Texas Police Officers

If I thought all people suck, I'd get in another line of work. Being a police officer means you have to help people, all people, even the ones that suck.
Getting hit up for driving directions is as much a part of the job as is the 'free food, driving fast, and getting to carry a gun."

As far as making the decision on going into law enforcement. You need to ask yourself several questions.

1. Do I want to stay near my hometown?
If you answer "yes" then you might be limiting yourself from the get go.

2. What type of law enforcement do you want to do? There are several types, all do things a little differently.
A. Sheriffs handle the whole county and perform a lot of dfferent tasks. Pay tends to be lower, benefits are not as good, shifts tend to rotate, politics on the job are a pain in the rear rear, and you tend to operate solo a lot more meaning your cover may be many miles away, and depending on your counties agreement with Austion you may or may not have to handle a wreck.

B. Constables do a lot of traffice enforcement, handle civil disputes, provide cover for deputies, police, and troopers. All of the pros and cons for being a deputy apply here as well.

C. City Police, depending on the size of the city, tend to pay much better, benefits are usually great, shifts may or may not rotate, many are protected my unions, politics tend to be less intrusive to the working officer, cover officers are closer as you often team up anyway, you work a smaller area, you can handle anything from wrecks to murders and anything in-between. Many require a degree of some sort, at least some college hours, your state lic, or the big ones just one you to pass theit tests and they'll send you to their own academy on their dime and pay you while you attend. In my opinion, that is the way to go. A big city will pay a cadet more a month while they are in the academy than most 10 year veterans are making in a small town.

D. Troopers: Well, get ready to move, and probably more than once. Who knows where your first assignment will be or for how long it will last? Pay isn't all that great, politics suck, everybody gringes when they see a trooper, even other cops, and they are usually alone on the highway with no cover anywhere nearby, chasing illegals, doing searches on big rigs, handling all of those wrecks in the counties mentioned aboue that pay Austin for their services, and you get to cover everyone in the county, from cops, deputies, constables, game wardens, school police, you name it....

3. Pay & Benefits: Do you want to make good money and have great benefits to boot? Big city police department. You just want to make a living, provide a good income for your family, and protect your home city, then go small town. A big city usually pays good incentives. For example: 2nd language- $50 a month, Field Training Officer -$265 a month, night shift - $350 a month, BS degree -$250, AS degree $175, plus full medical, dental, and optical. Overtime at 1.5, premium holidays at 2x, every qaurter you don't call in sick you get an 8 hour bonus day socked away, comp time up to 480 hours, sick days, fitness days up to 5 days per year depending on how studly you are, and did I mention the pension?

4. Danger: They all come with the same risk. In my opinion, the deputies and troopers got some big chaones, out there in the middle of nowhere like Rambo. My hats off to them.

A career in law enforcement is a great career, you have to put up with a lot and in return you get a lot. Being a good officer is not hard, treat all people the way you want to be treated. When you dealing with the public treat them the way you would want an officer to treat your wife, GF, or sister should they need help from the law. And never forget that you put your pants on just like everybody else. Cops have bad days, have bills to pay, kids that act up, get sick, etc.

Good luck with your decision and if you decide to go big and play big, shoot me a PM. Can't make any promises but I can put you in touch with a recruiter.