Careers: Page 6

Self Study Gives You the Edge

It never hurts to drop a few bucks and work on your pistol craft. This goes for hitting the gym or doing some roadwork. So don't tell me you can't burn some midnight oil and sharpen your most potent weapon of all—your mind.

Photo: Mark W. Clark

Job Seeking Realities

It's competitive out there, and I know you want the job. So learn the kinks in the process. Don't fall for them. Instead, work your plan as an intelligent job applicant.

Alleviating Line-of-Duty Trauma

Concerns of Police Survivors will offer several training sessions to help agencies better prepare for the trauma that follows a line-of-duty death. The sessions will also cover survivor benefits, police disability, police suicide, and helping affected co-workers.

Relocating To a New City for a Police Career

More and more, recruits are taking on the challenges of being a new officer as well as a new resident. Being the FNG (fabulous new guy) and knowing nothing about the area can be challenging, exciting, and downright stressful. External supports are necessary elements for survival.

Flicker_CC: Stuck in Customs

Recruit Life As a Single Parent

This blog often focuses on tactics, off-duty survival, surviving the FTO program, or making it though the academy. However, what can often get overlooked is making it through those first few years as a parent. A single-parent recruit has been given the most difficult assignment of all.

Penn State's Cover-up Reveals a Broader Problem

The fear of negative publicity is often a primary motivator for campus safety personnel when crimes are covered up. At Penn State, the negative publicity that would have occurred—with proper reporting and a resulting criminal investigation—would have paled in comparison with the deep wounds now inflicted on Penn State's once-superb reputation.

CC_Flickr: ehpien.

Matching the Bag To the Mission

Most of the younger generation grew up with book bags and backpacks, so you have a handle on this piece of equipment. There are some readers who are like me, searching for the perfect set-up. This is not a one-time purchase. I've gone through my share and now have a few go-to options for different missions.

Photo: Safariland Hatch D1 Patrol Bag

How to Handle Back Pain

More and more officers suffer from back injuries. We carry far too much gear around our waists. Duty belts press against our lower back while we're sitting in the cruiser. These three approaches to back pain can extend your career and keep life enjoyable.

Back Defense Systems' Back Defender is a concealed duty belt suspension system.

Get Past the Recruiting-Poster Hype

Face it, working in Copland doesn't always give you the best working conditions. That being said, there's no reason to make your life and financial well-being a living hell.

When to Leave a Department

Police careers are much like any other career in life. Consider giving up your seniority, time invested toward tenure, vesting towards retirement, and some stored benefits. Starting over is the real bite!

Photo: konstriktion.

Your First Complaint

When you go to IA, be professional. The movie scenes of the renegade cop who stomps in, puts his feet on their desk and proclaims that they should "prove it" is bad movie acting. Go in and listen! Fully understand what has brought you in front of them.

Know Your Trigger Point!

Anger will only divert you from tactical awareness. You'll become a Neanderthal and lose your professionalism. If you whip the pudding out of some mouthy inebriated social misfit, all you've done is become a criminal.

Photo: Orange_Beard.

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