Police Officers?

[~Jessie~]

Does your husband truly want to be a police officer, or is he just looking for a way to make money? Because it's one of those jobs that can really take over a person's life. You and your husband both seem like really hard workers, and I'm sure he'd succeed in that job field... but being a cop is really a lifestyle change. He could be working all kinds of odd hours, and has the chance of risking his life on the job (obviously).

Why would getting a college degree take him years? You can always take out student loans, and pay them back once he has graduated and is in the career field of his choice. Plus, there are many, many good universities that offer online programs which he could fit into his schedule whenever he has time.

My husband is an accountant full time, and he's also a full time graduate student working on getting his MBA and CPA license. Yes, it's hard, but it's definitely do-able.

Good luck in whatever decision he chooses. Could he go back to school for any programs to help him move up in the ranks of his company now?

 

[zoe08]

I actually think it is something that he is interested in doing. It is the ONLY job I have ever heard him talk about doing that was entirely on his own. The jobs he got here, his first one was because my BIL worked there, and this one he is at he got because his friend worked there, not just because he wanted to be in the windmill field, it was just what presented itself. And he has never expressed interest in any kind of college degree.

I don't think any amount of schooling would help at his current employer as they are already trying to keep bare minimum as it is, which is why he is basically doing the jobs of 2-3 people.

 

[Pops2]

does he speak spanish? the border patrol is always hiring and that is federal retirement no matching to it. plus there is tuition assistance for college so if he got his degree and he really likes LE he could move over & up int the FBI, DEA etc.

also look at USA jobs they list civil service jobs and you can search by several different criteria.

 

[~Jessie~]

I actually think it is something that he is interested in doing. It is the ONLY job I have ever heard him talk about doing that was entirely on his own. The jobs he got here, his first one was because my BIL worked there, and this one he is at he got because his friend worked there, not just because he wanted to be in the windmill field, it was just what presented itself. And he has never expressed interest in any kind of college degree.

I don't think any amount of schooling would help at his current employer as they are already trying to keep bare minimum as it is, which is why he is basically doing the jobs of 2-3 people.

Personally, it seems like a really good field for someone to get into, especially without any sort of degree. There's so much room to move up... he could get into detective work down the line, even... which is awesome. Not to mention the retirement benefits... here in Orange County, you get paid retirement after serving for 25 years.

I just wanted to make sure he didn't just hear about it from a friend or an ad... and that it's something he really wants to do.

Also, has he thought about becoming a firefighter? Not sure about where you are in TX, but here firefighters are paid rather than it being volunteer work.

 

[zoe08]

No he doesn't speak Spanish.

I definitely like the benefits listed for police officers.

He hasn't looked into firefighting that I know of. I think he would be more interested in police work than firefighting. Considering as many times as he has set himself on fire...I'm not so sure I want him running into them...LOL

I think the firefighters in our city are paid, but most of the smaller cities in this area are volunteer, so if we were ever to move back to our hometown or closer to there, then at least being a cop would provide a better job opportunity, because the areas that I would ever move to if we moved away from here have volunteer fire departments.

 

[darkchild16]

Being a firefighter isnt worth the money. Plus at least where im from you have to go to school a year before you can be a firefighter. It also is VERY intensive asically if hes working and doing the schooling you wont see him. Same with Criminal Justice.

And even then you really dont make that much considering. We will still be struggling when he is a firefighter and he wont have the energy to do much when he is home.

 

[zoe08]

I just looked up the fire department, and it has about the same base salary as a starting police officer, but looks like it requires more training, you already have to be certified EMT to even get into the program and it doesn't say anything about paid training where as you get paid to go through the police academy.

And all the deadlines for the Fire Department were back in March. And I think it is a lot harder to get into the department here because my cousin's husband is a firefighter and I don't think he got in here, because I know he came here to take a test and they thought about moving here. But he is still the same place he was and I know he is gone A LOT. Away from home for weeks, but I think he teaches classes or something.

 

[darkchild16]

Probably contining training. You have to do certain courses yearly or bi yearly. ANd yes most require EMT as well which is also very time consuming.

 

[CanadianK9]

One of our best friends is a cop, her father and mother and aunt are also cops......dont know how it works there....but here this is how it goes here.

Here you have to have the following

- Permanent resident Or perminant citizen
- Minimum 18 years of age.
- Grade 12 or equivalency.
- Class 'G' driver's license with no more than six demerit points accompanied with full driving privileges
- No criminal record for a pardon has not been received for or an absolute/conditional discharge that has not been sealed.
- Certified in First-Aid and C.P.R. level C
- Possess a valid Certificate of Results C.O.R.
- And you have to be willing to serve anywhere in the province


Pay goes like this here

Recruit constable starting pay from enrollment $ 43,620.00
Probationary constable after graduation $ 55,615.00
Full constable 1st year as $ 63,564.00
Constable 2nd year $ 70,716.00
Constable after 36 months $ 79,451.00

After that it depends on your specialty and position


Benefits go like this here

- New recruits who are posted receive a one-time payment of $2000.00 to offset travel expense if they take an optional moving to a needed area along with a pay incentive
- 50/30 Pension
- Life insurance based on salary not age
- Paid sick leave....6 days @ full pay and additional 124 days at 75% pay
- Full paid vacation leave
- Drug card for prescription drugs
- Dental, vision, hearing coverage
- Coverage for dependant children for 26 Years
- In most cases benefits are retained on retirement and beyond the age of 65
- Spouses of 10+ year employees have most benefit and pension coverage


You can....after the standard constable time, apply for a specialty position

- Tactical emergency medical services
- Aviation
- K9
- ERT (aka s.w.a.t)
- Negotiations
- Rescue Unit (s.a.r)
- Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (s.c.u.b.a)


Pros and cons

Pros
- Decent pay
- Good benefits
- Alot of room to advance
- Alot of specialization to choose if wanted
- Get to meet alot of people (kinda good or bad at times lol)
- Keeps the community clean

Cons
- Sometimes can run up long hours
- On call alot
- Can be dangerous
- High stress at times


Anyway theres the basics for here....dunno bout there but hope it helps

 

[Bailey08]

I think it would be hard for you emotionally, especially as a parent. I had a hard time with it (and we weren't married, weren't parents, and he was in grad school at the time, so it wasn't permanent).

That said, if you and your husband are comfortable with that aspect, I think it could be a great opportunity. With overtime, the pay can actually be pretty substantial. The hours are predictable, which is nice (though sounds like this isn't necessarily true for everywhere). And, again, depending on your city, you can get a degree (associate/bachelor/graduate) partially or wholly paid for.

 

[darkchild16]

Its not really predictable. If they are caught at a fire on the time they are suppossed to leave they cant leave, days that you work arent always the same. (this is florida and north carolina.) Not all states are the same.

Its not something easy to deal with. Even at a volunteer base it isnt. Especially as the spouse.

 

[Romy]

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.

My little brother graduated the police academy in WA state last year. He only had a HS diploma before that.

He still works his railroad job, and is also a deputy sheriff. He's also in the WA state police reserves.

Being a reserve officer can be a good thing. See what benefits are offered in your state. In our state they get health benefits. Go to trainings several times a month, etc. Their duties are to basically do peace keeping stuff when the regular police are called out in extreme emergency. Like, if there was a riot then the reservists would go and be the ones directing traffic and stuff while the regular officers handle the rioters. Or if there was an earthquake/tsunami/volcano/flood etc. and law enforcement needed extra hands to help evacuate people or something.

Has he thought about being a prison guard? They get similar pay, good retirement, benefits, etc. and the job itself is more predictable, which makes it less risky in that way. I have a cousin and an uncle who are guards.

 

[jammer]

He should go for it if that's what he wants to do. I think being a police officer involves more than the paycheck. You have to want to be out there because as you know, it's a dangerous job. Even traffic stops can be incredibly dangerous. I have two friends who are officers and neither would trade the job for the world. The areas surrounding Dallas always seem to be hiring. Dallas PD always has trainee positions open too. I think more coveted departments are harder to get on with. For example...Plano, Allen, McKinney.

 

[zoe08]

We are not in or even near the Dallas area. We are in a much smaller area.

I talked to him about it more after he got home from work and it really seems like something he really wants to do.

 

[jammer]

We are not in or even near the Dallas area. We are in a much smaller area.

I talked to him about it more after he got home from work and it really seems like something he really wants to do.

I don't know why I assumed you were in the DFW area. If you can't find a city department, you can always check with a constables office, sherriff's department, state troopers division, jails...they have so many options as far as law enforcement goes. Good luck to him!

 

[Jules]

If it is something you wants to do, he should try it- if you are okay with it and not only for the benefits.

I was dating my (now) husband for some time when he decided he wanted to join the military before he got too old (he was almost in his mid-twenties and working a very stable job with a good salary). He asked me what I thought about it and I did some research on the matter and told him I would support him whatever he wants to do... and now, years later, I learned that you have to mean it.

I know some people who are cops and they have crappy schedules. Long shifts, night shifts, weekend shifts, whatever you name it. And while you might want to complain and whine... you still have to be supportive. Just something to think about

 

[Vintage Boxers]

Most depts. either have a college requirement of 60 credits in CJ or they will hire you on probation and send you to academy, you don't pass, you don't have a job.

Our puny police dept. here will hire you with NO experience in public service , and send you to academy. they pay for it, but if you fail, you owe it back.

If this is his "dream" then i say make the calls right now and then sit and write down pros and cons...if he gets hired what do they expect from him, academy sure, but how long is his probation period, what shift would he end up with, cop hours SUCK just like FD hours SUCK...but if this is something he wants to do go for it.
It is a long road, but one very worth taking if his heart is dedicated. Being a cop is not for type B personalities and isn't for the weak of heart.

 

[Vintage Boxers]

Its not really predictable. If they are caught at a fire on the time they are suppossed to leave they cant leave, days that you work arent always the same. (this is florida and north carolina.) Not all states are the same.

Its not something easy to deal with. Even at a volunteer base it isnt. Especially as the spouse.

A-Freakin Men!

Hubby is a FT Paramedic/FF rank Capt. so that is always fun, the little guys get to leave first..teehee...

If they get a late call at close to shift end, you are SOL...get packed and do whatever it is on your own. Holidays, GOOD LUCK, no such thing.

One this ALOT of people forget about Public Safety SERVANTS is...THEY ARE THERE 24/7 - 365 , when YOU get vacation, they do not. 2am and you have a tummy ache, Call 911 , they get out of bed and come help you. It is a very underappreciated job, but a necessary one.

Sure they chose to do it, but , does that mean we should rain on their parade just because...nope.

So basically i say, if you are all comfortable with what it means to be a PS spouse, go for it. The training is grueling and the hours are butt. But in the end having a job you love makes it all worth it. My hubby may complain, but he knows he loves his job and MAN the stories, no better source of shock and entertainment available.

I think we say at least four times a day, well person makes me feel better because they are giving me JOB SECURITY..lol

(and yes there are some bad eggs, but i am sure we can think of a few in EVERY aspect of life)


ok....i can't wait to hear what you all decide!

(unless i missed that post in my tired daze)

 

[zoe08]

He has made the decision to apply. He of course has to pass the tests written and physical first, then they start the background checks, and the lady he talked to said the only thing he may have issues with is his credit, but that it shouldn't be a problem because the hits were all like 4-5 or more years ago. And they will assign someone to work with him, and they will give him opportunities to correct things that are correctable.

He has started running to be able to do the 1.5 miles in 17 minutes, but I don't think that will be an issue. Now he can run/walk/run/walk and still make it in about 17 minutes. He just has to build up to be able to run the whole time.

He said that he really wants to serve somehow. He wishes now that he had had the same mentality at 18 and would have joined the military. But he didn't, and I KNOW that I could not be an army wife...I have a ton of respect for those of you married to military...I could not do it. So that is not an option right now.

The pay and the benefits of being a police officer definitely make me more willing to put up with the hours, etc. Plus the fact that he has never really said " I want to be..." for ANYTHING else, so I do want to be supportive of the fact that he found something that he really wants to go for.

Right now I am just scared that we might be getting our hopes up and something will keep him from getting accepted.

The jobs he has had before are all just that...jobs...not CAREERS, so I am so happy that he is wanting to actually get a career. And I know it will definitely be difficult for many years, but at least he will have opportunities to advance a career, instead of being stuck like he is in his current job.

 

[Jules]

I think it sounds like you have the right attitude. Good luck to your hubby! I hope everything works out for him!