We all know about police officers, also known as police, or cops. They’re known for being the reason we can sleep at night. They work long hours, risking their lives so civilians can sleep at night. But there’s a problem, there are too few of them.

Many law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling with hiring new recruits. According to NBC News, the U.S. is facing a “police hiring crisis”. This has several consequences, including increased response times & workload on remaining officers.

Fewer cops mean fewer figures available for other jobs, like detectives, and we need these figures for several reasons. Fewer of them will not be a good thing. This crisis also means departments are CLOSING.

If police departments close, this means people have fewer opportunities to become cops. This means the future supply of police officers will be smaller. This will only exacerbate the crisis. With that in mind, here are reasons to become a cop.

The pay is great compared to other jobs you might find. Sure, the job has risks, but cops are generally safe due to factors like backup, bodycams, and their available weapons. While it does happen from time to time, rarely do criminals have the upper hand over cops. Cops work in groups, too, so they’re generally safe.

The next is increased respect from the community. While it is true that some people’s perception of the police has gone down since events like George Floyd and others, trust and respect for police officers generally remain high, depending on the community. 

The next reason is different depending on the individual, but it remains in place nonetheless: variety and excitement! Look, I can explain! You see, many cops are called to crime scenes, investigations, etc. And if you like things that are dynamic & challenging, this might make you excited. I know, it sounds unbelievable, but some individuals experience this on the job.