Anybody a police officer or work for the police department?

[Warik]

Been thinking about a career change for a while and this came up. Is anyone here a police officer or play some other major role in their local departments? Are there a lot of advancement opportunities for a smart guy to do a lot of good and make good money? What should I think about before investigating more and getting started?

Little background on me: 24 yrs old, college graduate (Computer Science), excellent shape, and I can whoop any background test/drug test/etc... I'm certain I will be taking a substantial paycut initially from what I'm making now, but from what I've been told there's potential for a lot to be made if you're good and dedicated.

How do you like your job?

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Been thinking about a career change for a while and this came up. Is anyone here a police officer or play some other major role in their local departments? Are there a lot of advancement opportunities for a smart guy to do a lot of good and make good money? What should I think about before investigating more and getting started?

Little background on me: 24 yrs old, college graduate (Computer Science), excellent shape, and I can whoop any background test/drug test/etc... I'm certain I will be taking a substantial paycut initially from what I'm making now, but from what I've been told there's potential for a lot to be made if you're good and dedicated.

How do you like your job?

[/ QUOTE ]

There is room for advancement, but you are going to be a civil servant - get used to not getting paid. Overtime is where its at, but each department's policy will dictate that. Sometimes you can get in on event detail as overtime (think the cops at the Stones concert) and thats great. Other than that... I hope you dont like really nice things.

There are limits to how fast and how high you can move but they are usually in need of smart people in some of the higher roles. Smart isnt a term usually batted around the squadroom when referring to your peers...

But again, its really all going to be dependant on your department.

As for money - you have a degree in computer science. You can get an entry level position for more than you will ever make as a civil servant. Being allowed to carry a gun aint worth the pay differntial.

[Warik]

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There are limits to how fast and how high you can move but they are usually in need of smart people in some of the higher roles.

But again, its really all going to be dependant on your department.

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Well, I'd be interested in the higher roles and I imagine my speed would be limited not by my own abilities, but rather by the department. It would be the Miami-Dade PD. Nice sized city so I imagine there would be plenty to do up the ladder.

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As for money - you have a degree in computer science. You can get an entry level position for more than you will ever make as a civil servant.

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Not necessarily true... this cop I know through my dad whom I spoke to is making over 55k working behind a desk. My buddy is a programmer with experience making under 55k.

Don't know if that's an exception to the rule or if it's more common than one thinks.

I hate thinking about it from a financial standpoint though since one could reason that just because I'm "smart" I shouldn't be A because B makes more money, or I shouldn't be B because C makes more money. etc... It can't possibly be a job full of nothing but terrible things or else no one would want to do it.

Are you a cop? What exactly do you not like about the job itself that would make you not recommend it?

No, I am not a cop. I am a computer programmer working for the MA State Police though so I have a different perspective of them than most might.

Personally, I wouldnt like the hours some of these guys have to work to make ends meet. I am a big fan of my free time, so having regular hours makes all the difference to me.

[RunDownHouse]

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Well, I'd be interested in the higher roles and I imagine my speed would be limited not by my own abilities, but rather by the department.

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I would expect that, in a PD more so than many other jobs, your advancement will be limited by politics as much as either the department or your ability. I have no practical experience, however.

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As for money - you have a degree in computer science. You can get an entry level position for more than you will ever make as a civil servant. Being allowed to carry a gun aint worth the pay differntial.

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I believe that this is a big misconception. Entry level computer postions are hard to find with just a degree in computer science. There are still so many people laid off from the tech industry from a few years back, that they take a lot of these jobs. As far as the pay, I am close with quite a few cops, and all but one easily make well over 70k a year... and the oldest is 32.

I think it really depends on where you go. Some departments can afford to pay a helluva lot better than others. And that also varies what kind of jurisdiction you go to (city, county, state, federal, etc.).

[celiboy]

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[ QUOTE ]
Been thinking about a career change for a while and this came up. Is anyone here a police officer or play some other major role in their local departments? Are there a lot of advancement opportunities for a smart guy to do a lot of good and make good money? What should I think about before investigating more and getting started?

Little background on me: 24 yrs old, college graduate (Computer Science), excellent shape, and I can whoop any background test/drug test/etc... I'm certain I will be taking a substantial paycut initially from what I'm making now, but from what I've been told there's potential for a lot to be made if you're good and dedicated.

How do you like your job?

[/ QUOTE ]

There is room for advancement, but you are going to be a civil servant - get used to not getting paid. Overtime is where its at, but each department's policy will dictate that. Sometimes you can get in on event detail as overtime (think the cops at the Stones concert) and thats great. Other than that... I hope you dont like really nice things.

There are limits to how fast and how high you can move but they are usually in need of smart people in some of the higher roles. Smart isnt a term usually batted around the squadroom when referring to your peers...

But again, its really all going to be dependant on your department.

As for money - you have a degree in computer science. You can get an entry level position for more than you will ever make as a civil servant. Being allowed to carry a gun aint worth the pay differntial.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here in Canada being a cop pays pretty decent. After a 5 year training salary where you make about 35k, you make 65K starting, however you get paid double time for any OT and also for any court appearances. There was an article in our local paper that showed that many cops were making well over 100K a year with OT and that the average was well over 80K.

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Here in Canada being a cop pays pretty decent. After a 5 year training salary where you make about 35k, you make 65K starting, however you get paid double time for any OT and also for any court appearances. There was an article in our local paper that showed that many cops were making well over 100K a year with OT and that the average was well over 80K.

[/ QUOTE ] Play Money

Warik-

Go Fed! The pay is better, the hours are better, you have the chance to specialize, and many more advancement opportunities.

If you are going to go local, find a big department with opportunities to advance. Smaller department have fewer of these opportunities. I have a lot of friends that are local cops as well and most of them got off the street as soon as possible and took the Sgt exam, tried out for the tactical team, or motorbikes, or other specialized units. Patrol work can get tedious after a while.

[Warik]

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If you are going to go local, find a big department with opportunities to advance. Smaller department have fewer of these opportunities.

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I am planning to go local if I do it... Fed is an idea but I imagine I'd have to relocate and I'm not ready for that yet. Local experience would be a plus if I ever choose to go that route (if I even choose to go the local route in the first place, that is).

According to what I've read, the MDPD is responsible for 2 million people and has about 3k officers. Dunno if that's considered large or not.

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I have a lot of friends that are local cops as well and most of them got off the street as soon as possible and took the Sgt exam, tried out for the tactical team, or motorbikes, or other specialized units. Patrol work can get tedious after a while.

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I'd have no intention of sticking to patrol work. First thing I read in their brochure was that you can take the Sgt Exam after 2 years if you are good, which would be my plan. Ideally I'd like to do something that involves a lot of critical thinking and investigating where I could do more good than handing out tickets and responding to domestic disputes.

Come on... anybody else? Don't cops play p*ker too?