I would be surprised to find very many officers who "knew what the were getting into" when they started out, especially way back when. Back then we didn't have all the shows on TV to show us the way! Seriously, though, all the young officers I "grew up" around had one thing in common; a need (not a want) to do more, to make a difference, to do something more than live a life of 9 to 5. For me it started out for the excitement and getting to carry a gun. That quickly faded with all the abuse taken and the long hours of pure boredom. Why stay in? Hard to put into words. It just made me feel I was in my right place. It's hard to explain to a civilian how it feels to do the job. But the following link might help. On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman