Local/Federal

[BoxingBoy]

If all of the Local and Federal agencies paid the same would you have stayed at the Local level?

[Switchback]

I went straight to fed and I would NEVER do anything other than what I am doing. I have told my old Chief (the new Chief and I are not "tight") time and time again that I would do this for a lot less money!

[retdetsgt]

I wouldn't have ever gone federal because I wanted to choose where I lived. Several people I worked with went to FBI and DEA and ended up in some cities I wanted no part of. Hell, I didn't even consider the state. The furtherest I could be transferred was still within 45 minutes of my house.

[Switchback]

Not all federal agencies are that way. In fact, MOST tell you where you are being hired to. Most do not do forced moves anymore, either. I was told where I was hired to and I moved only when I chose to move. I promoted only to the offices that I chose to apply to.

[Nole795]

Hell yes I would stayed at my last local agency if they paid as well as the federal level. IMO, there is no better role in law enforcement then the local level. But that is just my opinion.

[retdetsgt]

Hell yes I would stayed at my last local agency if they paid as well as the federal level. IMO, there is no better role in law enforcement then the local level. But that is just my opinion.

Even though I only spent 10 years in uniform and had 18 in detectives, when I get with other retired guys I talk about the uniform time. That's when I had the most fun. That's where the best stories happen, not in investigative slots.

[Joeyd6]

I have miexed feelings on this. I have definately put more bad folks away, and away for many more years than I ever did as a NYPD cop. I get a lot of satisfaction from that.

But like Retetsgt, uniform is where I had the most fun and lived some of wildest things I ever did. But I know I physically and mentallity would not want to stay in uniform my entire career. But I also complained alot about getting out when I was in uniform.

I guess I am happy here now and happy to have such greta memories and stories about the street. Thats why two cops who never met can sit and spend hours together and end up the best of friends.

[RoadDog1905]

I'm State and I love it. As a big department, we have a lot of specialized positions to do and have a lot of choices if I get tired of the patrol work (if that ever happens).

With my state though, we are the only police force for about 85% of the state's sizable land mass, covering about 5 million people. So, I handle the domestics, burglaries, thefts, bar fights, and everything else that comes into the barracks. I get to do all the usual 'local' police work in a department that gives me a lot of options if I want (Aviation, K-9, Vice, Crime, Academy, Intelligence, etc.).

At the same time, I can move anywhere in the state I want to go. If I wanted to live in a more rural area, I can move and get at least a nearby barracks. If we get a bad station commander, I can hop to another barracks for a while and come back later after things settle down.

The best of all the worlds.

That said, I was lucky when I came out of the Academy and got my home barracks. More then a few guys had to move or get an apartment 6 hours from their old house. And we were locked into that area for 3 years.

[retdetsgt]

But like Retetsgt, uniform is where I had the most fun and lived some of wildest things I ever did. But I know I physically and mentallity would not want to stay in uniform my entire career. But I also complained alot about getting out when I was in uniform.

+1 I agree totally.

I had a great time, but I liked working high crime, high impact areas of the city and that takes a toll on you. At the time, I just wanted a break from uniform and applied for all sorts of drone jobs. My plan was to get off the street for a couple of years and then come back. I learned quickly those assignments went to the fair haired boys, which I wasn't. So I took a promotional exam and became a detective. At that time they had to promote you as you came up to #1 on the list unless they could show cause. That's been changed now to where they can pick and choose from the top 5.

I really found my niche in investigations and all in all, found the work more challenging than uniform. Working a precinct, every shift I opened my notebook to a fresh, blank page and started everything over again. As a detective, whatever was on my desk when I went home was still there when I returned the next day. I also loved the freedom I had as a detective and the fact I wasn't tied to the umbilical cord called radio. But, damn I sure had a good time while was a uniform cop and that's where I really learned the investigative skills I used the rest of my career. I don't think I'd have been half the investigator I was if I hadn't had the street experience.

The state was a different beast now than it was when I was looking for a job. The state paid much less than the city I worked for and they had no union. A lot and I mean a lot, of state troopers quit there and came to work for the city the first few years I was working. Apparently according to Switch, the feds have changed. Again, the first 6 or 7 years I was on the job and open to applying, I saw just about everyone hired by the feds get jerked around. A couple of guys I knew quit their jobs with the FBI and DEA within a few years. They were posted to places they hated and couldn't transfer out.

I guess I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.

[Cat_Doc]

Yep, as far as excitement and just plain down to earth fun, nothing beats working with a good squad in patrol. What I like best about patrol is that when you check out of service, your day is over.

Investigations is another world being subject to call-out and having a case roll around in your head while you are at home allegedly relaxing. But, some of the highest rewards come out of working your *** off and catching the bad guy on what started out as a “whodunit.”