LE Agencies, new job=Help Please

[Joe56]

Hi All,
So, myself and other youngster investigators were informed that we will be laid off to save money for the company. Like my paltry salary would save money, but anyhow http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

In between grad classes, I am looking for a new job. What do you guys suggest? I love investigations, and LE, and would like to get into a good agency. What can you all suggest? Could you give me some personal insights? Money doesn't matter, doing something that matters does.
Thanks alot,
Joe.

[mdb23]

Originally posted by Joe56:
Money doesn't matter, doing something that matters does.
Thanks alot,
Joe.


Apparently, you are not married. In all seriousness, where are you located, and are you interested in full or part time employment?

mdb23

[Jeff Rambo]

Did you check any local law offices/firms?

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Sincerely,
Jeff Rambo
SOCNET Administrator
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jrambo@specialoperations.com

[Sharky]

BP's hiring. Hope you like heat and Mexican food though.

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F.I.D.O.

[RogueExec]

There are several departments hiring in the Northwest area. Lateral AND Entry Level.

Let me know. I'll hook you up.

[MADMIK]

You works for Kroll and they're laying off??? I thought Kroll was expanding.

[grrlcop74]

There are so many different variables at work here you will not be able to get a cut and dried answer. What one considers a good department another may not. It will take a few years on any department (except those with 2 officers, one of which is the Chief) before you get into investigations, so you better take a good look at how the patrol officers are treated, since that's where you'll be sitting for awhile. Not to mention state and federal agencies...I would speak to recruiters at agencies in your area (or any area you're willing to move to) and keep in mind the hiring process may take a year or more, not including training once that's done. After you've narrowed down your choices by speaking with recruiters, then talk to officers with those departments to get a more realistic picture.

Kristen

[LRSC Grunt]

Originally posted by Jeff Rambo:
Did you check any local law offices/firms?




I was just about to mention that too. They probably pay better.

[Jeff Rambo]

For the most part, they do.

[WS-G]

Originally posted by grrlcop74:
It will take a few years on any department (except those with 2 officers, one of which is the Chief) before you get into investigations, so you better take a good look at how the patrol officers are treated, since that's where you'll be sitting for awhile.

Not to mention... if you end up working for a Sheriff's Office, you will almost certainly be hired as a Jailer, not as a Patrol deputy.

Also, keep in mind that on smaller (read that: "most non-major-city") departments, one of the most crucial deciding factors in whether you're hired or not is a matter of whether you're related to someone who's a recognized, "established" pillar of the local community. If you're not "in the clique", you're not getting hired.

The voice of experience here.... I've just had my application to the local S.O. — for the positions of Patrol Deputy, Jailer, and even Reserve Deputy (read that: "unpaid volunteer") — "politely overlooked" for the eleventh time in the past two years.

[grrlcop74]

Salter is right on about sheriff's departments. Since they are elected, they handpick their deputies to reflect the constituency that got them the job, not what makes the county commission happy with quotas. Around here, if you don't know the sheriff or someone he considers a good friend, give it up. And if you go reserve, forget active..why should they pay you to do something you're already doing for free? The only thing reserve has going for it is that they'll pay for your academy for a minimal commitment and then you can go work for another department full-time. Smaller departments don't have a huge training budget and would rather spend that money training officers they already have than spend it on sending rookies to the academy..ergo, if you already have the academy, you're a leg up. Also, the GI Bill will pay for your academy training in many cases, which many coming out of the military don't realize.

Kristen

[Watsy]

Salter,
Move,go to LAPD...they give the test you pass
and when an academy is filled up they tell you to pack your trash and be here in x-days
You can do it...After two years of not getting on...MOVE...if you really want to be a PO...

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Take calculated risks.
That is quite different from being rash.
George S. Patton

[This message has been edited by Watsy (edited 04-29-2001).]

[DCH]

I'd have to agree, I'm in the SoCal area and have been waiting on my N400 (BP guys will know what those are)to finally clear as of last week. I don't want to move but a recruiter from San Jose practically guaranteed a locker for me by Jan 2002, if I sign-on with them now (how hard up ARE THEY?!)

Nonetheless, NO ONE has even come close to an offer like that down here!

$0.02
-DCH

*Who here knew Beverly Hills PD has a marked fleet of RANGE ROVERS?!! (it's unethical!)

[This message has been edited by DCH (edited 04-29-2001).]

[WS-G]

(double-tapped during edit)

[This message has been edited by William M Salter (edited 04-29-2001).]

[WS-G]

Watsy:

Actually the only reason I've been in my current location as long as I have (4 years) is because I haven't had the funds to relocate. If I had, I'd have left long ago; as an observant Jew, assimilating into the local population is not possible.

The plan right now is to load up on as many schools as I can get through my Guard unit; some of these are absolute "must-haves" anyway. E.g.: since I did all my NCO leadership schools through the Air Force, I may have to attend most — possibly all — of their Army counterparts before I can be promoted to E-6 (I'm awaiting a command decision on that). There are several others I need to attend as well, such as the Long-Range Surveillance Leader Course (Phase II) and Jumpmaster.

Given that the Adjutant General's Office of the State of Texas intends to deactivate my current unit after September of this year — unless something drastically miraculous occurs, the only other worthwhile assignment options I have available are going to keep me on active duty for at least the better part of a year anyway.

Since I'm already TCLEOSE certified (Basic Peace Officer, plus the mandated biennial courses to maintain certification; also the only item I lack for certification at the Intermediate level and as a Mental Health Officer is two years on the job), I expect I'll either go back to Houston (I lived there from '78 to '96; I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest) or relocate to Waco or Dallas. However, as long as there's (1) the potential of an air unit assignment and (2) steady contact with the local Jewish community, I'm not all that particular about where I end up.

BTW: LAPD would normally have been a good suggestion, but they don't take 37-year-olds.

DCH:

The very first agency I ever applied to was the USBP, back in November 1998. I scored 94.5% overall on the Border Patrol Agent Examination, only to be advised in writing by the Hiring Unit that "vision requirements will not be waived". 20/70 uncorrected in each eye separately and 20/40 uncorrected with both eyes uncovered, correctable to 20/20 or better is the absolute BP minimum. I have 20/200 uncorrected bilaterally; the fact that my corrected vision (with glasses — I'm not a "successful soft contact lens wearer" nor a suitable candidate for refractive surgery) is considerably better than 20/20 was not a mitigating factor. Never mind that I've kept a current FAA Class 1 flight physical since 1983.

As it turns out, the only Federal agencies whose eyesight requirements I meet are: US Marshals Service: minimum uncorrected DVA requirement changed from 20/60 to 20/200 effective FY 1999, but no hiring planned until FY 2003. Drug Enforcement Agency: eyeballs not a problem, but no degree (flight training took priority over the last few years; on my income, I could either continue flying or finish college, but not both. When you're going after a pilot position outside the military, a degree with no Commercial Pilot Certificate is absolutely useless.) Federal Aviation Administration: "sky marshal" is a pretty cool position, especially for an entry-level Fed trying to get his time in before applying for something in the cockpit. Not hiring however.
All else notwithstanding, I'm already past the cutoff age for applying to any Federal LE agency.

[This message has been edited by William M Salter (edited 04-29-2001).]

[Watsy]

Salter,
It's NOT over yet...I got hired at 36 yoa...
a civil service position...PO...I was the oldest female and second oldest recruit...I
was slow running but my drive and determination to win,bite,claw,crawl and basically never give up made up for speed..I brought great worldly knowledge to my field, a kid does not have and can not read in a book...Be true to yourself as long as you can look in the mirror and be happy with yourself...Great...As you already know it's all about what you want for yourself and your family...Nothing else really matters be true to yourself...Keep plugging...

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Take calculated risks.
That is quite different from being rash.
George S. Patton

[This message has been edited by Watsy (edited 04-29-2001).]

[Augie]

Mr. Salter, Have you tried an Immigration Inspector there hireing like mad. No age limit. It's not a 6c covered job.

Be Safe