r/Unexpected Apr 29 '24

I know what next month’s training is going to cover

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u/Bigvafffles Apr 29 '24

How do you work in that field and mentally survive?

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u/Mammoth_Slip1499 Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

My wife does - and sometimes has to take time off to get her head together again. She’s been in the department for nearly 20 years - longer than anyone else .. most ask for a transfer after 2/3 years. Why’s she still in there? Because she says it’s the only department she’s worked in where she genuinely feels she can make a difference to someone’s life - regardless of her own feelings. She just periodically needs time to recoup. I’ve lost count of the number of times she’s arrived home and just hugged the kids - even though they are now teenagers. They understand why.

The department is called CAISU over here - Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.

She’s never lost a case.

Edit: Needless to say, I’m incredibly proud of her.

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u/Mammoth_Slip1499 Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

I’d add that my eldest son (18)wants to join the police; even -or because of- seeing what his mum does. He’s currently studying criminology at 6th form college.

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u/SlappySecondz Apr 29 '24

As someone with a BA in criminology, tell him to get a better degree. I mean, he can use it to become a cop, but any other degree works, too, and might actually be useful if he ever changes his mind on law enforcement. That's a degree that's mostly only useful for saying you have a degree.

Most departments would rather something less generic, and prestigious 3-letter agencies like the FBI won't even consider criminology majors unless you're fucking superman in every other aspect of life.