Hey Officer, What’s Your Number?

As a hard working police officer have you ever wondered what you’ve been saving all your hard earned money for?  You probably answered with the obvious—retirement.  But let’s be more specific; what is retirement?  What does retirement mean to those of us in law enforcement?  Does it mean quitting your job and spending the rest of our life on a golf course?  I doubt you’d be golfing long before you’re just as board with golf as you were at the job you retired from.

I think a better description of retirement for cops is “financial independence.”  This means different things to different people, but I suggest it means you no longer HAVE to work, because your money works for you.  It does not necessarily mean you quit working, but in a law enforcement retirement maybe you stop doing police work and only do the kind of work you want to do.  To get there, you need to have saved enough money so… Continue reading

The Problems with Cops Kids

We have all heard the stories about other cops kids getting into trouble but it’s NEVER our kids is it?  Those of us from law enforcement families know that sometimes it’s the kids of police officers that suffer because of our careers too.

Well this time it was my kid, an adult child, who I thought was past all that until he checked himself into a drug and alcohol treatment center for 30 days and my eyes were opened up.

What is it about some cops?  Are we too lenient in not wanting to play cop at home and police our own kids?  Or is it that we are too strict at home and… Continue reading

The Impact of Poor Sleep Quality on Police Officers

As part of our continuing search for the “hidden dangers” of police work, CopsAlive.com examines the issues surrounding shift work, stress and the importance of proper sleep to keep police officers rested and ready for the job.

According to a large British study released in  September of 2007 and reported by Reuters “People who do not get enough sleep are more than twice as likely to die of heart disease, Although the reasons are unclear, researchers said lack of sleep appeared to be linked to increased blood pressure, which is known to raise the risk of heart attacks and stroke.  A 17-year analysis of 10,000 government workers… Continue reading

Financial Planning for Cops – Do You Know How Much Your Financial Advisor Charges You?

Police officers are like most people and have no idea how much they pay for investment, insurance, or retirement advice.  A lot of people mistakenly assume they receive free advice.  Some advisors do not explain their fees and many consumers do not take the time to ask.  People in law enforcement, like most people, are usually shocked when I explain how much they’ve been paying in commissions or fees.

There are many different ways advisors are paid Continue reading

CopsAlive Wants Your Opinion

CopsAlive was founded to help police officers, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement professionals survive their career and be able to live happy, healthy and successful lives on the job and beyond.

We know that there are a lot of challenges between you and that successful life and we also know that there isn’t a lot of research to answer some of the major questions about the hidden dangers of police work and why cops have a higher incidence of cancer, divorce, stress related issues, alcoholism etc than the general population. Until we are able to fund our own research we have to start somewhere and that is with all of you in the profession. At least CopsAlive can survey the opinions of policing professionals and determine where more long term research needs to be conducted. To that end we are asking you to participate in one of our anonymous surveys.

Currently CopsAlive has four surveys in the field. They are:

CopsAlive Mixed Topic Opinion SurveyCLICK HERE to take this survey
This survey asks questions about your opinions of the job and the risks inheirent within our profession.

CopsAlive Perfect Retirement Survey CLICK HERE to take this survey
This survey asks questions about your vision of your retirement and obstacles between you and a perfect retirement.

Personal Threat Assessment SurveyCLICK HERE to take this survey
This survey asks questions about what threats you perceive to your life and career.

CopsAlive Online Networking SurveyCLICK HERE to take this survey
This quick survey asks about how you communicate so we as law enforcement professionals can find better ways to stay in touch and communicate most effectively.

These are all short and quick surveys to take and will not waste your time. We will publish the findings of each on CopsAlive once we have established a broad enough bases for the survey.

We will also add new surveys as the need arises so please check the SURVEYS Tab on the CopsAlive main page.

Thank you!

As a Police Officer Who is Your Inspiration?

More importantly as a cop who do you inspire?

I just finished reading, well listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer’s newest book: “Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling” and found the book to be in itself very inspirational.  The book is very spiritual and that may turn some of you off but it is worth reading and if you are not ready for it now, you will be someday.

I said I read it well actually I listened to the audio book first through my account at Audible.com and then as I do with many books I bought the hard cover copy so that I could actually see the words.  I don’t know about you but I’m in the car a lot and most times can digest educational materials better if I listen to them and that’s why I have an annual membership with Audible.com so that I can just download the mp3 files to my iPod and play them in my car or when I’m working out.  But if I really want to learn and remember something I also buy the book so that when I’m listening to something, usually for the second time, I can turn to that page in the book and review the concept and remember them better for having seen them.  This works much better if the author is mentioning a chart, graph or even website or address. Continue reading

Fitness for Cops: Find Out If You Too Are At Risk

Editors Note: I met Jon Benson on the CopsAlive Cruise 2009 and was very impressed with him as a fitness trainer and as an entrepreneur. I’ve had a chance to review Jon’s materials and think he is doing some great stuff that can help police officers and other law enforcement professionals. Fitness is critical to our staying alive in police work but it is also critical to our living happy, healthy and successful lives. Jon Benson has given me permission to reprint some of the articles from his fitness newsletter on CopsAlive.com and we will be featuring them periodically to help you improve your fitness! PS if you want to start a wellness program for your law enforcement agency read our blog posting on Master Wellness Training with Frank Wooldridge another cop helping cops.

Want to know what your real odds are of having a heart attack?

How about a stroke? Diabetes?

Continue reading

CopsAlive.com Needs Your Ideas and Input!

CopsAlive needs your help. Our mission is to create a forum for cops to help other cops by engaging in discussions and sharing ideas and information to help each other plan for happy, healthy and successful lives on the job and beyond the job.

Most of all we need readers. If you like what you are reading here please pass it on. Send a link or a note to all of your law enforcement friends online or tell them to check out Continue reading

What is your Legacy as a Police Officer?

What legacy will you leave from your job in law enforcement?  Lives saved?  People helped? or Communities changed?  What legacy will you leave in life?  A healthy child?  A happy and financially secure family?  Maybe an improved world?

Do you ever even think about your personal or professional legacy?  If not, maybe now would be a good time to think about it and maybe to even start a little planning… Continue reading

CopsAlive Cruise 2009 a Success!

Beach at The Baths on Virgin Gorda BVI

Beach at "The Baths" on Virgin Gorda BVI

The CopsAlive Cruise 2009 is over and it was a tremendous success. We travelled from Fort Lauderdale Florida to the beautiful Caribbean Sea.  We travelled to the islands of St. Marteen, St. Kitts and Tortola.  Some of us also took a short excursion over to the island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.  There were seven police officers in our larger group which also included the wedding party for one of the cops.   We had a fun and relaxing time under the sun on the Carnival Miracle as it cruised between these beautiful islands of the Caribbean.

CopsAlive was also part of a larger group of 267 internet… Continue reading