Yes, another "Can I be an Officer" question!

[tbk]

What keeps you from applying to be a city prosecutor? Sounds like you could start there tomorrow. Good way to meet the people that do police hiring too.

Honestly, I could not afford the paycut. Around me the States Attorneys after 5 years make the same as Austin PD (55-60K) starts at. The difference is, the cost of living here makes that money worth 30K in Austin. Around here a 1200 sq ft house, with no land is roughly 250k, with 4K in taxes annually and 1K for insurance. Not to mention a state income tax of 7%, sales tax of 6.5%, one of the highest gas taxes in the nation, and one of the highest electricity costs in the nation. Financially the only way to make the paycut work is to go where it is "cheap" (as compared to where I am) to live. And I am not admitted to practice anywhere but where I live. After 15 years, and 2 kids, my family means more to me than anything, and I would happily suffer for the remainder of my life in an job I no longer enjoy if they wanted to. So, if I have to change hours, living situation, income, area of th country, and disrupt the whole family, its gotta be worth it. Becoming an officer is. Being a lawyer somewhere else just isn't.

it's like my friends in NYC who make 180K a year. Sounds great till you factor in that they pay 4K a month in after tax $ for rent.

[retdetsgt]

Are you determined to go to Austin? There are lots of cities that size that pay more and the cost of living isn't all that much higher.

I'm a native Texan and love the state, but up in the PNW, the pay is much better even considering the cost of living.

[tbk]

Application number 1 went in this morning to Colorado Springs.

[tbk]

I wanted to follow up after the advice I got here. I applied to Austin and Colorado Springs.

Austin: application in, passed the initial review, and am scheduled to test in September (physical, written, Psych and oral board). The BI indicated that a good percentage did not pass the initial review. I disclosed everything we talked about here (and then some!), so while there may be better qualified applicants, at least my history is not an outright DQ. Did a ride out, and really liked the department.

CSPD: applied, and passed the physical. got passing scores on the "Human relations" test (85 and needed a 70) and the written (98 and needed a 70). waiting to hear from them. Again, disclosed my history and spoke to recruiting officer, who had no issues with it.

So, just waiting now.....

[tbk]

CSPD update: I am somewhere in the top 3rd after the written and physical, and have moved on to background. Sent in the PHQ, and talked to the BI for an hour. He saw no red flags (although brought up a few things I wasn't even aware of, like the lien against me for $20,000,000.00!) I had to justify that with some paperwork, but it all looks good so far. Next step will be a 3 day visit for Face to face, Poly and psych.

side note: WOW, the PHQ makes you think. I remembered a lot of stupid little things I did back when I was a kid. Well, actually my friends and family reminded me of lots of stupid litlle things I did. Complete with my mom saying "Are you telling them about stealing the candy bar when you were 4?" I answered "did I steal a candy bar when I was 4?" "yes." "then now I am."