I'm going into law enforcement and I've heard a lot of things about the first couple years...?

Both are incorrect, but can be correct at the same time.

No PD has a policy to stick rookies in the hood or in the boring parts of town. It generally works out that new officers are sent to where they are needed. That can either be an area patrolling million dollar homes or in the worst places of humanity. Or anywhere in between.

As for shifts, most PDs around here rotates the shifts for rookies while in break in, so they get exposed to working both days and nights.

I'm not from a large city but I will help you the best I can. My father is a police officer for the City Department and for his first year he did foot patrol in the downtown area (and yes that would be the most boring part of town by far -- part of his duty was to turn the Christmas lights on the water tower every night).

The best thing I can recommend to you, especially if you are living in the area in which you wish to become a police officer is ask go to on a ride-along. I've done one, and you have an entire shift with a police officer. I was with a young woman who had just got promoted from foot patrol to having a car about 6 months before, so I was able to see first hand the kinds of things a young officer is responsible for. Plus with all the time we had in the car, I had plenty of opportunities to ask questions. This way you will be able to get answers specific to the department(s) you're interested in because I'm sure different places run things a little differently. Good luck!

I worked as a Police Officer and Auto Theft Detective in Los Angeles for the State of Calif.

Your first few months should be spent with an FTO (Field Training Officer). This is an experienced officer who has been through specialized training so that he can better teach you, at least the basic field skills you will need on the street. During your time with your FTO you should be exposed to as wide a variety of field situations as possible. You may also be rotated to other FTOs on all the available shifts to give you a taste of each shift. During your time with your FTO(s) you will be expected to demonstrate that you are becoming proficient in the skills they are attempting to teach you.

Once you have satisfactorily completed you field training, you will probably be assigned to whatever the officers in your department generally consider to be the least desirable patrol area and shift. This is the case because many departments make such assignments on the basis of seniority. In short, you will go where the department needs you, and you will do what the department needs you to do regardless of your wants and needs. After you have been on a couple of years and there are a few new guys under you on the seniority list, then you might get to make a few choices for yourself.

It will take about two years for you to REALLY KNOW if law enforcement is the job for you. You will have some days during that time when you may feel that you have made the biggest mistake in your life by becoming a COP. Just remember, this job has it's cycles. Todays giant pile of crap may turn into tomorrows field of daisies. But after a couple of years you WILL be able to make an informed, well considered decision on whether or not you want to continue to be a Peace Officer.

starting out in any profession is gonna suck like that.