Any nice departments around Philly?

[e-man]

Are there any nice departments to work for in the Philly area? Iam looking to move and would like to go WARM but that might not happen so closer to NY might be better...

[ROTCDan10]

I'm from just outside of the city. What areas are you looking at specifically?

[Operator13]

The two PD's I've had experience in dealing with (Fire & EMS) are in Bucks County. Bensalem Twp is a decent sized department (for the area) and has some specialized units (1st narcotics squad in county, motorcylce units, etc) and I know at least a few officers get take-homes. Has a reputaion for being very aggressive & pro-active.

I know Bristol has been doing some hiring recently.

I'm almost positive Bensalem has done laterals in the past and I know for sure Bristol has hired laterals from other departments.

http://www.bensalem-township.net/departments/police/

http://www.btpolice.com/

[orlandofed5-0]

Bensalem has some projects in its lower end. Plus some high end shopping areas so you get a mix of everything/

Bristol, are you talking the TWP or Borough? the borough is a craphole.

Check out Univ. Of Penn police (inside the city) as they are the highest starting pd within the city. Also check out departments in Montgomery county as they generally start out alot higher than the city (IE Upper Merion, home of the King OF PRussia shopping area)

[SWATcop]

On the OTHER side of the bridge (NJ) you have lots of Police Departments to choose from. Take the NJ civil service exam. I'd have to say hands down that the New Jersey State Police is the best agency in the state, though.

[Operator13]

Bensalem has some projects in its lower end. Plus some high end shopping areas so you get a mix of everything/

Bristol, are you talking the TWP or Borough? the borough is a craphole.

Check out Univ. Of Penn police (inside the city) as they are the highest starting pd within the city. Also check out departments in Montgomery county as they generally start out alot higher than the city (IE Upper Merion, home of the King OF PRussia shopping area)

I meant the township. Bensalem has a couple lower income complexes in the lower end but I don't beleive there are any actual projects. There's one place on Richleu road that's not so, shall we say pleasent.

They used to have Doral Gardens back in the 70s-80s. Before it burned down that place was scary, at least for unarmed EMTs ;) When they re-built it wasn't anything like it was. Still has some section 8 but I think regular residents also. It's nothing like it was.

Bensalem does have a lot of diversity for it's size (approx 55K population).

I think e-man's already certified as a municpal PO in PA so could probably just lateral. Would NJ honor his PA training?

[e-man]

Sorry guys but Iam too old for a Police job in NJ. Gotta be on the street b4 age 35. Phew I feel old.
Thanks for the info. Iam looking for a place that is growing unlike Pittsburgh, so thats why Iam posting alot about Fla. and Arizona. Easy to get hired and my soon to be teacher wife might get a job...

[normy0]

I've heard good things about Lower Merion Township (Montgomery County). They are supposed to be the Mount Lebanon of Philly Suburbs. Plus, they were on an episode of Investigative Reports on A and E :D

Here is some info about them.

http://www.lowermerion.org/lmpd/recruit.html

[orlandofed5-0]

Lower Merion is also VERY freaking sleective of who they hire. Almost all the cops have at least 3 years on the job, at minimum 60 credits etc. I was in the reserves with a guy who worked for them and then they hired another fellow reservist who gave up a great job for $6.00/hr (which is what they paid him while in the academy).

[Washingtonian]

Are there any nice departments to work for in the Philly area? Iam looking to move and would like to go WARM but that might not happen so closer to NY might be better...

You want to leave the Burgh for PHILLY???? You lose your mind?

[IC74]

You also might want to look at Abington Twp, Cheltenham, Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland, Upper Darby and a couple of others in Montgomery County. They do consortium testing out there alot......1 app & app fee and you just check off which Departments you are qualified for. You'll still have to go out for a interview and physical agility for each one although some bunch up on the agilities. Pretty much the same as in Western Pa. Decent pay alot do the twelve hour schedule.

[e-man]

Does Montgomery have their own county police? I knew a guy from the city here who left for Mont. COunty, dont know if it was a town or local P.D. He was from out that way and his wife i think landed a key job...

[e-man]

You want to leave the Burgh for PHILLY???? You lose your mind?
I think it has more to do with CAN my wife find a teaching job here in 2-3 yrs. I dont think the population decline will afford her to. Thats why my interest in Az. and Fla. they still have people moving there unlike Pittsburgh, I know Philly is also declining though...

[IC74]

No County Police Department just your typical Townships, Boroughs etc. If your thinking of Florida, Collier County SO is hiring, its on the Gulf side. They will put you through the Florida crossover class (some Departments won't)which is two week. They really need people and are offering up to a $3000 signing bonus. I have a friend that moved down there about 6 years ago from PA and loves it.

[Lillian]

You also might want to look at Abington Twp, Cheltenham, Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland, Upper Darby and a couple of others in Montgomery County. They do consortium testing out there alot......1 app & app fee and you just check off which Departments you are qualified for. You'll still have to go out for a interview and physical agility for each one although some bunch up on the agilities. Pretty much the same as in Western Pa. Decent pay alot do the twelve hour schedule.

Upper Darby PD, which is in Delaware County, serves approx. 82,000+ residents. The officer definitely have their work cut out for them, as a lot of undesirables have moved into the area from Philadelphia and Chester, PA (courtesy of Section 8 Housing).

BTW, I am from Upper Darby and have been here for the past 18 years. I can tell you things can get very busy here.

Check the website for UDPD (www.udpd.org).

If you're interested in the area, there are a lot of nice places in Delco, such as Broomall, Springfield, Havertown, Newtown Square, and so on.

Check out Wikipedia's info on Upper Darby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Darby,_Pennsylvania) and then have a look see at the adjacent municipalities.

Best of luck to you and please stay safe.

Lillian aka kk

[eightyo]

I had two park rangers from whatever county Philli is in a class. They seemed very happy, fully loaded (Shotguns, and AR's) take home cars (explorers). Don't let the ranger thing throw you. They are more like park police.

[NYPDjock]

Lower Merion is also VERY freaking sleective of who they hire. Almost all the cops have at least 3 years on the job, at minimum 60 credits etc. I was in the reserves with a guy who worked for them and then they hired another fellow reservist who gave up a great job for $6.00/hr (which is what they paid him while in the academy).

How selective is the Philadelphia Police Department?

[IC74]

I think you have to live in Philly for 1 year before you can even apply.

[normy0]

Does Montgomery have their own county police? I knew a guy from the city here who left for Mont. COunty, dont know if it was a town or local P.D. He was from out that way and his wife i think landed a key job...

I think your buddy probably left for Montgomery County, Maryland. They did a lot of testing up here after the city's massive layoffs and they advertise in the Post Gazette every so often.

[NavyCop]

I think you have to live in Philly for 1 year before you can even apply.

You can apply and take the test and not be a resident. In line with civil service laws, you have to be a Philadelphia resident for a full year before you are hired (the first day of the academy).

Philly PD is accepting applications until June 16th. I submitted my application and DD214 already. They will announce the test date after the application window closes. Once I take the test and get the results, I will move to Philly to finish the hiring process and start the clock on my residency requirements.

[normy0]

You can apply and take the test and not be a resident. In line with civil service laws, you have to be a Philadelphia resident for a full year before you are hired (the first day of the academy).

That is probably the most idiotic civil service rule I have ever heard of. If you were a civilian and offered a job who would want to wait for a year to accept it? Pa has some of the most ridiculous residency requirements I have ever seen. It seems most other states dont have any residency requirements.

[NYPDjock]

I heard that they will not start your background investigation until you're a resident. Is that true?

The website says your rank is based on your test score. Does anyone have any idea how many people take their exam?

[NavyCop]

The website says your rank is based on your test score. Does anyone have any idea how many people take their exam?


A guy who is in the academy right now and took the August 2005 exam told me that approx. 5000 took the exam at that time but I don't know how accurate that number is.

His class is 80 recruits, but that includes 12 SEPTA cops, so its only 68 Philly cops.

[NYPDjock]

Their hiring process must be fairly quick if he's already in the academy and took the exam in August of 2005!

[NavyCop]

Their hiring process must be fairly quick if he's already in the academy and took the exam in August of 2005!


From what I understand, they are short handed as it is but they are now facing a huge wave of retirements soon, so they are trying to get people through the academy before this happens.

[orlandofed5-0]

I had two park rangers from whatever county Philli is in a class. They seemed very happy, fully loaded (Shotguns, and AR's) take home cars (explorers). Don't let the ranger thing throw you. They are more like park police.

There is no such place as "Philli".. Its Philly!

Which park rangers have take homes? City park rangers arent cops and can only issue municpal citations(IE drinking in the park). Federal park rangers at Independence Hall do not have take homes nor do the state rangers. I think the person you met was either a game warden or fish and boat officer as they have take homes and lots of toys but dont have the same authority as a municpal officer.

I have several friends on the job. Lots of retirements coming up, also lots of folks leaving for other departments just to move out of the city.

I heard that they will not start your background investigation until you're a resident. Is that true?

They wont even contact you until you have a city residency. You will waste $35 for the test. You can be waived I belived if you are currently in the military.

Montgomery county has no county police. However they do have a sheriff's office which is currently hiring. You just missed the last consortium testing for the townships that border the city.

[shook0002]

How selective is the Philadelphia Police Department?
As long as you can pass the tests there pretty good. You must pass the written, and do a 1.5 mile run, situps,300meter dash,bench press in the 30th percentile by age. The academy is pretty good too. I'm currently in the process so I can get out of the Transit Police, I have to go through the hiring process then get my waiver to transfer.

[shook0002]

A guy who is in the academy right now and took the August 2005 exam told me that approx. 5000 took the exam at that time but I don't know how accurate that number is.

His class is 80 recruits, but that includes 12 SEPTA cops, so its only 68 Philly cops.

SEPTA----Stay far far away.

[LSExplorer22]

I did my internship with the Abington Police Department. I have had a lot of contact with numerous law enforcments agencies from Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Generally speaking, they are great cops and all like their job. The community actually respects them. They all have manners and are always training to become better at what they do. They do complain sometimes of the lack of excitement; but anywhere you can apply, do it. Good Luck.