NYPD promotions

[darkhelmet]

hello, I searched the forums for this answer and didnt find anything... although whenever i search i get 1000 results.. maybe im doing it wrong..

my question is this

does anyone know how it works when a person wants to become detective. To be quite honest I am joining the NYPD solely for that reason.. i could probably do well on the sgts test (i have a masters) however I am not the type of person to spit orders around... i was under the impression if you are put into a investigative dept you will automatically make detective after 1.5 years (according to NYS law) how does a person get into a dept that is deemed "investigative". I may be entirely wrong but i have no idea how it works so i figured i would ask thanks...

EDI: i actually found a thread taht had something similar.. so my question would be how does a person get into certain departments.

[PTLovesMe81]

hello, I searched the forums for this answer and didnt find anything... although whenever i search i get 1000 results.. maybe im doing it wrong..

my question is this

does anyone know how it works when a person wants to become detective. To be quite honest I am joining the NYPD solely for that reason.. i could probably do well on the sgts test (i have a masters) however I am not the type of person to spit orders around... i was under the impression if you are put into a investigative dept you will automatically make detective after 1.5 years (according to NYS law) how does a person get into a dept that is deemed "investigative". I may be entirely wrong but i have no idea how it works so i figured i would ask thanks...

EDI: i actually found a thread taht had something similar.. so my question would be how does a person get into certain departments.

There are a few units who get detective shields after 18 months.

When you say certain departments, do you mean like NCPD or SCPD or do you mean UNITS within NYPD?

If you mean DEPARTMENTS, you gotta take the civil service tests like everyone else and go through the processes for the most part.

If you mean UNITS within the NYPD after your probationary period you apply, interview, take tests if they have them (ESU, K9, etc) and use your huge hooks.

[darkhelmet]

i meant units sorry haha

[PTLovesMe81]

i meant units sorry haha

Haha I figured thats why I answered above. Did that give you enough insight? I can go into some more detail but the application process is different for all the units. ESU has a pretty grueling physical test, K9 does as well, Highway has a motorcycle test. They all have interviews and applications and I believe you need to be off probation for them.

If you have specific units in particular maybe I can get some more info for ya, let me know.

[darkhelmet]

thanks for your quick response man :) are investigative units extremely hard to get into? I was thinking about maybe computer crime (if they have something like that) . Tbh anything that will get my foot in the door so i can work my way to detective would be awesome.

[PTLovesMe81]

thanks for your quick response man :) are investigative units extremely hard to get into? I was thinking about maybe computer crime (if they have something like that) . Tbh anything that will get my foot in the door so i can work my way to detective would be awesome.

As far as which units you can get an automatic 18 month shield from I think Narcotics and IAB are two of them. Sorry, you are at the limit of my personal knowlege. Maybe someone with more time on can give us some insight.

[darkhelmet]

narcotics i hear you need to send a picture of yourself looking like a crack head.. i dont know if i can pull that off ha.. thanks for your quick responses though.. you have been helpful

[PTLovesMe81]

narcotics i hear you need to send a picture of yourself looking like a crack head.. i dont know if i can pull that off ha.. thanks for your quick responses though.. you have been helpful

You're welcome man. Good luck with everything.

[darkhelmet]

1more question.. does having an advanced degree such as a Bachelors or a Masters help a person with promotion?

[PTLovesMe81]

1more question.. does having an advanced degree such as a Bachelors or a Masters help a person with promotion?

I believe to get promoted to Lieutenant you need a Bachelors degree. Not positive though.

[darkhelmet]

will a person with an advanced degree have a better chance at promotion than someone who doesnt.. im sure the answer is obvious but the NYPD and their system is kinda weird so who knows... for example would they offer a detective position to someone with a bachelors with 4 years experience over someone with an associates with 5+ years experience?

[ZeroHero123]

I believe to get promoted to Lieutenant you need a Bachelors degree. Not positive though.


96 College credits needed to be promoted to Lieutenant. Bachelors degree required to be promoted to captain.

[John2008]

The NYPD website lists the "average" pay for a Sgt. at 100k? How realistic is that number?

They bring in more, I have a family member that's a SGT and he cleared 115k last year I believe a think a lil higher.

[AnyPD]

will a person with an advanced degree have a better chance at promotion than someone who doesnt.. im sure the answer is obvious but the NYPD and their system is kinda weird so who knows... for example would they offer a detective position to someone with a bachelors with 4 years experience over someone with an associates with 5+ years experience?

The advanced degre has NO weight on your promotion. It is a civil service test based on the NYPDs Patrol Guide. I could have a degree in basket making and get promoted before you if I received a higher score.

[darkhelmet]

The advanced degre has NO weight on your promotion. It is a civil service test based on the NYPDs Patrol Guide. I could have a degree in basket making and get promoted before you if I received a higher score.

well what about jobs that arent not based on a test.. like detective... would someone with an advanced degree have a better shot than someone who does not? also im sure if someone with a bachelors scored a 95 on the sergeants test and someone with an associates got the same score the person with a bachelors would be picked first no?

[AnyPD]

well what about jobs that arent not based on a test.. like detective... would someone with an advanced degree have a better shot than someone who does not? also im sure if someone with a bachelors scored a 95 on the sergeants test and someone with an associates got the same score the person with a bachelors would be picked first no?

This could be tough to answer. For a specialty its a little of everything. I know a guy that did maintanence on helicopters and was a pilot in the army but a chiefs son got chosen for aviation over him. If no hooks/cranes are used. It depends how the candidate sells himself through the interview, it would make sense for the higher qualified candidate to get the position but not everything done on this job makes sense. What I'm trying to say is there is no real answer, it depends on the candidate and the one making the decision.

[bam987]

They bring in more, I have a family member that's a SGT and he cleared 115k last year I believe a think a lil higher.

Was he a regular squad sgt or special assignemnt like esu,detective? Was the command busy? How many years as a sgt does he have on? Just curious becasue that's a beautiful salary.:D

[John2008]

Was he a regular squad sgt or special assignemnt like esu,detective? Was the command busy? How many years as a sgt does he have on? Just curious becasue that's a beautiful salary.:D

he has 8 years as a Sgt, when you first become a sgt the pay difference from PO to SGT isn't much, but at the end you see the difference. You also loose a lot of benefits when you go from P.O to SGT.

[bklynbob]

he has 8 years as a Sgt, when you first become a sgt the pay difference from PO to SGT isn't much, but at the end you see the difference. You also loose a lot of benefits when you go from P.O to SGT.

the sba has the best prescription plan because it is administered by sba employees,no middle man.The lba actually has the worst plan,especially if you're retired.

[darkhelmet]

whats sba and lba?

[John2008]

whats sba and lba?

PBA=Patrolmen's Benevolent Association
SBA=Sergeants Benevolent Association
LBA=Lieutenants Benevolent Association

[darkhelmet]

so if someone is a sergeant and lieutenant their union and their benefit package changes? I guess you learn something new everyday