Originally Posted by BBLUM

This is funny that I found this thread. I have been a police officer for 8 years, and have been seriously contemplating changing my career to a pilot. I started my law enforcement career at 21 when I got out of college. From High School I always knew I wanted to do two things.... Be a cop and protect people, or fly. I took the ladder after college and went to the police academy. After 8 months I graduated and was hired as a sheriff's deputy. I was barely 21 and so excited. After 8 years in this line of work, I can tell you one thing. Stress is a joke. I have spent my time getting guns pulled on me, having split second decisions of shoot or don't shoot. I have worked fatal vehicle accidents of people ranging from every age, and guess who is the person who tells the next of kin??? That's you Mr. Cop... If you've never driven to someone's house and woken them up in the middle of the night to tell them you just worked their family members crash, shooting, any other kind of death, and to see the expression on their face.... That's horrible. Don't get me wrong, I love every minute of my job, but this job does take a toll that no one can understand until they have done it. That's why anyone that has been in this line of work considers each other brothers. All I'm saying is law enforcement may seem like a great job because they get paid ok, but I can tell you right now, it does not pay the amount it should for what you have to do, and I barely touched the tip of the iceberg. So make sure you are getting into law enforcement for the right reasons, and not just because the pay looks good, because as I've said, you will earn that pay, and learn to realize you deserve so much more...

Originally Posted by Excel

Oh really?? Ok. In the last few years, at KATL, I have personally witnessed a drunk man strike his wife at one of the bars, a purse snatcher, and a guy get caught with a good amount of weed... Sounds like a standard episode of Cops to me...

To the OP, take a look at this article, you can find a number of jobs that will pay more and keep you home more. Notice the "regional pilot's" salary!

What Washingtonians Make - washingtonpost.com

Originally Posted by socktornado

So I know this is a super duper old reply and this person will probably never see this... But I have a feeling I am not going to be the only person searching for this topic as of recently for obvious reasons.

But as for this reply for any pilots considering police life... Seeing these things ocassionaly one thing. But directly DEALING with them on a daily basis is a whole entire different thing. Crazy that someone even thinks that is a fair comparison. Police officer life takes a toll on you. With that said, it's pretty difficult to leave a solid job with a pension these days. But with 23 years left before earliest retirement opportunity, I am just might do it.

Originally Posted by socktornado

So I know this is a super duper old reply and this person will probably never see this... But I have a feeling I am not going to be the only person searching for this topic as of recently for obvious reasons.

But as for this reply for any pilots considering police life... Seeing these things ocassionaly one thing. But directly DEALING with them on a daily basis is a whole entire different thing. Crazy that someone even thinks that is a fair comparison. Police officer life takes a toll on you. With that said, it's pretty difficult to leave a solid job with a pension these days. But with 23 years left before earliest retirement opportunity, I am just might do it.

Originally Posted by razorseal

I am doing the opposite. I have 14 years left to retire... but policing takes a toll on you. and don't assume it's just the people on the street you deal with. this becomes like your other family. you know how there is family drama? well we have lots of high school drama. there are politics... there are people getting favored and being put into spots they shouldn't be in, and leading. between dealing with criminals, favoritism, drama, and the dangers of policing (don't forget civil liability that you are on the hook for with the smallest mistake you make) this job doesn't pay enough. I've worked up the ranks and I make what a year 2 FO makes at a major. a chief here will make 150ish. that's what year 3 FO? imagine the stress he deals with.

Anyone reading this in 2023, don't be crazy. stay in aviation, don't go into policing. There is a reason why airlines can't hire fast enough and cops are desperate for an applicant that has a clean background that finished the academy.

Originally Posted by Sirius

From 2009 looks like the LE career has taken a dramatic turn I am grateful for them but glad I stayed with aviation and now at one of the 3 legacies making good money and very happy.