I'm thinking of joining the police force...

[Swoop]

I have been considering it but I can’t decide if I won’t to go the training academy in Porirua for the year.

I thought that it was a six month stint.

[Coyote]

Hey man, I'd only do it if I was going to be in the armed offenders squad. Hell yeah. They have a lot of boring paperwork and fuckwits to deal with, and their bosses have them mostly focussed on revenue gathering, instead of out doing the community a service. Average joe cop I'm sure is pretty quickly disenchanted with how it's run. My cousin is a cop, and he's a good top bloke, but it's warped him a little.

I've got lots of ideas for jobs, but I like to do dangerous hands on stuff.

Yeah thought of training to be an engineer in the armed forces?

I saw some of them the other day. they were stopping me from going down my street (damn, missed out on the action). They've got the Ninja style going on aye? That's sparks up my inner child's interest.

Engineer is a mechanic right? Which I have thought of.

[Matt_TG]

Hey mate - I'll PM ya

[scumdog]

Doesn't want people with a sense of reality? That doesn't sound right.

It wasn't the reality dude....

[scumdog]

I thought that it was a six month stint.

It's 5 months - and as mentioned, it IS a kind of calling I guess....if you want to be any good you have to have the right attitude.

[Coyote]

It wasn't the reality dude....

What is the reality?

[howdamnhard]

Ye go for it!

[The Pastor]

... and I need some people to talk some sense into me.

After a year at tech, I can't get a job in the industry I trained for (auto refinishing). Fewer people want panel work done to their cars so shops aren't looking to hire staff and some are even laying off workers.

Before I give up and go work at a supermarket, I've been thinking about other options. One of those ideas is the Police.

I've had mixed messages about what being a policemen is like, typically ranging between ok and shit. But I expect most jobs to be shit and from what I understand, policemen are paid well.

Do you think becoming an officer is worth pursuing? Or should I avoid this career path like the plague?

On their site to see if I've got what it takes, it says that I need a full NZ drivers licence. I've yet to get my restricted, though I'm confident I will get it soon. However I've had my bike full for almost 2 years. Would I be able to get in with my bike licence or have to wait a year and a half until I can go for my full? Ultimately I'd like to be a bikie cop, but I'm guessing I'd have to know people I don't and it's a bit of a dreamy idea. Unless someone can tell me otherwise.

don't be a dick mate, maybe you could start your own spray painting bussiness? lots of people would be looking for cheap touch ups.

[scumdog]

don't be a dick mate, maybe you could start your own spray painting bussiness? lots of people would be looking for cheap touch ups.

Yup, with all the KBers that bin you can't miss making a fortune...

[Coyote]

don't be a dick mate, maybe you could start your own spray painting bussiness? lots of people would be looking for cheap touch ups.

Don't have enough money to get started. There's a lot of regulations you have to conform to since you're dealing with toxic materials. I'm keen to do perk jobs at home, buy myself a cheap air compressor and gun to do wacky paint jobs on mates cars and bikes, but I won't be able to start a business for a few years yet. Plus I would need to gain a bit more experience, which is why I'm still keen on doing an apprenticeship. I do know my stuff, it's just I've got to perfect a few things.

Also I've been working on the bucket racer of mine creating the tank and tail to be made out of fibreglass. That's another dream business of mine in the future, making custom bits and pieces for bikes. Would also like to have a go making a car body shell (and possibly the frame cause I don't think any normal car frames can fit the body I want to make, my brother is studying fabrication so hopefully that's not too unrealistic if I get his help).

The force was just an idea I had been toying with if I had no luck anywhere else. I really only need a crap job to fill in time until the panel shops are back in business. But I'm reluctant to go back to a supermarket. Been there, done that.

[Coyote]

Yup, with all the KBers that bin you can't miss making a fortune...

I started refinishing since I binned all the time and couldn't afford getting someone else to fix the bike

[The Pastor]

get a job in a food type place - reduce your food bill

[Zapf]

I would suggest you getting some life skills / experience before joining the force. give you a much wider prespective of the socity and people in general before u have to deal with them.

[Hoon]

Go for it. I had a bunch of mates who were stuck in menial jobs with no career. A cop mate roped them into becoming Police and they're all lapping it up now. The pay is pretty respectable too. These mates told other mates and now they're joining up too. Seems I have more cop mates than non-cop mates these days.

Yep I guess I should mention that all these mates are ex or current serving Army (TF or Reserve they call it now). Soldiers seem to make good cops for some reason. I don't know if I'd bother joining the Army first though unless you REALLY wanted to join the Army as you won't get far unless your heart is in it.

[samgab]

I reckon you should go for it. You get paid whilst you get trained.
I work for the Police, but I'm not a sworn officer. They're a good bunch to work for. I've been out on the road with an I-car, it's great fun, very interesting. Also went up with Eagle to observe, and that was a blast too.
Once you've passed the training and spent 2 years as a probationary constable, you can pretty much choose your career path: traffic, serious crash, forensics, AOS, SAR, etc. The pay gets pretty good once you've been doing it for a few years.
While you're out on the road you get to speed legally too, when you have to blue-light it.
You will need your full driver's licence.
You'll never get bored, anyway.