Considering career change after 24 years

[hawkrooster]

I am pretty much a long time lurker to this site but I have noticed there seems to be some pretty good advice given out. I figure why not ask on what I have been kicking around. I am thinking about getting out of my 24 year law enforcement career to do something else. I am getting burned out to be honest. My wife wants me out. I only get one weekend off a month and have missed so much including many things including my high school daughter growing up. She's a senior next year and will most likely be a college athlete so being off weekends will be important to me.

I also sell post frame buildings or pole barns for a local construction company and have done that for the last 10 years on top of my cop job. I really like sales but with labor shortages I cannot live off of that income alone. I use to flip lawn mowers and had a small business for about 5 years before moving on to building sales. I can collect my pension at 55 years of age, but I am currently 46.5 yoa. It's been so long since I've "looked" for a job. The side jobs always found me accidentally. Hopefully I am not too old make a respectable living if I walk away. Any advice would be appreciated.

[VA Bass]

Can you take a retirement and then go supplment that with maybe something you enjoy?

[opaleski]

Can you take a retirement and then go supplment that with maybe something you enjoy?

[Dixie-Raven]

Are you wanting to get away from law enforcement all together? If not maybe try a different aspect of it that will give you better hours and time off. Could you get your teaching certification and teach at the local college on law enforcement or be a consultant of some sort? Other than that pick something you enjoy that meets your financial needs and time off requirements. Good luck!

[hawkrooster]

Are you wanting to get away from law enforcement all together? If not maybe try a different aspect of it that will give you better hours and time off. Could you get your teaching certification and teach at the local college on law enforcement or be a consultant of some sort? Other than that pick something you enjoy that meets your financial needs and time off requirements. Good luck!

I think I need a change. I am not the same person I was going into this career. Don't get me wrong I had some high moments too over the years I wouldn't trade for anything.

[hawkrooster]

Can you take a retirement and then go supplment that with maybe something you enjoy?

I wouldn't be able to collect it until I turned 55. If I stayed another year I would have 22 years at that department so I would be eligible to collect it at 50. I am not sure I can do another 3.5 years. There are some other factors I'd rather not air online too. A few people have told me that life is too short to be unhappy at work. I believe that but this has been my whole adult life.

[mastergun]

I wouldn't be able to collect it until I turned 55. If I stayed another year I would have 22 years at that department so I would be eligible to collect it at 50. I am not sure I can do another 3.5 years. There are some other factors I'd rather not air online too. A few people have told me that life is too short to be unhappy at work. I believe that but this has been my whole adult life.

Without knowing your full circumstances, I would hang on the extra year so you can start collecting 5 years sooner if you didn’t.

[Lil’erRed]

Make a list of things you enjoy doing the most.... think of jobs pertaining to those things..... if the list is too small and doesn’t seem feasible to make a living then make a list of jobs that will provide enuff income to continue to enjoy doing the things you enjoy the most. If you wind back up where you are now then that will help your decision

[hawkrooster]

I can still collect it at 55 if I leave now. It's not going anywhere. I just need to survive financially until then. I work day shift now, but I think it is time to move on while I still am able.

[RyanJ]

I can still collect it at 55 if I leave now. It's not going anywhere. I just need to survive financially until then. I work day shift now, but I think it is time to move on while I still am able.

That's a game changer then. Certainly isn't a lack of job opportunities these days at least that will give you some options.

[Babe Winkleworm]

I can still collect it at 55 if I leave now. It's not going anywhere. I just need to survive financially until then. I work day shift now, but I think it is time to move on while I still am able.

So I am in the same boat can't draw till 55. We moved to a rural area and I found a new job. It was the best I ever made. no regrets

[RyanJ]

9 years to go to get that pension is HUGE this day man....is there anything that offers more day hours with the police department?

[mike464]

Aaron, I got out after 22 years, I went right upstairs to the County Attorney's office and have been here 7 as their investigator. There's only one job better than being a cop, it's being a retired cop. I'd try to move around within the department or move to another one if the retirement system can transfer. You need to solve the burnt out feeling or change careers, it crushes you. I was there too.

[hawkrooster]

Aaron, I got out after 22 years, I went right upstairs to the County Attorney's office and have been here 7 as their investigator. There's only one job better than being a cop, it's being a retired cop. How far are you from being able to double dip?

If I stayed another I could draw at 50. If I left now I can at 55. As I stated in another post there are some other factors playing into this I would rather not air. Thanks for your response

[Stein]

If I stayed another I could draw at 50. If I left now I can at 55. As I stated in another post there are some other factors playing into this I would rather not air. Thanks for your response

If you meant to say stay another YEAR then that's a no brainer. Five more years's worth of payments collected? Leaving now would cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

[hawkrooster]

If you meant to say stay another YEAR then that's a no brainer. Five more years's worth of payments collected? Leaving now would cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I checked today and it is 1.5 years. I gonna stick this out until I find something I truly is a fit for me. Got to keep options open.

[bassn5150]

Aaron, I got out after 22 years, I went right upstairs to the County Attorney's office and have been here 7 as their investigator. There's only one job better than being a cop, it's being a retired cop. I'd try to move around within the department or move to another one if the retirement system can transfer. You need to solve the burnt out feeling or change careers, it crushes you. I was there too.

My career advice doesn’t come from any type LEO background. But, as mentioned above, the feeling of burnout being crushing is dead on. I rode out a career for 5-6 yrs longer than I ever should have. I hated going to work and I hated everyone I came into contact with at work. I even hated myself. And I know I brought that home. Life was zero fun during that span. That was nearly 12 yrs ago and to this very day I still catch myself wondering how things would be today if I’d have parted company when I knew I should have vs. when I did. Its hard to make a change when you’ve been involved with a job for so long, that I know. I’ll say this, obviously you can’t cut your nose off to spite your face, but if you feel something is leading you down a different path, listen to that voice. If you’re a person of faith, it’s likely a test to try your faith. You have to believe when one door closes, another will open leading you to greater things. Best of luck in your career moves going forward!

[posmallie]

I would get out if you can, and find something else. There are no shortages of jobs for retired law enforcement. My question is, what would your health insurance situation be if you retired? That is a huge factor. If your wife gets it through her work that's fine, but would you lose retirement healthcare (assuming that's a provided benefit...) The benefit you currently have is that you are employed, and you can start looking for a different job now, while still working and getting paid. Life is too short to have a job you really don't like, and being a cop right now is the toughest job in the country.

[hawkrooster]

I would get out if you can, and find something else. There are no shortages of jobs for retired law enforcement. My question is, what would your health insurance situation be if you retired? That is a huge factor. If your wife gets it through her work that's fine, but would you lose retirement healthcare (assuming that's a provided benefit...) The benefit you currently have is that you are employed, and you can start looking for a different job now, while still working and getting paid. Life is too short to have a job you really don't like, and being a cop right now is the toughest job in the country.

The insurance part is the kick in the shorts. My wife has a good job but they don't insure families. I would need to find a job with insurance. As far as cop work it definitely isn't what it was 24 years ago.

[mactlman]

The insurance part is the kick in the shorts. My wife has a good job but they don't insure families. I would need to find a job with insurance. As far as cop work it definitely isn't what it was 24 years ago.

in OHIO, if your spouse has insurance and you have no options hers has to include you? same there?