Stlco Pd

[Nhoc6131]

Hey,

Hopefully A STLCOPD officer can comment on this. I've been doing a few ride alongs with the county all went well. On my last one though I rode with an officer that was quite bitter with several department level things. I wanted to get someone elses take on it since STLCOPD is going to be my primary department I apply with, already trying to go for an internship there this summer. Anyway he had alot of critism as regard to them not paying him his pay raises that were in his contract, he said the medical and dental benefits have gone down alot and he cant afford to have his family covered, and the retirement plan is awful.

I had always heard STLCOPD regarded as a very good department in those categories but maybe I what I heard was mistaken? Thanks for the help, I like to know what im getting myself into!

[NBW791]

I have no knowledge of that department but I can tell you that you'll find people who love it & people who hate it at EVERY department. That's true for the private industry too.

[DesertRat]

I've been looking at them myself and met a few folks working there and a retiree. Everybody I've talked to loved it there and pushed hard to recruit. The benefit package has been getting progressively worse but that is a missouri wide thing and I think in regard to medical insurance is becoming a nationwide thing. Coming out of NV where I was paying less than $200/month for family coverage (gotta love the casino industry) it blew my mind to come to work for the state where I'm have to pay almost $400. Now I'm talking to departments that are charging $500-700 a month. A buddy of mine works for Cape Girardeau city PD and he dropped the insurance and went out and found better private coverage for $250/month less. What's the point of group coverage if you can find it cheaper on your own?

[Pintobean]

Desert Rat,

Wow, it's been a while... Where are you at in MO? Again, I envy you for being able to move to a better place. Life here at Metro is the same, lots of BS, still good money, but I'm moving back to the midwest when I retire...I hope your new job is good...

[DesertRat]

Hi Bean:

We are along the Mississippi river south of St. Louis. If we ignore the whole money thing, life is good. They tax the begeezes out of you here though.

I am a little shocked at how much I'm starting to miss the whole police work routine. This gig I'm in now is completely low drag, no stress but then again, no excitement, no camaraderie.

Part of me wishes I would have taken a leave of absence for a year and just de-compressed there but then again, I was never really a Vegas guy. The town that is. I liked the department as much as you could any and really miss the people I worked with but I have to admit it's really nice to have museums, the zoo, six flags, live theater, ethnic restaurants where the proprietors are the same ethnicity as the food, and to be able to go into the woods surrounded by real green trees and fish for something besides trout.
I also fell over when I found out I could walk into Wal-Mart and by all the deer tags I want for $14 each; and fill them.

[NORCOCOP]

I don't work for St. Louis County but I have a few friends who do an I work in the north St. Louis county area. I am pretty sure county prefers to hire veteran officers, as oppossed to new recruits, you can however attend their academy and go to any area department you would like. The raises their are not the best, but they are decent compared to the mid level dept's in the area. You can make at least as much going to a larger or mid sized respectable depatment in the area. I have found in my own experience you get a chance to learn your area you patrol a little better in a smaller department. Which if you would like to get to know your local idiots and criminals and crappy areas is really helpful.

It is definitely a better idea to go do ride alongs with local dept's you think might hold intrest for you and make a good comparative analysis. Because no matter your background alot of recruits out of the academy have a good long wait before hiring. It took nearly 6 months for me to got on with my dept. due to a lengthy process for hiring. If you would like to do a ride along in good north county dept. that is mid sized with decent benefits pm me, and I can hook you up.

[Nhoc6131]

Excellent, Thanks for the Replies.

I have done about 3 ride alongs with STLCO and I have done about 2 with an out town department down in Columbia, MO. My last STL ride along officer is what sparked this post. I'd like to work for the county just because its where i was born and raised and I know the area. also as the cliche of making a difference, id like to make "the difference" in somewhere where I know the residents already.

As far as the academy goes with out being sponsored by Stlco and getting on with another department I'm kind of scared. I've heard of several guys that are having problems getting jobs with local munci's due to the amount of prior military going through the academy.

Stlco is my primary choice so far but I've learned that in LEO back up plans are everything.

Any more insight on STL area departments is greatly appreciated!

[STLCPD]

You can do a ride along with me anytime! I can answer any question you would like about the department.

[Nhoc6131]

I've never been one to turn down a Ride along. I love them. Though Be prepared to work because I seem to be bad luck :) Its either 0 calls or 30 when I'm out there.

[STLCPD]

Oh no we will work. I'm in the traffic unit. You will get your full share a traffic stops!

[haus409]

You can do a ride along with me anytime! I can answer any question you would like about the department.

Is this an open invitation? :P I am just now finishing an application for the County and would like to go on a few ride alongs up there. I've been working small town for four years, it'll be a different world up there. For once I'm not 100% sure what to expect.

[PTR-Jason]

Where I work I am paying about 14 dollars a month for FULL coverage for myself. as well as an additional 5 bucks for another 250K to be added to my life insuarance, only 50K is provided now. Our retirement is also 200% FULLY VESTED after 5 years. Meaning if I put in 200 dollars the Tribe I work for puts in 400, so 600 total. Its great, but I am moving out of state so I have to say goodbye to that.

[midwest5-0]

NHOC6131,

I'm a city officer and can tell you firsthand that you'll here gripes no matter where you go. Every department has there pros and cons. I have friends in the county who have their share of gripes, but who doesn't. I would seriously worry about someone who didn't want the best for themselves and family. They still love working there. My opinion...the County is a great department with top notch officers. It's about as professional as they come and a great place to learn. All departments in the state of Missouri are battling benifits and pension fiascos. It's the nature of the beast. Not a very cop friendly state. I'm just as disgruntled as the rest, but I still enjoy the job. Don't let one officer discourage you. Good luck in the process!!! Stay Safe!!!

[midwest5-0]

Holy "English 101"...I really meant "hear" and "their'...this is what happens when you type in your sleep...don't come to the city cuz we can't spell

[Nhoc6131]

Hello,

Thanks for the replies, I value every single one of them. Its about what I expected to hear was the case. The officer was an extremely nice guy as every county guy I've run across has been. I had officers before that were like this is the place to be and then I went out with this officer and it was a bit of an eye opener. Though he did say he really like what you STL metro have for retirements.

All in all I'm not too discouraged because working in my own neighborhood means more to me then a few more bucks. Hopefully, I land my internship this summer and get ALOT more perspectives on everything. Until Then I'll have to keep relying on Ride-alongs. Which I think every person that can pass the background checks should do. I know alot of people that are very intimidated by I guess just the appearance of authority, but if more did ride alongs I think society would see "Oh they are human after all.. and have a sense of humor oh my gosh!"

Anyway thanks the replies any more comments would be great!