Lady in blue, coming through (maybe)
January 16, 2012 1:48 PM Subscribe
Would I make a good police officer?
So I'm thinking about trying out to become a police officer, because a) I need a steady dependable job with a decent salary and b) the idea of police work appeals to me. The problem is, I'm not so sure if the reality will. I'm an INFP (aka artistic, emotional type) and from everything I've read the last thing an INFP should be is a cop.
I think I have a decent chance of being accepted. I'm female (i read that sometimes this can be a bonus), I have a bachelor's degree, I'm good at acing standardized tests and my record is squeaky clean. The physical part of the testing and training would be a challenge. I'm not overweight but I'm not exactly an exercise nut so I'd definitely have to work at getting in better shape.
As to the personality aspects, I have a kind, caring, nonjudgemental demeanor (or at least I like to think so) that I think would serve me well in regard to the "helping" aspects of police work, but I think could also work against me as seeming or perhaps being too "soft" for the tougher stuff. I know that in past jobs, people have viewed me as a pushover until I had reason to show them different. I am slow to anger but there is definitely a point past which I will not be pushed.
This may seem silly but I have a really strong interest in true crime and the idea of becoming a detective eventually appeals to me. I know I would have to pay my dues as a beat cop first, but I am pretty good at keeping a cool head during crises and the fact that every day would be different is exciting to me.
I have two uncles and an aunt who are cops so I know a little bit about the life (I would talk it over with them but I don't want to freak my dad out just yet). I tend to get along well with civilian men in work environments and I think very highly of the women I've known (including my aunt) who've been in law enforcement and/or the military. They always seemed cooler than average to me. On the other hand I *know* I don't get along with a certain type of "power trip" personality you see sometimes in military/police types.
I've been told that, despite my INFP personality, I am good with attention to detail (mostly in regard to paperwork), and I do appreciate consistency in a work environment (the inconsistency at my last job drove me insane). But I've also never been the type to shine my shoes and press my shirt every day, so in some ways I may be too laid back for the life of a cop.
What do you think? Is it possible someone like me could be suited to law enforcement or would it just make me miserable?
So I'm thinking about trying out to become a police officer, because a) I need a steady dependable job with a decent salary and b) the idea of police work appeals to me. The problem is, I'm not so sure if the reality will. I'm an INFP (aka artistic, emotional type) and from everything I've read the last thing an INFP should be is a cop.
I think I have a decent chance of being accepted. I'm female (i read that sometimes this can be a bonus), I have a bachelor's degree, I'm good at acing standardized tests and my record is squeaky clean. The physical part of the testing and training would be a challenge. I'm not overweight but I'm not exactly an exercise nut so I'd definitely have to work at getting in better shape.
As to the personality aspects, I have a kind, caring, nonjudgemental demeanor (or at least I like to think so) that I think would serve me well in regard to the "helping" aspects of police work, but I think could also work against me as seeming or perhaps being too "soft" for the tougher stuff. I know that in past jobs, people have viewed me as a pushover until I had reason to show them different. I am slow to anger but there is definitely a point past which I will not be pushed.
This may seem silly but I have a really strong interest in true crime and the idea of becoming a detective eventually appeals to me. I know I would have to pay my dues as a beat cop first, but I am pretty good at keeping a cool head during crises and the fact that every day would be different is exciting to me.
I have two uncles and an aunt who are cops so I know a little bit about the life (I would talk it over with them but I don't want to freak my dad out just yet). I tend to get along well with civilian men in work environments and I think very highly of the women I've known (including my aunt) who've been in law enforcement and/or the military. They always seemed cooler than average to me. On the other hand I *know* I don't get along with a certain type of "power trip" personality you see sometimes in military/police types.
I've been told that, despite my INFP personality, I am good with attention to detail (mostly in regard to paperwork), and I do appreciate consistency in a work environment (the inconsistency at my last job drove me insane). But I've also never been the type to shine my shoes and press my shirt every day, so in some ways I may be too laid back for the life of a cop.
What do you think? Is it possible someone like me could be suited to law enforcement or would it just make me miserable?
Police is a pretty big bucket and they have room for many different type of people for their many different types of jobs. I don't see why an INFP would struggle with walking a beat, but even if you did there are very many other jobs in policing, especially in larger departments. You seem smart and balanced and that with a desire and willingness to work hard should make you successful. I would go for it.
posted by caddis at 2:18 PM on January 16, 2012
posted by caddis at 2:18 PM on January 16, 2012
The best interview question I ever heard for a cop went like this ... Try not to read my last sentences without thinking about your answer.
You're in your patrol car, following someone who you think might be a drunk driver. As you're following him, you pass a car on the side of the road with a man in it and a woman standing beside it. The woman waves at you -- they appear to need assistance of some kind.
What do you do?
Take some time to think about this.
It's a trick question. A popular best answer is, you shouldn't be following someone you think might be a drunk driver. Either they are or they aren't. There's no grey area. There's no detective work involved here. You need to act and be decisive. While you're following this guy, trying to decide, he could have hit the couple on the side of the road, who may not be in any trouble at all.
Cops need to decide, instantly, no hemming, no hawing. Can you do that? Then you'll really know.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:18 PM on January 16, 2012
You're in your patrol car, following someone who you think might be a drunk driver. As you're following him, you pass a car on the side of the road with a man in it and a woman standing beside it. The woman waves at you -- they appear to need assistance of some kind.
What do you do?
Take some time to think about this.
It's a trick question. A popular best answer is, you shouldn't be following someone you think might be a drunk driver. Either they are or they aren't. There's no grey area. There's no detective work involved here. You need to act and be decisive. While you're following this guy, trying to decide, he could have hit the couple on the side of the road, who may not be in any trouble at all.
Cops need to decide, instantly, no hemming, no hawing. Can you do that? Then you'll really know.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:18 PM on January 16, 2012
Best answer: Ok, as an INFP and as someone who's thought about doing stuff that goes 'against the grain' and is fascinated by unlikely occupations (I used to want to work for Starfleet... well, NASA, anyway... then it became the FBI, etc), I feel I'm qualified to answer this more than most people.
My great and insightful answer is... maybe. Success hinges on three axes, here: 1) you have to believe wholeheartedly in this work. You will only survive it if you're passionate about it and truly believe in it, 'cause that's what'll give you strength against all the disappointing, assholish things you'll see being done. This segues into point 2), which is that you have to be ready to be totally stone-sober realistic about your actual expectations and accomplishments, and be willing to handle a reality which can range from boring to disheartening to downright bleak and depressing (encounters with sexism, racism, violence, abuse, being unable to help, being unable to make a difference, all the way to dealing with internal corruption and inter-department/agency petty politics), in terms of the 'mission' you signed up for-- and even at that point, you'll have to believe in it while remaining realistic. Finally, 3) is you have to make your peace with traditionally macho 'cold & insensitive' dudes, like, internally. That's not 'the answer' to success, but it's a prerequisite.
Let me give you an example: I want to be HS teacher, and I'm certain a prerequisite is accepting that I won't get through to more than 80% of my students, and maybe a lot of them would be 'teenage assholes', if you know what I mean. They're teenagers-- they are what they are. Trying to get them to be disciplined and respectful in the way I want every time I want would be as hopeless as trying to expect 'normal' behavior from testosterone-laden authority figures in high-stress situations with too much power on their hands (read: cops). Now, I happen to believe both testosterone-laden 15 year-old boys and testosterone-laden macho cops are fundamentally decent people-- but it's not enough to just believe that in theory. You have to genuinely feel it. Hell, it would help a lot if you could see yourself being fondly dismissive of their silliness sometimes. It has to not get to you most times, point blank.
Detail and focus isn't the challenge here, and neither is getting along with institutional types in general. I mean, this'll be nitty-gritty, and ironically (I believe) getting into physical shape would be the least challenging issue. There are plenty of out-of-shape cops. But there are not-so-many truly compassionate, understanding and genuinely civic-minded cops. I think you are needed. But I also think you should be aware that instead of thinking 'can I fit in' (you probably can't), you should be thinking 'can I forge my own place by my own will' (you can if you decide that you will).
posted by reenka at 2:27 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
My great and insightful answer is... maybe. Success hinges on three axes, here: 1) you have to believe wholeheartedly in this work. You will only survive it if you're passionate about it and truly believe in it, 'cause that's what'll give you strength against all the disappointing, assholish things you'll see being done. This segues into point 2), which is that you have to be ready to be totally stone-sober realistic about your actual expectations and accomplishments, and be willing to handle a reality which can range from boring to disheartening to downright bleak and depressing (encounters with sexism, racism, violence, abuse, being unable to help, being unable to make a difference, all the way to dealing with internal corruption and inter-department/agency petty politics), in terms of the 'mission' you signed up for-- and even at that point, you'll have to believe in it while remaining realistic. Finally, 3) is you have to make your peace with traditionally macho 'cold & insensitive' dudes, like, internally. That's not 'the answer' to success, but it's a prerequisite.
Let me give you an example: I want to be HS teacher, and I'm certain a prerequisite is accepting that I won't get through to more than 80% of my students, and maybe a lot of them would be 'teenage assholes', if you know what I mean. They're teenagers-- they are what they are. Trying to get them to be disciplined and respectful in the way I want every time I want would be as hopeless as trying to expect 'normal' behavior from testosterone-laden authority figures in high-stress situations with too much power on their hands (read: cops). Now, I happen to believe both testosterone-laden 15 year-old boys and testosterone-laden macho cops are fundamentally decent people-- but it's not enough to just believe that in theory. You have to genuinely feel it. Hell, it would help a lot if you could see yourself being fondly dismissive of their silliness sometimes. It has to not get to you most times, point blank.
Detail and focus isn't the challenge here, and neither is getting along with institutional types in general. I mean, this'll be nitty-gritty, and ironically (I believe) getting into physical shape would be the least challenging issue. There are plenty of out-of-shape cops. But there are not-so-many truly compassionate, understanding and genuinely civic-minded cops. I think you are needed. But I also think you should be aware that instead of thinking 'can I fit in' (you probably can't), you should be thinking 'can I forge my own place by my own will' (you can if you decide that you will).
posted by reenka at 2:27 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I think the very first thing you should do is see if a nearby law enforcement agency has any sort of ride-along program or other civilian outreach, which could range all the way up to a civilian auxiliary training. I'm considering, right now, signing up for a "civilian academy" run by our sheriff's department, which is basically eight weeks of classes including introduction to the various aspects of police work and coverage of general problems of administering justice. I'm doing it to become a better civilian specifically, not to play at being a cop, which I'm sure is one reason a few sign up, even though there isn't any formal auxiliary. I don't really wannabe a wannabe. But living in a rough neighborhood I've had to learn the hard way how to make effective 911 calls and even testify in court.
Anyway, this should give you contact with a lot of professionals that you can watch carefully or even ask to evaluate you. There are a lot of different jobs in policing, after all, and different departments also have quite different needs.
posted by dhartung at 2:29 PM on January 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
Anyway, this should give you contact with a lot of professionals that you can watch carefully or even ask to evaluate you. There are a lot of different jobs in policing, after all, and different departments also have quite different needs.
posted by dhartung at 2:29 PM on January 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
Personality tests are not always 100% correct. Wikipedia: "Some researchers have interpreted the reliability of the test as being low. Studies have found that between 39% and 76% of those tested fall into different types upon retesting some weeks or years later."
I've been told that, despite my INFP personality, I am good with attention to detail (mostly in regard to paperwork), and I do appreciate consistency in a work environment (the inconsistency at my last job drove me insane).
This does not quite fit descriptions for the INFP personality:
"Your type is found much less often in careers that require skills and interests in management, business, factory work, and other fields requiring attention to detail, systematic logical analysis, or highly structured work."
posted by iviken at 2:35 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've been told that, despite my INFP personality, I am good with attention to detail (mostly in regard to paperwork), and I do appreciate consistency in a work environment (the inconsistency at my last job drove me insane).
This does not quite fit descriptions for the INFP personality:
"Your type is found much less often in careers that require skills and interests in management, business, factory work, and other fields requiring attention to detail, systematic logical analysis, or highly structured work."
posted by iviken at 2:35 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
How would you handle working weird and erratic hours and having that schedule completely outside your control? Your profile says you're in Chicago, so I assume you're thinking about being a city cop rather than a suburban or small town one. That means you'll be part of a large bureaucracy. You might not get much say in where or when you work, and that could mean working midnight to 8 AM in an inconvenient precinct. If you make an arrest near the end of your tour, you might find yourself working from midnight to 2 PM, processing paperwork and transporting a prisoner. Or maybe you work 4 PM to midnight, but then the next morning there's a parade or a big event that requires you to be on a detail, or you have a court date, and you have to come back in at 8 or 9.
It seems to me like this unpredictability would be hard on relationships and that sort of thing, so it depends on where you are in your life. Generally I think you get more control over your hours as you get more seniority, though it can depend.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 2:55 PM on January 16, 2012
It seems to me like this unpredictability would be hard on relationships and that sort of thing, so it depends on where you are in your life. Generally I think you get more control over your hours as you get more seniority, though it can depend.
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 2:55 PM on January 16, 2012
Seconding Kid Charlemagne- I interact with the ISP a lot, and have found the sworn officers to be exactly what you want in a police officer: calm, well trained, reasonable and with a shine on their shoes. Their academy is used by a lot of municipalities to train their incoming officers.
I have three friends who went into police work. One did Fed training, and it didn't change him in the slightest. Same guy, maybe a little more confident. One did the ISP training, and I think it make him a better person. Third went to the Chicago Police program. Changed him for the worse. Maybe he was always an asshole in disguise, but the sweet kid who went in came out an arrogant racist. (Not an indictment of the CPD, because most of the folks I have run into with the CPD have been fine. But there is a certain percentage of officers who seem like really unhappy people, and sadly, it seems to be the younger ones.)
My point is, the culture of the organization you join will make as much, or even more, difference as just the choice of becoming a police officer or not. Find a good department to work for, and you will be an asset. If you get into a bad department (or just "not a good fit"), you will be miserable.
The thing with police work that turned me off was the necessity to switch gears in a tense situation. To, for example, have to take some thug down, and then interact in a professional manner with witnesses and write my report. To not take things personally, and to see the worst in people and still be able to see the best in them. But on the other hand, the idea of being a beat cop, out in the community being friendly and helping people was attractive to me. If I could be Andy Griffith, I'd do it in a heart beat.
posted by gjc at 2:56 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have three friends who went into police work. One did Fed training, and it didn't change him in the slightest. Same guy, maybe a little more confident. One did the ISP training, and I think it make him a better person. Third went to the Chicago Police program. Changed him for the worse. Maybe he was always an asshole in disguise, but the sweet kid who went in came out an arrogant racist. (Not an indictment of the CPD, because most of the folks I have run into with the CPD have been fine. But there is a certain percentage of officers who seem like really unhappy people, and sadly, it seems to be the younger ones.)
My point is, the culture of the organization you join will make as much, or even more, difference as just the choice of becoming a police officer or not. Find a good department to work for, and you will be an asset. If you get into a bad department (or just "not a good fit"), you will be miserable.
The thing with police work that turned me off was the necessity to switch gears in a tense situation. To, for example, have to take some thug down, and then interact in a professional manner with witnesses and write my report. To not take things personally, and to see the worst in people and still be able to see the best in them. But on the other hand, the idea of being a beat cop, out in the community being friendly and helping people was attractive to me. If I could be Andy Griffith, I'd do it in a heart beat.
posted by gjc at 2:56 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
You do NOT need to be a beat cop to be in law enforcement. You sound like a prospective FBI agent, or as has been suggested, in a state police agency.
A friend of mine is an FBI agent. His personality is as far from arrogant cowboy as you could possibly get. He's bookish, philosophical, and extremely even-tempered. The FBI seems to be very supportive of and heavily recruits female agents. They do NOT necessarily recruit from among LEOs. They're looking for college grads they can train.
The thing you do need to know is that Quantico is extremely tough. My friend holds black belts in martial arts and has always exercised, and he said it nearly kicked his ass.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:03 PM on January 16, 2012
A friend of mine is an FBI agent. His personality is as far from arrogant cowboy as you could possibly get. He's bookish, philosophical, and extremely even-tempered. The FBI seems to be very supportive of and heavily recruits female agents. They do NOT necessarily recruit from among LEOs. They're looking for college grads they can train.
The thing you do need to know is that Quantico is extremely tough. My friend holds black belts in martial arts and has always exercised, and he said it nearly kicked his ass.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:03 PM on January 16, 2012
Do you like people? Are you patient with people behaving badly and acting out under stress? Can you deal with people being pissed off with you, you personally?
Policing can be a fairly emotionally bruising job, confrontational and demanding.
The best (beat) police I've known had their degrees in social work and approach policing from that perspective.
That said, there are a lot of different jobs in policing from beat cop work, through detectives through forensic analysts, whose jobs are close to bench scientists.
But the best cops I've known have all been patient with people, to a fault.
posted by bonehead at 3:04 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Policing can be a fairly emotionally bruising job, confrontational and demanding.
The best (beat) police I've known had their degrees in social work and approach policing from that perspective.
That said, there are a lot of different jobs in policing from beat cop work, through detectives through forensic analysts, whose jobs are close to bench scientists.
But the best cops I've known have all been patient with people, to a fault.
posted by bonehead at 3:04 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all so much for answering so thoughtfully.
@Cool Papa Bell: that's really food for thought for me as making decisions has never been my strong suit (e.g. this question).
@iviken: yeah, I've always suspected that about the MBTI, I think I like to think I'm more of a free spirit than I am
@dixiecupdrinking: I've rarely had jobs with normal hours so I think I'd be able to adapt fairly well personally, but I would be somewhat concerned about not getting to see my husband as much.
Oh and the department I'm planning to apply to is actually a small suburban one, FWIW.
@gjc: it's funny you mention the CPD. They haven't been hiring for years, but I have mixed feelings about them. My neighbor is Chicago police officer and she's great but, on the other hand, it seems that Chicago cops do and get away with a lot of stuff that just makes me sick to my stomach, like the Anthony Abbate thing and the ex-police chief who ended up on trial for torturing suspects.
@randomkeystrike: I would love to try out for the FBI, but I'm afraid I don't have any skills they need right now.
posted by Jess the Mess at 3:56 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
@Cool Papa Bell: that's really food for thought for me as making decisions has never been my strong suit (e.g. this question).
@iviken: yeah, I've always suspected that about the MBTI, I think I like to think I'm more of a free spirit than I am
@dixiecupdrinking: I've rarely had jobs with normal hours so I think I'd be able to adapt fairly well personally, but I would be somewhat concerned about not getting to see my husband as much.
Oh and the department I'm planning to apply to is actually a small suburban one, FWIW.
@gjc: it's funny you mention the CPD. They haven't been hiring for years, but I have mixed feelings about them. My neighbor is Chicago police officer and she's great but, on the other hand, it seems that Chicago cops do and get away with a lot of stuff that just makes me sick to my stomach, like the Anthony Abbate thing and the ex-police chief who ended up on trial for torturing suspects.
@randomkeystrike: I would love to try out for the FBI, but I'm afraid I don't have any skills they need right now.
posted by Jess the Mess at 3:56 PM on January 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
I used to be a cop, and I'm prior military.
I loved it... the camaraderie, the varied day - you never knew what was coming next. The chance to help people and make a difference in someone's life (wether they realized they needed help or not... but that's a matter of perception) was what I signed up for.
I've been in war (Iraq vet), and I've been responsible for ending someone(s) life.
But one day I shot an innocent person, quite by accident (freakish accident involving a ricochet), on the training range. It was ruled an accident, the man I shot wasn't seriously injured, and I was cleared of any wrongdoing. Everybody went about their business... except me. It shut me down, and shut me down HARD.
It never occurred to me that I might one day be responsible for killing an innocent person, and that in an instant I might leave someone a widow(er) or an orphan - even thought it was an ACCIDENT. Accidents happen. The chance of it ever happening again are minuscule, and most cops never pull their weapon once during their entire career.
But it happened. To me. And I had to sit back and think to myself "Can I live my life with the knowledge of knowing that I could be responsible for taking an innocent life?" That innocent life isn't related to just 'accidents'... what if you have to shoot someone our of their mind on drugs, or emotionally distressed - someone who just really needs 'help'?
I decided I couldn't live with that potential. So I resigned.
Question is... could YOU live with it?
posted by matty at 6:35 PM on January 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
I loved it... the camaraderie, the varied day - you never knew what was coming next. The chance to help people and make a difference in someone's life (wether they realized they needed help or not... but that's a matter of perception) was what I signed up for.
I've been in war (Iraq vet), and I've been responsible for ending someone(s) life.
But one day I shot an innocent person, quite by accident (freakish accident involving a ricochet), on the training range. It was ruled an accident, the man I shot wasn't seriously injured, and I was cleared of any wrongdoing. Everybody went about their business... except me. It shut me down, and shut me down HARD.
It never occurred to me that I might one day be responsible for killing an innocent person, and that in an instant I might leave someone a widow(er) or an orphan - even thought it was an ACCIDENT. Accidents happen. The chance of it ever happening again are minuscule, and most cops never pull their weapon once during their entire career.
But it happened. To me. And I had to sit back and think to myself "Can I live my life with the knowledge of knowing that I could be responsible for taking an innocent life?" That innocent life isn't related to just 'accidents'... what if you have to shoot someone our of their mind on drugs, or emotionally distressed - someone who just really needs 'help'?
I decided I couldn't live with that potential. So I resigned.
Question is... could YOU live with it?
posted by matty at 6:35 PM on January 16, 2012 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said, every interaction I have had with an Illinois State Police officer (we're talking three or four traffic stops here, not a scientific sampling) has been handled in a very professional manner. My interactions with municipal police (again, not very many) has been more spotted, so the State Police have a different selection criterion and/or higher standards than the locals.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 2:06 PM on January 16, 2012