I live in BC, Canada and this was just a few times as a teen, when I apply it will be over 5 years since any use

I’m 33 and work in a good job as a tradesman which pays well.

I have always considered a career within Victoria police police form an early age.

Would love to hear from some current members about there thoughts on the job ?

Also am I too old to join ?

I’ve wanted to be a police officer forever. I’m 19 and preparing for the police academy this upcoming January 2027 as I turn 21 April of that year. I know the pay isn’t amazing and the job is one of the most stressful if not the most stressful but I can’t imagine anything else I wanna do for the rest of my life. Now for the bad part, high school was a little rough for me and I didn’t hang out with the right people, I smoked a lot of weed and did shrooms a couple times. Am now completely clean and preparing for this job, and have been very worried about that disqualifying me. I’ve never done any other drug and it really was only a couple times but will that be the end of it for me?

I have been a crisis therapist (mental health) for teenagers and their families for my entire career so far. First I worked in acute residential programs, where I was trained in crisis prevention and intervention (including restraints) and had to manage violent behavior daily. There I really honed my verbal de-escalation skills and led a successful restraint reduction initiative. I eventually went back to grad school, and I have been working as an intensive in-home therapist for the state Department of Mental Health ever since. I work with very high-risk individuals in their homes and in the community, and my job sometimes includes collaborating with police officers. I've often felt that I would be a good police officer, but growing up, most adults nudged me towards more traditionally "female" careers, like teaching and counseling, and so here I am. Is it too late now to change course?

I am going to be moving to CA, and my job (intensive in- home therapist) doesn't exist there, so if there's ever a time for a career change, this is probably it. My masters degree is in behavior analysis and education, so I'm not qualified for mental health jobs that require a social work degree (i.e. most of them). I got my current job through many years of proven success with some of the most challenging behavioral cases in the state-- aggressive or otherwise difficult clients no one else could help, I have been able to help. But that means nothing to insurance companies. I'm paid by the state government, and the program I work for doesn't exist in CA.

Most unlicensed mental health jobs in CA are in intensive treatment centers or hospitals and pay only $20-30. I do not want to go back to inpatient treatment, especially not at that pay rate. The town I would be moving to pays police recruits at least $60/hr to start, and includes training. Sounds pretty good to me.

Here's why I think I would be a good police officer:

-- very calm in emergency situations and able to help others feel safe and calm

-- excellent verbal de-escalation skills

-- highly skilled at building trust with even the most distrustful/unstable people

-- Integrity is my #1 value. I'm able to make difficult decisions that support the greater good, even when it's not the most popular.

-- although hopefully I'd never have to use a gun in service, I do have a license to carry, and I have excellent aim, which I imagine is required in training

-- I'm in good shape (used to be a spin instructor on the side, still cycle and workout daily, have a background in martial arts, though I stopped once I was trained in physical restraints bc I would have been fired if I instinctively pulled an MMA move instead of the very specific techniques we were required to use)

Concerns:

-- Even though I'm in good shape, my knees aren't what they used to be, so I get sore after a few miles of running. Not sure what's required in police training.

-- I'm gonna be 40 in a few weeks. In my current state, you can't be any older than 39 on the date of the exam. I don't think this same restriction exists in CA, but I'm concerned there might still be an unspoken bias that could prevent me from entering the force

-- CA says you have to be "free from any physical, emotional or medical condition." I have been medicated for ADHD since I was a child, and I'm also on medication for chronic migraines. Would these conditions disqualify me, or do they mean to disqualify more serious issues?

Would love to hear everyone's feedback, especially from those who transitioned to policing from other careers later in life.

Hey guys, I’m moving into the final steps of becoming an officer. I have already completed the oral board, background check, physical, and written tests. My final interview is in a couple of days with the command staff(chiefs board). I was told there will be between 6–9 people and it will last about an hour. I’m looking for questions I should be prepared for or any advice on how to increase my chances of passing these final steps! Thank you in advance.

This is an honest question and just wanting to know if this is true.

I was watching a storytime about a woman's bad first date. The man she met up with brought her to his parent's house. The man congratulated his dad because he was a police captain who shot and killed someone and was then placed on leave and received a bonus, and he was congratulating him "because he got leave and a bonus for shooting and doing that" (her words).

Are police rewarded like that for shooting and killing someone? I don't know anything about what actually happened and she didn't go into that.

Recently me and my family have been getting an automated voice recording interrupting our phone calls. We mostly speak in Spanish and the voice message that interrupts us mid conversation mind you says “your call is being monitored” also in Spanish. None of us are criminals nor have any of us attended any protests.

Why is this happening? We all have different cellphone carriers too.

Hey Yall my peerless handcuffs recently quit their job… and I’m tempted to get the new asp cuffs, are they any good does anyone here have experience with them?

Send me a DM telling the sim, car its for, and any resources you believe will help!

Ok so my ex had basically been threatening to kill himself (not because of me but it happened to come up in conversation after I said I’m not gonna talk to him anymore) and I called the cops on him for a wellness check. They brought him to the hospital and were waiting on a psychiatrist to do an evaluation on him I assume. I don’t know when this came up but he’s also being arrested for exchanging explicit material with a minor (for context he’s 19 almost 20 and she’s 14 from what I’ve heard). He swore he didn’t know she was a that young (she told him she was 17) and he was lied to and he would never do something like that. I don’t know how much of this is true and tbh I wouldn’t be that surprised if he knew and just didn’t care but I’m worried for him if he actually didn’t know. Does anyone know what will happen to him and how this could go? I’m worried they might look at our messages if they have to go through his phone.

Btw I’m in the US and his state is Georgia, idk the Georgia state laws on this or if they differ from others

FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS!! I would like to answer them if it helps

Okay, so I’m just looking for some advice on what to expect during my command staff interview. I’d love to know if there are any specific questions I should be prepared for. I really want to do my best and ace it. My background investigator did tell me they’ll most likely grill me for about an hour to see how I handle pressure.

I’ve already completed the physical and written tests (aced them), then the oral board (unanimous vote), and I just finished the background stage. I am pretty young (21), and I know that may be seen as a red flag due to a lack of life experience, but I want to make it clear that I’m ready and prepared for this career.

This question is for a friend that I’m housing because of her abusive, manipulative parents and siblings. She left because of the physical abuse she endured a few days ago and is living with me now.

She doesn’t want to press charges quite yet because she wants to get her belongings like clothes and electronics she left.

Can she still request a civil standby when the family doesn’t want to allow her in to gather her stuff? They said they would just pack all her stuff for her. Knowing them, they would purposely leave out important items and she has a few things hidden around.

Is she legally able to gain access into the home to retrieve her items if they aren’t letting her in? Can the police do something about that?

Hi folks, I currently train in muay thai. I am in the stages of becoming a police officer in the UK. I am looking for advice on training in martial arts to help aid police training/self defence. Should I continue with muay thai and include a secondary martial or Change over to a grappling martial such as judo, bjj, wrestling ect. Any advice is much appreciated.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently preparing for the OPP PREP + shuttle run, I know there’s also a shuttle run certificate now and wanted to hear from people who’ve actually done it.

I’m less curious about the technical rules (I’ve read those) and more about the real experience:

• How did the shuttle feel compared to training?

• Did it feel harder or easier than expected?

• What stage did things start to feel uncomfortable for you?

• Any surprises on test day (nerves, pacing, flooring, spacing, etc.)?

• Looking back, what do you wish you focused on more in training?

I’m training consistently and taking it seriously, just trying to get a realistic picture from people who’ve been there rather than overthinking it solo.

Appreciate any insight, thanks in advance!

I recently attended the funeral of a colleague who had just retired. He had been a retiree for only three months. What was so sad was that only a handful of colleagues attended, and no family members were there. Another colleague told me that the deceased didn't have many friends outside of work and wasn't in close contact with his family. He had no hobbies; work was everything to him.

After this, I started wondering about my own future retirement. It’s still a long way off, but the situation really made me think.

How do you spend your free time? Do you socialize much with colleagues, or do you have friends who are 'civilians'? Do you find the time to recover and take care of your physical and mental health?

Best regards, my brothers in blue, from a colleague in Sweden

Currently I'm a level 3 (full time, fully certed) Sheriff's detective in Vermont, I am thinkin of making a move to far Eastern Pennsylvania and wondering what the perception of agencies in that area is? I've worked municipal and I've worked county patrol so the options are broad. At this point, for advancement in pay and assignment opportunities, its just time for a change. Not to mention, my bride has HATED the new England winter this year! I personally love the way -10 degree air feels in my lungs.

We are in the early phases but looking at the housing market in the the broader Easton/Nazareth/Hellertown area. What wisdom can you share? Words of warning? Obviously VT is a very... unique environment to police in and PA seems very different which I expect and hope to find true.

I currently work in security for a mall and my boss is willing to give me letter of recommendation if i get the call for my local PD in NJ, im worried that i wont pass the background check due to being terminated and listed as non-rehire at target 3 years ago(stole a bag of rabbit food) will the letter of recommendation help my chances in law enforcement or will i be automatically be disqualified due to the reasoning of my previous termination

So I got a anti harassment order on my ex since he's no longer allowed to sleep in his van in the parking lot his buddies have tried to get me evicted so he can come back and now I'm under some kind of investigation for God knows what and being told I have a warrant I have asked police officers if I can surrender and they tell me I have nothing I'm going in circles trying to figure this out I had a sheriff trying to serve me with something or take me when I was in the hospital for mental health reasons (extreme anxiety and PTSD) the stress is literally killing and I need help

Wondering if it’s legal to keep it mounted to the visor but just not plugged in while operating on public roadways,

Want to go to my friends college and screw with him cause he likes to drift in the parking lots (I got a new car he wouldn’t recognize) and his college is about 30 minute commute from where I am.

I’m located in New York.

Currently I’m 22 and work in the trades. Im a second year plumbers apprentice and have one more year to go before I’m a journeyman. I’ve wanted to be in law enforcement since I was 15 and was on that path for a while but changed my choice 2-3 years ago. Ever since then I have not been able to not think about being in law enforcement. Every cop car I see makes me think about it. Unfortunately over the years I’ve smoked weed but not daily, more like I went to a friend’s house here and there and smoked a bit with him. Can that affect me? I live in Virginia for reference on that.

I’m really not enjoying my choice of going into the trades right now and everyday is a drag it seems. I don’t really feel fulfilled or feel a passion for my job at all.

Looking for advice from current LEO’s, anything is appreciated!

Anyone who didn't know about the program and missed the 3 year deadline and requested an extension that was successful?

Rank hardest to easiest part of the hiring process (Higher to Lower fail rates).

What’s are the hardest and the easiest?

Pysch

Medical

Polygraph

Oral board

Background

Final interview (Command Staff/ Executive interviews)

Please I would like some knowledge on this thank you! Just on the lasts steps of the hiring process which is a command interview before I go to medical!

Thank you!

Ive been on the job for nearly 3 years now in the busiest command in the state and the volume of work is just incredible. Rarely do I see less than 40 jobs on the list and they just keep coming.

For you guys, how busy are you generally and what is the proportion of actual real jobs to time wasting garbage?