2025, if anyone is thinking of a career in law enforcement, DON’T DO IT! I have 80 weeks until retirement, I have a sweet gig as a law enforcement helicopter pilot and I cannot wait to leave. Everyone I know is trying to get out as fast as possible. It’s not a fun or rewarding career anymore. Early in my career it was about getting legit bad guys off of the street. Now they want robots that can’t and don’t think on their own. Policing is changing, my agency is hiring more civilians than commissioned officers because they just cannot get quality candidates. They hire what are known as Community Service Officers, think cops without guns that respond to calls (so long as it is a non-violent offense) and Professional Investigators (think detectives without guns). This has caused a lot of resentment because the real cops have to stay on the streets since special assignments are now taken by these civilians which in turn saves the city money since they are cheaper to hire. The old pension system is going away in most states.

Anyhow please for the love of god do not go into local law enforcement.