From our retirees association...

When a good cop leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that 'Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God' and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Hear, hear!

Well stated.

So true. I miss my fellow Troopers. But not the Office BS and politics.

My neighbor is a retired cop.

I knew he was before he told me. He still has that demeanor.

Great guy to have for a neighbor.

I’m not a cop.

True Story

Like any job, many people will look back nostalgically in a positive manner. I've been retired from LE for over 4 years, and I mostly remember the good times. If I actually recall actual events and all of the other crappe I had to deal with, I'm glad it is all over.

Being a patriot "If not me, then who?" was my mindset. Just like in the USMC, I knew it was going to suck and it did, but someone had to do it. That got me through my LE career in the same manner.

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:
Like any job, many people will look back nostalgically in a positive manner. I've been retired from LE for over 4 years, and I mostly remember the good times. If I actually recall actual events and all of the other crappe I had to deal with, I'm glad it is all over.

Being a patriot "If not me, then who?" was my mindset. Just like in the USMC, I knew it was going to suck and it did, but someone had to do it. That got me through my LE career in the same manner.

Thanks!

Working on making it currently. This thread does remind me of the Army however. I remember it in a positive light and is still miss the people quite a bit but I'm glad to be on the semi civvie side (or whatever we are).

quote:

Originally posted by Sailor1911:

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:
Like any job, many people will look back nostalgically in a positive manner. I've been retired from LE for over 4 years, and I mostly remember the good times. If I actually recall actual events and all of the other crappe I had to deal with, I'm glad it is all over.

Being a patriot "If not me, then who?" was my mindset. Just like in the USMC, I knew it was going to suck and it did, but someone had to do it. That got me through my LE career in the same manner.

Thanks!

Thanks for the thanks!

I’m not retired yet. I still enjoy my job. The flip side of this is the dude’s that stay too long and won’t punch out. They are a miserable lot. When the time comes, I’ll be done with field work. But I am young enough that I might take an analysts job or if I was offered a three day or so a week job in training at my old agency, I might take it.

But hanging on to try to keep my youth is out of the question.

Retiring as a Military Veteran is much the same. The fun is where you have to go to in your mind and do your best to leave the bad times and sad times behind. As much as is possible. The brothers you served with and the good times will live with you long after other memories fade.

Get your mind right, or retirement will kill you. Too many of my firiends are dead. Find something to donBefore you retire. Step off and gain perspective. Please, don’t mourn the loss orb our career. This is the beginning.

I miss some of the people. And while I am glad I got my 20 years worth of the greatest show on earth, I have no desire to do it anymore.

Retired and rejoicing! Regards 18DAI

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
So true. I miss my fellow Troopers. But not the Office BS and politics.

This!

Well, I could retire tomorrow if I wanted, but I plan on going a little over 3 more years in order to hit the 25 year mark. Provided my wife's health stays in tact. If that happens, I may retire sooner, than later.

I may come back and work part-time....a shift here or there. Depends on how I feel when the time comes to retire. Working part-time means if I don't like the BS being heaped on us....I can just say bye-bye.

But....I'm hoping to see about becoming a range officer at my local indoor range. I can still teach/instruct (I'm a firearms instructor)...so, fingers crossed.

I’m 2 years away from mandatory retirement and I plan on carrying on the way I do now. Eyes up, ears open.

If you ask my state & local friends, I "retired from law enforcement" the day I got hired by the fed.gov. That was 25 years ago. I still love my job, but they day I'm eligible, I'll love it "in the rear-view mirror."

I started my career as a ranger. I can't tell you how many times I had some old guy lingering at a distance during a "Terry stop" or vehicle stop and assumed he was just a gawker or was going to ask for directions or something when he had a chance. More often than I can count, it turned out to be a retired cop (in some cases, retired for longer than I'd been alive at that point) who was just watching to make sure I was OK. Good cops who retire are still good cops.

Thanks for posting. Your words are spoken from the heart.

Another officer said it best, "I miss the circus, but not the clowns".