Texas Police Officers

[dwhd93]

Ive been thinkin real hard on takin the steps towards becomin a cop. Ive been workin for TDCJ since last November and i dont mind the work to terribly bad but hate the pay and not to fond of the change in rank we have so often. Just wonderin what are the first steps i need to take as i have no college hours at all but do have a diploma, i know college aint a requirement in most departments but it definately dont hurt to have it. Any positive or negative input is welcome also.

[charles]

 start out with your local police sheriff department, if they are not hiring, move to the next closer towns, and so forth. if there is a college close enough that you can attend classes AND they offer a police academy, enroll in the next available class if its possible for you. if you already have the academy and your tclose done, it puts u above the rest of the applicants off the street.

[dub]

Military or go to Junior College for the hours. I would say to go to your Junior College and talk to them. Maybe a LEO could explain it better but if you did find someone that would hire you then you would just be stuck with no chance for advancement.

[dwhd93]

Alright thanks yall. Ill stop by Crockett PD tomorrow to see what they have to say

[charles]

 crockett has a section of AC college, they mite offer the police academy. I know AC in Lufkin did at 1 point, but that was 15yrs ago. if you could get the study material for the tclose and study own your own, that will improve your grades if u get a chance to go to the dept sponsored academy. I thought of doin the same several times, but temple pd said I couldn't smoke or dip even off duty, n I told them they could shove that policy up their 4th point of contact and Texarkana declined me bc I took someone elses meds while I was waiting on mine to be refilled. Lufkin, I cant answer anything on, but I got an old high school/ military guy that mite be able to guide you in the right direction. if I get into Lufkin this coming wkend, ill c if I can locate him. pm your number and ill pass it on to him if you would like

[dwhd93]

From what ive seen the AC here in Crockett only offers the LVN course. And if i cant have some form of nicotine while off duty then thatll change my mind haha. Me an the ol lady are lookin into movin into madisonville area when the lease is up. I know Madisonville is one of the PDs that dont require college with really good retirement. Like i said ill see what Crockett PD says tomorrow and go from there. Ppreciate your help once again Charles

[rdjustham]

Alright you asked for it so here goes 

First and foremost i am only speaking for my area and have no idea about yours;

My department and most here dont require a college degree, however my department pays more if you have one(20 bucks a paycheck).  Go do ridealongs with the different departments and talk to the officers you ride with.  Try to ride a couple times at each with different officers.  Young officeers have a different opinion and life views than seasoned officers, plus it gets your face and name known which will help if you apply.  If you ride, wear nice jeans and sneakers and a polo (prefereably not a bright colored one with an undershirt, since most departments make you wear a vest.

Now for the part you wont like; Be prepared to lose friends, for what ever reason you tend to lose touch with folks that arent police officers and sooner or later you distance yourself from them.  Sucks to be introduced to people as the cop.  The pay usually sucks, people hate you until they need you and you get nothing but criticism from most.  And try sitting down to eat a meal in uniform, "I dont mean to interrupt you but can i ask you a question", or "so there are my tax dollars at work", "hey bill they are here for ya", "I didnt do it".

Dont get me wrong i love what i do, but people SUCK!!!  Youll even see it on this website from time to time.  Cop shoots a dog to keep from gettin bit or whatever the case and people up in arms about id shoot the cop!!


Dont wanna discourage you just giving you a heads up on some of the crap we deal with.

Good luck with it.

[Fixitlouie]

law dog dont go around here....

from me.....who else. tapatalk

[charles]

law dog dont go around here....

from me.....who else. tapatalk

ok ike

[Easttex91]

law dog dont go around here....

from me.....who else. tapatalk

Lmao

[dub]

rdjustham I am not cop and people suck. I have had to take a job in retail. People suck and I have to just smile and be nice to people that really need the poop choked out of them. Plus I bet I get paid even less. Man there are some real sucky jobs. Then you have some rich person talking about how hard it to be rich on the TV. Now that boils my blood.

[Reuben]

Alright you asked for it so here goes 

First and foremost i am only speaking for my area and have no idea about yours;

My department and most here dont require a college degree, however my department pays more if you have one(20 bucks a paycheck).  Go do ridealongs with the different departments and talk to the officers you ride with.  Try to ride a couple times at each with different officers.  Young officeers have a different opinion and life views than seasoned officers, plus it gets your face and name known which will help if you apply.  If you ride, wear nice jeans and sneakers and a polo (prefereably not a bright colored one with an undershirt, since most departments make you wear a vest.

Now for the part you wont like; Be prepared to lose friends, for what ever reason you tend to lose touch with folks that arent police officers and sooner or later you distance yourself from them.  Sucks to be introduced to people as the cop.  The pay usually sucks, people hate you until they need you and you get nothing but criticism from most.  And try sitting down to eat a meal in uniform, "I dont mean to interrupt you but can i ask you a question", or "so there are my tax dollars at work", "hey bill they are here for ya", "I didnt do it".

Dont get me wrong i love what i do, but people SUCK!!!  Youll even see it on this website from time to time.  Cop shoots a dog to keep from gettin bit or whatever the case and people up in arms about id shoot the cop!!


Dont wanna discourage you just giving you a heads up on some of the crap we deal with.

Good luck with it.

RDJ I see it the way you do and I am not a cop...

but it is a good thing that some folks want to be cops and others want to be fireman, doctors, nurses, school teachers etc...etc...and these people are born to be in those fields...our GOD knew what he was doing when he made us...and that is what helps in keeping a good balance and order in our world...we are what we are for a reason..

maybe some of us don't like cops but you might be looking at the glass as half empty instead of half full...or maybe you were done wrong by a cop...but day in and day out we need to be thankful for law and order...

[reatj81]

I worked tdcj 8 yrs didn't like any part of it.  But no way would I want to be a cop.  In tdc their is smaller amounts of drugs and weapons.  No way would would I want to mess with the same crack heads on the street doped up with weapons. Hats off to all law enforcement.

[rdjustham]

Thanks guys.

And dub i feel ya, i worked retail while goin through college 

[DSmith]

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.

[DSmith]

I was in a hurry when I typed that and now, after coming back inside and having time to re-read it, I sure did make some typos.  Honest jethro, I can spell.......   

[dwhd93]

I honestly think ive made up my mind but cant move more than 2 counties away from walker county due to my fiances custody agreement she has with her lil girls dad. Far as pay goes i really just wanna make a decent living for the little family i have goin. Give them somethin my parents werent able to give me growin up. Benefits are definately a plus and i get irritated in big cities. If any if yall are familiar with TDCj i work a level 3 ad seg block day in and day out thats where they put all the big knuckle heads that are border line psychotic or already psychotic. I know workin for TDCJ aint the life i wanna give that little girl and the more that are to come. And law enforcement i think is.

[DSmith]

I understand, best of luck to you and my hats off to you for wanting to stay close to home and above all else, putting family first.    Hope it all works out for you and the family.  Sounds like she and the kids are lucky to have you.

 

[dwhd93]

Pm sent btw

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

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.

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.

Sounds like I would go with D.  (Have gun will travel mentality .......with a side requirement of being crazy or having brass B@!!$.......)

Where do I sign???   Lol