Hello, Im 18 years old currently studying my political science degree in Ontario. All my life I have had the drive to want to get into politics as an MP (Canadian equivalent to a congressman in the USA). I would like to do so before I am 30 IF POSSIBLE. But, I would like to first have some good job experience. As It stands I am going to start volunteering with my party and joining the campus club for my party, so that part Im good at. What I DONT want is to be seen as a career politician, and I would also like to actually have some tough job experience working for my community and working with people on a daily. I have always been interested in being a police officer and that job seems to tick most of the boxes Id like for experience. It is also a well respected and regarded job. I was thinking of working as a police officer for maybe 3-4 years. Before anyone says it, no I am not just using it as a stepping stone I will reiterate again, I don’t want to be a police officer as a career but I’m entertaining the idea of doing it before trying to be nominated, as it is a job I’ve always been interested in doing for a short period of time, and I want some real world experience. I’m obviously very young and would like to plan this out in a way that makes sense. So i ask all of you here if you for feedback. Do you think its a good idea? Should I look at other jobs instead? Literally any feedback let me know.
I Want To Get Into Politics, Should I become A Police Officer First?
r/AskLE
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So what’s your plan here, join the OPP or RCMP (probably the only ones who would take you before 25), taking on some role in recruiting or being the media guy while volunteering for a political party so you can say you had a career in policing before eventually putting a bid in for a federal election down the line?
I don’t think 3-4 years of “work experience” will do much for you to be honest. That’s not nearly enough time to actually be involved and make an impact in your community. Look at Ron Chhinzer for example, dude was a cop in the GTA for 20 years before making a bid for the Conservatives. It shows genuine commitment to public safety and shows authenticity as a candidate.
You may not believe it now, but a lot of people will see it as you using law enforcement as a stepping stone for political aspirations. You’re young bro, let yourself develop, join the workforce (whether that’s in LE or not), and cultivate your world views and see what Canadians actually need before trying to be a decision maker at the federal level.
American here. Former prosecutor & public defender. Not a cop, but I know a little something about them. I can’t speak on behalf of them and I may offend some so forgive me. In my opinion working with/against them 5 days a week which let’s me have unique perspective, police work is generally a calling OR a job that is subconsciously transitioned into from something like the military or ems and so forth. It’s one of the few professions like medicine, where I’ve not heard anyone say “it checks the boxes which will allow me to land the job I want”
Could be wrong, I usually am.