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?

[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

[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?

[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.

[opaleski]

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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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

[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.

[tx_basser]

I think they are plenty of companies that look for a responsible person, manager, reliable, show up, take care of customers, etc. Just start searching and something will pop up. Security at a big Church, Security Company, Loss Prevention, Facilities Manager to manage vendors, Insurance Company, etc.

[Mark Perry]

I wish you the very best. I am in a similar situation. I can retire in December and start getting my full pension immediately. If I stay 5 more years it will add roughly another $800-1000 per month to my pension then.
I started this year getting my ducks in a row to transition into a different field. I am not fully decided on if I will retire but I wanted options to consider as I mull things over this summer.
I bet you land on your feet and are better off in the long run. Change is good and can rejuvenate you.

[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?

[hawkrooster]

I think they are plenty of companies that look for a responsible person, manager, reliable, show up, take care of customers, etc. Just start searching and something will pop up. Security at a big Church, Security Company, Loss Prevention, Facilities Manager to manage vendors, Insurance Company, etc.

Those jobs are high on my list. I like people and after doing this job for this long plus sales I can walk into a room and have a conversation with anyone. Thanks!

[hawkrooster]

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

I don't believe so here but it is something to look into for sure-thanks

[Rangerdeepv]

There should be plenty of opportunities out there for someone with your experience and talent. Security? Armed guard? There are plenty of careers or jobs out there. If wanting to get out of your present line of work take your likes or passions and see how a career/job lines up with that.

[hawkrooster]

I wish you the very best. I am in a similar situation. I can retire in December and start getting my full pension immediately. If I stay 5 more years it will add roughly another $800-1000 per month to my pension then.
I started this year getting my ducks in a row to transition into a different field. I am not fully decided on if I will retire but I wanted options to consider as I mull things over this summer.
I bet you land on your feet and are better off in the long run. Change is good and can rejuvenate you.

I am hoping so. It has been a rewarding career overall. I have seen things I will never be able to "unsee" unfortunately but I think it is time to turn page if I can still support my family the way I have been able to so far.

[yatesville88fan]

Maybe talk to your bosses and see if you could somehow get more time off. I bet they would hate to lose you.