Post # 1
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
I’m applying to police departments in my area and while DH and I are not planning on starting a family anytime soon, I know I have to take into account the future. Unfortunately these departments do not give you “light duty” (desk work instead of on the road) for your whole pregnancy. Some give you the last few weeks of the pregnancy, some don’t give it to you at all. This means an officer would have to be in dangerous situations potentially very often through the majority or even their entire pregnancy. I know this is the nature of the job, but I’m curious about what other people think.
Would you be okay with this? Would you keep working but be worried? Would you not feel any differently about it than before you were pregnant? Or would you quit and find another job? Note, the departments in my area have you pay back the cost of going to the Police Academy if you quit before a certain amount time of being at the department (usually 1-2 years, from what I’ve seen).
Thanks bees! I always like having a place to gather other opinions.
Post # 2
Member
911 posts
Busy bee
No, to be honest I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing a dangerous job while pregnant.
Post # 3
Member
849 posts
Busy bee
vatoca1016 : I think the biggest factor would be where you are working. Yes, danger can happen anywhere. But if you’re in some low-crime, sleepy town where it’s mostly giving out speeding tickets, that’s very different from a high-crime area.
Post # 4
Member
2167 posts
Buzzing bee
I would struggle with this. I had a desk job while pregnant and that was hard especially once I got to my third trimester so if they don’t offer desk work even at that point, being out in the field would be very, very difficult. I would mention maternity leave policies when applying for positions with different departments.
Post # 5
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
janna121215 : That’s true. The city I live in is actually the 2nd or 3rd (depending on which list you look at) most dangerous city in my state. The surrounding cities are pretty up there, too. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been thinking about this question!
Post # 6
Member
10507 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I wouldn’t be okay with it but I have no desire to go into a dangerous line of work regardless of pregnancy.
Post # 7
Member
5362 posts
Bee Keeper
Nope, I wouldn’t do it. Having been in the CJ field, I wouldn’t be a police officer anyways.
Post # 8
Member
13655 posts
Honey Beekeeper
vatoca1016 : The reason the vast, vast majority of police officers deserve so much recognition and credit for the work they do is that most of us don’t have the courage, the resilience or the ability. So to answer your question, I probably couldn’t handle it, pregnant or not.
Assuming I was up to the job, though, I don’t think I could handle working in this capacity for most of a pregnancy for both emotional and physical reasons.
Post # 9
Member
242 posts
Helper bee
ksn1219 : I have family members in the field, but obviously I have never been in it myself. If you don’t mind sharing your experience, why would you never be a police officer? I’m always looking to hear different opinions. 🙂
Post # 10
Member
4762 posts
Honey bee
It’s hard to tell with law enforcement. If the role I’d be serving in is MORE dangerous when pregnant or specifically dangerous to fetal development (say drug task force or biohazard work), then no, I wouldn’t do it.
If the danger level is the same regardless of pregnancy (say patrol, event security, etc.), then I’d probably be okay to keep working.
(Caveat – I am neither a mother-to-be nor an officer.)
Post # 11
Member
6901 posts
Busy Beekeeper
vatoca1016 : Any job should give you reasonable accommodation while pregnant – I just discussed this with a midwife yesterday, in fact. It’s not reasonable to assume you can chase down bad guys 6 months in, or even get in and out of a police car quickly. It is reasonable to put someone else out there and give you desk work for awhile.
In my case, I am an OT. I work with kids and one happens to be unpredictably violent – I’ve already been hit in the face once this year and he had another breakdown last week where he went after teacher instead. His mom is pregnant and so is his classroom aide (well maybe not by now, she looked ready to burst last week). That’s their prerogative to continue to work with or be around him, but my district is being sent a letter that as long as I’m pregnant, there will be accommodations to protect the safety of my baby. The classroom teacher wholeheartedly supports my feelings on the issue, so we’ll be doing collaborative work instead.
Personally I haven’t got the guts to be a police officer with or without a child, but I would insist on reasonable accommodation so you can have the career you want without further compromising the safety of your family. Look into local laws and see what your rights are – you’re a cop after all!
Post # 12
Member
1893 posts
Buzzing bee
vatoca1016 : First of all, thank you for your service! I would definitely look into the matter further. I would think your doctor should have a say in it as well. Being a LEO is a stressful job, which could be harmful to the baby, and you. I dont think that the possibility of having children is a reason not to go for your dreams. I can say this, from what I have seen with my Fiance (he is applying to be a LEO as well) the training is intense, and I can imagine the job even more so. He has been volunteering for a PD for years, and I worry about his safety even then (not armed). I also wonder how your DH would feel about his wife and baby being in the line of fire everyday.
I, for example, work with caustic, carcinogenic, chemicals on a daily basis. Many of these would be extremely dangerous for a developing fetus, some chemicals specifically have warnings for expecting and nursing mothers. I informed my work that I would be TTC about a year or so after my wedding, and they let me know that I would have my work with certain chemicals limited, along with extra protective equipment (respirator, etc.). I feel comfortable with the accomodations that they can make for me.
Post # 13
Member
2553 posts
Sugar bee
I think the natural of the job is dangerous. I wouldn’t expect different treatment if I were pregnant, but would be happy & appreciative if it were an option.
Post # 14
Member
9127 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
vatoca1016 : I think as long as I was still able to physically do the job I would. If the pregnancy was making it MORE dangerous to do my job (i.e. chasing a murder suspect down an icy road while my balance is off due to a huge belly) then I would stop.
Post # 15
Member
913 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: November 2014 - Nazareth Hall
vatoca1016 : Absolutely not. The minute we find out we are pregnant I will be taking every precaution I can. I’m not in a dangerous line of work, but I want to make sure I do everything in my power to keep the baby growing inside me safe.