Trending Topics

Top signs you’re a police officer’s spouse

When your spouse is in law enforcement, you’re bound to pick up some idiosyncrasies

wedding-rings-3611277_1920.jpg

Photo/Pixabay

By Police1 Staff

The law enforcement lifestyle is pretty unique, to put it mildly – especially when you’re an LEO spouse. Inspired by an article from Police1 columnist Dan Marcou, we asked our readers to tell us signs that you’re a police officer’s spouse. Email us to share what you think, or complete the box below.

  1. You have no idea what it’s like to sit in a restaurant facing the door. – Katrina Ogrodnik Mondejar
  2. You know firsthand that bullets go through the washer and dryer without a problem. – Kelly Renko
  3. When you are at a restaurant your spouse doesn’t make eye contact with you while talking because they are constantly scanning the room as people come/go. – Kayla Marie
  4. You have an action plan for who grabs the kids and who covers security if anything goes down while you’re out together somewhere. – Ashley Nicole
  5. After the waiter takes your order and leaves, your spouse says, “I think I’ve booked him before.” – Mary Mueller-Crawford
  6. You’re known in the community as “the deputy’s wife.” – John Law
  7. You get turned down from jury duty every single time and get to go home early! – Ashley Nicole
  8. You talk using 10 codes. – Elton Evans

Police1 readers share their top signs

  • When you have a code word in public to “stand down,” which means separate from your spouse and take the kids because someone your spouse has arrested and made threats to your family is nearby.
  • When my LEO responds to a welfare check to find a DB that has been there for quite some time. That uniform gets washed alone, then the washing machine’s clean cycle is run again!
  • You find yourself loving the sound of velcro!
  • A wife knows exactly how long it takes to re-heat supper.
  • A wife knows all the excuses to use with kids when spouse is not at an event or holiday.
  • When you’re with friends, you get to hear the same stories (although frequently embellished) about stupid/funny/unbelievable things people have done or said when he’s on duty.
  • You don’t get startled anymore when you are pulling up somewhere and before your car stops, your spouse is already jumping out the door.
  • Your husband is the one who gets the random check at airport security and has to explain (while you wait, snicker, and take a photo) why he has gunshot residue on his hands.
  • You go to a restaurant and order his food to have it almost on the table before he signals out so you can enjoy lunch together and as soon as he takes a bite he has to take a call so you eat alone and drop his box at the station
  • When your spouse asks you to do something you acknowledge with “affirmative or negative.”
  • Instead of running errands, you remark you have some “follow up” to do.
  • You ask your spouse if they would like to “grab a 7" later.
  • Whenever I’m with my wife and run into someone in public, the minute they leave she asks “co-worker or frequent flyer?”
  • When your dinner conversations are about how to clear your house if the front door is open or unlocked when you arrive home.
  • You sit and walk on your spouse’s “non-packing” side of his body.
  • Your share the holidays via text and FaceTime.
  • Always have to hold spouses support-side hand when walking.
  • As both an LEO and an LEO spouse, I get to carry the “hardware” because “they don’t expect the female to be armed.”
  • When you meet for lunch you end up eating alone.
  • When traveling by car together you play the “spot the violation” game.

Complete the form below to share signs you’re a police spouse.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU