State Police v. City Cops

[white]

Which is more exciting in your opinion, being a state police trooper or city cop?

What are the major differences in their duties? Are state police stuck patrolling highways or do they get to roll thru the city as well?

Also, if you are a state trooper are there any advancement opportunities available into investigation/detective bureau? I know my state police agency, Virginia State Police, has no detectives: more like a State DOJ, am I correct? Is transferring from a state police position to some sort of criminal investigation position possible?

Thanks

[DeltaV]

Here, I would say that being a city cop or a deputy is the better gig. That's just my opinion.

I have all the respect in the world for FHP, but it's not an agency that I'd want to work for. Their pay is low and they have limited duties. They pretty much just enforce traffic laws and respond to crashes on state roads and interstates. It's rare that you'll see a trooper down here doing much else than that...at least in my area. In Florida, FHP and FDLE (the agency that has the investigative role) are two different agencies. While a trooper could become an FDLE agent, they'd have to go through the same hiring process as everyone else. FHP does have traffic homicide investigators, but they're regular troopers who have been through the classes, much like their counterparts at local PDs.

It differs from state to state though. Some states have 'full service' state police departments that do every type of law enforcement work imaginable, complete with their own detective division and crime lab.

[retdetsgt]

Depends on the state. In some they are primarily highway patrol. In Oregon, they are state police, but everyone can bank on their first few years of running up and down freeways.

The primary reason I chose a municipal agency (other than pay and benefits) was that I didn't want to be transfered around the state. My kids never had to change schools, etc. The state police here are better than they used to be about arbitrary transfers, but often if you want to advance, you have to pick up your family and move from one corner of the state to another.

My agency is also a lot bigger than the state police here and has more chance for advancement, but we are the largest in the state, period.

All that being said, I have a high degree of respect for the state police here and they are a highly professional agency, as is Washington State Police to our north.

[Charlie]

Which is more exciting in your opinion, being a state police trooper or city cop?

-- There are a number of issues to consider to answer this question such as WHICH agencies are you comparing? And WHAT are you comparing? It's really an individual question and WHAT is "exciting" to you compared to someone else. This is an issue YOU have to figure out...

What are the major differences in their duties? Are state police stuck patrolling highways or do they get to roll thru the city as well?

-- There's no short answer to your questions as this again depends upon which agencies you're comparing. For example, at a rural small agency, state police troopers may have a more active role in keeping the peace in the community and may respond to more calls traditionally handled by a municipal or county agency. On the other hand, larger departments tend to handle their responsibilities independently and typically don't require assistance from state police agencies.

Yes, one of the primary duties state police perform is patrolling our nations highways. And yes, they often work in many city areas too. They can usually drive anywhere they want and equally enforce the law anywhere they wish too.

Also, if you are a state trooper are there any advancement opportunities available into investigation/detective bureau? I know my state police agency, Virginia State Police, has no detectives: more like a State DOJ, am I correct? Is transferring from a state police position to some sort of criminal investigation position possible? Thanks

-- I would guess that most state troopers have the ability to advance into some type of investigative position BUT, I would suggest that you contact the state police agency in question for further details about advancement issues. Not all departments operate in a universal manner nor do they all abide by the same rules or regulations.

As for your questions specifically about the Virginia State Police (VSP), why not seek out those answers by either contacting a VSP recruiter or maybe checking their web site to see if there is something posted there to maybe answer your question? A lot of agencies typically post recruitment-related information on their web sites that may address a lot of your questions! ;)

--
Charlie

[JR_23]

State is a good gig here...there are several different Agencies (State Patrol, CBI, Division of Gaming, DOC etc...) with various Law Enforcement gigs to offer. Their retirement is the best...bar none. I know of several guys who start out in the Highway/State Patrol, then move onto CBI or another state Agency and do some pretty neat **** (Major crimes unit, Arson etc...)...

[qpd158]

Around here, we loose officers to the State Police at a very good rate. They have a higher salary, better benefits and a great pension. That said, the majority of time they spend patrolling the roads and enforce traffic, handle some of the crashes. They do have different sections here, ie Investigations, Accident Reconstructionists, and Drug Task Force to name a few. From what I have heard, in Illinois, the State Police has just about every type of job you could want/dream of. All comes with time on and experience.

[scott715us]

TN Highway Patrol (THP) does mainly traffic, but they do have special ops, SWAT, fatality reconstruction teams, a huge auto-theft division. There is also the TN Bureau of Investigation. Their crime lab is amazing. They have forensic commissioned agents as well as agents involved in fugitive task force, narcotics, and medicaid fraud.

In my opinion, the THP pay is too low and their raises are few and far between. The medical bennies are good, but retirement is not all that. Like the others have said, it really depends on what you want to do. Everyone is scared to death when they have THP in their rear-view mirror, but I personally like my dept better. ;)

[Kimble]

I know my state police agency, Virginia State Police, has no detectives: more like a State DOJ, am I correct? Is transferring from a state police position to some sort of criminal investigation position possible?

Actually, you're wrong on that one. Virginia State Police have a Bureau of Criminal Investigation (http://www.vsp.state.va.us/bci_gis.htm). Their investigators, called Special Agents rather than Detectives, work a fairly large gamet of criminal cases. It's my understanding that SA positions with VSP are seperate from trooper positions, and thus one may apply for them directly (i.e. without bein a VSP employee), or internally after gaining experience as a trooper.

[Kimble]

work a fairly large gamet of criminal cases.

Oops... they work a fairly large gamut of criminal cases (wasn't trying to make up a new word there :D )

[GoDirectly2Jail]

I know my state police agency, Virginia State Police, has no detectives: more like a State DOJ, am I correct?

No you are not correct.

VSP Special Agents work all manner of cases including: Criminal Intelligence, Drug Enforcement, General Investigations, Arson, Bomb and Explosive related manners, Auto theft, Fugitive apprehension, Economic/Cyber crimes, Violent and serial crimes, Crisis Negotiation, Crime Scene Examination, Polygraph, Environmental crimes, White-Collar Crime, and Insurance Fraud.

Our part-time polygraph examiner is a retired VSP SA with 34 years in, and from some of his stories, they also work some organized crime as well as regional task force duties.

Definately a full-service agency.

[jarobins]

Which is more exciting in your opinion, being a state police trooper or city cop?

What are the major differences in their duties? Are state police stuck patrolling highways or do they get to roll thru the city as well?

Also, if you are a state trooper are there any advancement opportunities available into investigation/detective bureau? I know my state police agency, Virginia State Police, has no detectives: more like a State DOJ, am I correct? Is transferring from a state police position to some sort of criminal investigation position possible?

VSP has a Bureau of Criminal Investigation, same agency and allows for back and forth transfer between Bureaus (Field Ops, Admin, and Criminal Investigation). I did four years as a drug investigator got bored and came back to uniform.

As for which is more exciting...State Trooper definitely. But I'm biased. :D

[valycop]

VSP has a Bureau of Criminal Investigation, same agency and allows for back and forth transfer between Bureaus (Field Ops, Admin, and Criminal Investigation). I did four years as a drug investigator got bored and came back to uniform.

As for which is more exciting...State Trooper definitely. But I'm biased. :D

White, if I could do my Virginia LEO experience again I would have applied to be a Virginia State Trooper. I have the utmost respect for these guys and they have a tough job to do no matter what people might think. No I'm not trying to make points with jarobins because I earned my "dues" years ago.

Bottom line either way you decide to go a career can be as rewarding as you make it whether it be for the State Police or a local agency. :p

[jarobins]

White, if I could do my Virginia LEO experience again I would have applied to be a Virginia State Trooper. I have the utmost respect for these guys and they have a tough job to do no matter what people might think. No I'm not trying to make points with jarobins because I earned my "dues" years ago.

One of the best things about a state agency is the ability to move around, geographically not professionally. I used to live near the beach and now I'm now 6 hours west of there in the mountains, but I still work for the same agency.

The bottom line is though, do you like working traffic? Although I have the oppurtunity in my area to handle other calls my primary responsibility is traffic. Some cops tell me they couldn't chase taillights all day, whereas I couldn't stand going on domestic violence calls all the time. Both are valid police work but it is what you prefer to do that will make the difference as to which is more exciting.

[jarobins]

It's my understanding that SA positions with VSP are seperate from trooper positions, and thus one may apply for them directly (i.e. without bein a VSP employee), or internally after gaining experience as a trooper.

Everyone starts as a Trooper and can test for promotion to a Special Agent after two years. The only Special Agents that are hired from outside the Dept are Accountants and Criminal Profilers. These positions are advertised internally first and if a qualified applicant isn't found then they are posted for the general public.

[mcsap]

The good , our state troopers can retire at 20 years. The bad, you are subject to be transferred like in the military. PA is 300 miles from end to end so if you go to Erie from Philly, you won't be driving home on the weekends much.

Municipal Dept's. Most require 25 years to retire , but you aren't going anywhere. Depending on the size of the dept, you can still have a lot of opportunities. Check out my Dep'ts website , www.yapd.org and you can read how much diversity a 47 man dept has.