LEO, short for law enforcement officer, is an acronym used to refer to all those hard-working men and women keeping municipalities safe. Law enforcement officers are employed by the city and the county and often work in shifts which can be day or overnight shifts. Shifts last longer than 8 hours and can repeat for up to a week at a time before time off begins. Shifts do not typically look like the 8-5 daily grind, so LEO shifts can appear erratic to family and friends because they do not have to follow routine patterns as a rule of thumb (number of LEOs on staff can affect schedules–the greater the number of staff members, the more regular a schedule can be). As a result, family life can have a slightly different pace than the typical Monday through Friday work week meaning that work schedules can be at odds with school schedules and other work schedules. Schedules can be a challenging point for LEOs, but with planning, they’re not impossible.
Being a law enforcement officer comes with some real benefits to the position including a work vehicle to drive to and from home as long as LEOs live within a 50-mile radius of their station. Stations generally have a gym with weight sets and treadmills to encourage overall health and wellness. Benefit packages of health, vision, and dental insurance are enticing as is the retirement pension for law enforcement officers. There’s also many opportunities for training and advancement in departments and even a little travel too. Salaries are competitive too based on national averages. Cost of living in each state factors heavily into salaries for law enforcement officers.
Another commonality for families of law enforcement officers, is the concern for safety. Despite Kevlar vests and reinforced vehicles, extended family members and immediate family members all worry about LEOs when they’re out on the streets keeping the peace. They fear that they may end up in a violent situation which leads to bodily harm or, worse, the loss of their life. LEOs tend to avoid social media in order to enhance their safety and the safety of their families.
What’s the best way to support LEOs and their families? Be willing to accommodate changing schedules and respect their safety concerns. Don’t post pictures without permission on social media which could compromise their feelings of safety and security.
