Should I Quit Law Enforcement?

This is a question that only you can answer. Why and how did you earn the right to be a police officer? Have you done anything to help others? Does keeping others safe present you with emotional rewards? Do you have other marketable skills? If you are religious, ask God to guide you. If you have faith, the lord will show you the way you must travel.

If you have no god, then you are lost, and that may be part of your reason for considering quitting. Officers need to believe in things like the rule of law, some religion, the good in mankind. Every cop I ever interviewed claimed he or she wanted to help others. It is a cliché, but it is a common thread among officers. If you don’t like people, become a veterinarian!

If You’re Considering Quitting, It’s Time to Resign

If the idea of quitting is on your mind, you should do it before you get hurt because you will get hurt. However, if you decide to stay in the profession, scrub that word from your mind and your vocabulary. Because if you stay in the profession— and I hope this day never comes for you— there is a very good chance that you will be tested, and when that day comes, the only thing on your mind better be SURVIVE and NEVER QUIT.

Why Are You Asking This Question?

You should be able to answer this question yourself. If you are not happy or if you do not make enough money, or any number of reasons, no one but yourself can answer that. I had a friend years ago who admitted that he was scared all the time he was on the street and did not like being scared. I supported his decision and recommended he resign.

Conclusion

That is a good question that only you can answer. For me, it would depend on what stage in your career you are in and what part of law enforcement is your passion. But I am coming up on the end of my career, and learning that the retirement sucks. If I had known this earlier in my career, I would probably not have stayed or put more into my retirement so when my 20 years are done, I won’t need to go and find another job. As a LEO, we put up with too much to get a retirement at the end of it that you can’t live on.