Leaving Law Enforcement

The decision to leave the law enforcement profession was one of the hardest any officer will have to face. This identify-defining career can be all consuming. The idea of leaving behind a brotherhood and sisterhood like this one can feel overwhelming.

Today, I am sharing Chapter 2 of my book, Beyond the Thin Blue Line. This chapter covers the considerations and steps officers should take as they consider a career and life Beyond the Thin Blue Line. I share the successes and many failures I experienced during my own transition in hopes that they can help and inspire you to have a successful transition to the private sector and civilian life when the time comes.

Remember, you can order the full version of Beyond the Thin Blue Line on

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CSZYpC

or

Barnes & Noble: Beyond the Thin Blue Line by Colin Whittington, Paperback | Barnes & Noble?

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2

Leaving Law Enforcement

When I first contemplated leaving the law enforcement profession, I immediately realized what a massive decision it would be and the incredible impact it would have on my life. This would not be me simply leaving a “normal” 9-5 job. It was going to be a profound shift in my identity and lifestyle. For many law enforcement officers, their profession isn’t just a job. It’s a fundamental part of who they are. Being a “cop” was a major part of what made me me. This career shaped my identity and values and gave me a sense of purpose for over seven years. Stepping away from the Thin Blue Line would mean leaving behind not only a career but a tightknit community, a culture, and a way of life.

As I grappled with the decision to leave law enforcement, I was caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and uncertainties. The thought of stepping away from this career filled me with a sense of loss and apprehension. I was quickly overwhelmed by the enormity of this decision, and I put it off for several months. These were not productive months filled with reflection and research for what I should do next. They were months of denial where I attempted to ignore the fact that I wanted to leave the law enforcement profession and start a new life and a new career.

The truth, however, soon became undeniable. I was yearning for a change, for something different, for a life outside of the badge. I had experienced many of the negative things so often associated with the law enforcement profession. I had grown tired of the long hours, the stress, the ever-growing workload, the feeling of being underpaid, and the governmental bureaucracy, which prevented even some of the best ideas from coming to fruition.? I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was meant for something different.

As I began to reflect on my decision, I started to understand the importance of considering a multitude of factors before making the leap away from law enforcement. I knew I couldn’t base such a monumental decision solely on emotion or impulse. To make one of the most significant decisions of my life, I needed to approach it with a clear mind and a strategic plan.? I was well into a career that would provide relative financial and employment stability. I had already been promoted to Sergeant and had tested well on the Lieutenant’s process, with another potential promotion in sight. I had accomplished many things in my seven-year career and was likely to continue to succeed if I were to stay. To make a rash decision would have been a disservice to the years of hard work and sacrifice that my family and I had made.

Some of you have completed your careers and are preparing to retire from law enforcement. Meanwhile, others are in similar positions to mine and are considering leaving the profession early. Both situations bring with them waves of emotion. Please know I am not, nor would I ever, try to talk someone into leaving law enforcement. This is a deeply personal decision and one only you can truly make. We need brave women and men to continue holding the Thin Blue Line, and I am so thankful to those who have chosen to dedicate a significant part of their lives to protecting our freedom. I would be overjoyed if, after reading this book, you decided to stay in law enforcement and continue your career in this amazing profession. However, I want to provide insight, guidance, and advice to those who have served and are now looking for the next chapter of their lives.

First and foremost, consider your well-being. The demands of this career can take a severe toll on your mental, physical, and emotional health. It can put significant strains on relationships, as can be seen by the high divorce rate among law enforcement officers. Ask yourself, and be completely honest: are you happy in this career? Would life outside the badge bring you enough fulfillment, or would you miss the rush of running code to a call, arresting a violent subject, or having morning coffee with the squad? Some officers have had enough excitement to last a lifetime and are ready for something completely different. Others love life on the Thin Blue Line and can’t imagine leaving this profession. And many fall somewhere in the middle. They enjoy the mission behind the work and the feeling they get when they can help others. But they are also curious about life after the badge. Where do you fall on this spectrum? Are you ready for something new, or are there more things you hope to achieve in your law enforcement career?

Next, consider the impact on your family and loved ones. Law enforcement is not just a job; it’s a lifestyle that affects everyone in your inner circle. Leaving this profession will impact your life and those of your spouse, children, parents, and close friends. Consider how they might feel about your decision and how it could change your relationship's dynamic. Do they support your decision to leave, or do they have concerns? Perhaps they are even the ones who are pushing you to look for another career. Have open and honest conversations with them to ensure that everyone’s needs and feelings are being considered, especially your own.

Financial considerations are also crucial when contemplating leaving law enforcement. Evaluate your current financial landscape meticulously to determine if your savings and alternative income streams can sustain you and your family through the transition phase. Consider essential elements such as retirement benefits, healthcare coverage, outstanding debts, and financial commitments. Establishing an economic strategy is vital to guarantee stability as you shift into civilian life. If you are close to securing a full pension, weigh the benefits of staying a few more years versus leaving immediately. Do you have a prospective job opportunity lined up that will allow you to maintain or exceed your current standard of living?

While law enforcement salaries may not be extravagant, the risk of facing a layoff, which is commonplace in the private sector, is minimal in the law enforcement profession, barring severe misconduct. Are you prepared to enter the civilian workforce and possibly face significant employment instability? Are you disciplined enough to save and invest for your own retirement, knowing that pensions are incredibly rare in the private sector, and you must be self-motivated to plan for your golden years? Evaluating the financial aspects carefully before leaving law enforcement is imperative. ?

Another important aspect is your skillset and how it translates to the civilian workforce. Law enforcement officers possess a wide range of valuable skills, such as problem-solving, conflict resolution, leadership, communication, and attention to detail. Take inventory of your skills and experiences and identify how they can be applied to different career paths outside law enforcement. Consider pursuing additional education or certifications to enhance your marketability in your desired field. It is never too early to start considering your next career and the steps you can take to prepare for it. Additionally, think about your long-term career goals and personal aspirations. What do you envision for your future beyond the Thin Blue Line? Are there specific industries or professions that align with your interests and values? Take the time to explore different career options and conduct research to determine which path is the best fit for you. Set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them, whether it involves further education, networking, or gaining relevant experience. We will go into greater detail on this topic in Chapter 3.

During your transition from law enforcement to civilian life, you will undoubtedly experience numerous challenges and obstacles. Leaving this profession can be a daunting and overwhelming experience, especially for those who have only ever known this career. There will be times of uncertainty, and you will be thrust into unfamiliar territory. However, law enforcement officers have been trained to deal with the unexpected and the unknown. Remember your training and experience. You have handled long hours, complicated crime scenes, and many other stressful situations. View your transition to the private sector as another challenge you will face and overcome. Surround yourself with your support system of friends, family, and mentors who can offer guidance and encouragement as you navigate this transition.

While you may be leaving law enforcement, remember that you will forever be a member of the Thin Blue Line and that many of your brothers and sisters in blue will always be willing to assist you. Throughout this book, I will share information about resources available to law enforcement officers looking to transition to the private sector and civilian life. Many of these are former officers or deputies who made successful transitions and are now doing fantastic work in the private sector to help other law enforcement officers do the same.

Looking back on my transition out of law enforcement nearly two years later, there are things I would do again and things I would certainly change. I invite you to draw from my successes and learn from my missteps to facilitate a smoother transition for yourself. While each transition to the private sector carries unique challenges, you will find many shared experiences. In addition to reading this book, I encourage you to connect with other former law enforcement officers who have successfully transitioned to new careers. They will undoubtedly offer their insights and perspectives, share what strategies proved effective to them, and highlight mistakes to avoid. I believe we can learn much from seeing the successes and failures of others. In Chapter 7, I will share stories of several former police officers and deputy sheriffs who successfully transitioned to the private sector and civilian life. In the upcoming section, I will share a few areas that worked and did not work for me as I switched to civilian life. ?

Support System

As I mentioned in Chapter 1 (remember the donut comment?), I am blessed to have a supportive wife and a caring, extended family. They believed in my decision to enter the law enforcement profession, showed incredible patience and understanding when I missed holidays and other special events, and always allowed me to speak openly with them about things going on at work. I placed great importance on keeping an open dialogue with my family and friends as I considered leaving law enforcement. I sought and gladly accepted their input on my decision to pursue a new career. This allowed me to see things from different perspectives, not just from my own narrow view.

I strongly encourage anyone who decides to leave law enforcement to establish a robust support system of family, friends, and mentors. This is especially true if you choose to leave law enforcement early like me. I made many mistakes during my transition out of law enforcement, but excluding my family from the decision was not one of them. My wife and I had numerous talks over several months and came to the decision together. Seek the advice and counsel of your family and friends. It is too monumental of a decision to make on your own. When it comes time to leave your agency, you will undoubtedly feel misgivings regarding your decision. A strong support system will help you feel confident about your decision and ensure you make the right choice for you and your family.?

Your support system will also be helpful as you deal with the emotional aspects of leaving this profession. As law enforcement officers, so much of our identity revolves around our job as police officers, deputy sheriffs, correctional officers, or federal agents. We form strong bonds with our colleagues and the broader law enforcement community. Transitioning away from a career deeply intertwined with one’s identity can evoke a range of complex emotions, including grief, uncertainty, and even a sense of identity crisis. You will almost certainly miss the adrenaline of responding to an emergency call for service, knowing what is going on in your community, and the comradery of this profession.

The impact of my decision to leave the Thin Blue Line didn’t fully hit me until over a month after my final shift. As I was getting dressed for my corporate job, just like I had done every day for the prior few weeks, I instinctively reached over to the hook that had previously held my gun belt. I had not done that once since starting my new career; however, that morning, I was tired and was running on autopilot. My muscle memory remembered the years and years of me putting on my gun belt as I prepared for my shifts.

It was at this moment that I fully realized that I was no longer a cop and would never put on a gun belt again for the rest of my life. A wave of emotions hit me as I, for the first time, fully comprehended my new reality. It was a heavy day, filled with introspection and a feeling of loss. ?You will most likely have your own gun belt type of day. Your support system will help you get through those challenging times.

Networking

Professional networking has been pivotal in my career trajectory, from securing my first post-law enforcement job to fueling my subsequent entrepreneurial ventures. During the final two and a half years of my law enforcement career, I served in my agency's recruiting and hiring unit. This role helped me expand my professional network within and beyond the law enforcement community. During this time, I fully recognized LinkedIn's influential role and the impact it could have on talent acquisition for my agency and my own personal branding and networking.

As the unit's supervisor, I created and managed the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office’s LinkedIn page. By the time I left the agency, we had amassed the largest following of any law enforcement agency’s LinkedIn page in Virginia.? This platform proved incredibly helpful in attracting hundreds, if not thousands, of prospective candidates to our agency. If your agency has yet to leverage LinkedIn in its recruiting efforts, I strongly recommend you speak with your command staff about establishing an official page. Doing so will enhance your department’s recruiting efforts and prove invaluable in expanding your personal and professional network.

As I ran my agency’s LinkedIn page, my own network on the platform also grew substantially. I utilized my profile to highlight job openings within my agency, answer candidate questions, speak on various law enforcement topics, and discuss general recruiting and hiring initiatives. I made a conscious effort to interact with fellow law enforcement professionals and private sector leaders at conferences, training, and recruitment events. I would subsequently connect with them on LinkedIn, maintaining these relationships beyond the initial encounters. As I entertained the idea of transition from law enforcement, these connections became instrumental in exploring opportunities in the private sector, ultimately leading me to discover the company and job I eventually joined.

If you are contemplating a career shift beyond the Thin Blue Line, I strongly encourage you to explore the potential of LinkedIn and prioritize professional networking. While many law enforcement officers harbor reservations about social media, LinkedIn stands apart from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. It serves as a professional networking hub, allowing you to connect with executives, decision-makers, hiring managers, and influential individuals across various industries. Personal connections can be a game-changer in this fiercely competitive job market. We will discuss more about optimizing and utilizing LinkedIn and the power of networking in Chapter 5.

Financial Considerations

I have always been fascinated by the topics of personal finances and investments. Being financially independent has been a dream of mine for many years. While I have no intentions of retiring anytime soon, the idea of not relying on a company or the government for income for the rest of my life has long appealed to me. Much of this interest stems from my upbringing. My parents taught me the importance of saving and investing from a young age, and it has stuck with me throughout my adult life. While I am certainly no financial expert, and this is not a financial book, I do want to share some general advice and tell you some of the things I did well and not so well in this area during my transition.

The financial portion of your decision to leave law enforcement should extend beyond a simple comparison of salaries. I’ll be honest. When I was first offered the job as a recruiter for an information technology firm in northern Virginia, my eyes immediately jumped to the salary, which was significantly higher than what I was making at the Sheriff’s Office. I couldn’t sign the contract fast enough. However, I quickly realized there was much more to consider than salary alone.

Losing out on a government pension, government-provided healthcare, a take-home cruiser, and a significant amount of personal and sick leave are things to consider when leaving your department. While law enforcement pension amounts have been chipped away at for many years now, the benefit of a pension should not be understated. Many officers who make it to retirement age will receive $50,000 - $100,000 a year for the rest of their lives. That equates to having an investment portfolio of $1 million to $2.5 million when utilizing the 4% withdrawal rule generally recommended by financial experts. Officers who make it to full retirement have a significant economic advantage and can typically make career moves based on their interests and desires and not be hamstrung by money.

This is not necessarily the case for officers leaving law enforcement early. The pension amount drops significantly for officers who leave the profession before their agency’s required years of service and age. I left my agency after only seven and a half years. The pension I will receive at the age of 50 will be very minimal and far too little to support my family in retirement. Most companies in the private sector offer small 401K matches, 3-5% if you are lucky. On a $75,000 salary, that would equate to $2,250 - $3,750 a year. While not insignificant, it would take decades of saving and investing that 401K match to equal the annual amount received from a government pension. If you are only a few years from reaching retirement, is it in your best financial interest to leave and miss out on your full retirement benefits? If you leave law enforcement early, are you disciplined enough to save for your retirement, knowing that a larger share of the burden will fall on your shoulders and not your employer? You will want to answer these questions before deciding to switch careers.

Imagine waking up a few weeks after leaving law enforcement, signing on to your prior agency’s retirement account, and realizing, in horror, that thousands of dollars were missing. This happened to me, and it is one of my most embarrassing and humbling failures from my transition out of law enforcement. In addition to our pensions, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office offers its employees three supplemental retirement accounts: a 401A, a 457B, and a Retirement Health Savings (RHS) account. Each account had its own specific guidelines regarding employee and employer contributions, matches, and, as I painfully learned, vesting schedules.

As I left my agency, each account had a modest amount of money that my department and I had contributed for over seven years. However, roughly a month later, I was alarmed to find my RHS account completely empty. I immediately contacted human resources to rectify what I assumed had been a big mistake. To my embarrassment, I was politely informed that employees only become fully vested in the RHS account after a decade of service. Therefore, I forfeited any funds the sheriff's office had contributed to my account since I resigned from my position before the ten-year mark.

Learn from my mistake and take the time to review your department’s policies regarding vesting periods, rules about withdrawals, and other financial considerations. My feelings of horror and total embarrassment could have easily been avoided had I read through my department’s manuals on these accounts or talked to the human resources and finance departments before leaving. ?

Healthcare is another essential factor to consider before switching to the private sector. Government benefits often serve as a compelling incentive for those dedicated to public service. Leaving law enforcement means leaving behind a healthcare plan that is typically superior and more cost-effective than corporate offerings. When I left my agency for a position in the IT industry, I experienced a fourfold increase in my healthcare expenses, coupled with discernibly diminishing coverage. While I did anticipate this disparity, the actual monthly cost was initially a bit of a shock. It is important to note that while each company offers its unique healthcare plan, varying in quality and price, it is crucial to factor this into your career transition decision. This is especially true for those looking to add an entire family to their plan, as the monthly premiums can become substantial.

Surprisingly, one of the things that I noticed the most when I left law enforcement was losing my take-home cruiser. Over my seven-year career, I was blessed to have been issued several awesome cruisers, including a Crown Victoria, a Dodge Charger, and a Dodge Durango. These were all fantastic cruisers in their own way. While there is much debate in the law enforcement community about what car makes the best cruiser, what mattered most to me was my agency’s exceptional take-home cruiser policy. In addition to driving one’s cruiser to and from work, our agency allows deputies to drive their cruisers off duty, provided they are armed and keep their radios on. This meant I hardly drove my personal vehicle during my time in law enforcement.

My wife and I bought a Ford Escape approximately four years before I left my agency. In those four years, I only amassed 20,000 miles on the car. In the year following my departure from the Thin Blue Line, I had more than doubled that mileage. This meant more wear and tear on the car and significantly more money on gas. While a take-home cruiser is probably not a compelling enough reason to stay in a career, the impact of losing this benefit did take me by surprise. I still know law enforcement officers who have gone down to a single-family car, knowing they have their cruiser as a means of transportation. For them, leaving law enforcement would mean needing to buy another car or doing some serious juggling to manage with one car between two working adults.

While I am a millennial, my mindset about coming to work has always aligned more with the baby boomer generation. Unless you are dying, you come to work. In my first five years in the profession, I only took one sick day, and that was to take my wife to the doctor. Although I did go on several vacations, I never came close to using the amount of personal or sick leave I was given each year. By the time I left my agency, I had accrued over 1,000 hours of personal leave and sick leave. While I was paid out for my personal leave, the county’s policy was that no sick leave would be paid out for employees who left before hitting ten years of service. This meant I lost over 500 hours of leave, equivalent to three months’ sick time.

Before you decide to retire or resign from your agency, familiarize yourself with your department’s leave policies, especially regarding whether and how you may be paid for your accrued time. Fortunately, my agency allowed employees to “donate” leave to other employees in need. I was able to give all 500 of my hours to a fellow Deputy who had been shot in the line of duty. Hopefully, your agency has a similar program.

The Opportunity

I can honestly say that by the time I started considering leaving law enforcement, I had experienced severe burnout. I was mentally and physically exhausted and was ready to move on to my next career. This burnout led me to make rushed decisions when evaluating potential job opportunities in the private sector. I ignored several red flags regarding the company I eventually joined, including a rushed hiring process, poor employee reviews, and an outdated company website. I failed to ask pertinent questions during the hiring process to address these areas of concern. While I am not someone who lives life thinking about mistakes from my past, I do hope that highlighting my missteps will convey the importance of taking your time during this monumental decision.

Ironically, my decision to join a less-than-ideal company turned out to be one of the most significant decisions of my life. It helped me discover my true purpose: helping law enforcement officers, other first responders, and veterans find amazing careers after their years of service. If I had joined a fantastic organization, I may have never been inspired to start my own company or write this book. Reflecting on my journey, I recognize how fortunate I am that things unfolded as they have, considering my poor decision-making during my transition.

The decision to leave law enforcement is a deeply personal and significant choice that requires careful consideration of various factors. Before deciding, consider your well-being, family dynamics, financial situation, skillset, career goals, and potential challenges. Don’t allow momentary anger, frustration, or burnout to push you into a premature decision. ?While you shouldn’t quit any job in the heat of the moment, this is especially true for leaving the Thin Blue Line. You have worked hard to build your law enforcement career. Take the time to consider your decision and the implications that come with it before acting.

When contemplating a career transition, it is vital to closely evaluate the industry you hope to enter, with particular emphasis on the company you are considering joining. Remember, it is not solely about whether you are a good fit for the company but also if they are a good fit for you, your career aspirations, and your values. During the job interview, ask questions about the duties of the position, the company culture, their vision for this position, and why you should work for them. Talk with current and former employees of the company to gain firsthand insights into what it is like to work there. Platforms such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Comparably offer valuable employee reviews and are excellent resources for job seekers. Finally, assess if you see long-term career growth opportunities that fit your ambitions. We will go into greater detail about job search strategies in Chapter 6. ?

Goodbyes

As you transition from your law enforcement career, remember to leave your agency on a positive and professional note. Don’t allow grudges or personal grievances to tarnish your excellent reputation within your agency. Express gratitude to your leadership team for the opportunities provided, say goodbye to coworkers and friends, return all your gear, and fulfill all the requirements set by your agency. Be remembered for the fantastic officer you were and not for the negative actions you took on your final days.

I used the last few weeks of my law enforcement career to thank the various supervisors I had during my career with the department, reminisced on good times with coworkers, and completed all the required administrative tasks. Remember to say your goodbyes and thank the people who played a critical part in your career. Depending on the size of your agency, you may not be able to meet with everyone; however, try to spend a few minutes with the people who made a difference in your career. ?

When I left law enforcement, my agency did not mandate exit interviews for departing deputies. I regret not making more of an effort to seek out the opportunity to have a formal interview with a member of my agency’s leadership team, as I now recognize the value of such interviews. There are things I wish I had said and ideas I should have suggested. However, I was caught up in the rush of my transition and did not take the time I should have for this important process. This was another failure of my transition.

If you are offered the opportunity to sit for an exit interview, I highly recommend you take it. Information shared during these discussions can be a powerful tool in helping the department improve and grow. Approach the interview as a chance to officially thank the agency for the opportunities they granted you while also giving constructive feedback on things that can be improved. Do not use this as a complaining session but rather as a positive interaction where you may be able to provide valuable information that can improve the careers of current and future officers.

Finally, remember to take time for yourself as you transition from law enforcement. I made the mistake of rushing into my next career without any chance to reflect, recharge, or reset from the sudden and enormous change in my life. I worked my final shift for my agency on a Friday and started working my corporate job the following Monday. I was still mentally and physically exhausted and unprepared to be at my best in my new position. If possible, take a few days, even weeks, to spend time outside of the context of law enforcement. Allow yourself the time to process the significant shift in your life, spend time with family, and have some fun. By allowing yourself to decompress and rejuvenate, you can approach your next career with a renewed sense of purpose and the energy to perform at an exceptional level.

The decision to leave the Thin Blue Line is undoubtedly life-changing, encompassing more than just a job title and profession change. It marks the departure from a profoundly ingrained identity that began forming during the early days in the academy. You will now be heading for new adventures and a new way of life. Remember to remain true to yourself, your values, and your aspirations. Take your time, accept the opinions of trusted friends and family members, and weigh the pros and cons of leaving this fantastic profession. You have gained incredible experiences and skills throughout your law enforcement career. In the chapters ahead, you will learn how to highlight those skills and utilize them to advance your career in the private sector.

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 2 of Beyond the Thin Blue Line!

Remember, you can order the full version of Beyond the Thin Blue Line on

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CSZYpC

or

Barnes & Noble: Beyond the Thin Blue Line by Colin Whittington, Paperback | Barnes & Noble?