All USCP

[killercam82]

These questions are for my current or former Capitol Police. Others can respond as well as long as they don't post "Do a search on the topic, it's been posted before." b/c i have and been through almost 430 pages of post with that being posted the most. and 911jobsforums won't except my email so...
1. I would like to know what type of post are there? One noted the garage parking, but what others and what do they consist of. for ex. how often do you get a crusier (I know not often) and when you have one what do you do, sit in it like th USPP. What do you do on the foot beats just walk around the building or outside the building? etc.
2. In those booth post is there heat inside them and a/c.
3. How arte the supervisors... do they micromanage you. For example my current police department have cameras installed every were.. but instead of them being used to assist us, our Major, and SGT. gets on them to watch us and write us up all the time, not me specifically, based on what he saw on them.
4. How often do you see your supervisor while on duty? I know our department you will see our Sgts. constantly riding/ walking through, and yes even sneaking up from behind on us. And if you have a call most of the time they will respond, take over the call but expect you to handle the paperwork.
5. How is your department on little issues such as cell phone use? Our department requires you submit a letter to the cheif on why you need to even carry one, then you must submit the serial number along with it. (Guess they think they can monitor our use but that is illegal.) For example while in they booth beat if i am on the phone with my wife while working midnights and supervisor comes through will i be sorry.
6. How busy do those outside booth get with traffic coming in pedestrian and vehicle. will i have to stand outside most of my shift?
7. The inside check points, how is the flow of traffic there with people coming in?
8. How does your typical day go... Attend roll call... go to beat.. take lunch... back to beat... go home? How long is your lunch and are there restriction with what time you can take them? I guess you would need coverage for most of the beats correct.
9. How is the Union over there. is it strong or one not worth anything?
10. As for now i am just taking the test but unlike the MD State Police who tell you every thing up front in the intial interview, USCP hasn't. How are your shifts 8hr, 10hr, 12hr? are they made to deal with rush hour? What about days off? two off three on, or five day work week?
11. on the weekend when congress isn't around... how is the job? is it more laid back? On midnights is it laid back as well with less post to cover. Holidays are quit too correct?
12. on those foot beats outside are you required to be out in the cold all day. For ex. my depart.s supervisor will ride around in the car and check to make sure we are outside. They do it about three times each hour. And the one time they do not see you... 3 nora 45 per nora 5 what is your 10-20.
13. Now if this offends anyone disregard... everywhere we go there is going to be racism. I know that. My question is how do the officer first off get along with each other? Is there constintly drama between officer as our Deprt. carries. How do the african americans get along with other officer, supervisors. Are they treated with disrespect or is it hidden. You may find that unimportant but i do as many in my department have been disrespected often and many EEO complaints filed.
14. Riots... does evey officer have to work them... are the rookies the main ones to be dressed up in riot gear. And just on a side note what do you think the public thinks about you guy/gals... for ex. we are disrepected because most of what we do is security work but that doesn't take our police patch away but peaple still laugh at us like a joke.
15. What is the youngest age you have for an officer over there. And do you think being 21 i will be over looked since i may be too young and aggressive and they may look at it as a liability... but reality is i just want to lay low and get into no trouble.
16. How about the facial hair? I know FPS doesn't mind from on officer i spoke to. How about you guys.
17. Parking... i would have parking correct? Unlike Arlington Co. were you park on the street and pay the meter every three hours. Is a gym there?

Sorry for how long this is, but it is stuff i want to know from you not what the department will say.

[killercam82]

Oh by the way i don't want to get fired so... I love my Department and it is a great one to work for.

[Citicop]

Killer-

Just out of curiosity...are you currently in law enforcement? If so, how long have you been an LEO? Your first post said you were 21, I'm not sure how good it would look for you to switch departments so fast...are things so bad over there that you really don't feel you could stick it out for another couple of years?

Citicop.

[ExUSPP]

Wow, your department sounds great. If you would like to do police work go to a local or state agency. If you want to do uniformed police work in the federal government go to the U.S. Park Police. I can tell from your post you have the wrong idea about the Park Police. I have worked for both the Capitol Police and the Park Police. I can assure you Park Police is the better job. I am curious about what department you work for now and what your ultimate goal is. If all you are looking to do is to get out of where you are now hold out until you get the job you want. Jumping around from job to job doesn't look good to the agencies you apply to. In summary go State or local or Park Police if you insist on being Federal.

[killercam82]

ExUSPP

Yes Sir/maam
My true true true goal is to become 1811 for the USMS. But as Switch has typed plenty of times it isn't going to be that way for a while for me. My current police Depart (Sorry No Names) is authorized by the Gov. since "hint" FAA is involved but we are a local polce Dept. The USPP come through all the time with escorts and we talk and i like them but the money is with the USCP. They really intrest me the most and it is Fed. which would put my foot in the door. When i got hired the cheif's office was very supportive of me and everyone at HQ loved me. The scene down at squad was very much diferent. I am a very respectful young man and many older officers couldn't believe my maturaty level to be so young. I am looked down on for some reason and my supervisors just do not like me... i couldn't tell you why. I am quiet, on time, and perform. I don't think i am wanted here and it isn't just me many officers are leaving this year regardless of the raise, at least 11 are going to the Pentagaon PD just from my squad. Many of my co workers see how they treat me and all of them tell me "man get out of here they really do not like you here" They know i am a good officer. I have not been wrote up but investigated all the time which are never sustained. On top of that my supervisors take the publics side all the time saying "you are young your going to be rebel and you never smile so that and your intimdating voice come off on people wrong" never believing me. But i am always cleared. It took a while for me to calm down with my ticket writting, but i soon learned how things are around here. But it just seems that the officers who are in shape, go to the gym 3 out five days, perform constantly, they want us out. I don't need the constant calls of state police although i would love to do it. I think b/c my Uncle was a MD State Trooper who was killed in the line of Duty they think i my have a alternative motive, they kept bring that up. Park seems to be taking along time with hiring according to a few of my blue brothers taking a year 1/2 just to get an interview. I liked park but i am not going to NY or Cali and unless i was put on GW Parkway Or BW parkway they don't pay enough to sit around. The only way i am moving is with the USMS. I know how to stay out of trouble and this current job was the one that would pick me up the fastest while paying for my BS. I understand what you are telling me though it does not look good moving from one place to another. But if you are not happy what do you do. Now i have been with the Dept. since 18 under special rules while i think i should have went back home to FL to be a Trooper. I have a lot of test to take and right now USCP is the only one putting effort towards me and as i see it the only test i will pass really good on b/c of the lack of math on it. I suck at math. Other agencies have not heard anything from, say they can't hire etc.
Thanks man/maam any answers to my ?'s

[foxmulder]

In response to some of your questions/ concerns about USCP here goes.. The money is amazing, you can be one of the guys that makes his/her base salary and only work 40 hours a week, or you can work as much overtime as you want and make in excess of 100k. If I'm not mistaken, the last class that just graduated in Nov was making 47k during training, and as of Jan 1, they are right at 50k. The job really depends on where on the hill you are initially detailed to. If you are in one of the House or Senate office buildings you will constantly have to deal with the committees that are always going on in those spots, and you'll encounter the members of congress often. If you are at the Capitol, there are constant tours, adn tourists going in and out of the building, as well as all the members of the House and Senate whenever they are in session. If you are assigned to an inside post you could be stuck at a door checking bags, and wanding people with the portable magnetometer. You could also be assigned to stand outside of one of the offices of the Congressional leadership, there are tons of inside posts and for the most part at the Capitol it is primarily sentry work. Now if you are assigned to an outside post, there are a lot of foot patrols, but also there are some fixed outside posts. Your initial assignment is probably the worst that you'll have with USCP, there are tons of oppourtunities in specialty divisions (Dignitary Protection, K-9, patrol, intelligence, threats, SWAT) and you can get into those pretty quickly (after your 1 year probation period). As far as the officials they are like officials at any other department/ agency. Some good, some you will not care for. Right now USCP is on 8 hour 5 day a week shifts, but that go to 12 hour 6 day shifts in a minute, but like I said earlier the overtime is there if you want it. Hope I answered all of your questions.

[ExUSPP]

You seem to have a major chip on your shoulder. I could be wrong though. If you just want money then by all means go to the USCP. I was a Capitol Police Officer from 1999 until 2001 and I hated every minute of it. Some of the things in your original post took place there at that time but of course I don't know what it is like now. I love the statement it is a foot in the door. Unless you are already trained as a criminal investigator through FLETC there is no benefit for a Federal Agency to hire you over a regular local or state officer. The only benefit is that you will be in the retirement system. You are absolutely clueless about the Park Police and I am glad you don't want to go there because you sound like a typical mal content and I don't want you to tarnish the name of my former department. "They think i my have a alternative motive" that is because you do. You want to be an 1811 with the Marshals service. Here is an idea for you, take a job with the Marshals as an 082 because they aren't hiring 1811s any more. They have an over abundance as it is and when the need arises for new ones they plan on promoting from within.

[killercam82]

wow exUSPP

You know after a hard day off work today all those comments on top of dealing with these airline patrons... you made my day feel a lot better. Those were some harsh words there. I simply asked about the USCP not the Park boys okay. I am sure everyone who looks to get into FLEO looked them over. All the ones i have met have been really nice good people but you man ruined that. MD State keeps asking how i have handled my uncles murder... they think i will use my authority to get back at the guys in Bmore that were involved. But there was no need to make those comments. Like the one guy said some will like you others won't care for you... I guys your one of the ignorant ones... thanks man thanks a lot.

[ExUSPP]

I am sorry about your uncle and I miss understood your alterior motive statement. I thought you meant the other officers you work with at the Airport Police thought you had an alterior motive. You didn't specifically ask about the Park Police but you mentioned in your post that they do nothing but sit in cars. I am sorry but I just can't let you talk bad about an agency I care deeply about. I still think you sound like a mal content and really need to think about why you want to change departments. If it is for money then go to Capitol Police if you want to do law enforcement go to another state or local agency and if you want to be an 1811 for the Marshals go be an 082 for them first. If you check their web site they will tell you themselves they don't hire people as 1811s anymore.

[killercam82]

Ha ha exUSPP

I am not going to sit here and fight with you about what you think and how your dept. is. The PPD is a great department from my point of view only when the officer is working BW PArkway or GW PArkway okay... I was told that once i came on with them in DC area i would be sitting at a fixed post in my cruiser. I was told (TOLD) that by a two Park officers. Know this if they came to me offered me a job i would jump on it, but maybe i shouldn't b/c you wrote i would tarnish you badge, guess i am not good enough huh.

Anyone else have any ANSWERS ONLY to my Q's please.

[Bearcat06]

With an attitude like that, I doubt anyone is going to take you seriously.....

[Bigmac7701]

Killer, your skin is a tad too sensitive for an 1811 job. Might look into rent-a-cop work.

[fedhopeful]

Killer, your skin is a tad too sensitive for an 1811 job. Might look into rent-a-cop work.

PC suggests the correct terminology is Security Officer, Security Guard, Public Safety Specialist, and the like. Not every Security personnel wants to be a cop or likes to play cop. Just another job which some individuals choose as a method to put food on the table and pay the rent. If you're really good and work at the right place, you can make a ton in Security too. They're not all making minimum wage. I will throw away my soapbox now. Sorry to bore everyone with my opinion. LOL.