Hard Times in Florida

[dannmann1050]

As hard up as some agencies are for officers, espically certified and expierenced... I wonder why it is so darn hard to find a job. I am on the search and looking in the central to northern part of Florida for a Job. I left my agency after to much BS. Anyway, is there a reason that in this time of whining and crying about lack of applications (since I was a recruited that delt with admin) that someone with a clean jacket can't get the time of day?? It seems that agencies are really looking for boot's in the academy who can't even holster a weapon, let alone drive a big bad car.

Any idea's from the experience Florida LEO's???

Dan

[Bart]

Originally posted by dannmann1050
I left my agency after to much BS.

that wasnt exactly the wisest move. departments always question why an applicant would just leave an agency without securing another job. like any other profession, its easier to get hired if youre currently employed as opposed to the opposite. that coupled with the fact that florida gets applicants from all over the country making the applicant pool larger and more people to choose from. if it were up to me, id have a residency requirement. that would weed out the applicants who are only coming to florida because they were rejected elsewhere.

anyway, the reason departments are complaining about understaffing isnt because of a lack of applicants. its because of a lack of funding. at least thats the way it is here.

[BadgerFan]

The problem(s) you're having with getting hired is most likely due to any reason you left your old LEO position. It sounds like you left on bad terms, and any new agency will contact your old dept. Leaving a job without having a new job as an LEO will cause any new dept to wonder why

[kirch]

Having been responsible for hiring people for many years (albeit not in LE, or in FL), I can tell you that I automatically have doubts about a person that comes in having a left a job without something else lined up. It may be my own personal prejudices, but I feel that it could indicate that the person is not much of a problem-solver, or that he or she has difficulty reaching mutual agreement with others. The 'my way or the highway' mentality, while it has its place in LE in certain situations, most often just causes more problems.

[sflcop]

FL is not complaining about lack of applicants, it is abotu qualified applicants. Whatever the reason is for you leaving... in another department's eye that could make you not qualified.

[dannmann1050]

I don't know where you get the idea that I had left on bad terms??? I guess a 30-day notice and FTO'ing till the last day is bad terms. Anyway.. How can the administration's say there are a lack of qualified applications, when LEO after LEO can't find a job? Someone like myself, who doesn't have one thing negative in their file can't get the time of day, but someone who has sold drug's and committed armed robbery on video get's their job back. Not only their job back, but re-instated to FTO for their good deeds as a robbing drug dealer, promoted to a supervisory position. Only in Florida.. I can't wait to leave this state, at least up North the unions have power and pull.. And, the officer's are still somewhat respected.

[sflcop]

Up north the unions have too much pull. The fact that you cannnot get hired unless you know someone speaks volumes. There are a lack of qualified applicants in FL. Everyone wants to be a cop. You have to remember... just because you are certified, just because there is nothing negative in your file does NOT mean you are a qualified applicant. We have had several people leave during FTO for whatever reason with nothing negative in their file, but I would hardly call them qualified to work here or with any other department. Remember, unless you are in HR doing backgrounds you really do not know the quality of who your agency (or any other) is bringing in. All I can say is keep trying, pull a copy of your jacket where you worked to make sure everything is in order, and never give up.

[dannmann1050]

I just don't get how an FTO, with 4 years of SWAT and HNT can't get the time of day. It's simply amazing.. All these newer admin's want are rook's in the academy they can "mould."

[thepowerhouse]

hey man, rookies need a shot too!!! They did'nt go through the academy just for the hell of it.

[sflcop]

Originally posted by dannmann1050
I just don't get how an FTO, with 4 years of SWAT and HNT can't get the time of day. It's simply amazing.. All these newer admin's want are rook's in the academy they can "mould."

I THINK YOU ARE WRONG. IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO HIRE A CERTIFIED OFFICER THAN TO "MOLD" SOMEONE.

[thepowerhouse]

ohhhh so you think the whole friggin country should just only hire veterens and never give rookies a shot? Well then go ahead and grab a phonebook and call all the police academies that you can and tell them they are of no use anymore because because you think agencies should only hire veterens....Man, get real!

[sflcop]

I am not saying that there should be no rookies. He said that there is a lack of qualified people and that he cannot understand why a department would hire certified and not rookies. He said he felt he was being discriminated against as a certified LEO. I was simply stating that it would not make sense for a department to DQ him for no reason as a certified officer, because it would be cheaper to hire him than it would be to hire a fresh rookie.

[SaNdMaN]

I THINK YOU ARE WRONG. IT IS MUCH CHEAPER TO HIRE A CERTIFIED OFFICER THAN TO "MOLD" SOMEONE.

I think I may disagree with this one...We've had alot of laterals we've let go because of ingrained bad habits...I think it's always a roll of the dice with recent hires...

Personally bro, it sounds like someone is badmouthing you at your old PD...It happened to me, I ****ed off an LT and ended up with an unsuccessful eval and 6 month "special evaluation." Coincidentaly when he knew I was about to test to lateral to another PD. Automatic disqualifier...:(

Probably not the same situation, but I understand your frustration...