gsphuntr,
Is it possible for you to do a ride-along with the local police department? This might be a great avenue to get some advice and possibly see first-hand if it is for you.
For what it's worth, one of my best friends is a police officer and has been for several years. He really likes it and says it is the best job out there. It can be very rewarding, but like any other job it has its cons (no pun intended) too. As someone mentioned earlier you will be seeing a part of society that most of us only see on the six o'clock news.
If you are serious about pursuing this, one of the biggest recommendations would be physical fitness. Run, strength train, and become very skilled in martial arts.