Associate Magazine - FBINAA - Q4 - 2022

T hough the law enforcement field has experienced some pay improvement in the past 30 years, most officers must budget effectively and save wisely to make ends meet and prepare for retirement. When I first started my career, I contemplated, “What else can I do to help support my family?” There was one good op tion that would allow me to protect my financial security: working off-duty jobs. Private businesses hire law enforcement, so they won’t have to deal with a security company. Sure, it costs more to hire an officer, but the benefit is that the officer has the authority to manage whatever situation occurs. The fact that sworn police of ficers’ training and authority grant them the ability to mitigate risk and help de-escalate dangerous situations is on the top of most peoples’ minds. What isn’t top of mind, however, is the fact that officers are at great personal risk when fulfilling this role. An officer’s perspective on working off-duty jobs can be distinctly varied from that of a chief, even though they hold many of the same priorities. Law enforcement training usually falls short in teaching officers how to financially set themselves up for the fu ture. Most officers understand that they need to save money, but MAKING ENDS MEET ERIC CHARLES

AN OFFICER'S PERSPECTIVE

Working as a law enforcement profes sional is like being a professional athlete. Both jobs can be high profile, physically demanding, and come under public scrutiny. Unfortunately for law enforce ment, one BIG difference is salary. Not only is the pay for an officer much less than what a professional athlete can make, but most officers will never be ap proached about an endorsement deal.

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