State Highway Patrol or Big City?

[spo0k]

I am in a bit of a dilemma and could use some advice.

Currently, the big city in my area isn't taking apps at all, not until 2004. This department normally hires rather regularly and runs multiple classes each year.

The state patrol, however, is currently recruiting.

Now then, here are the points I can offer about each of these agencies, please feel free to add to them.

State Patrol-
At initial hire, they send you through the academy, where you get paid only 26k/year (for 6months in the academy), but, after you get out of the academy, you jump to around 40-44k/year, topping out after 4 years at 54k/year (w/o special duty)
With the state patrol, I get a take-home cruiser, the ability to work much closer to home (I live in a border county to the big city) and, should my wife and I choose to move, rather than finding a new job, or a new route to work, I can put in a transfer request.
As for assignment, I've been told (by troopers who were not recruiters, and by recruiters) that if you have a wife/kids/home, they will not move you to a post 14 light years away, although, as we all know, they can truly do what they want.

Big city dept-
I wont be doing just traffic initally (not sure if doing just traffic would bother me or not) and it appears I have more oppertunity for different assignments. During the 6 month academy I will make close to 36k/year, topping at around 55k/year after 5 years, excluding special duty, which as I understand from talking to different officers, is always available.

Various points I have come up with
Will doing traffic only for years until I can transfer out of patrol bother me?
With the big city, and officer in trouble call gets 10-15 cruisers within minutes, which maybe more like 4-5 cruisers in 5-10 minutes with the patrol
The issue of the take-home car appeals to me, as that would save me a boatload in gas.

Ok, sorry for the long post, please give me your opinions?

[jtenor]

A take home squad makes a lot of difference. I never had one, however, I have had a squad all to my self for months at a time. It sure beats having to share one, or switching between cars each shift.

I prefer more of a rural, county environment. A lot is personal choice. Look at the retirement plans and also the other benefits.

I don't know how many applicants there are, but in WI you have to take what you can get...thus applying for the open job and not waiting around is a wise choice.

Sounds like you have a tough decision ahead of you. Good Luck with your decision.

<small>[ 04-15-2003, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Deputy Joe ]</small>

[Don]

I suggest you put in your app with HP now and see what happens. You can always lateral over on down the road if you decide you want to go be a big city copper.

Personally, the idea of working nothing but traffic would not appeal to me, but a lot of guys love it and wouldn't do anything else. It really is a personal choice.

[Joseph]

I agree with Don. You can always change. With my Rank my unmarked take home car is a blessing. I don't even have to put any scum bags in the back since it has no cage and stays nice and clean. The gas prices are great. Just top it off before you take it home and sign the sheet. :D

[IPDBrad]

Figure out where you really want to work.

Laterals are not always a possibility. Even though Indiana SP has a great academy, we do not accept laterals from them or anyone else. Columbus PD may differ. The take home car is a very nice benefit, I love having it. Your gear is all set up, plus I carry more gear for extra contingencies than I ever did in my pool car.

What it comes down to is what kind of work you want to do and where you want to work. I feel that Indianapolis provides me more opportunity than SP would. Pay happens to be better.

As you stated, chances are you may stay local. However, being SP, you could be shipped anywhere.

[nctrooper]

As an HP guy, I'll give you my two cents.
I like working traffic, but when I get bored with it I can go to certain areas and use traffic stops to look for stolen cars/guns, drugs, wanted persons, etc. Criminals have to travel around just like everyone else, so sooner or later you'll run up with them.

[MikeC]

Put in the application for the OHP. The other posts are correct that you can most likely transfer to the "Big City" if traffic is not your thing. I don't know what it's like in Ohio, but over here, just b/c you fill out a application does not guarantee a hire. During our last recruiting drive we had 4,000 apps and about 150 were put into the academy.
AND...having a take home car is huge.

[JRT6]

The Ohio Highway Patrol is a stange bird. They demand an awfull lot from their people but in the end they're tail-light chasers and they'll be the first to tell you that. Yeah there's DUI's and some drug interdiction(the same as with any cop) but these guys have no police powers on city or private property. That's right; unless it happens on a state or county road, or state property, the trooper is just an armed civilian.

Lots of spit and polish, nickle and dime bull crap to put up with too. Who knows maybe you'll get to spend the first five years on the job weighing semi-trailers. :p

<small>[ 04-17-2003, 12:03 AM: Message edited by: JRT6 ]</small>

[phuzz01]

In Mass., over 16,500 took the most recent SP exam. So far, none have been hired, and over the next five years or so, only about 300 or so will become troopers.

Also here, the SP have full police powers anywhere in the state, highways, back roads, residences, and all.

Finally, to elaborate on what NCtrooper said, when most people hear "traffic," they think only about writing speeding tickets. But traffic is a great pro-active approach to building criminal cases. You can stop 50 cars, write only two tickets, and still make two arrests. Basically, the more cars you stop, the more solid misdemeanor and felony arrests you make.

[spo0k]

I had no idea they had no powers off "state property"

Does that mean they don't allow off-duty carry either?

[R.White]

My choice would be for the big city dept. First, I personally never cared for traffic work. When I was on the street, working in Patrol Div., I'd write enough tickets to keep the brass off my back, usually about 2 per shift. And I did everything I could to avoid doing an accident report. Traffic just seemed boring to me, and the opportunities for professional growth seemed fairly limited. As for becoming an investigator, about all you can hope for is traffic homicide investigation. As for being a state trooper, especially in FL, running up and down an Interstate all day would drive me nuts. Their only break in the routine is when there's a riot or catastrophy somewhere and they get pulled in to handle it. I'd take the varied opportunities offered by a large city agency anyday. Also, in FL, most of the bigger city PD's and SO's pay more and have better benefits. For what its worth!RW :cool:

[Sgt Lobster]

Does limited juridiction cause major problems ?

As a member of an English police force I have jurisdiction throughout England & Wales. I also have limited jurisdiction in the other 2 countries of the UK, Scotland & Northern Ireland.

Our constabulary is responsible for pretty much all policing functions in our police area one of 43 in England & Wales. We do have dedicated traffic officers and a motorway unit.

The remainder of us other than detectives and other specialist, perform general police duties. Whilst my constables stop plenty of cars, traffic enforcement per se is not their main responsibilty. My teams efforts are targetted at responding to calls for service, and achieving the many performance indicators set both locally and nationally to reduce crime. We do perform limited traffic functions but this is not our primary role.

Traffic duties are a specialism some officers move into.

Lobster.

[CarolinaTarGuard]

Never worked in a big city, so I can't help with any pros or cons there, however I work for a state agency (highway patrol) and it's not really a bad deal. We are dispatched only to motor vehicle collisions, no calls for service. That leaves plenty of time to work traffic and basically do as you please. If I'm in the mood to work calls for service, I'll just pick an agency or area and work with the city or county agency running calls there . We have radio contact with all municipal, state, and county agencies in our assigned area thanks to multiple radios in our cars so finding something to do is no problem. I can pick and choose what agency or call to roll on, plus the fact that the primary agency "handles" the call for followup and paperwork is a nice bonus. If I want to work DUI enforcement or drug interdiction one night, thats what I do. I like the fact that geographically, I have range of areas to choose from that I otherwise would not. About 7 years ago I decided I wanted a break from the mountains and transferred to the coast and lived on the beach for a few years. Once that was out of my system, I transferred back "home". The salary and benefits here are better with the state than most other agencies, but dismally low compared to other parts of the country so that might or might not ring true of your location. Whatever your choice, I wish you well and hope that whichever you decide on you will keep in mind that no matter the "bickering" or "rivalry" between the two (here it's mostly good natured ribbing on the matter of "who's the REAL police?") that we all are brothers and sisters doing the work that has to be done.