Think aloud
Freeze! Are you dating a cop or looking to date one? Well, you have the right to remain silent and read all about how to date a cop.
Don’t worry, we won’t use everything you say against you, but we will help you figure this all out.
What is dating a cop like? Does he ever take off his uniform and just act like a regular guy or is he always on the job?
Being in a relationship with a cop isn’t always easy, and you get worried about his safety a lot. Still, it makes you feel protected, and you know how important your man’s job is to him, so you have to respect it.
We will talk about the problems of dating a cop and the pros and cons of dating a cop and after you read this article, you’ll know how to date one. So, if you don’t know what to expect and you’re wondering whether dating a cop is worth it, be sure to read all about it here.
Dating a cop
Before we go any further, there are five things you need to know about dating a cop. Here they are:
1. You’ll have to understand how demanding his job is
When you’re dating a cop, you have to become independent and flexible. Forget about the consistency you’ve been used to, such as date nights every Saturday. This is a guy who works crazy shifts, and his job takes up a lot of his time.
Even when he’s not working, he’ll be emotionally drained so he’ll rather choose to sleep it off than to spend time with you. Of course, he shouldn’t neglect you and your relationship, but you need to understand how demanding a cop’s job really is. It will even feel like his job is his wife that you have to share him with.
2. He’s a cop even when he’s not at work
The thing about cops is that their work never leaves them, even when they leave work so when you’re dating a cop, you’ll notice that he’s always on the job. Even when he’s driving, you’ll hear him commenting about how he would pull someone over or how someone’s vehicle registration has expired.
Cops also have a rule about where they’ll sit, so you’ll notice it even when you’re at a restaurant. Maybe he’ll wander off away from you at times, so someone he arrested doesn’t see you together because he wants to protect you. All in all, it can be annoying, but you need to keep in mind that he’ll always be on the lookout for your safety.
3. He won’t tell you everything about his days at work
“Hey honey, how was work?” You might consider this to be a normal, innocent question, but when you’re dating a cop, it isn’t.
He might have seen something terrible that he’ll never be able to forget because it changed him. You need to let him process things at his own pace. Don’t worry because you’ll eventually get used to not knowing what’s troubling him. Being open in a relationship is important, but being in a relationship with a cop doesn’t make it so simple.
4. You can’t let nasty comments get to you
There will be some rude people who will make comments about you dating a cop, but you can’t let it get to you. They will surely make you mad sometimes, but just ignore them and avoid any drama. After all, their comments have a lot to do with them, and really only a little to do with you.
You can always remove such people from your social media accounts and just focus on the good folks. When you think about it, isn’t your new boyfriend the most obvious good guy?
5. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it when he’s your soulmate
No one said that being in a relationship with a cop would be easy, but is it worth it? Well, when he’s the one who makes your heart skip a beat, it sure is.
It all comes down to the question of whether he is the one for you. If he is, all the problems of dating a cop are something you can overcome. So, to answer the question here about dating a man like this – is it easy? No. But is it worth it? If you love him, it is.
How to date a cop
There are a few things you should know if you’re wondering how to date a cop. Some rules do exist, and here they are:
1. Don’t commit crimes
You don’t want to put your boyfriend in such a compromising position. If you’re dating a cop, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t commit any crimes and it’s not just so you won’t go to jail.
What this means is that you should also never take drugs in his presence. Drugs are illegal, and he’s a cop so respect his profession and don’t do the things he’s fighting against.
2. Don’t be routine-driven
When dating a police officer, you have to be flexible. There will be a lot of messed up plans, and you need to get used to it because it comes with the territory so prepared to celebrate a holiday on a different day, not on the actual holiday.
Cops have rotating shifts and, as I said earlier, their job takes up most of their time. You’ll have to learn to live with that and adjust so don’t be routine-driven and try to be flexible.
3. Know you’ll sit with your back to the door
This is something cops simply can’t turn off. The seat they’ll choose will always be near the back where they can have a view of the entrance. It’s not really such a big deal, and you’ll easily get used to it.
Don’t forget that you don’t have to sit across from each other. A simple solution is for you two to sit next to each other.
4. Understand that there will always be a gun around
Cops come with guns, so get used to seeing guns around at every event. If you’re not into guns, it could bother you at first, but just think about how much safer you are.
Remember that guns don’t kill people, people kill people, so a gun you see isn’t there to hurt you but to protect you. Maybe you’re used to events where everyone brings presents, but cop events are where everyone brings guns.
5. Know he won’t always be available
Are you used to boyfriends who are always available to you? Well, dating a police officer will be a challenge for you then. This is not the kind of guy who can reply to all your messages during a shift just because you’re fighting.
Cops aren’t really great when it comes to constantly giving you attention and proving their love for you so if you’re used to boyfriends like that, maybe a cop isn’t the right choice for you. Still, if you really care about him, try to adjust.
Dating a cop pros and cons
Let’s get to the point and talk about the pros and cons of dating a cop. There are good and bad sides to being involved with a police officer, and you need to know about all of them. Here they are…
The pros of dating a police officer:
1. You will feel safe and secure
There is a difference between when you’re dating a regular guy and when you’re dating a police officer and the main difference is in how safe and secure you feel.
When your boyfriend is a cop, it gives you a level of safety and security that you can’t get from any other guy. After all, a cop is someone who interacts with a lot of criminals, and he does so on a daily basis. What’s more, he has significant experience when it comes to combat… and if that’s not enough, he’s armed most of the time. If that doesn’t make you feel safe, nothing will.
2. You will be independent
Some couples spend every second of every waking hour next to each other but this is a luxury you can’t have when you’re dating a police officer. A cop is someone who will be on duty a lot, even during the holidays.
If you’re an ambitious and independent person who has their own goals and a life outside of the relationship, it will be good for you. That extra alone time you get when dating a police officer could make you feel free and you won’t feel suffocated by the relationship.
You can do anything you want with your free time. Use it to make yourself happy, whether it is by doing some shopping or meditating, for example.
3. He is a born leader
The thing about cops is that they are natural leaders, and that can be a very good quality in a man. Cops make important decisions in the heat of the moment and they also know how to assert themselves to succeed in resolving civilians’ problems.
One more thing that’s true about them that I already mentioned is that their work never leaves them… even when they leave work. That is why your cop boyfriend might bring his leadership trait with him when he comes home, and it could benefit you. When you have an important decision to make or are experiencing some difficulties, or just feel stressed out, he’ll be there. He’ll deal with these issues head-on, and you’ll have a man who runs the household efficiently.
4. He is respected
Everyone knows that cops have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world and that is why they are praised and respected by the community, and they even get free gifts! The entire community loves a cop with a good personality so he will always be thanked for making everyone safe, and young boys will seek his advice.
What matters most is that he’ll love you as much as everyone loves him, and more! So, by being a cop’s girlfriend, you get the privilege of being the lady of the town’s hero.
5. He is a great driver
Cops work a certain territory, and they get the firearm, uniform, badge, and vehicle to do so. So, your new boyfriend is going to spend a lot of time behind the wheel since he’ll be answering the calls of civilians.
Because he spends so much time in his vehicle, he has learned how to drive in difficult situations, as well as how to avoid collisions and get around easily. So, when you enter the vehicle of a cop, you’ll know that you’re safe. After all, the driver has had a lot of years of practice, and he is experienced enough to drive you around safely.
6. He is a man of high moral character
If one thing is true about cops, it’s that they work long hours and are underpaid so why is it so rewarding to them? When a cop sees the positive value he adds to the community, it’s all worth it to him because he has a good heart.
In fact, a lot of civilians become cops so that they can make positive changes in the community. When you’re dating a police officer, you are, in fact, dating a man whose motives are close to altruistic… and be sure that he’s a man of very high moral character.
7. He is a strong man
Are you familiar with the requirements for becoming a part of law enforcement? Well, one of those requirements is fitness, so cops get tested and what that means is that your new boyfriend is most likely a strong man.
Dating a strong man surely has its benefits; after all, this is a guy who will be able to help you with pretty much anything you need… moving boxes, carrying heavy objects, or even carrying groceries. You’re not dating him because he’s strong, but it’s a nice perk that’s always useful in a relationship.
8. He is brave
Cops put their lives on the line every single day, and they wouldn’t be able to do that if they weren’t calm and courageous. Your new boyfriend is able to deal with fear a lot better than a regular man; after all, he has to deal with fear every day at his job, because it’s part of the career path he has chosen.
A cop responds to scary situations differently than the rest of us. He responds calmly as if he has found inner peace. You’ll be able to find it as well, once you’re in a relationship with someone who has been dealing with criminals for years.
The cons of dating a police officer:
9. He is underpaid
Cops don’t really have a lot of money. Considering the amount of professional and personal risk they take every single day, it’s disappointing to see how little they are paid for it. So, I have to break it to you – you won’t be going to fancy restaurants with your cop boyfriend.
He is probably living a modest lifestyle, and you’ll have to get used to it but let’s not forget that money isn’t really that important for a happy relationship. It’s not like he’s poor, he just can’t afford such luxuries as first row seats when it comes to the opera but does that really matter that much?
10. You will feel a lack of control
A relationship with a cop can surely be stressful at times. He lives to serve and protect, and you might end up feeling like it’s impossible for you to support him.
When he’s out there catching criminals, and you’re sitting at home watching Netflix, you’ll probably feel frustrated because there’s no way for you to assist him so you will be feeling a lack of control and it can put a lot of pressure on you.
Some women aren’t cut out to date a cop. It’s hard for them to be in a relationship like that, but, again, if you really care about this man, nothing will be too much for you to take.
11. He will sometimes drop everything to go to work
A cop has to answer the call of duty so when there’s an emergency, don’t be surprised to see him drop everything he’s doing to go and resolve the situation and it could happen when you’re in the middle of a trip, a meal, or a date.
Maybe it’s expected of him to do so, or maybe he just has such a big heart, but either way, he will sometimes have to leave everything and go to work. You will have to understand that he’ll sometimes be so focused on helping others that he’ll forget about you. So, it’s not always easy to date a cop, but he isn’t there to help just you but everyone.
12. A lot of bad people hate him
Criminals are very dangerous, if not the most dangerous, kind of people. When you’re in a relationship with a police officer, his job is to catch those criminals and bring them to justice so you’ll have to understand that these unsettling personalities might try to hurt your man.
He is constantly in danger and criminals hate him. Sometimes, criminals try to hurt cops by hurting those who they love so by dating a police officer, you’re putting yourself in danger as well. Still, you have an amazing man to protect you, and I’m sure he won’t let anyone touch you!
13. He works crazy shifts
Cops sometimes have to work undesirable hours, since crimes happen 24 hours a day, so you might end up dating someone who works the night shift. What that means is that he’ll sleep during the day and fight crime during the night.
His schedule won’t always match yours, and that can be tough. You won’t be able to see him when he’s working and when he’s not, he’ll need to rest before he works again. So, dating a police officer demands that you understand his crazy shifts and be flexible.
14. He might have PTSD
One of the most stressful jobs is being a cop, so dating one can be stressful as well. Most cops actually undergo daily stresses at work, especially if they work in high-crime areas. All criminals see him as an enemy, so he never knows if some moment is going to be his last.
A lot of cops have trouble sleeping at night because of the experiences they have had and those experiences could really make it hard for them to function like normal human beings. That is why it’s important for you to try and help your cop carry all that baggage.
15. The worst could happen
A cop risks his life every single day so the possibility of death is there, and you need to be prepared for the worst.
I already said that being a cop is a very dangerous job, if not the most dangerous one. You have to be aware of the fact that the worst could happen. You’re dating a man who could be killed at any time and no amount of advice or pros and cons could help you cope with the possibility of death.
Cops put their lives on the line in order to serve and protect us. If you’re dating one, you have to be aware of the dangers he faces every single day. He might end up retiring peacefully, but the possibility of death is always there, every day he goes to work.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve seen all the pros and cons of dating a police officer, what do you think? Is it worth it? Well, let me tell you again, if you love this man, it’s all worth it.
Try to have fun and enjoy your relationship without thinking too much about the dangers he’s facing. It’s his career choice, and you have to respect that.
Now that you know everything about dating a police officer, the decision is up to you. Is it enough for you that he’s a big-hearted and strong, brave man who will always keep you safe? Or are you too scared because of the dangers he has to face? Let your heart tell you what the right thing to do is, and enjoy being in love with your cop.
