What is the most interesting aspect of their answers is that both officers indicate a greater level of experience and/or education than they report having. The implications of that may point to a training deficit and reveal that the officers were not wholly prepared for the rigors of their job when they began it. On the other hand, it may simply reflect an admiration for their colleagues who came to the job from the military and/or with greater educational backgrounds that may have permitted them to embrace the more difficult aspects of the job with a reduced number of mistakes. Either way, it certainly indicates that there may be a need for greater training or enhanced applicant requirements, to ensure that officers are fully prepared for their jobs. In fact, when asked about his regrets, officer one stated, "I regret not enlisting with the military. I think the experience and training would have helped my career."
One of the more revealing aspects of the interview was when the officers were asked about their family support networks. Officer one indicated that he...
Officer two indicated that his family was not as supportive, but instead had mixed feelings about his involvement in law enforcement. Given that officer two was newly married and expecting a child, it seems natural that his family, especially his immediate family, would be in a period of adjustment regarding his occupation. However, if officer two's lack of total family support is not merely the result of his changing family situation, it would be interesting to see if that resulted in a lower level of job satisfaction in the long-term.
At the time of the interview, it was clear that officer two did not consider total family support to be a necessary component of job satisfaction. When asked about his regrets, officer two stated, "I regret nothing to date. I hope that time never comes." This answer reveals something that was clear in both officers' interviews; whatever stress and strain officers may experience, they truly enjoy their jobs.
