I have been blessed with a great career, and great children. My oldest daughter has climbed the rungs in the banking industry and done well for herself. The youngest daughter, who some of you guys have met in classes is college educated, and has no debt relating to it. She has been working as a dispatcher in a 911 center for several years. She worked night shift making a good wage and went to school during the day. The boy is a Lance Corporal in the Marines and is on a float in the Pacific. I have been blessed with hard working children.

A few years ago, the younger daughter inquired about a career in law enforcement. I told her absolutely not. She steadily continued to ask questions. She grew up in a law enforcement household. She was exposed to the birds eye view when I came home after being gone for days because of investigations or stand offs. When I came home after being involved in OIS. The late night calls. From her perspective as a dispatcher, she’s heard me call out everything from a failed breach, to fighting with a naked individual. And everything in between.

As she grew more serious, I tried to steer her to federal law enforcement. She wouldn’t go for that. I tried to them steer her toward other local agencies that pay more. I did the same thing with my son. Before joining the Marines, we visited all the other recruiters. At the end of the day, he chose the Marines. At the end of the day, she chose the agency that I’m currently a detective and the senior SWAT Team leader.

Tomorrow morning, she gets sworn in. She will start out in Court Security until she gets an academy date. After that, she’ll start her journey in patrol.

It’s bittersweet to me. I am very proud of her and her work ethic. But, I also know what 27 years of seeing bad shit does to you. I’m in the twilight of an awesome career, and hers starts tomorrow.

All the best to her (and you).
We are still fortunate in the land that some conscientious individuals are willing to make the effort and sacrifices to help keep the barbarians outside the gates.

Gob bless you and your family and the sacrifices you (and thy) have made for us!

Cheers. Good luck to her.

Best of luck to her sir…thank you and thank you to her for the career she is about to embark on…

You should be proud she has chosen such a commendable profession….and scared for her safety at the same time. Hopefully she spreads her wings with proper training and some street smarts to keep her safe…LE is a great career choice albeit a hard one at times.
I always told my new guys coming in…(fire service)…they would see hard things that they would never be able to forget.
I would tell them they get a cup, everyone has a different sized cup…put those sights/sounds/smells in that cup and pay attention to it…retire before that cup is full…when they overflow that’s when the cup holder is prone to the lasting psychological difficulties…I’ve seen too many coworkers (both LE and Fire) turn to drugs/alcohol/suicide….it’s really sad.

I wish her luck and a long safe career….dad should be proud! Let her fly!

That’s awesome. You’ve been a huge role model for her, and you should feel very good about that!

Good for her, and compliments to you for raising such a hardworking family.

Nice. That’s something to be proud of. Good job Dad.

I’m sure she’ll excel just like her father did (and she’s probably a better shot than her upcoming instructors too).

PT and shooting won’t be an issue for her lol

best wishes on her new career

Congrats to you both. Sounds like you raised her right.

Having a son or daughter volunteer for a selfless career in service to others that can put them in harm's way easily leaves parents with no small amount of trepidation. Prayers for the safety of all concerned.

My eldest followed me into a military career.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,

Sort of tongue in check, but it is your fault.
You rise them right.
You give them a good role model.
You shouldn’t be surprised when they want to grow up to be like you.

I share your mixd feelings, I tried to steer my son away from the military with no luck. He is forward deployed on the Reagan in Japan.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
He is forward deployed on the Reagan in Japan.

They are sharing the same waters. Mine is on the New Orleans.

Utmost respect for those wanting to join and make a difference while many consider leaving.

Jerry, you have every right to be proud. I know to a degree how you feel when a child follows you into a career that while rewarding has taken its toll on you.

I was deathly afraid my son would join my PD and as a "legacy hire" he was a shoo in. The PD pretty much raised him and he spent a great deal of time with me while I worked. He attended all our firearms training when not in school and developed into an excellent shot. I did not encourage him to be a cop, but I did not attempt to dissuade him either. Shortly before he graduated HS, I asked him what his plans were after graduation, and he said he was not interested in police work. Apparently, the time he spent with me took the fascination off police work for him. That was a load off my mind!
JJones, best wishes to your daughter for a long, safe and successful career.

We usually can’t pick the career path of our children but whatever they choose be happy for them as I’m sure you are.
Congrats.