What are the risk of being a cop? What are some of my chances to get the job I want?

Question

I have started thinking about being a cop. What are some of the most likely and highest risks? I understand that my life would be on the line every day, but what are the chance's I would actually be killed or seriously injured? Also, I want to be on the Strategic Responce Unit (SRU) in Toronto because it's the closest SRU to home. What are the chance's I would be able to get on it?

Thanks!

Answer 1

There is no statistic or forecast that says today is 9/5/12, LEOs have an 54% chance of being killed in the line of duty today. It is a competitive line of work to get into.



EDIT: there is no given likely hood, the chances of you dying depends on each different stop, call, or scenario. You could pull over a bunch tough looking guys and they could be the friendliest people you meet. On the other hand, you could get gunned down by a innocent acting single mother who calls you because her ex husband beat her again, then when you try to take her ex-husband to jail, she guns you down.



That's why some people get into law enforcement (not the risk of dying part). It's about having a natural sense of curiosity and wanting to investigate things. Also, It has to do with going into work each day, knowing that it's going to be different than yesterday, and you get to do what you want (to a point).



You can't read into all the officer involved shootings and deaths and let that drive you away from wanting to get into law enforcement. If you get a job and worry about getting shot at all the time, you will be in for many years of unhappiness and stress can cause diseases. However, on the flip side, you need to be vigilante enough to know what your doing is dangerous and you need to be ready for the **** to hit the fan and react in seconds.



And what Les S said about watching to much TV and believing that's the real thing, you can't believe any of that because you wouldn't last long.

Answer 2

Sure. Jaywalking is illegal. I've noticeable men and women jaywalking and inflicting automobiles to slam on brakes in rather populated areas, which will with ease purpose collisions. There may be a reason it's unlawful. They very well would have been jogging diagonally down the center of the street. Given that it's unlawful, he can and will have to situated on his discretion enforce that legislation. P.S. I don't believe he was once at the start going to arrest them.. As a rule just a ticket, but they resisted and weren't cooperative so that's why he would truly be arresting them.

Answer 3

SRU is made up for TV. So your chances of getting in, unless you are an actor, are 0.

Only the real thing close is Toronto's ETF (Emergency Task Force).

No other department in all of North America has 24/7 SWAT type teams. NYPD has a large number of officers in ESU (Emergency Services Unit) but they do so much more than just SWAT type stuff it is amazing.

Chances of getting in to them is 1 in about 4000.



The officers who see the most action are patrol officers.



What are your risks, the greatest risk is you dying in a traffic crash trying to get to an in progress or assist call. Lots of injuries among cops from falls and wrestling with people. Chance of getting shot? Even in the US the chances of getting shot are low. In Canada they are even lower..

Then your health also suffers from the weird hours.

The incidence of diabetes among cops is 20% higher than the general public.

Also there is the PTSD problem. You see and do things normal people outside of combat never see or do. Lots of cop suicides because of this.



If you want to be a cop you gotta stop believing what you see on TV. A cop has to be able to think and learn form real life, not TV fantasy.

Answer 4

No one knows you can get killed your first day or go 20 years with out an accident.

Answer 5

If you're worried about the stats, I suggest you don't join.

Answer 6

Death