We asked officers to share the best law enforcement advice they ever received. Thanks to all who shared with us!

You can read all unedited responses here!

Here are some of the advice to highlight:

• ALWAYS go home after your shift.
• Always stay in shape and start a ROTH account
• Be a firefighter!!!
• DO NOT love the job, it WILL NOT love you back
• Don’t get shot.
• dont get hungry or wet and pee often.
• Everybody has a story!
• Everyday is a learning day.
• For a HazMat call if you can hold your thumb up and it covers the scene, you are probably far enough away!
• Get a hobby.
• Get a real job that actually pays something.
• Get along, talk nice to each other, don’t take things that are not yours, call us if you need us.
• Go to the bathroom when you can, not when you have to.
• I’m new… So far, I would say it was that communication and deesculation will be your best friend as an officer.
• If you ever stop learning, quit or retire.
• It is a career, not a crusade
• Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should.
• Keep spare underwear in your duty bag
• Keep your non LEO friends.
• know where the closest bathroom is
• Learn how to type.
• Make sure your bodycamera is on
• Never be afraid to ask questions about your job.
• Never use a public restroom on duty.
• No man left behind
• once u think u have seen it all, U HAVENT!
• Safety First, Head on a Swivel, Watch Your Six, Complacency Kills.
• Smooth is fast. Fast is smooth.
• Soak up time off and not OT
• Take the promotion test because you don’t want these assholes in charge of you
• Talk it out. Turn to someone and vent and don’t hold it in.
• There is no such thing as a routine call
• There’s always someone better than you
• This is a job where you’ll never get rich, but you’ll never starve. It’s been very true.
• Trust your co-workers with your life, not your secrets or your wife
• Use common sense and dignity and most of your problems are solved.
• Utilize peer review if it is something you are not sure of.
• verbal judo is your friend
• Wear both vest pannels in the rear carrier, especially around millennials.
• You are 80% more likely to achieve your goals, if you write them down.
• You can work your entire career to earn your integrity in the courts and lose it in a second with the wrong decision.
• You can’t help someone if you don’t make it there safely
• You’re just a number
• You’re not above the law.
• your badge can get you women but women will get your badge
• Your mouth is your strongest weapon
• your safety is most important
• Your wife doesn’t care that you have arrest powers.