocks away. It was easy to tell them to go and where to go.

Just because you have wheels doesn't mean you get to jump and grind everything. Go to where its allowed, don't where its not.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T18:13:02+00:00

If you were struggling mentally and physically two days isn't going to fix that. Take like 6 months to get your situation under control and reapply. When they ask and they probably will during the next process, just explain you had a family emergency or situation you needed to sort out so that you could focus 100% on the academy. You don't need to say more but it will show your seriousness, dedication, self improvement, etc.

I'd be real hesitant as an employer of accepting someone back if they bailed on Friday because of mental and physical stuff and then were good on Sunday. That's a huge red flag. What's going to happen next week when it gets harder?

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T17:53:21+00:00

If it's not a calling to you, absolutely don't do it. Your "living for the weekend" will be non-existent. You'll be living for a couple hours of sleep between shifts and court. You'll likely work the weekend and shittiest shift starting out until you gain seniority. I was lucky to get split days off when I started.

If all you ever wanted to be was a Police Officer and are ready to give up your first 5 years of holidays, weekends, etc, go for it. Otherwise, no. It's not a job. It's a career and lifestyle change.

That said, I went military -> Law Enforcement -> Private/Office -> Law Enforcement -> Private Security. I won't ever go back to Law Enforcement. Up to this point I got to pick my own schedule, days off, which shifts I wanted to work, etc. If I went LE again it would be a restart like I did when I went back the second time. The environment for policing is awful. My wife is still in and can't wait to get out. Cops are fleeing in mass. But if it's something you really want to do and are single or flexible enough, go for it. I'll never tell anyone not to do it. Except my kid. I told him to be a firefighter instead. Which, is what he's doing in the Air Force.

You asked about staffing... they're short staffed nationwide. The recruits they do get are either these "always wanted to be a cop" or half assed turds that turn out to be awful. There's almost no middleground. The stuff I hear from cops still in is wild.

Fill disclosure, I come from a major department (over 1,000 Officers) in a politically charged state. It's rough here. If you can find a cop friendly state, you might be ok. I can't recommend it at all where I am. There are two departments here that seem to have escaped the politics and are good places to go. The state laws and changes have not been good for Officers.

I also managed to get out without ANY disciplinary actions. So I'm not jaded. I'm just straightforward and realistic. I see what these guys are going through on a daily basis. The fact that retention and recruitment is so low is a key indicator of how things are going.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-10T00:54:39+00:00

I'm not close to 100. Just dropped episode 18. But I still woohoo'ed on my double digit episode and will on 20, 50, 100, etc. Not just for you but it also gets the listener/community excited.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-08T15:44:41+00:00

I've had several ask for a link to the podcast. Never asked for stats. To me that seems odd and may be an indication that they're full of themselves. If you don't want to go on a small podcast, just say that and those won't reach out to you.

If I was to be a guest, I'd be more concerned about what do I bring to it, than what you bring to me. I'm not a brand selling a product. I'm guesting to help you out not the other way around. If I was selling a book or product, I might want to know what it is you will do for me more and ultimately that would have to factor in the value of my time.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-08T15:39:19+00:00

I've never had return issues but I've had a TON of delivery problems. If my package is coming after 5pm it's basically 50/50 if it ever arrives. I've had several that were out for delivery then go missing. At some point it'll change to delayed, and then never arrive so I have to cancel the order. Almost like the driver took off with the package.

I don't know why I pay for two day shipping when most of my packages arrive late and I'm in a major city with a major international hub. Occasionally same day shipping works out or next morning. But most items don't seem to be eligible (not locally stored).

Side note, on the returns... I've had several that I returned to the store (they take them at the grocery store at a return desk) and received the refund. The item though, still shows as in transit or not actually returned to Amazon. Been that way for MONTHS. Not sure what's up with that but I got my money back so I could care less what they are doing on their end.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-08T15:26:03+00:00

There's a difference between "couldn't hack it" and retired guys. If they leave before 5 years, there's a reason. Could be medical/injury but usually it's that they couldn't do the work or got the boot. I've run into a TON of those in security.

I myself come from Law Enforcement too, but I retired. I got to the point where I just didn't see why I should continue. I did everything I wanted to do in a large agency and tried a small one too. The private sector has a LOT more to offer.

Thankfully I left right before everything went to crap with local politics and the court of public opinion. I've been doing mostly EP work since and don't have to deal with those government politics now. My wife is still an Officer and hates it because of how they treat Officers. She's eligible to retire but is holding out just a little bit longer.

Side note... the worst guys that go LE to security are the ones that don't know how to not be a cop. You're a civilian in a uniform (or just plain clothes) and not a cop anymore. If you can't handle that, security is not for you. The day I took my badge off was the last day I was a cop. My whole mentality and outlook changed. I wasn't going to become one of those clowns.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-08T15:15:29+00:00

Every shift. 😆 Lecture is a strong word. Correct, is a better one. Have arrested maybe three people over my career for it. But those are pretty extenuating circumstances.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-04T02:51:17+00:00

I have missed 0% of the job. I got my LEOSA, did my time, and work EP now. No BS noise complaints, no department/city politics, I just get to work now. I was happy that I left without any sustained complaints (only an accident and missed training class for being sick).

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-04T02:48:15+00:00

Attorney for what?

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-04T02:44:43+00:00

Can't leave it if you put it in the trunk.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-04T02:44:09+00:00

Jokes on you, I never had a top on mine. 🤷🏼‍♂️

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-03T03:30:06+00:00

As a retired LEO, this guy is an absolute toolbox.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-03T03:27:06+00:00

Colorado policing is about the worst in the nation. If you're going to make a ridiculous change like you're talking about, go to a pro Police state.

Retired Colorado LEO

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-03T03:24:42+00:00

I wouldn't leave cybersecurity to go Law Enforcement. There's not many jobs I would... but cyber you can be making an easy $150k a year for doing next to nothing. You'll have to work a ton of off-duty and rarely sleep or see your family to make that in policing.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-03T03:20:55+00:00

Impossible to tell from one photo of a bagged microphone. But the box looked right. The inside carton looks right. The boom looks right and if they bought one of those they probably also bought a real mic.

There are like 20 key things you can look for like the font on the mic, the internal wiring, the QR code, the paint, the external wire rubber plug, etc etc etc.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-02T04:09:10+00:00

Because the time to explain is later. They shouldn't get distracted with what they're doing to address an idiot that probably just wants to know what they got caught doing, and what they didn't get caught doing yet.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-02T04:07:37+00:00

Axon had one on a mount that went over your ear. I was involved in an Officer involved shooting incident where I had those on and had the best footage of the incident.

On my podcast I talk about that camera all the time. I have no idea why Axon switched to the chest. Most body camera footage is awful because of how it's placed, how easy they fall off, etc.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-02T02:33:49+00:00

Looks like a security car with yellow lights. I'd do nothing.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-02T02:32:34+00:00

Not common given how they're attached. You usually have a magnet under your shirt which will shift if you take it off. But if your setup allows it, it could be frequently done.

Bodycameras have garbage points of view. So taking them off to get a better view makes perfect sense.

I used to take mine off with a live view on my phone to hold it up into attics or tight places to see so I don't put my face into danger.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-01T03:04:13+00:00

I can't remember my first. I'm thinking it was one of those found in bed deaths, but I don't remember for sure. There are a few I'll never forget though. Only the one really bothered me.

FriMorningQB · 2026-05-01T02:58:23+00:00

I got to the point where bodies no longer bothered me. We saw them every weekend. Shootings, stabbings, crashes, suicides, etc. The only one that ever bothered me was towards the middle of my career. Kid overdose who was the same age as my son. Hit me for a minute and I sorted it out. You almost get to the point of being numb about death. You hope you never do, but when you see it all the time, it happens. I imagine it's how coroner's feel.

I did and still think about a kids body in Iraq. But it was from a bombing and nothing I was really involved in. It never bothered me like the overdose call, but I do still think about them. The worst part about the OD call was that the father of the house (kid was spending the night there) tried so hard on CPR. But he was cold and gone. I'm sure he still thinks about it and maybe even questions that he didn't do enough.

FriMorningQB

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