Any Officers from Florida

[Randy32]

Hey guys, I'm looking to move down south. Preferably Florida. I am looking to apply to a P.D./S.D. What would be my best course of action. Apply for a P.D, and then go a academy or pay my way thru the academy and THEN obtain employment? I was looking into the work force program they have at local colleges. I currently work in Federal LE. What should I do?

[FLLawdog]

I can knock your choices in half for you...in 99.9% of the cases, you'll have to send yourself through the academy. Very few agencies sponsor people and even fewer have their own academies. The ones that do sponsor make you sign contracts to keep you for a commitment.

As if that news wasn't bad enough, the academies are run through the Community Colleges, meaning that you'll have to wait about a year before you're eligible for in state tuition.

Being Federal L.E., you might be eligible to go through the shortened course. Even so, the out of state/in state tuition comes into play.

Try:

<a href="http://www.scc-fl.edu/criminaljustice/" target="_blank">here</a>

or:
<a href="http://faculty.dbcc.cc.fl.us/esi/cjindex.htm" target="_blank">here</a>

[Delta_V]

I was down there a couple weeks ago going through the process with the Tampa PD via the Florida Police Corps. I don't know where you want to work or for what size of a department, but I really like the Bay Area (and Central FL in general).

The FDLE publishes a profile of all law enforcement agencies every year. One of the items on the profile is whether or not the agency sponsors recruits. Below I posted the links of this particular page for both police and sheriff departments.

<a href="http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/CJAP/2001/pd/pd_pro_4.html" target="_blank">http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/CJAP/2001/pd/pd_pro_4.html</a>

<a href="http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/CJAP/2001/so/so_pro_4.html" target="_blank">http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/cjst/CJAP/2001/so/so_pro_4.html</a>

The above information comes from the 2001 report, so it might not be all correct. It's probably a good starting point though if you're seeking an agency to sponsor you.

<small>[ 01-28-2003, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: PatrickM98 ]</small>

[HKUSP45]

If you are a federal law enforecement officer (not a security screener at the airport), why are you considering leaving the feds? The police academies are closed to the public in south Florida. Dade county closed to public, Broward county closed to public, and a very small amount of seats are avaliable in Palm Beach county. Down here you apply and if they want you they will put you through the academy normamly with a 2 year contract but you can break it but then you have to pay back the dept. for the academy. Well good luck and I would stay FEDS.

[Randy32]

HKUSP , I work at the border.I'm a P/T permanent Officer that is working full-time hours. I have the same authority as a full-timer, I've been to FLETC just like them. but I'm not getting ANY benefits! Plus, I've been living up in this cold place my whole life, I really want to move(Preferably FL or GA).

I want to be on the road doing proactive stuff. Ya know?

[R.White]

Suggest you follow Patrick's advice above and check with Florida's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Comm. (CJSTC) regarding what you will need to become a certified LEO in FL. Then I recommend you apply with the larger dept's around the state, mainly because they pay better and they offer more opportunities for advancement, training, career growth and specialization. Based on my 35 years experience in FL law enforcement, I'd personally stay away from South FL...too congested with both traffic and people, cost of housing is thru the roof, most public schools are crappy and just not the best place to raise a family. If I were starting out again, I'd seek dept's such as Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville (where I'm retired from) or Tallahassee. The PD's and SO's in these areas are generally considered pretty good places to work. Most start new officers/deputies between $33K-$36K, offer generous 20 - 25 yr retirements, have plenty of specialty training opportunites and overall offer good careers. Most also require at least 60 college hours or Associate degrees and people with BA/BS degrees have a better chance at getting hired. For what its worth. Good luck! RW :cool: