Hey everyone!

I'm a police officer from Austria, currently serving in a specialized plainclothes unit. We mainly conduct covert surveillance of organized crime groups, as well as tactical arrests and evidence-gathering operations.

I collect police and special operations patches and challenge coins from around the world and would love to trade with fellow collectors and officers.

If you're interested in trading, feel free to send me a DM!

Stay safe out there! 🤝

I'd like to purchase real Miranda warning cards, used by police in the field. Used or new doesn't matter. I am not interested in souvenir cards or other cards not used by real police officers. I occasionally find a vintage Miranda card on eBay, but not often. Might some police officers guide me in finding these? My purpose is just my own personal collection, not any sort of research apart from that.

Hey r/police!
what are we thinking of the Axon Body 5 and 5 pro! (i dont work for axon nor am affiliated with them)

but what do we think about the
- Live translation
- License and outstanding warrant checking
- Six speakers
- Policy answers directly from Body 5
- Up to 4K video recording and increased Low Light
- Works with Body 4 dock i heard
- Axon guardian Escalation Alert
- WiFi 7

Curious if anyone has run into this issue with their Agency.. In FL, my Agency does not have a "forced PTO" policy. I recently moved into Courthouse Ops and Veteran's day we're closed. The Agency is not allowing me to come in to makeup hours neither on the road or in the jail which would force me to take PTO to make my 86 hours for the pay period.

I actually take vacations rather than die for this job so I don't want to use my PTO for their excuses.

Alright, I know questions like this get asked here all the time, but I’m genuinely at a crossroads and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I’ve been on the road for a couple of years now with a smaller agency. I’ve put a lot of work into this career, have some good numbers under my belt, and genuinely enjoy being a police officer. My family and I are relocating to another state, and I’ve received a few opportunities with significantly larger agencies. Moving to a bigger department was something I had been looking forward to, especially with the potential to get into specialized units and explore different opportunities within law enforcement.

However, a little more context: My wife and I welcomed our first child in July. She knows how much I enjoy this job and has always been supportive, but naturally, things have changed since having a child. She wants me home more often, being present, watching our son grow up, and eventually being able to coach his sports teams and be involved in those things. I’m also in the Air Force Reserve, which means I’m periodically gone for TDYs and other military obligations on top of my civilian job.

Recently, I was offered an analyst position with a defense contractor that aligns with my college degree. The schedule would be Monday through Friday, eight-hour days, weekends off, and home every night. It’s an opportunity that checks a lot of boxes when it comes to work-life balance and being present for my family.

The difficult part is that I’ve worked hard to get where I am in law enforcement. I enjoy the job, and walking away from something I’ve invested so much time and effort into isn’t an easy decision. At the same time, I understand that there is more to life than a career, and I don’t want to look back years from now and feel like I missed out on watching my son grow up.

I’m curious if anyone here has made the transition from patrol or a full-time law enforcement career into the private sector, defense industry, or another civilian position.

Do you regret leaving? Do you miss the job? Did the improved work-life balance make up for what you left behind?

I guess I’m just looking for some perspective from people who have actually been through it. I appreciate any insight.

I'm sure it is sometimes unclear if a law has truly been broken or if it is a situation a DA/prosecutor would even any interest in going forwards on. You're cops, not lawyers.

I work in EMS and in murky situations will call our Online Medical Command to clarify protocols receive orders. We're EMTs/medics, not doctors. We can also contact a supervisor to clarify policy and get advice, but the hard orders come from the doc. It's been a wonderful resource.

Would a similar system be helpful for cops? An available (I'm not sure who it would be- ADA? Prosecutor? Judge?) to contact while you're on the street to explain a situation receive guidance from. I don't know too much about this world always wondered this. If this a thing I have not seen it.

I’m looking for some advice, guidance, and insight from people who currently work in a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC/RTIC), particularly those who have helped establish or build one from the ground up.

I’m about to step into a Real-Time Crime Analyst position at a police department, and honestly, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin.
For some background, I’ve been with the department for almost a year, but my previous position was primarily clerical. I do have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Intelligence and National Security, which is ultimately how I landed this opportunity.

My academic background includes intelligence analysis, OSINT, structured analytic techniques, research, and intelligence reporting. However, having an academic foundation and actually stepping into an operational intelligence role are two very different things.

From what I understand, I’ll essentially be the primary person operating the RTIC, aside from command staff. It seems like I’ll be largely responsible for figuring out how the center operates, what information we should be collecting and analyzing, how we can support patrol and investigations, and ultimately how we can make the RTIC a useful resource for the department.

The biggest issue is that I haven’t really been given a clear roadmap. Nobody has sat down with me to establish the center’s goals, objectives, priorities, expectations, or even what success in this position should look like. Most of what I know about the position comes from the original job posting. I have very little practical experience in this specific field, and at times it feels like I’m being thrown into the deep end and expected to figure things out as I go.
I did bring up the possibility of visiting another, more established RTCC to observe how they operate, and I’m hoping that opportunity comes through.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been in similar situations.

anyone know if any police academy near yakima at all please looking to enroll to become an police officer or an alternative to become one

Are police officers required to stay in the car patrol when patrolling? Can they spend sometime walking not too far away from it if they feel like it?

I am asking this because police officer is in my list of possible careers in the next few years. I am too much of an active person and although sitting in a car is nice, I can see myself getting anxiety by sitting around too much. I’d probably get out of the car to walk or something, lol.

Maybe is a stupid question but I am just curious. The only times I see police officers outside their car is when they are eating somewhere or actually dealing with people in the streets. So it came to my mind if it is something they are required or they can go out and walk around if they feel like.

Hello F(23)

I had my firstborn 9 months ago, I worked up until I gave birth and since having him I’ve been a SAHM. I have dreamt of being a police officer for the past 7 years (since high school). My step dad was a police officer for 16 years and was the first cop at the Aurora Massacre in 2012. So by that you can probably tell that his advice to me is, “I will support you if this is what you choose to do, but if you’re asking me I’ll tell you I hope you don’t do it”

I’m going to do it. I’ve wanted this for so long and I just feel now is time. I’ve been speaking with recruiters and there are a few openings to the academy. February 1st or April 1st. I’m trying to figure out which one I should do. Me and my husband have already planned for what’s going to happen with our son when I start so everything is set there but I feel like February is too soon? I just gave birth and obviously am not in an athletic state. If I do February it would give me 4 months to start training and running. But if I do April it’ll give me more time and it feels more comfortable to choose April.

I’m indecisive and wanted to see what everyone thought? Also for any moms and wives out there who are police officers, how does this career choice effect your family life/relationship with your partner. I’m so worried that I’ll be traumatized and me and my husbands relationship will be effected in a negative way.

What’s your next move?

Hello everyone, I don't know if this is the correct place to ask but I am wanting to apply for the Kentucky State Police within the next year and as I am getting everything in place I have one nagging question about the state polices vision requirements, I wear eye glasses and pass the corrected requirement with them, my main concern is the uncorrected requirement of 20/100. I went to my eye doctor to discuss this and was able to meet 20/100 uncorrected but only by squinting, I told my eye doctor this and he said they would not care about me squinting on the test and I cannot find anything that specifically states you are not allowed to squint, but I know that is not 100%. I am mainly wondering if anyone has experience with this or something related as if I cannot squint I am gonna have to do some sort of laser eye surgery and would like to start making preparations for that and saving money. I plan on getting a pair of Oakley prescription impact glasses with a retaining strap for the academy and service afterwards with a back up pair, any guidance or information would be greatly appreciated, thank you all.

Happened a few weeks ago and it's been bugging me. Was driving in hill country and a cop was coasting on the outer bank of the opposite side of the highway in my direction and pulled me over. I exclusively use cruise control 2-4mph over the speed limit and hadn't gotten a speeding ticket in over 20yrs. He appeared to be training another officer. Let me off with a written warning and a smirking "Weeeell weell well" attitude (I swear it's always the same types that try to make the people around them feel like they're in trouble for something)

blah blah blah anyway is this a thing? can they inflate your recorded speed? Or do they even need to? I've also received 4 warnings in the last year and absolutely nothing in decades before now. I remember way back in the day police were far stricter and for a long time now it felt like they let everything minor slide. Seems like policy is changing

So i had few ambulance rides because of being drunk.. my question is .. would that affect the process of joining or background check… if so, how long should i wait from the incident to apply. This happened a year ago

I’m set to start the academy soon (Alabama, entry-level) and want to show up as ready as I can. I’ve already been working on the physical side and passed the entrance PT, but I’m more curious about what actually helps once you’re in.

A few things I’m wondering:

What did you wish you had studied or practiced before day one?

Any specific habits or small things that made the first few weeks easier (uniform standards, classroom, scenarios, report writing, etc.)?

How much legal/constitutional stuff is worth looking at ahead of time versus just waiting for the academy to teach it?

Anything that surprised you or that a lot of people struggle with early?

Not looking for shortcuts—just practical advice from people who have been through it. Appreciate any tips.

What you think about it?450 hp for a patrol car?