San Francisco PD Questions

[not-a-deputy-yet]

Anyone with any info on SF PD? I am planning on applying and would like all info that I can get. Any positive negative things? I know the pay is good and all that, also it may not be much for that area, SF is expensive to live in. Any rookies recently started working there? Do most SF PD officers live in or around SF or do they live where they have to commute in order to afford housing and living costs? I am not a latteral, I am a potential new recruit, I currently live in Sacramento with myself and my wife making about 58k a year, not much I know but it seems enough for this area, I am planning on my wife staying at home with our kids eventually, when I start making a little more $$. I currently make 37k myself.

[DOAcop38]

why not apply for Sac county sheriffs or Sac PD?? you are in the area and can afford the COL there now,so why change?do you like SF area better than Sac area? Theres quite a few agencies in the SAC county area to apply for -West Sac PD, SAC PD,Citrus Heights Pd,Galt Pd,Folsom PD, Elk grove PD,even nearby Davis PD and UC Davis PD./CSU Sac. PD but if you want the bay area for sure,email "gaffud" on this site or go to his other email @ sfpd322@hotmail.com good luck...........

[not-a-deputy-yet]

why not apply for Sac county sheriffs or Sac PD?? you are in the area and can afford the COL there now,so why change?do you like SF area better than Sac area? Theres quite a few agencies in the SAC county area to apply for -West Sac PD, SAC PD,Citrus Heights Pd,Galt Pd,Folsom PD, Elk grove PD,even nearby Davis PD and UC Davis PD. but if you want the bay area for sure,email "gaffud" on this site or go to his other email @ sfpd322@hotmail.com.good luck...........

Sac County Sheriff is what I applied for before and the T score had to be in the high 50's, so I didn't pass that, than I applied for CHP and got a 49.5 Tscore but didn't get enough points on my orral interview and since now I have a TScore that SFPD would accept I am not wanting to take another written exam (I hate them) Sac PD only hires new recruits with college education ( I only graduated fro High School and went to a Vocational School) so at this time Sac PD won't work for now. West Sac PD, Citrus Heights, Galt PD Folsom PD, Elk Grove PD and both Davis are not hiring new recruits or cadets only latterals. SF PD pays 65K for just the academy and than start off at around 80k after graduation.

[faithbck]

I'm starting academy with SFPD. They're trying to streamline the hiring process but mine took about 1 year from written test to appointment to academy.

I'd think that the base pay is enough to live on for 2 people, but if you have children, it'd be really tough. Mostly because of the jump from 1 bedroom apartments to 2 or 3 bedrooms, plus maybe a need for a second car. But if your wife worked part-time or something from home, I could see it being quite do-able.

Check out craigslist.org for rental advertisements; use maybe Sunset or Richmond districts as estimates as they are family friendly and generally safe neighborhoods. Food costs I find really low since there is a huge number of supermarkets, asian grocers, etc to you can shop cheaply with little effort.

http://sfbayareacops.proboards62.com/ is SF Bay Area Cops board, registration required.

[18C3V]

I'm with SFPD. Like with every agency we have our problems with politics. The good thing with SFPD is that our benefits is alot better than most depts.

I was born and raised in San Francisco. While in the academy, FTO, Probation and years on the force, I lived in San Francisco which made commuting alot easier. However, I live near the city so my commute time is still short and I don't have to cross any bridges (Golden Gate or the Bay Bridge).

I'm currently on the full time SWAT team and in the National Guard. In my National Guard Special Forces Company we have cops from LAPD, LASO, San Diego PD, San Jose, Sacramento, CHP, FAM, DEA, DOE, San Luis Obispo, Oakland, Fresno, Mountain View, Riverside, among other agencies in California.

Everytime we talk shop it's always about benefits, although some of the agencies beats mine in pay, they don't have most of the good stuff that we have. The biggest perk I found out comparing with other LEA, is that our comptime, FTO pay, and PT days well exceed other depts.

For me comptime is a big thing since I'm required to take personal days off for military for drill weekends (AT, ADT is covered by the city not to exceed 30 days, past 30 days you have to use your own time.)

For example:
480 hrs max for comptime.
1040 hrs for sick time. (can cash out 100 hrs per year if only call in sick 3x per year)
30 days of military leave.
0-5 yrs 320 hrs max Vacation time
5-15 yrs 360 hrs max vacation time
15+ 400 hrs max vacation
4 floating holidays
4 PT days off per year, if you max the semi annually PT test. (all officers hired after 1994 are required to take the PT test).
Holiday pay which equals to doubletime and a half.
4/10 plan.
The city will offset your police salary for one year if called up for OEF/OIF/OEF-P or any other Presidential Mobilization.

FTO pay: 550 per pay check and for Sgts it's 400 per pay check.

The ability to take time off without getting into trouble from the bosses.
The ability to go on military leave without any hassles for cops who are still serving in the armed forces.

[nr5667]

What's the recruiting situation for the SFPD right now?

Their website mentions an accelerated process...

I'll have my B.A in December, from Santa Cruz, so it looks very attractive to me - the only real city in California and I am quite fond of it...

[18C3V]

What's the recruiting situation for the SFPD right now?

Their website mentions an accelerated process...

I'll have my B.A in December, from Santa Cruz, so it looks very attractive to me - the only real city in California and I am quite fond of it...

Well,
I heard that the city wants to hire 750 cops over three years and the hiring process is what the website says.

[DeltaBravo404]

Whats their tattoo policy?

[shaund44]

I am really interestd in this department, is there a officer that works for them on this forum someone who has up to date info on them.. I am looking for retirement bennys do they have a pension or overtime gigs.. Money is fine im single with no kids. also the crime how bad is it there, is it as bad a LA or San Diego. Any info would be great.

[18C3V]

http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?id=20183

Here you go...read all the stuff and it should answer almost all of your questions and a phone number for the tatoo question.