Milwaukee

[medic]

I have an offer from MPD. I don't have a LE background. This is a second career for me and I would be leaving a pretty good job for it. I know that things have been rocky for the department for the past few years. I'm just looking for some insight as to what the working conditions are really like for MPD. How bad is the moral? Is it a huge mistake to go there right now? What's the academy like?

I certainly appreciate any insight and help on this. If it's easir for you to PM me, that's fine. Thanks

[Staubb00]

hum i don't have any exp with them but if you don't want the job there are 1,000 other guys that will take it -me included :D

edit- how was the hiring process? what were your test scores and interviews like?

[medic]

The hiring process seemed okay. It's the only department that I've been through. I think that my score on the written was about 91%. That put me above 150 in the ranking. I did not have any bonus points for residency, military, or police science/criminal justice degrees.

Physical ability was easy, interviews were pretty easy. The background took a really long time, but my detective was really nice and helpful. I think that they're being extra careful due to some of the recent problems.

I've been impressed with the very few people that I've met from the department and FPC. They seem nice and professional. Of course, this contact has been incredibly limited. It's a bureaucracy like any other. Things move painfuly slow and then out of nowhere things seem to happen super fast.

Anyway, good luck.

[CPDjock]

Congratulations on your offer! :D If I were you, I'd take it. Money isn't everything and who knows if or when you may get hired by another LE agency. Not to mention the time and effort you have already put forth through the hiring process. You can always return to flying if you decide LE isn't for you.

I took their June exam, got a list number just over 1000 and haven't heard anything else from them. I believe the list is good for five years but I'm not sure.

[candog]

congrats I would take the job, I ranked like 735 from the june test. I heard that they have contacted the first 400 people thus far.

[K9 Police]

I am not in your shoes, and neither are you in mine. With that being said, I personally would NOT take a job with Milwaukee PD. I attended the Milwaukee County SO academy and there were a couple MPD Officers in my class. As you stated, the department has a lot of morale issues as well as working condition issues that have made a lot of people jump ship. I grew up in the Milwaukee area and that PD has always had issues even when I was younger. I have heard that the new chief is doing a better job with things, but Milwaukee is not a clean or pretty city. I would hope that you have at least gone through a ride-along or talked to some coppers on the street before making the decision.

As far as the academy, it is very military-like. Not a live-in academy, but when you are there you are being yelled at and told what to do every single second. I remember an ex-officer telling me that they would be screaming at you as you tried to grab your food and had sometimes a minute to eat it. Not sure on the validity of it all, but I believed him.

K9

[medic]

Thanks for the replies and advice.

K9: I grew up in and around MKE. You're right it, always seemed that the Department kind of went from one problem to the next. Maybe that's typical of large urban areas, I don't know. There's some indication that the new Chief is turning things around. That kind of change takes a long time, I guess.

I used to know a few cops in MKE, but have lost touch. I wish that I had access to someone on the department for some advice. If you know anyone, and could put me in touch, I'd be grateful. Not sure if they allow ride alongs, but I'll call to find out. I had heard that they did not.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice.

[K9 Police]

My former Sgt. was a Milwaukee PD Officer and he left because he told me that the last good place to live in Milwaukee turned to crap. He no longer felt that his family was safe, especially after his wife was in a local Walgreens when it was robbed. Remember, you must live in Milwaukee if you are hired (I haven't heard that changing). Keep that in mind if you have or want a family.

K9

[guntotin]

Milwaukee is a great place to get your foot in the door. You will be exposed to just about anything you can think of as a cop, and a lot of it. I would compare it to a mini Detroit. It is very busy, especially on the early shift (2nd shift). Districts 2,3,4,5, and 7 are the busiest, with 3,5, and 7 being very, very busy. The city itself has some nice areas to live if you know where to look, but I would not suggest sending my kids to their public schools. They have some outstanding police officers, but they also have their share of knuckleheads and lazy cops. Although I would imagine that goes for just about any large department. if you take the job and work there for awhile, you can always apply elsewhere. Some of the area departments like former Miwaukee cops because of their experience, but some don't like MKE because of all the negative press. If you really want to be a cop and can handle the stress, long hours (lots of overtime), and the constant dealings with shat heads, even most of the victims are worthless, Milwaukee is the place. The residency requirement is the only really crappy thing about the department, despite the bad rap they are always getting. And my final bit of advice if you do take the job is, NEVER EVER let your guard guard down.

[K9 Police]

I would compare it to a mini Detroit.

If not the next Detriot.

K9