Transfers

[factsfictions]

Hello!

I have a few questions regarding transfers between police departments-- I apologize if similar questions have been asked before; it was a little hard to search for.

What I'm wondering is: what's the general rule of thumb when a cop (in this case, a detective) from one city moves and starts work at a new department in another city? Do they tend to "pick up where they left off" in the same position they previously had (assuming it's available) -- what if there's a huge difference between departments, specifically if the person is coming from a much smaller department in a less busy city and comes to a much bigger department (say, the NYPD)?

On a related note, how does experience -- not so much length of time working as much as experience within the department and division -- factor into being picked (?) for teams on big "important" (high profile, high risk) cases?

Thanks in advance!

[Outshined]

Around here almost all of the time if you move departments you start over at the bottom. .There are exceptions.

A couple of my friends retired from a fairly good sized department and went to another department and had to go through FTO again.

[Citicop]

Generally speaking, you do not "transfer" from one department to another.

You apply for an open position like everyone else. If hired, you start out in patrol just like anyone hired for that position would.

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

Some small departments around here will interview and hire command personnel from other departments rather than just promote from within. Sometimes their pool to draw from isn't adequate. That's not usually the case in departments around here with more than a hundred or so officers though.

Several of our Lts and captains have retired and taken jobs with the same rank with smaller agencies.

[Legoate]

I've seen a small local agency recruit detectives from our gang division. The agency was new and had no detective division and no real expertise with local gangs.... A couple of detectives moved over, were in patrol for a short time to do an FTO period, then had the understanding they would take over in the gang division when they were through. Sort of an unusual situation though really that involved new start-up police agencies when cities became incorporated from their prior Sheriff department police force.

[mcsap]

In PA , you test with the masses and must pass every test along with those who have no experience.

If you pass and are offered a job , you can then take a challenge test that if passed, allows you to skip the 5 month police academy and go right into FTO. You are given the seniority as though you had no experience and start out on the road in uniform learning the way WE do things.

Prior experience will come in handy for things like promotions and assignments but not right way.

[factsfictions]

Thanks for the replies guys, you've been helpful!

[Gutwrench]

Generally we only hired laterals. Laterals can be fast-tracked in but liability still requires a thorough, complete, and legally defensible background to be conducted. Once hired they usually go through a mini-orientation and an accelerated FTO, then they go directly to patrol because that's where the need is. Patrol tests for specialty units, but in some rare cases an officer can be appointed to a unit based on the needs of the department and his/her unique skills. I suppose in smaller departments anything goes...even in larger ones but it can cause dissension.