One of my daughters finished her first month of the Chicago Police Academy. Complete career change for her. Didn't feel like her life had meaning or contributed to society. Had a couple ride-alongs and was hooked. She is very serious. She is acing her written tests and physical tests. She said they had about 20 drop outs so far. She feels she should finish near the top of class.

I am both so proud of her yet scared to death. I offered to upgrade her vest and plates to the best she can comfortably carry. While I would rather she do it somewhere else I fully support her decision. Just a super nervous dad for a while.

God-speed to her! Her career change will provide her with a front row view of the endless human debris parade.

I fully retired from LE within the last couple of weeks, and the torch is passed. As I always ask, “If not you, then who?”

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.” Isaiah 6.8

I hope she stays safe and happy! Wish her all the best. Hang in there dad.

You have every right to be proud of her. I wish her the best and maybe after a couple of years she will change departments (nothing wrong with that). But, she will gain some great experience working in Chicago.

ftttu:

I'm retired LEO from Texas as well. If you're from the north Texas area we might have run into each other at some point. My e-mail's in my profile,thanks

I did the career change into full-time LE about 8 years ago for some of the same reasons as your daughter. Most days I'm still glad I made the choice. There's definitely more opportunity to do stuff that matters than there was in my other job, but often those situations aren't the ones you'd think they are.

Tell her to embrace the suck and hang in there. In a few years she'll be looking back on her Academy days and it'll seem like a vacation...a vacation where they feed you terrible food and scream at you a lot .

Thanks for the encouragement! She wants to be a detective or, gasp, FBI.