For former MP's- after service, has anyone gone into civilian law enforcement? If so, how was that transition?

SSG Derrick Iozzio — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:15:07 -0400

Military Police, Law Enforcement

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 7 at 2020 1:22 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:22:32 -0400

A couple of people that I knew that had been MP's are now in law enforcement.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Apr 7 at 2020 1:24 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:24:33 -0400

Isn't that kind of the default route? What else would they do?

Response by GySgt Gary Cordeiro made Apr 7 at 2020 2:51 PM

GySgt Gary Cordeiro — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:51:14 -0400

This an excellent choice, support system for veterans is strong, biased in favor of the veteran, usually.

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Apr 7 at 2020 2:57 PM

LTC Wayne Brandon — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 14:57:30 -0400

I entered law enforcement in '75 and admittedly, that was a long time ago and things have certainly changed. With that said, I found it to be an easy transition using the police academy to adjust from the military to civilian mindset but found my background as an MP to be of little influence in the decision to hire me and never really leveraged that experience until I got on the street. Many things will come naturally as there are many commonalities between the two agencies, though an MP is apt to find the civilian side of the ledger to be far more complicated having many more 'moving parts' if you will, requiring the LEO to possess a keener edge and a vast number of professional skills than one learns as an MP. One thing I can say is that having worked closely with law enforcement for 20 years after I left my department, I have kept current with many of the changes and know that job is by far more difficult than it was 45 years ago but that is in no way intended to be a discouragement to anyone interested in making the change. Just understand that it is two different worlds with the same mission - maintaining safety and keeping the peace.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 3:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 15:01:49 -0400

A lot of the people I know from being an MP are cops, corrections, or DHS. I reclassed and went aviation though. LE wasn’t for me. I don’t have the patience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2020 9:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 21:10:49 -0400

While military police experience gives you a personal edge, very few, if any civilian departments will count your experience as LE experience. This is because civilian policing is very different than the military. You will have to do another academy so be prepared for that. All in all, LE is an excellent career. Best of luck.

Response by SFC David Dean made Apr 8 at 2020 8:37 PM

SFC David Dean — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 20:37:27 -0400

I served for a couple months in corrections in Plainfield, Indiana and departed. I then was with Denver County Sheriff Office for 3 years. I next went to Jefferson County Sheriff Office for just short of 20 years. I spent 20 years on active duty as a military policeman, 1973-93. As for the transition, it is very dependent upon the specific agency and the tenor of its leadership. Some are more amenable to past military while others are less inclined because they tend to shy away from what they perceive is the military authoritative element. I would tell anyone seeking to do so that you need to do your research about the environment of any given agency as fully as you can. Going into civilian law enforcement for me worked because of my choices. I would tell anyone to follow this course and once you choose then fully commit. It will take time and energy that is much different in the military. You will as well find some degree of frustration in the civilian environment as well. It is a challenge to cultivate personal and professional relationship relative to your experiences in the military. Be aware and prepared and you will be successful.

Response by SPC Anthony Zbikowski made Apr 9 at 2020 8:50 PM

SPC Anthony Zbikowski — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 20:50:36 -0400

There are commonalities but policing in the real world is para-military and organizationally is a far different beast. Chain of command is a concept but there is considerable lateral authority, and outright politicking and good-old-boy BS depending on the agency, on the civilian side. Also, no one is stuck with you on the civilian side. In most places Sheriff's Deputies work at the pleasure of the Sheriff and you can be in the unemployment line at the next election or if the Sheriff or your chain of command take a disliking to you. You can usually be let go with no recourse during your first year at most places and generally with little effort on the part of the agency at any time past that, outside of some union states.

Don't expect the bond you share with your unit members to be anything similar except in a few rare cases. Everyone has their own lives and the enforced togetherness in the military is not a thing. Also, the sense of mission is not there. Law Enforcement is a relentless grind sometimes and often in the darkest hours it seems pointless.

Be ready to deal with things that make you question if humanity is worth saving of if cockroaches should be allowed make a go of it. Sex crimes involving kids are the worst. They make you start questioning the validity of the rule of law and if crucifixion should be on the table for capital punishment all while you don't violate the scum bag's rights or beat him within an inch of his life...

Also, the nature of the policing is far different. There is generally a commonality between service members, even in different branches. When policing in the community you will have fewer commonalities outside of basic human ones. People will assume a great many things about you and some of your fellow Americans will actively hate you for the uniform you wear and the oath you take. In some cases with zero justification. In others with ample justification.

While service members are all trained in arraigning the brevity of human life to one degree or another they are generally disciplined. There are equally deadly people in the civilian world and you are completely reactive in nature as opposed to being able to define/dictate the parameters of an encounter. Military members have something to lose, even if often it's pride of place, rank etc.. In the civilian side you often encounter people with little to lose in their minds. Also, a great many people you deal with are mentally ill or have mental/behavioral issues. Not all, but much of that is screened out in the military. I've gone 20 plus years in local and now federal uniformed service without having to shoot anyone and I am thankful that I never have. I'm mostly admin now so odds are getting lower but... the danger is not in a clean shoot. No one is losing sweat over that. The worry is getting mixed up in a dirty or questionable/mistaken shoot. The idea of losing everything I own and everything I've worked for for my family... all I can say is get liability insurance.

You will probably lose money when you ETS and go to civilian law enforcement in many cases, depending on where you live and cost of living. There is no BAQ, BAH etc and what you make is what you make. Be ready to work OT and off duty gigs if you want shiny stuff. Also there is little support services and networks like in the military.

There is far more paperwork involved and be ready to justify every single action you take and testify about it in court. Being on YouTube is a thing. Primary goals in my career, aside from doing a good job, have been to not make case law and avoid being on YouTube.

There is very little "shooting riding and roping" in proportion to all the "other" stuff. I've done everything from replacing light bulbs and fixing door knobs on little old crazy cat lady front porches to working homicide scenes. Far far more of the former than the latter. You will also deal with people at the worst possible moment of their lives on a daily basis. Things have gone out of control and they call you to fix the problem. Often the root problem is of their own stupidity and addictions and the chain of events has been brewing for years, if not decades. It's your job to fix it in their eyes even if all you can do is put a band-aid on the arterial bleed.

There is a far greater body of law to know and you constantly have to think in terms of "What is happening, what can I deduce, and do I have a legal right to be here/do this?" The Fourth Amendment is a real thing on the outside and SOP and policy only governs YOU, not the public.

Shit can every thing you ever thought you knew about policing from the military. Bar your lips from telling stories from when you were paroling base housing etc. You're like the no combat patch guy telling the three Iraq tour guy about that time you went to Kosovo. Save it for when you are out of FTO.

It's a glass bottom boat tour of a sewer and the greatest show on the face of the earth. Good luck and god bless. Be safe out there.

Response by SP5 William Johnson made Apr 12 at 2020 3:51 AM

SP5 William Johnson — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 03:51:55 -0400

I was a Cop when drafted, after ETS went back into Police work for two decades.

Response by PFC Russell W made Apr 12 at 2020 11:26 PM

PFC Russell W — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 23:26:59 -0400

Kind of.
I remember the local Sheriffs Office during that time sending me a letter of invitation to speak with someone.
But I did real estate and Security contracts, then I went into juvenile corrections, then a School Security Dir., and now a Park Ranger.

Response by SPC Sean Kennedy made Apr 27 at 2020 10:12 AM

SPC Sean Kennedy — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:12:23 -0400

I’ve been a security guard for the last few years, got out got lazy and gave up on being a cop, making great money for basically no work :/ I don’t get the title but it’s cool having a nice car and other toys

Response by SSG Allyn Freeman made May 31 at 2020 8:37 AM

SSG Allyn Freeman — Sun, 31 May 2020 08:37:42 -0400

I went into civilian Law Enforcement after I got out. Spent the next roughly 3 decades enjoying the work. Retired out in 2011. Being an MP did not hurt my career, my department gave me credit for the service which allowed for an earlier retirement.

Response by 1SG Rick Seekman made Dec 18 at 2020 10:59 PM

1SG Rick Seekman — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 22:59:07 -0500

I did not. I was offered a job at the Gold Vault. I said no thanks. I wanted nothing to do with law enforcement !

Response by SPC West Coleman made Mar 1 at 2021 1:43 AM

SPC West Coleman — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 01:43:15 -0500

I was an MP for 3 years then a civilian Police Officer briefly and immediately after getting out of the Army. I probably should have given myself time to adjust to being back in America, and as a civilian, and also should have joined a different PD. Hindsight is 20-20.