Hey everyone! I’m currently a 5 year officer and looking to exit policing. I do understand my time has been short, however, I have made my decision. I’m open to new career fields and have been exploring investigative jobs/SIU. Does anyone have any advice?

I have made this decision based on what I’m wanting for myself in the future. Please let me know if you have any advice or experience in leaving policing!

As a 23 year veteran who is now medically retired, I can say with confidence you are definitely making the right decision. Get out now before the "golden handcuffs" trap you for decades, like they did me. Prioritising your health and your family's happiness is nothing to apologize for. Because when you walk out for the last time nobody cares about all the sacrifices you made for the job. But your kids will remember whether or not you were there for them. Those moments once lost can never be made up for. You did your bit. Get out now while you still can. Best wishes, thanks for your service. & Stay safe!

Fair play to you getting out before pension trapped. there’s a couple of Facebook groups for leavers that have got some ex-job who’ve set businesses up sometimes looking for folk. Best piece of advice is sit down with someone from a recruitment background and spend the time to properly map across all the various skills / courses / experience you’ve gained into regular job talk. Deescalation, conflict resolution, project management, risk assessment etc. it’s surprising just how vast and sought after most of the things we never even think much about are out in the “real” world.

I've was in law enforcement for 17yrs, and did the same thing exiting . I found my new place doing EP/Investigations and I'm happy that I found it. Currently been doing EP/Investigations for 5yrs now.

With your training and experience you should look for jobs in the various provincial ministries. Wages would be good, job stability, pension and benefits. Most ministries have an investigative branch attached and you would have a strong training, background and competencies to apply for that position.

i was serving in LEA for 6 year and left it one month before, now iam very happy

I would like to extend a big congratulations to you for this brave step of yours. Thank You for your service to LEO profession. I am a 10 year professional and I can tell you from my experiences I regret being in my job very much rn bcoz it’s so toxic, micromanaged and stressful. Officers like myself who have the time are not respected anymore and we are used and abused for numbers for the supervisors to look good and get promoted. New officers are not staying and leaving in huge numbers and others who can retire are leaving too. No one could have predicted how bad my agency would have turned around but that’s the reality. Unfortunately I cannot do anything because if I leave I will take a huge pay cut and it will affect my pension a lot as well so I have to find ways to survive ten more years so I can retire at 20 with full pension and benefits. Unless I am pushed to the extreme then yes I might just vest out without completing the 20. I believe you are getting out at the right time and since you bring with you so many skills that will you probably have no idea about it will place you way above the curve than all the other candidates out there. If you have LinkedIn search for Jessica Flores; she is the founder of Next Shift LLC as per her bio “My goal is simple: Build confidence. Inspire action. Create space for transformation.” You can also email her and she will send you a list of 25 transferrable law enforcement skills list. I wish you nothing but happiness and success in your journey. Stay Safe and Good Luck.

I respect your opinion and wish you the best moving forward. Can I ask why you have made that decision?

Hello.

Complete respect for your decision. I myself am looking for a carrier change due to the way policing in the UK is going. I was recommended by a colleague who has now left, to do HGV driving. He got his class 1 licence (C+E) and is earning more then a response skipper. He said its less stress and can plan his days better.

The training you can do whilst still working as a police officer. As the job actually encourages it. Especially if its out of your own pocket.

With regards to say security like getting your SIA licence. The job will stop you getting it as you cant have that licence and be a police officer. Its one you would need to discuss with a police federation rep.

There is also a great call for personal Security with you background and skills. I know myself i am a security Supervisor at a local VA hospital and we monitor the Evolve weapons detection and check bags etc. The VA police at our Local VA have an opening and it is a gravy job but pays very well . The job is posted on Indeed also USA jobs. On USAjobs you may even find something in your field that requires your skills but isnt type of policing or security. There is also a PI company on Indeed that is hiring across the country so check indeed for your area ya never know. Best of luck

Law enforcement isn’t for everyone some people stay till they get a full pension and some leave like you are. There’s no reason to stay at a job were you are not happy life’s too short, better to leave when YOU know it’s just not for you then stay on and be miserable and get yourself into something you could have avoided. I retired after 20 years and I knew I was at the end I wanted nothing more to do with public service. I now work in private sector and life is so much better. Good luck in your future endeavors.