Police Officers?

[zoe08]

Are any of you police officers/or maybe related/married/dating one?

My husband is considering applying for the police academy as his job currently is not providing him with the opportunities we need for him to be able to move up or get a raise, and the insurance is extremely crappy.

This is something that we have to really consider all the pros/cons. I definitely admit I would be scared for him to be an officer, and also worried of what the hours would be like?

The pay is a whole lot better than what he makes now, even starting. And from what I can see on the insurance it would be better...at least you can have dental and vision, which we really need. I can't see the actual insurance package you get, but right now I think just about anything has to be better than what we have. They also have a retirement plan that says 2 to 1 match, which I'm not entirely sure what that means...but his current job does not have any kind of matching retirement. He actually has 0 retirement fund right now.

Recruitment is open until June 25th. So we have a short amount of time to make the decision, for this round anyways. But considering we are planning to start trying for another baby next year, we really need to have all this sorted now especially for the insurance.

 

[ACooper]

No help on the info, sorry.

I will wish you good luck in whatever you decide though

 

[~Jessie~]

I don't have any advice, but I just went to our county's police academy info out of curiousity and saw this picture:

Haha. I thought it was cute!

Good luck!

 

[joce]

I have lots of family and friends who are,but don't think it is a good choice right now.

Here even when the departments are hiring they are hiring maybe one new person and then people off of other departments.

The insurance can go down as they get to the point of laying people off to. My 401k is not considered a great one and they match first 3-5%(can't remember which) and then match 1/2 of the next 3%. But something is better than nothing!

To get in and to keep your license active you have to be working. So what most people end up doing is working for small towns for a 1$ a year.I know people who are great cops who were stuck doing that and security for years before getting in.

But I guess it all depends on the area. I know people have moved out of state. I think arizona was an area that is always hiring?

If its something he wants to do let him try and see how it goes. The academy is not all that long but if it doesn't end with a good job it is.

It is stressful. He may work hours that are less than ideal,weekends to. Its high risk,you think not that many cops get killed a year but when its close to you it really hits. Split second decisions to take someones life. Then your off for weeks while they are investigating and that can be horrible.

Another friend graduates in july and is back to looking at security jobs again.

My bf wanted to do it for years and I said no way. Kinda regret it at times as I love a man in uniform(and with a gun LOL),but I would rather have him behind a desk somewhere. And here right now it pays better and is easier to get a job in most other areas. I think he lost his want to after seeing some of the stuff my family has gone through.

 

[Renee750il]

I don't have any advice, but I just went to our county's police academy info out of curiousity and saw this picture:

Haha. I thought it was cute!

Good luck!

Cute, yes, but it's a disturbing attitude, if you stop and think about it.

Police are supposed to be civil SERVANTS. Not many remember that. The few who do are worth their weight in gold. And they tend to take a lot of flak from the rest.
__________________

 

[zoe08]

Our city constantly has signs up saying the police department is hiring. If they weren't hiring, then he wouldn't be considering it.

I really wouldn't be considering it at all, if I thought there was any way he could get another job or even work his way up in his current job to be making enough money to give us at least a little wiggle room, or at least have some better insurance.

 

[joce]

The problem is they have signs here saying they are hiring to but get a whole class to go through the academy but hire no one new or one person.

The only way to do it is have him hired first and then go through the academy. Don't let them say just go through the academy and then re apply.


The news at noon has been all about trials of cop killers

 

[zoe08]

I'm not sure how it works here, but from everything I have read on the website, it seems as though they continue working with the police department after the academy. But I am sure he will have to call and talk to them about how it all works, so we have direct information from the local police department.

 

[CaliTerp07]

There's no harm in getting more information.

What does your husband do now? What's his background? My company is hiring like MAD and we have a lot of Texas offices, but I'm not sure if it'd be any kind of fit.

 

[AGonzalez]

I'm not sure how it works here, but from everything I have read on the website, it seems as though they continue working with the police department after the academy. But I am sure he will have to call and talk to them about how it all works, so we have direct information from the local police department.

What our local PD did back home was this( that was in AZ). They'd interview you, if you were hired, you had to go to the academy within 1 year of being hired for Detention and I think within 6 months of being a police officer.
They didn't send anyone through the academy that hadn't already been promised a job because THEY pay for the academy.
I don't know if it would be for the better, as our local PD here in CO is laying off people due to budget cuts and such and DPS is transferring people. I hate to say it but I just got out of a ticket because the officer who gave it to me in February was transferred before I went to court and it was dismissed.

It all kind of depends on if he's going for sheriff's dept, DPS, or local PD too. But that might open up more options to move to different job positions while doing the same job. It's worth looking into.

 

[Taqroy]

There's no harm in getting more information.

What does your husband do now? What's his background? My company is hiring like MAD and we have a lot of Texas offices, but I'm not sure if it'd be any kind of fit.

What company do you work for? Are there offices in Colorado? Sorry for the threadjack, my husband got laid off and is also looking for work so I perk up when I hear "hiring like mad" lol.

 

[CaliTerp07]

It's IT consulting. If he's got a systems or software background, we have a tiny office in Denver, but the big ones are Chicago, Dallas, DC, NYC, SF.

 

[Taqroy]

Ah. He's actually got an engineering degree and two years of management experience. But he's going back to school for IT! Lol. Doesn't help much now though.

 

[CaliTerp07]

Ah. He's actually got an engineering degree and two years of management experience. But he's going back to school for IT! Lol. Doesn't help much now though.

Oooh, engineers are appreciated here.

I don't want to thread jack. I'll PM you details.

 

[zoe08]

My husband only has a high school degree and is currently working quality control for a windmill company and basically rebuilds windmill motors and he builds sucker rod for windmills sometimes, along with doing other things that go along with it like shipping, crating, etc. It is a very labor intensive job. Most of the jobs he has had are labor intensive.

He does like computers, and is pretty good with them, but doesn't have any kind of training or anything. And we are not near the Dallas area or any of the metro areas.

He is going to go ahead and take the tests though, because they pay you during the academy and so that would be 15000 just for the 20 weeks of training which would be enough to give us some cushion if he didn't go directly into the job.

 

[AGonzalez]

Ah. He's actually got an engineering degree and two years of management experience. But he's going back to school for IT! Lol. Doesn't help much now though.

ACPOL/CPOL Homepage: Army Civilian Personnel On-Line

check here.

 

[Taqroy]

Oooh, engineers are appreciated here.

I don't want to thread jack. I'll PM you details.

ACPOL/CPOL Homepage: Army Civilian Personnel On-Line

check here.

Many thanks to both of you!

My husband only has a high school degree and is currently working quality control for a windmill company and basically rebuilds windmill motors and he builds sucker rod for windmills sometimes, along with doing other things that go along with it like shipping, crating, etc. It is a very labor intensive job. Most of the jobs he has had are labor intensive.

He does like computers, and is pretty good with them, but doesn't have any kind of training or anything. And we are not near the Dallas area or any of the metro areas.

He is going to go ahead and take the tests though, because they pay you during the academy and so that would be 15000 just for the 20 weeks of training which would be enough to give us some cushion if he didn't go directly into the job.

Is there any way he can take a few night courses just to get a couple certifications? A lot of help desk jobs that pay decent only require an associates degree or certifications, like the A+ or the Net+.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

Cute, yes, but it's a disturbing attitude, if you stop and think about it.

Police are supposed to be civil SERVANTS. Not many remember that. The few who do are worth their weight in gold. And they tend to take a lot of flak from the rest.
__________________

Yeah I agree. The statement I thought was kind of disturbing

 

[joce]

My husband only has a high school degree and is currently working quality control for a windmill company and basically rebuilds windmill motors and he builds sucker rod for windmills sometimes, along with doing other things that go along with it like shipping, crating, etc. It is a very labor intensive job. Most of the jobs he has had are labor intensive.

He does like computers, and is pretty good with them, but doesn't have any kind of training or anything. And we are not near the Dallas area or any of the metro areas.

He is going to go ahead and take the tests though, because they pay you during the academy and so that would be 15000 just for the 20 weeks of training which would be enough to give us some cushion if he didn't go directly into the job.

Up here the wind turbine programs are the big thing. Will they not send him to school for it or will he not make more even if he did go to college for it? Funny thing is we have the program but apparently everyone graduating has had job offers in texas
Alternative Energy Technology - Wind Turbine Major

If they pay him through the program go for it! Here the academy has nothing to do with being hired and is just at the local community college where anyone can go. In the current class two are hired already. The rest are kinda screwed. Just make sure he does not have to pay the money back if he does not end up getting hired on for good.

 

[zoe08]

Up here the wind turbine programs are the big thing. Will they not send him to school for it or will he not make more even if he did go to college for it? Funny thing is we have the program but apparently everyone graduating has had job offers in texas

If they pay him through the program go for it! Here the academy has nothing to do with being hired and is just at the local community college where anyone can go. In the current class two are hired already. The rest are kinda screwed. Just make sure he does not have to pay the money back if he does not end up getting hired on for good.

He does not work on turbines. He works on water pumping windmills. No they will not send him to the classes to do turbines. He does not do field work, he works in the warehouse that gets the parts from Argentina, then he goes over all the mills that come in, repairs, checks all parts, etc, then ships the parts/mills to stores, which then sell to customers, or to "field workers" such as where my husband's friend works in the field actually going out to work on mills in the field. But my husband's friend that works in the field makes even less money than my husband and has NO insurance.

Getting an associates degree doing night classes would take him years. And if he had to stay at his current job it just wouldn't be possible because we couldn't afford it...he will probably have to go back to doing motorcycle work in the evenings.

This is what our website says about the Police Academy:

The current starting pay for a Probationary Police Officer is $41,221.44 annually. RECRUITS ARE PAID THIS SALARY WHILE ATTENDING THE POLICE ACADEMY. Police Officers will receive a guaranteed pay raise after 12 months of service with the Department...etc...In addition, the department offers educational incentive pay for an associate's degree or higher.


After successful completion of the Police Academy and State Licensing exam, the Police Recruits go on shift assignments throughout the city during the Field Training Officer program.
Police Recruits not already licensed as peace officers in the State of Texas, will attain full-fledged Civil Service status after 18 months of probationary service from their date of hire.

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I just read that they may offer incentive pay for an associate's degree...so that might be a great benefit too.