Just like any occupation, it is what you make it. I decided to leave law enforcement after 17 years. I got hired with a PD in a large metropolitan area at age 22, worked in swat, canine unit, training, task force, flew surveillance, and five years as patrol sergeant. I made close to 80K a year before overtime and the benefits were the best. I could have stayed in it for another 17 years but because of the politics, I started not enjoy it anymore. Handling the shootings, stabbings, rapes and robberies was the fun part. Its the second guessing, back stabbing and ass kissing that I got a little tired of.

I decided to leave the department, open a business and did well enough to pay off the house, cars and airplane that we now own. I started flying about the same time I became a cop and have owned a few different airplanes which I built about 1600 hours in.

I recently sold the business, put a chunk of cash in the bank and got all the ratings I need to make myself marketable as a pro-pilot which is what I've wanted to do since high school. Instead of getting my cfi ratings, I bought a twin comanche and after I built 200 multi hours in it, I sold it last week.

I'll admit, there were a lot of chances I took to get to where I'm at now but so far it seems to have worked out. I have an interview this week to fly FO in a beechjet400A for a law firm who wants the pilot to assist with investigations when not flying. The reason they are interested in me is not so much for my flying experience, but the combination with my law enforcement experience.

So, in my case having law enforcement and pilot experience is hopefully going to allow me to get paid spending time doing what I really love to do...Fly!