*Editor’s Note: This article is part of In Public Safety’s series recognizing National Police Week.*
By Matthew Loux, faculty member at American Military University
Preparing for a career in law enforcement requires more than just preparing yourself—you must also prepare your significant other and your family for the realities of a law enforcement life.
Since junior high, all I ever wanted to be was a cop. So, after graduating college, I jumped at the chance to become an officer. When I got married, my wife knew how much I loved the job. We dated long enough for her to know my work schedule and my desire to hold different positions within the department; she even pushed me to go back to school.
The first few years were hard. I worked midnights and she worked days so we only saw each other for short periods of time in the evenings. Often times, I watched the kids while she worked and, when she got home, she would take over while I slept for a few hours. It made it even harder when I had to work double shifts to help make ends meet. The only thing that got us through those tough times was communication.
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