Fhp

[TCP2410]

Is the florida highway patrol PAT hard and how is the physical training in the academy

[Joeyd6]

Is the florida highway patrol PAT hard and how is the physical training in the academy

When I went through about 11 years ago, the PAT was sit-up in the gym on mat, sit & reach, push-up and 1.5 mile run around the prison behind the academy.

The academy was tough. Live-in with 4 to a room. No cell phones allowed and you personal car was locked up M-F. We "worked" several weekends till we earned our time off. If you follow directions, do as told and study, you will have no problems.

[maz]

Joey, is it true that there really is no top out salary there? You just get a percentage every year and that you could work there 10 years and still only make a couple thousand above what you started at? Also what kind of schedule do you work when you graduate? 12 hour tours, 8 hour tours? Thanks Joey. Oh yeah 1 more question, can you choose the general area you get assigned? I know you cant pick the exact station but what about the general station? I have family in Nassau County but would hate if I got assigned 6 hours away ha ha, 1 hour or so wouldnt be bad

[marinepilot]

Is the florida highway patrol PAT hard and how is the physical training in the academy

The FHP PAT consists of the same events as many other Florida agencies PAT consists of.

Start in a car, seatbelt on, hands at 10 & 2, key in glove box. On the word "Go", unhook belt, get key from glovebox, get out of car and run to trunk. Can leave door open. Open trunk with key, reach behind your back with right hand to left hip and vice versa. Pick up a flashlight or baton and a pistol, put pistol down (usually on a chair or table) and close trunk. Run 220 yards with baton, step / climb over a short wall and 3 other varying height barricades, then run a zig-zag course of cones. Drop and crawl under a 24 inch obstacle about 10 feet. Drop baton / flashlight and pick up 150 pound dummy for a 100 foot drag (doesn't matter how you drag it, just has to be a "drag", can't be a "carry"). After that, pick up baton / flashlight and run course backwards to car. Once at car, drop baton / flashlight and pick up pistol, dry fire 6 times with strong hand, and 6 times with off-hand, put pistol and baton / flashlight back in trunk, close trunk, grab key, run back to front of car and get back in, close door, key back in glove box, seatbelt back on, hands back at 10 & 2.

Must be accomplished in 6 minutes and 5 seconds or less.

If you're in reasonably good shape, it's not a problem.

But I have no idea about the academy. Listen to Joey on that one.

[Joeyd6]

The FHP PAT consists of the same events as many other Florida agencies PAT consists of.

Start in a car, seatbelt on, hands at 10 & 2, key in glove box. On the word "Go", unhook belt, get key from glovebox, get out of car and run to trunk. Can leave door open. Open trunk with key, reach behind your back with right hand to left hip and vice versa. Pick up a flashlight or baton and a pistol, put pistol down (usually on a chair or table) and close trunk. Run 220 yards with baton, step / climb over a short wall and 3 other varying height barricades, then run a zig-zag course of cones. Drop and crawl under a 24 inch obstacle about 10 feet. Drop baton / flashlight and pick up 150 pound dummy for a 100 foot drag (doesn't matter how you drag it, just has to be a "drag", can't be a "carry"). After that, pick up baton / flashlight and run course backwards to car. Once at car, drop baton / flashlight and pick up pistol, dry fire 6 times with strong hand, and 6 times with off-hand, put pistol and baton / flashlight back in trunk, close trunk, grab key, run back to front of car and get back in, close door, key back in glove box, seatbelt back on, hands back at 10 & 2.

Must be accomplished in 6 minutes and 5 seconds or less.

Wow have things changed!

[Joeyd6]

Joey, is it true that there really is no top out salary there? You just get a percentage every year and that you could work there 10 years and still only make a couple thousand above what you started at? Also what kind of schedule do you work when you graduate? 12 hour tours, 8 hour tours? Thanks Joey. Oh yeah 1 more question, can you choose the general area you get assigned? I know you cant pick the exact station but what about the general station? I have family in Nassau County but would hate if I got assigned 6 hours away ha ha, 1 hour or so wouldnt be bad

The starting salary is the top salary.

Retirement has changed since I was there. You are vested at 6 years. My bud there stated it changed and you must do 25 years to get full retirement. Each year is 3%. So 6 years = 18% and 25 = 75% pension. If you make it to 25 years, the 75% is based on your high 5 years, not the 3%.

No say in where you go when you graduate. But they do let "swicth" with another graduate if you are both in agreement. They give you a few hours to do it after your assignments are given.

When you graduate you go to 10 weeks of field training. If you show you know what you are doing and in a busy place, expect it to be really 5 of monitored FTO and 5 of work on your own but on paper your FTO.

Shifts are either 8 or 10 hours, depending where you end up. Plan on 8, with 5 on, 2 off. Each month your days off rotate.

I was not impressed with how OT was handled, that 95% of my day was writing speeders, the gators and the fact that 90% of the folks where I was stationed did not speak nor attempt to speak English. I bailed and rolled right into the NYPD academy.

[marinepilot]

I bailed and rolled right into the NYPD academy.

Joey, this part just makes me giggle. I just can't imagine you ANYWHERE but NYPD!

Looking at your avatar (it being of a very famous NYPD "cop" from TV) and knowing you've worked with NYPD for so long, I just can't picture you, with that strong NY accent that I imagine you have, down in South Florida!!

The non-english speaking persons you refer to must have been just as upset with you and your New Yawk accent!! LOL :rolleyes:





I know, I shouldn't assume, but it sure does strike me as funny... :D

[Joeyd6]

The non-english speaking persons you refer to must have been just as upset with you and your New Yawk accent!! LOL :rolleyes: I know, I shouldn't assume, but it sure does strike me as funny... :D

So did my co-workers. Additionally, I am not sure they understood. While I am not fluent in Spanish, I know enough to get by and would end up resorting to that.

[cntryboy0531]

Joey, is it true that there really is no top out salary there? You just get a percentage every year and that you could work there 10 years and still only make a couple thousand above what you started at? Also what kind of schedule do you work when you graduate? 12 hour tours, 8 hour tours? Thanks Joey. Oh yeah 1 more question, can you choose the general area you get assigned? I know you cant pick the exact station but what about the general station? I have family in Nassau County but would hate if I got assigned 6 hours away ha ha, 1 hour or so wouldnt be bad

No pay adjustments.. Unless you get promoted. Otherwise the salary you make when you walk in the door (unless the state approves a raise {yeah, good luck on that one.. :rolleyes:}), will be the one you walk OUT the door with.

[marinepilot]

For an even more detail explanation of the PAT, click here

[maz]

Wow, what a shame about the pay, seems like such a great agency

[DeltaV]

FHP is actually the only state agency that received a raise this year, but they only got 5%. IMO, not fair to the other excellent state agencies such as FDOT, FDLE, DEP, FWC, etc., but I don't work for the state so it's not a big deal to me.

The new colonel is trying to get a step system approved with ranks like senior trooper, master trooper, etc. I don't know exactly how many steps are proposed or how long the trooper is supposed to be in grade before getting the next step, as it's all on the drawing board right now. With the current budget situation I doubt that it will get very far unless the legislature starts caring that troopers are bailing out of FHP left and right to go work for cities and counties.

If you like traffic then it's not a bad gig, but just know that you will do VERY little besides writing tickets and crashes--no matter what they tell you. FHP is not a "full service" law enforcement agency. They have nice equipment and training is readily available from what I hear.

[Joeyd6]

If you like traffic then it's not a bad gig, but just know that you will do VERY little besides writing tickets and crashes--no matter what they tell you.

You nailed it right there! I wish I understood that 10 years ago when I was hired! My day was ticket....ticket....ticket.....ticket.....ticket.. ..disabled motorist...ticket.....ticket......ticket......tick et.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket..... ...lunch..........ticket....ticket.....ticket..... ticket....disabled motorist...ticket.....ticket......ticket......tick et.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket..... ...disabled motorist....ticket.....ticket......ticket......tic ket.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket.... ....lunch..........ticket....ticket.....go home.

[cntryboy0531]

You nailed it right there! I wish I understood that 10 years ago when I was hired! My day was ticket....ticket....ticket.....ticket.....ticket.. ..disabled motorist...ticket.....ticket......ticket......tick et.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket..... ...lunch..........ticket....ticket.....ticket..... ticket....disabled motorist...ticket.....ticket......ticket......tick et.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket..... ...disabled motorist....ticket.....ticket......ticket......tic ket.....ticket......ticket.....ticket...ticket.... ....lunch..........ticket....ticket.....go home.

Forgot to add the Crashes! :D

[Joeyd6]

Forgot to add the Crashes! :D

I did! But I only averaged 1 or 2 a week and then, it would be an all day affair with measurements, CAD, paperwork, etc...