And even when law enforcement professionals aren't directly in harm's way, they often have to perform duties that are difficult or disturbing, such as dealing with bloody accident scenes or interviewing a victim of sexual assault. Go ride with officers in the area that you want to work. Get exposed to the work and talk to people about the real ups and downs. They weren't exposed enough to the work to see that this isn't the job they wanted. If risk isn't enough of a problem, there's its constant partner, stress.
Stress is a part of life in law enforcement.
And since cops, deputies, and federal agents are all human, there's a tendency to forget to leave the problems at work, which can sometimes lead to trouble with family relationships. No, this isn't the fun part of thinking about a career in law enforcement. It's the reality, though, and you must have both feet firmly on the ground when you consider this career. Remember, too, that law enforcement takes care of its own-you'll get help and support from your partners and your agency if you have the maturity to ask for it when you need it. The following self-evaluation quiz can help you decide whether you and this career will make a good match.