I'll start at the top and work my way down...

1)  That's a necessity.  If you can do it, use that talent.

3) That's a plus, but there will be things that make even you sick.  Like decapitations, or the smell of decomposing/burning human flesh.  Those are things that made even me gag...things that you never forget.  Ever.

6) If anything, you get by with less than the average citizen, because people look to you to uphold the law in your own life before you go enforce it in someone elses.

7) Be prepared for a 14+ hour day in car, or on a scene.  Shifts don't always end when they're supposed to, because shit happens and you have to go (or stay, as the case may be)

8) My belt was cool.  Dave's belt is cooler because he has an Asp - I had one towards the end but never got to use it.

10) Yeah!  I got told I looked hot in uniform too....all I know is that I was hot in uniform.  Kevlar doesn't breathe well, dig?

I wasn't a sworn officer.  I worked sec. enf and went through a lot of the PD's training...worked with the PD most of the time.  I was armed (that's why I wore Kevlar), and yes, I have stories.  I have 3 arrests under my belt, assisted on one felony arrest (I called him in and stuck with the guy on the interstate until the HP picked his dumb ass up - they found 3 lbs of speed on him) and I've tackled and taken down one person who was assaulting an officer.  That was an adrenaline rush, I can tell ya.  I was walking around feeling like queen of the world after that one!  It was really very entertaining....I loved working with the PD and riding with them, it was cool.  When I spoke, people had to listen, or there would be consequences...gotta love that. I've caught a faceful of mace.....yeah, you want to avoid doing that if you can.... I've been to crime scenes that have caused me to lose sleep - you never forget the smell of burnt human flesh.  Decomposing bodies are worse - you can smell them before you ever get close enough to see them, but the kicker is that you know you've got to get closer and that the smell's going to get worse. The decapitation wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...in fact, the thing that got to me worse than  that was the 18 month old who was left to wander the streets at 3 am dressed in nothing but a T shirt and a poopy diaper because mom and dad were busy getting their high on.  That made me want to kick someone's ass.

So, you're really serious about being a cop?  Have you decided if you want to work for a city PD or a sheriff's dept yet?  Or maybe the HP?