The best law enforcement is a wealthy, small town sleepy place without gun crime like Falls Church City. There are more opportunities like that in NJ and NY where cities and towns run their own governments than here but you find a few of them here too.

Anonymous wrote:Since they were little my kids have been told they don't go into a career where it's their job to risk their lives. They know they wouldn't be supported if they did.

When they have a career where they may have to risk their life why would they need parental support? What type of support are you talking about?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since they were little my kids have been told they don't go into a career where it's their job to risk their lives. They know they wouldn't be supported if they did.

You’re the most awful kind of parent.

This is uncalled for. This doesn’t even warrant the Top 25 of the worst kind of parents.

It’s a ridiculous point of view, but not awful, just painfully selfish and manipulative.

Anonymous wrote:Since they were little my kids have been told they don't go into a career where it's their job to risk their lives. They know they wouldn't be supported if they did.

You’re the most awful kind of parent.

From the Jobs forum.

Anonymous wrote:Explain the value of a pension to your children. The average 401(k) balance for people 55-64 is $271k.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/retirement/learn/the-average-401k-balance-by-age?utm_source=goog&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=in_mktg_paid_2025_investing_dysads&utm_term=&utm_content=ta&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22295461670&gbraid=0AAAAADfKLw2-G0NQdjX-12HFcIyThlSwr&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvDtltvMkQMVMDYIBR2MhyujEAAYASAAEgKNAvD_BwE

Here’s an explanation of what your 401(k) balance would need to be to approximate the value of a pension.

“Next, we look at a firefighter captain who is retiring at age 55. His pension is $85,000. He is unmarried and so we will use the single male chart in the middle of the top row. From the chart, we find his multiplier is 27.7. Calculating the value of his pension means $85,000 times 27.7 for a total of $2,354,500 !! This gentleman would have needed to have a high paying job to have accumulated $2.3 million by the age of 55! Instead, he risked his life and survived with a guaranteed income stream.”

https://andrewmarshallfinancial.com/what-is-a-pension-worth/

Paul Harvey was very good at what he did. The exact date it was first broadcast is unknown, but would have been in the late 60’s or early 70’s.

MoCo PD has a cadet program where college students can work 20 hours a week alongside officers to get a feel for the profession. They earn $26/hr. Wouldn’t that make an interesting internship line item on a resume?

https://joinmcp.com/police-cadet/

If your children volunteer in your community and have a real connection there have them read this article about former NFL star Laveranues Coles.

“Why would someone who played 10 NFL seasons at a high enough level to catch more passes than anyone in Jets history besides Don Maynard, Wayne Chrebet and Al Toon put his life at risk? Why would a former Pro Bowler who was voted team MVP, elected a captain and won the Ed Block Courage Award invite that kind of stress? Why would someone who made $42 million in his career and was living a comfortable life since retiring 15 years ago sign up to work nights, weekends and holidays?”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798459/2025/12/02/laveranues-coles-police-officer-nfl-jets/

Many departments offer programs like a teen police academy, or a cadet program. Both expose young people to the duties, practices and procedures of law enforcement. Fairfax offers both of these programs.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/ServicesIZ/TeenPoliceAcademy

https://fcpdpublicsafetycadets.trooptrack.com/

Anonymous wrote:No. I don't want them to become rapistss

A DC urban mom’s teen has entered the chat.

No. I don't want them to become rapistss

Anonymous wrote:My grandma was a cop.
My dad was a cop.
My two brothers are both cops.

My kid wants to be a cop. All I can do is be honest on my views and a kind voice of reason/sounding board to keep the lines of communication open.

Negative views?

Anonymous wrote:My grandma was a cop.
My dad was a cop.
My two brothers are both cops.

My kid wants to be a cop. All I can do is be honest on my views and a kind voice of reason/sounding board to keep the lines of communication open.

grandpa*

My grandma was a cop.
My dad was a cop.
My two brothers are both cops.

My kid wants to be a cop. All I can do is be honest on my views and a kind voice of reason/sounding board to keep the lines of communication open.

If you have a high school senior or above you may want to speak with them about expected compensation, but most people don’t go into policing for the money. Below are the DMV starting salaries for several departments that I took from the Jobs forum. Keep in mind that most of year one will be in the academy and on the streets with a Field Training Officer riding along with them. That could mean they’re only operating freely in the community for 3-4 months, which would limit the potential for overtime. Once they’re able to earn a full year of overtime it should lead to higher annual compensation.

MoCo PD: $70,056 + $20k hiring bonus

SCOTUS PD: $83,362 + $50k hiring bonus

US Capitol Police: $83,362

VA State Police: $75k in NoVa

DC MPD: $66,419 as a recruit in the academy then it goes to $72,668.

Alexandria PD: $64k + $3k hiring bonus

Arlington County PD: $72k + $25k hiring bonus bonus bonus + 37.5 hr work week
*July 1st, 2026 the starting salary jumps to $90k

Fairfax County PD: $69k + $15k hiring bonus

Herndon PD: $67k

Leesburg PD: $65k

Loudoun County Sheriff: $67k + $6k hiring bonus

Metro Washington Airport PD: $65k + $10k hiring bonus

US Secret Service Police: $75k

Vienna PD: $67k