FHP Troops

[jb2000]

Hey guys,

I have been a reader here for quite a while, but never had a reason to post anything. I just graduated from college and have been an LEO outside of Florida for a very short time.

I just found yesterday from my BI that I have been accepted into the September 2, 2007 FHP class. I am pretty psyched about it!

I was hoping to get some insight from some seasoned Florida LEO's on the best FHP Troops or areas to be in. I will at some point get to select three Troops that I am interested in, but am in no way guaranteed anything. My BI told me that the areas I am interested in though, are high demand for new troopers.

I am interested in Orlando, Orange county area. Ft.Myers (Lee County); and Miami, (Miami-Dade)... I am looking to become more involved in highway narcotic interdiction among my other duties.. But from what I'm told by various sources, Ft.Myers and Miami would be the best area's for that. At this point in my career I want to be as busy as possible, I'm in my early twenties and I want to make the most of the early years of my career.

So if anyone could give me any insight, or personal reccomendations, they would be appreciated.

Thanks guys, and stay safe.

[J-ville 5-0]

Why FHP?

The city/county has much more to offer....and better pay/pension too!.

Just read thread http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68306

All the cities that you're interested in have city/county agencies that are hiring.

[towncop]

Guys, as a police officer for 9 years.....I would LOVE to get on with FHP. Why? Cause it would be so nice to just write tickets all day and work accidents!!! No BS domestic calls with the same people over and over. Would be a nice career change.

[J-ville 5-0]

Guys, as a police officer for 9 years.....I would LOVE to get on with FHP. Why? Cause it would be so nice to just write tickets all day and work accidents!!! No BS domestic calls with the same people over and over. Would be a nice career change.

Can we say, BURNED OUT?

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

[ftlaudcop]

to start out and you don't know any better fine and dandy,

all state agency's are bad paying, unless ya wanna work off duty details

to make some money, and thats only in a populated county.

[agcop]

to start out and you don't know any better fine and dandy,

all state agency's are bad paying, unless ya wanna work off duty details

to make some money, and thats only in a populated county.

I agree with ftlaudcop we are very low pay, but in my case I work more than enough off-duty in J'VILLE, FL. I have made up to 15k in off-duty work thanks to my dear friends (SGTS, LTS, OFCS) that work with JSO.

[J-ville 5-0]

I agree with ftlaudcop we are very low pay, but in my case I work more than enough off-duty in J'VILLE, FL. I have made up to 15k in off-duty work thanks to my dear friends (SGTS, LTS, OFCS) that work with JSO.


That's great that your making a boatload in off-duty. But the key is to work less and get paid more. Personally, I'd rather be fishing than sitting on the side of the road, with your blue lights on, watching a DVD. Five days off means five days off, not three or four days working off-duty.

I work about thirty or forty hours a month, usually just one day an off cycle.

[agcop]

That's great that your making a boatload in off-duty. But the key is to work less and get paid more. Personally, I'd rather be fishing than sitting on the side of the road, with your blue lights on, watching a DVD. Five days off means five days off, not three or four days working off-duty.

I work about thirty or forty hours a month, usually just one day an off cycle.

You are 100% right big money!! But boys will be boys and we like to have our toys!! BTW I can't pass up those $24-32/hr gigs. One day it might not be there!!

[Joe906]

It's really up to you. If you want less pay, just do traffic and have them send you whereever they want in the state then go for it. However the local agencies are going to pay better and you will have more room to move up or to move within the department in case you find out the drug thing isn't your cup of tea. Just my 2 cents though again it's your decision.

[FullGrownBear]

I think you might want to try the Florida Turnpike in Orange County or Interstate 4. There's a lot less crashes which means more time to do contraband interdiction. If that doesn't work out, Miami or Ft. Myers (Alligator Alley) would be the second best on your list.


In Orange County itself you'll probably be just working crashes! Visitors + Tourism = CRASHES!


Also, don't mind some people on here discouraging you from an outstanding accomplishment of being selected to attend the FHP academy! Congratulations!! I know they mean well and want you to make and informed decision! But only You will find out on your own if you are meant to be a Trooper or a Deputy! Wish you the best of success!

[dogma vs karma]

congratulations!

[PD602]

Hey guys,

I have been a reader here for quite a while, but never had a reason to post anything. I just graduated from college and have been an LEO outside of Florida for a very short time.

I just found yesterday from my BI that I have been accepted into the September 2, 2007 FHP class. I am pretty psyched about it!

I was hoping to get some insight from some seasoned Florida LEO's on the best FHP Troops or areas to be in. I will at some point get to select three Troops that I am interested in, but am in no way guaranteed anything. My BI told me that the areas I am interested in though, are high demand for new troopers.

I am interested in Orlando, Orange county area. Ft.Myers (Lee County); and Miami, (Miami-Dade)... I am looking to become more involved in highway narcotic interdiction among my other duties.. But from what I'm told by various sources, Ft.Myers and Miami would be the best area's for that. At this point in my career I want to be as busy as possible, I'm in my early twenties and I want to make the most of the early years of my career.

So if anyone could give me any insight, or personal reccomendations, they would be appreciated.

Thanks guys, and stay safe.


I would reccomend Orange county because i believe you would have plenty to do and i am sure many opportunities for narcotic interdiction. Plus, I think it is a better area to live and work than Miami or Ft Meyers.

Congrats on FHP and I won't persuade you to go work for a city or county. You sound excited to be working for FHP and I don't want to discourage you because troopers are needed and just as important as the county and city police. Enjoy your career and have fun while staying safe.

[Florida Smokey]

Here isa great article regarding our interdiction units. As mentioned in the article, we usually stay pretty quiet when we make a good drug arrest.


http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/COLUMNISTS02/7
06130362/1002/NEWS01



Jurisdictions for law enforcement agencies are traditionally easy to define.

Police departments in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sanibel Island fight crime
in their cities.

The sheriff's office combats crime in the rest of Lee County.

What about the Florida Highway Patrol? It appears defined.

Florida.

Highway.

Patrol.

Troopers patrol highways.

But Federal Public Defender Martin DerOvanesian says troopers took a wrong
turn last month when they arrested his client for marijuana cultivation in
Lehigh Acres.

"What are they doing?'' he asks. "I was fascinated to learn the Florida
Highway Patrol had so much free time on its hands it could go chase down
grow houses in Lehigh Acres.''

Holy Broderick Crawford!

(Younger readers alert: "Highway Patrol,'' starring Crawford as Chief Dan
Mathews, hasn't yet made it to TV Land, but it was a hit from 1955-59. The
portly Mathews, wearing a jacket, tie and hat, pulled over drivers and
handed out tickets - sometimes with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.)

Mathews was DerOvanesian's kind of trooper, sticking to highways and not
patrolling the sticks of Lehigh.

But FHP Sgt. Dan Hinton says marijuana processing wasn't a concern when
Mathews enforced the TV highways.

"Grow houses are epidemic,'' he says. "They're out of control. The drug
problems coming from the east coast to the west coast are already here.''

Hinton says FHP and the Drug Enforcement Administration organized a task
force to target indoor marijuana cultivation operations.

"We had 18 marijuana grow house busts in Lehigh Acres for April, May and
March,'' he says.

I didn't know that.

"That's because we don't call a press conference every time we make a
bust,'' Hinton says.

Yet DerOvanesian wonders who is minding the roads while troopers sniff out
dope houses.

"It's no wonder no one is out enforcing the traffic,'' he says. "It looks
like an impressive number of FHP officers were off the streets for a
considerable amount of time on this one.''

His client, Jovany Aleman Noriega, 33, 829 Aprile Ave. S., is charged with
possession of 156 marijuana plants with intent to distribute.

Hinton says his five-member troop isn't neglecting highways. Troopers patrol
highways four days a week and bust grow houses the other day.

Malcolm Rhodes, who retired as FHP spokesman three years ago and works at
the federal courthouse as a guard, says troopers get tips during traffic
stops that lead to grow houses.

"It almost seems farfetched, but someone a trooper stops may have
information,'' he says.

Hinton says highway stops of marijuana transporters also lead troopers to
grow houses.

"We're talking about 250 plants,'' he says. "Those plants have to go
somewhere.''

Noriega's house is off the beaten path, not far from the Lee-Hendry county
line.

"Do you think FHP made a deal, and that the DEA is now writing traffic
citations?'' DerOvanesian asks.

Hinton laughs at the attorney's sarcasm.

"My guys' job is interdiction,'' he says. "We're getting (marijuana) before
it hits the streets. Tell Mr. DerOvanesian I put a lot of his clients in
prison.

"If he's got a problem, he can certainly call me directly.''

[towncop]

Can we say, BURNED OUT?

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
I hope you're not saying I'm burned out, because I'm really not. I love this job more than anything. I just wish I worked for a bigger department with a traffic unit as that would be a nice break.

[J-ville 5-0]

I hope you're not saying I'm burned out, because I'm really not. I love this job more than anything. I just wish I worked for a bigger department with a traffic unit as that would be a nice break.

TICKETS, CRASHES, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, CRASHES.........That's what the majority of what FHP does, hence the name, Florida Highway Patrol. Do they have a few specialized units that handle drugs, sure. But it takes time and experience to be selected to one of them. In fact, I recently had to handle a dispute on I95 that FHP was original called to. The complainant dialed *FHP to report the dispute. The FHP dispatcher patched the call to us because the dispatcher told our HQ that "FHP doesn't handle disputes". Do I respect the job FHP does? You bet, they handle most of the crashes on the interstate that I get dispatched to, which gives me time to be a proactive police officer.

[LATIN COP]

Hey congrats but if you really want to be more proactive stay out of Orange County most of the Troopers just run crash to crash now the turnpike those guys get to play. Stay out of Orange Co. The SO doesnt work anything that has to do with two cars striking each other.

[FullGrownBear]

TICKETS, CRASHES, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, CRASHES.........That's what the majority of what FHP does, hence the name, Florida Highway Patrol. Do they have a few specialized units that handle drugs, sure. But it takes time and experience to be selected to one of them. In fact, I recently had to handle a dispute on I95 that FHP was original called to. The complainant dialed *FHP to report the dispute. The FHP dispatcher patched the call to us because the dispatcher told our HQ that "FHP doesn't handle disputes". Do I respect the job FHP does? You bet, they handle most of the crashes on the interstate that I get dispatched to, which gives me time to be a proactive police officer.

I'm very sorry you had to go! Where I'm from you would not have responded, we handle it!! Lazy troopers like that is what makes you think is the way FHP runs. Trust me, we are all not that way!!

But, maybe, just maybe, that trooper said he will not handle the wreck, so I wont handle the dispute! Ya never know!

[towncop]

TICKETS, CRASHES, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS, CRASHES, CRASHES, CRASHES.........That's what the majority of what FHP does, hence the name, Florida Highway Patrol. Do they have a few specialized units that handle drugs, sure. But it takes time and experience to be selected to one of them. In fact, I recently had to handle a dispute on I95 that FHP was original called to. The complainant dialed *FHP to report the dispute. The FHP dispatcher patched the call to us because the dispatcher told our HQ that "FHP doesn't handle disputes". Do I respect the job FHP does? You bet, they handle most of the crashes on the interstate that I get dispatched to, which gives me time to be a proactive police officer.

Exactly what is your point here in your rant? I know what a Highway Patrol's primary duty is and would have NO problem doing that. And as far as an FHP special unit, eh, if I ever went down that way, I'm sure I wouldn't be thinking about that for some time. I'd just be enjoying the tickets and crash reports. :rolleyes:

[C.I.HOG]

You won't know if you don't try. Everyone is giving you there opinion as to how and what FHP is. My brother-inlaw is one in Palm beach. He's been there for quite a few years. Pay is low compared to county or city LE. You will personally never know for your self unless you try it.

[FullGrownBear]

Exactly what is your point here in your rant? I know what a Highway Patrol's primary duty is and would have NO problem doing that. And as far as an FHP special unit, eh, if I ever went down that way, I'm sure I wouldn't be thinking about that for some time. I'd just be enjoying the tickets and crash reports. :rolleyes:

Towncop: I wish I knew why J-ville 5-0 tries to belittle FHP with comments such as TICKETS,CRASHES, TICKETS,CRASHES. Implying that the name FHP means TICKETS,CRASHES, TICKETS, CRASHES. He says he likes the FHP because it lets him be proactive while FHP works crashes. In other words, they work the little stuff while I work the big stuff!! WOW! I must imagine, the city of Jacksonville did not really need FHP help when they called us out there because of the increase in crimes. I know crashes to J-ville 5-0 must not be police work, but it still requires police attention. But I hate to say that barking dog, loud music, someone took my lawnmower because I left it outside, false alarms and unnecessary civil disputes is not police work either, But IT STILL REQUIRES POLICE ATTENTION! So what gives?

I refuse to try to belittle anyone's job! We all serve a purpose for the security of the State!! J-ville 5-0, we do work murders, robberies, assaults & batteries, sexual assaults. It usually involves a vehicle or state property but it is worked!! It is each Trooper's or Trooper's Supervisor's independant choice though to work it at a local level! You must understand, we are so short handed in staffing that we are forced to pass it along to the locals most of the time so we can go handle a "petty crash". Just like local police refuse to work crashes, we are forced to refuse to work a dispute as well at times.

Just because those crimes I just mentioned are usually not house calls doesnt mean it's not the same crime when it ocurrs in the streets or highways. A crime is a crime is a crime. And it is handled in the same manner.

We are all not the slugs you think we are! Troopers can also choose to work the dispute or not. Just like a deputy can choose to work a crash or not! It always works both ways! Be Safe Sir!

[PhilosophyNerd]

I have a question for the members on the board. Crashes that take place on a State Road are usually handled by state troopers; however, there are times where at a crash scene, I may only local police officers or county sheriff's deputies respond. Can anyone tell me as to why the response from local authorites takes place at these accident scenes? http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c246/Mista-DJ-Paul-/dunno.gif

Thanks!

[FullGrownBear]

I have a question for the members on the board. Crashes that take place on a State Road are usually handled by state troopers; however, there are times where at a crash scene, I may only local police officers or county sheriff's deputies respond. Can anyone tell me as to why the response from local authorites takes place at these accident scenes? http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c246/Mista-DJ-Paul-/dunno.gif

Thanks!

Not all Counties but most of them just respond to help E.M.S. and clear the roadway so FHP can handle the call later. But there are some counties that have traffic deputies which take care of the call completely! So it just depends where you live! Also, if it's within a municipality, they always handle their own crashes.

[PhilosophyNerd]

Not all Counties but most of them just respond to help E.M.S. and clear the roadway so FHP can handle the call later. But there are some counties that have traffic deputies which take care of the call completely! So it just depends where you live! Also, if it's within a municipality, they always handle their own crashes.

Ohhhhhh, makes sense. Thanks for the insight; now I won't be so puzzled as to the local response for a state road crash. http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c246/Mista-DJ-Paul-/2thumbs.gif

[Mikis]

.....Or the local police can check for injury and/or render aid before the troopers get there.

[cnfowler]

jb2000, let's get this thread back on topic.

To answer your question (or rather give you my opinion) I think Troop K - Miami is your best bet for drug interdiction. Troop K is the Turnpike. They don't work many crashes and tons of drugs come up the Turnpike from Miami. When I was in Palm Beach, all the drug interdiction activites were done on the Turnpike.

Don't go to Orlando. These guys are so busy with crashes that they don't have time to do anything else. Most of the time there are many crashes holding just waiting for someone to clear the crash they're on. We were told the same while at the academy. 3 of the guys on my squad went to Orlando from their academy (20 years ago) and it was the same for them. So in other words, nothing has changed. Stay away from Orlando unless you like hearing "10-65 signal 4?" (that means "Clear to copy traffic crash?").

[LEO_Phenom]

jb2000, let's get this thread back on topic.

To answer your question (or rather give you my opinion) I think Troop K - Miami is your best bet for drug interdiction. Troop K is the Turnpike. They don't work many crashes and tons of drugs come up the Turnpike from Miami. When I was in Palm Beach, all the drug interdiction activites were done on the Turnpike.

Don't go to Orlando. These guys are so busy with crashes that they don't have time to do anything else. Most of the time there are many crashes holding just waiting for someone to clear the crash they're on. We were told the same while at the academy. 3 of the guys on my squad went to Orlando from their academy (20 years ago) and it was the same for them. So in other words, nothing has changed. Stay away from Orlando unless you like hearing "10-65 signal 4?" (that means "Clear to copy traffic crash?").

Are there any other Troops that work less accidents and more drugs/speed enforcement on the Pike or otherwise? I don't want to be stuck in a high crash area. I would prefer to deal with drug interdiction and highway enforcement (speeding, DUI, etc). All I know for now is Troop K. They give you three options--what should the other two be and why? Thanks for the insight.

Be safe!

[sidkid]

hey jb congrats, and i hope that you enjoy your le career with fhp. for me i personally hate crashes and just writting tickets. I do believe that is personal preference, additionally "money ain't everything" i feel that you have to love what you are doing. i had a job making plenty of money but i hated coming to work after a while. now i actually look foward to coming to work. i do not work part time jobs because i like to hang out on the beach and enjoy my family, i just manage my money well, plus i'm in the nat'l guard that gives me plenty of extra money to buy my toys.

oh if you really want to work dope it is better to go county/city.

[Manricky]

yes Miami Dade pays pretty good