Expert: Eric Potts - 5/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Potts
i am a high school student, and i am thinking of a career in law enforcement. But i don't think books and movies are precisely a great reference since have a reputation to romanticize jobs and careers. so id like to ask, what, exactly, does police work involve, and what difficulties people have in law enforcement.
Thank you for your time.

ANSWER: Sy,
I'm sorry I haven't answered this question in a timely manner I've had a few things come up that have kept me very busy. I will answer this question over the weekend through a follow up to you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:      thanks!

Answer
Hi Sy,

First, thanks for your understanding in my delay in getting this answer to you. An example of Police Work is just what happened to me over the weekend, working 43 hours in 3 days.

I am biased here Sy, but there is NO better profession in the world. It is everything you'd ever imagine it to be mixed in with things you never could imagine.

It is exciting and boring, exhilarating and deflating, it will bring you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows all in a 12 hour shift. I know that makes no sense but I don't know how else to explain it.

In Law Enforcement you truly do get to help people in times of trouble. In their most desperate hour the first people they call and see are the Police. Unfortunately at times we are the last people they will ever see, speak to, or the last people to ever hold their hands. You need to be compassionate, understanding, tolerant, humorous, intelligent, steadfast, compromising, influential, decisive, inquisitive, and very well grounded all in one shift.

Television, movies and books don't necessarily glamorize Law Enforcement as much as they condense Law Enforcement. They fit everything in a neat little package and it makes the job look as if it is as easy as 1,2,3 or even as exciting as a car chase every 5 minutes. It has been said and it is true, Law Enforcement is 7 hours of boredom followed by 10 minutes of pure excitement. Well 7 hours might be too long but there is some boredom in Law Enforcement, sometimes at 3 in the morning, nothing is going on ANYWHERE in town, and then 9-1-1 rings and it is go time to whatever kind of call. First Aid, Domestic, Bar Fight, assault. etc...

There really is no job that compares, other then our brother and sister Fire Department personnel, and I can not imagine doing anything else.  

I hope that answers your question, if I can be of any further help please don't hesitate to contact me.

Eric