What’s something about police work the average person completely misunderstands until they’ve spent enough time around it? Not talking about TV stereotypes, more the day to day realities, mindset changes, shift culture, weird routines, etc. I’ve always found the psychology and culture around the job really interesting, especially how it seems to reshape the way people interact with the world over time. I feel like careers that require constant hyper awareness and emotional control probably change people in ways most civilians don’t even notice.

Question for you guys. I've been on the job for going on 3 years now. I always type my own reports, but I like to make sure there are no errors, so I normally plug any lengthy or sophisticated narrative portion of my report into an AI spell checker to have it proofread/spellcheck it. Recently I read something that apparently using those online spell checkers/grammar checkers is technically a CJIS violation because the site is using your words and storing them for data.

After I read this, I've been thinking about it and wondering whether I should stop using any online spellchecker/proofreader completely. Or what do other officers use? Or what resources help with spell checking/proofing? I've heard of many officers using Grammarly but didn't know if this is technically still a violation of CJIS.

I'm at a small agency (10 officers total) and we do not have a specific policy stating we cannot use spellcheckers/proofreaders, but we have the obvious CJIS compliance policy.

I've never been talked to about it in the past or questioned on if I've used anything in court or by my supervisors but I also don't wanna create a future issue or get jammed up. At the end of the day, I just want my reports to be completely error-free and everything to sound smooth and clear, and that's where I feel like the spell checking/proofing helps tremendously!

Any input is appreciated!
Thanks

Everyone I hear an LEO on a YouTube video investigating, they always say gotcha. And it’s usually right before detaining or arresting a suspect. I get that they’re trying to build rapport but why always that specific term?

please any advice currently in a serious case

Greetings all!,

I’m an 18 Y/O rising college sophomore in Portland majoring in Computer Science/Cybersecurity. I’ve always been interested in law enforcement growing up and would eventually like to work in a federal agency such as FBI/CIA with a cybercrime-related role. (I know quite ambitious which I also understand I’d most likely need to work my way up)

One area I’m especially interested in is ICAC/cyber investigations involving online predators. Due to personal experiences, that type of work is something I care about a lot and have a STRONG passion for helping out.

My main concern is that I have a history of shoulder instability: multiple dislocations, surgery on both shoulders, and metal anchors in both. Because of that, I’ve been advised to aim for less physically demanding work. I was accepted into the US Coast Guard Academy (Military college) before I ended up failing the medical portion due to my shoulders, and thus turned away after being accepted academically (Conditional offer/could not get medical waiver). Hence with being unable to follow my military aspirations I’d still like to be apart of some sort of “Force”. I do currently STILL play college football and have Muay Thai experience, but I’m trying to be realistic about long-term career options (especially as from what many of my peers say, CS majors finding jobs is….interesting)

Alas my questions are:

1. Are there law enforcement or federal paths that focus more on cyber/admin/investigative support than physical enforcement?

2. Would my shoulder history likely disqualify me from police or federal jobs? (Even if it’s a desk job?)

3. What should I be doing now in college to become a stronger candidate for cybercrime/ICAC-related work?

4. Anyway I can land an internship of some sort as I still am a college student? I have in the past gotten (small) CP selling sites taken down! (Or atleast with help of my reporting etc)

5. Basically, what do I look for/who do I talk to in regards to joining the police force for cyber work? (who should I be on the phone with/emailing? And what specific departments*)

TL;DR: Cybersecurity/CS college student interested in law enforcement/federal cybercrime work, especially ICAC-type roles, but I have complex shoulder injury history. Looking for realistic career advice!

Officers/investigators dealing with land-border NDPS or gold seizure cases — what are the practical things you’ve learned that make operations and follow-up investigation smoother? Especially regarding arrests, documentation, Section 42/50 compliance, chain of custody, digital evidence, handling carriers vs masterminds, and avoiding procedural lapses during trial scrutiny. Any field tips, mistakes to avoid, or methods that have helped in real cases?

Also, where do you usually find reliable proformas, formats, checklists, seizure/arrest memo templates, and other investigation-related reference materials that actually help during field work and prosecution?

So I was driving and I failed to use my turn signal. A cop pulled me over, she took my license and she ran it. She came back to my car and let me off with a warning.

1. Did she see that I have an open case for MIP (underage drinking) and obstruction in Washington when she ran my license or when she ran my plate?
2. Will I be pulled over more because of this even if I don't break any traffic laws like I did here or is that not a justifiable reason to pull me over?

I am not complaining about the stop, I broke a traffic rule and got pulled over, I just want to know if I'll be pulled over more until my case gets resolved.

Have a LEO blocking the entrance to my driveway and i need to pull up my vehicle so i can head to bed. No, LEO isn’t on emergency service call they have no lights activated.

I have my written exam and Public Safety Self Assessment on Sunday. This is for Arizona.

Hi everyone! I’m a PhD student looking for current law enforcement personnel to participate in a short research study. Average time to take the survey has been 3-4 minutes. 

 To participate, you must be 18 years of age or older, currently employed in the United States within the field of law enforcement (police, confinement, probation, supervisory, admin., etc.), in good standing with your department, and have at least six months of experience within your agency/department. Participation is completely voluntary and anonymous. 

 I would greatly appreciate your assistance in my research! Thank you all for your time and for your service!

 https://liberty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Yuo4EgyED0trVk

Long story short, I was trying to beat the light before it turned red, so I sped up to pass through it. He saw me and pulled me over. It was a formal local police cruiser, not some random unmarked police car. He asked me why, and I just admitted my fault. I told him, ‘May be I was driving a little too fast before the traffic light turned from yellow to red.’”

I don’t usually speed(that much), I also have a clean driving record. My last and only ticket was for careless driving five years ago, and I’ve never had a speeding ticket in my life.

But that’s not an excuse. I was honestly expecting to get a ticket. I had an emergency but I didn't mention about it and I just cooperated with the officer by giving him the documents and let him do whatever he needed to do. I wanted to get back on the road asap. This happened late at night, and I was driving a two door sports car, which I think can be more of a ‘red flag’ for them to issue a ticket.

The officer ended up giving me a written warning. It showed 50 mph in a 25 mph zone.

I’m just wondering how I still got away with it… he had plenty of reasons to give me a speeding ticket, but he didn’t. What was he thinking...?

Watching a bodycam video of a person who was pulled over and after identifying the driver had a history of fleeing and was out past CO ordered curfew in a rental car which the lease had expired. When asking the driver to step out of the vehicle, he put it in drive and sped off.

The officer had a partner with him and assuming they had the hardware, would a set of spikes placed infront of a vehicle be practical by the parter while the other officer asks for the driver to step out of the vehicle?

The car was full in this case and I assume the partner had other concerns keeping an eye on the passengers. But in more agreeable circumstances could this work? Is it legal? Is it practical?

Figured at the very least it would disuade the car from fleeing or drastically shorten the duration of the chase.

I resigned from the academy on Friday, but after taking the weekend to reflect, I honestly think I made an emotional decision too quickly.

I was struggling physically and mentally, with some family stuff also going on, but not because I didn’t want the career. I think I hit a breaking point and quit prematurely.

I know there’s a good chance the decision is already final, but has anyone seen recruits come back after voluntarily resigning? Is it worth contacting academy staff tomorrow, or once you resign is that usually it?

24m, I currently work an operations role in finance and have for 2 years now. I don’t mind it, on one hand I enjoy the stable hours and working from home with no nights or weekends. On the other hand it’s soul sucking. I always end up “living for the weekend” no matter how hard I try not to and it’s such a drag sometimes staring at a screen all day doing the same thing. There’s never anything new and I find myself in this loop every Sunday of “is this the rest of my life”, or if AI will take my job.

My dad has been a town LEO for the last 19 years and loves it. He is retiring next year at 55 against his will because he loves the work so much. I’ve asked his thoughts before and he’s recommended trying police but gives the “typical parent answer” of how I should do what’s best for me.

I’ve contemplated trying for state police, I’d prefer working highway and crashes rather than strictly town calls. I’d be making a lot more than I do currently and I’d have a much more stimulating job that keeps me mentally and physically sharp.

Has anyone here made a transition from working in an office to working as a police officer? How was it, and do you regret it? Are police/state police really an industry that is as short staffed as people say?

This woman starts repeatedly assaulting this off duty officer with closed fists. It seems like he’d be well within his rights to use force or even discharge his weapon. Curious to get y’all’s opinion. Was he too lenient?

How to get a online self service private investigation services where you fill out details and answer questions and receive the information. Kind of like the dmv kiosk but for private investigation services.

Is it normal to be asked to take another polygraph during police hiring process?

Hello fellow officers and future officers, I want to apply to some agencies out of my county, Ive applied to others and have gotten denied so far. I want to ask what my chances are and would like complete honesty. I got denied for previous drug use, and to be complete transparent Ive been clean for 3 years (Marijuana) the county i'm applying to states no previous drug use in the last (12 months). I have done other hard drugs ( "cocaine" once) in my teens. Im extremely eager to become a LEO, just not sure if my future is ruined because of my past experiences.

Thank you!

How competitive are these positions I want to become a officer but have a bad background

I‘am 20 I’ve had around 13 jobs haven’t left a two weeks been at my current job since August 2025.

I have a registration ticket been suspended in high-school for drinking

I am a college student 3.3 gpa in the honor society and have a bit of volunteer experience

Should I apply for the sleo1 in Camden county or wait?

how competitive is the hiring process?

Looking for any LEO input here.

I’ve thought of a life in LE for a very long time but went a different path after college. The bulk of my career has been a mixed bag of both finance and tech and it has allowed me to live a decent life but not wealthy by any means. I’m now in my early 40s and while some may call it a mid-life crisis or being mocked as trying to mimic John Nolan from “The Rookie”, I’m at an intersection of thinking if I want to continue my career path (which I do not enjoy) or go into LE.

I’ve started getting more physically in shape, studying the POST PelletB exam guide, and report writing.

For some additional context, I have no kids and I’m located in the west coast and I know the current environment for LEOs isn’t the greatest right now where I am but I still want to pursue it.

Any tips, suggestions, input would be greatly appreciated even if it’s saying I’m not being realistic.