What did you go through to get your first LEO position.

[retdetsgt]

It would really behoove anyone thinking about a LE career to check out the retirement plan before applying.

All public employees in Oregon are under the same plan. Portland used to have its own, but everyone hired after 1-1-09 went into the state plan. Police in it can retire with 25 years and be at least 50. It's not as good as it used to be, but it's still a good retirement.

Before it was overhauled, an OSP Sgt who's a friend of mine retired at 103% of his working pay. That ended though.

[retdetsgt]

I want to help people, and I want to make the difference in peoples lives. So it say's that you are a verified LEO. Where at? how do you like it?

I'm afraid you may well be disappointed if you have high ideals about what the job entails. People coming on such lofty expectations tend to burn out in a few years.

All my info is on my profile, click on my user name and go to view profile.

[wiwwy027]

I have looked into it for a long time. I have gone on ride alongs. I have done everything that I can think of to see what I need to do to be a great LEO, and that it is what I want to do with my life. I was really helped out by the Police in Newberg growing up. I learned that drugs were bad in dare, and how to say no in all kinds of ways. I also learned that the Police are really cool people.

When I was 16 I was a "skater." All of my friends started smoking pot or worse. I said no for over a year before the pressure got to me. I smoked a little for about two months. Got caught by the school. The suspension (one week, and I had to be eveluated by a counselor who found that I was a "socially influenced user") didn't matter. But when I got back the teachers that I looked up to were so disapointed.

I came up with the Idea that I wouldn't hang out with any of them unless they were not high, and didn't have anything on them. Worked well for a while. Then one of my close friends bought a dirtbike and took it up to my parents house to ride it on my track. A sherrif's deputy showed up. Turned out that the bike was stolen, and that the sales slip that he showed me was faked. The deputy took the time to come back and talk to me the next day (after my friend was in jail).

He asked me why I hung out with people that are going nowhere, and why I would want to risk having a criminal record to hang out with losers. He had looked up my record (have none, 2 tickets) and talked to my school. Apparently all f my teachers said I was a good kid, with a lot of potential, and I hang out with idiots.

Long story short I started working on my car (a 76 Camaro), playing video games, anything but hanging out with scum. I told my best friend if he didn't straighten up then we wouldn't be friends. He did, and I was his best man at his wedding. I also went to college, and allmoust have my associates. If it wasn't for him I would't be here. Probubly would have been sucked into some dumb Idea, then I would be in jail. Instead I don't have a record, a decent job with Wackenhut, and am going to be a LEO.

One day like that, or one chance that I get to help somone that needs it. Even if it is helping change a tire because the guy is too old, it's worth it. I like helping people, it feels good.

I know that you probubly didn't need to know any of that. But that is one of the main reasons that I feel so strongly about being a LEO. And it is funny because when I tried to get incident dates from the YCSO, they couldn't find it. Or even a report on record with my name on it. I was just a guy that was there. It was a pretty regular day for him, but it changed my life.