The bad economy finally caught up with me

[corporal716]

Well the bad economy has caught up with me and I’ve now been laid off from my second career as a Code Enforcement Officer. After weighing my options, I’ve decided that the only right move is to go back to school and finish my degree. My dilemma is that the degree I started over 20 years, and another life ago was Criminal Justice. Knowing that I’ll never be a cop again, I’m not sure if want to go thought another two years of school to finish an education that I most likely will not find work in. Other than teaching, I can’t think of much that I could now do with that degree in the civilian world. I know that any degree is better than no degree, so I’m trying to look toward the future. I really don’t have any career interest other than law enforcement, so I’m trying to get ideas about civilian careers where a CJ degree and a law enforcement background could be marketable. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

One thing that I’ve found on my own that might be interesting is that the University of Phoenix offers an on-line degree in Organizational Security Management. If anyone has any information on this program or career field, I’d like to get your feedback too. From what I’ve been told by the University of Phoenix a lot of my CJ credits can be transferred toward this degree, and from what I’ve read it could be an interesting new career. I just don’t know much about it.

[retdetsgt]

Sorry to hear that.

I don't know if it's available where you are or not, but several of my retired friends work plain clothes security for Wachenhut. They have the contract for city hall security here, plus some stuff for banks (again, armed, but not uniform). They pay about 20 bucks an hour, but no other benefits.

If you're near a federal courthouse, the USM's hire retired cops as court and building security. I think they have benefits now.

Good luck.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Well the bad economy has caught up with me and I’ve now been laid off from my second career as a Code Enforcement Officer. After weighing my options, I’ve decided that the only right move is to go back to school and finish my degree. My dilemma is that the degree I started over 20 years, and another life ago was Criminal Justice. Knowing that I’ll never be a cop again, I’m not sure if want to go thought another two years of school to finish an education that I most likely will not find work in. Other than teaching, I can’t think of much that I could now do with that degree in the civilian world. I know that any degree is better than no degree, so I’m trying to look toward the future. I really don’t have any career interest other than law enforcement, so I’m trying to get ideas about civilian careers where a CJ degree and a law enforcement background could be marketable. Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

One thing that I’ve found on my own that might be interesting is that the University of Phoenix offers an on-line degree in Organizational Security Management. If anyone has any information on this program or career field, I’d like to get your feedback too. From what I’ve been told by the University of Phoenix a lot of my CJ credits can be transferred toward this degree, and from what I’ve read it could be an interesting new career. I just don’t know much about it.

Christ Almighty, man! Sorry to hear that.

The only things I've ever seen CJ degrees work for in civvie life is a security company. That's one of the reasons I tell people to not get the CJ degree.

I'd be careful with UofP. Their job is to get you to pay for those classes, so they'll tell you damn near anything up front. They ARE recruiters, just for that college. The classes are horribly overpriced, but if you're out in the sticks, that leaves you with fewer options.

You can cheat a little and look around the DANTES site. There's a section for Distance Learning programs. Granted the site is for military and shows their pricing, but you can search their database and find other programs around the country that may have something you'd like.

Knock yourself out, brother. DANTES Online Catalog Good luck to ya, my man.

[canuckofapeach]

You may wish to explore a Bachelors in Adult Education. This degree program accommodates a wide range of individuals currently working or aspiring to work in adult education and human resource development settings. Some of the participants have included individuals working or wishing to work in post secondary educational institutions, police academies, private and non-profit sectors etc.

Just a thought. With your LE experience and desire to teach this could be a viable approach to obtaining a degree in post secondary continuing education with an emphasis in policing, plus getting lucrative gigs in training and development on the side.

[Creeker]

You may also want to join the thousands of other former Californians who are departing your state on a weekly basis and return to the USA, which has yet to become as bad off as Kalifornia, although some places are working toward it.

Just an idea...

[retdetsgt]

You may also want to join the thousands of other former Californians who are departing your state on a weekly basis and return to the USA, which has yet to become as bad off as Kalifornia, although some places are working toward it.

Just an idea...

But don't come north.... Oregon is nearly as bad a shape economically as California. The liberals are desperately trying to put a good spin on it since the governor, legislature and of course the feds are all Democrats..... But it's gradually been getting worse.

Oregon has done everything they can to be anti business and it's coming home to haunt them now. And they still don't get it, the legislature just passed another business tax.

I'd hate to be looking for a new job right now no matter what my age.

[corporal716]

You may also want to join the thousands of other former Californians who are departing your state on a weekly basis and return to the USA, which has yet to become as bad off as Kalifornia, although some places are working toward it.

Just an idea...

If it were not for my wife’s job I’d already be gone. We’ve been talking a lot about leaving and probably will when I finish school, but right now we need her income and I’m not going anywhere without a job waiting. That is why I’m going back to school, so that I can get a new career and get out of California. My wife has to stay at her job for two more years, that’s why I need an accelerated program like the University of Phoenix. As soon as we don’t have to be here we are getting out before this state burns its self to the ground.

[Rad Diver]

I'd check into Target, for loss prevention/assest protection. I'm not talking about the guys in uniform. They like retired/former LEO's. By the time they contact leo's the entire case package is basically completed, and being a former LEO you would already have a step up on the college fella. The hours are flexible, so you could still go to school. For what it's worth, Target has all the toys and then some that LEO's have.

Good luck bro!

[corporal716]

I'd check into Target, for loss prevention/assest protection. I'm not talking about the guys in uniform. They like retired/former LEO's. By the time they contact leo's the entire case package is basically completed, and being a former LEO you would already have a step up on the college fella. The hours are flexible, so you could still go to school. For what it's worth, Target has all the toys and then some that LEO's have.

Good luck bro!

Good point and they always seem to be hiring my area.

[RockemSockem]

I'd check into Target, for loss prevention/assest protection. I'm not talking about the guys in uniform. They like retired/former LEO's. When I was working for a dept., I interviewed there and the manager told me that he wanted to hire me but that the company would not let him hire an LEO. He said that the companies' experience with LEO's was that they are into "violation enforcement", legitiately so, but that the company wanted you to think about the business ramifications more and not so much about what was "right" or who deserved to be charged with something. By the time they contact leo's the entire case package is basically completed, and being a former LEO you would already have a step up on the college fella. Any decent loss prevention professional should have the case completed and ready for prosecution by the time they contact the LEO's. I know that isn't always the case though, and I have heard that Target is more professional than most. The hours are flexible, so you could still go to school. True. For what it's worth, Target has all the toys and then some that LEO's have. Like what, specifically? I had a good friend who worked for Target. What are you referring to other than good (internal) computer databases and CCTV equipment, etc?

Good luck bro!

From what I know, my experience is contrary to this poster. Doesn't mean that he is not correct; Simply means that I had a different interviewing experience. Personally, from what I learned and have heard from others, I would DOWNPLAY the LEO experience and focus on the investigative experiences you have and how they would transfer into the "private" business world.

[Safety Steve]

Sorry to hear about the job loss Corporal.

In Texas they have Criminal Justice Teachers in the high schools. Texas Department of Public Safety is hiring. They are currently taking applications for a 10 week academy for officers with their immediate certificate. The academy starts in March of 2010. There is no age limit. Be Safe.

[Creeker]

The longer I live, the more I believe that, after the Jews, Texans are God's chosen people.

[corporal716]

In Texas they have Criminal Justice Teachers in the high schools. Texas Department of Public Safety is hiring. They are currently taking applications for a 10 week academy for officers with their immediate certificate. The academy starts in March of 2010. There is no age limit. Be Safe.

Thanks for the information. They are starting to teach CJ classes at a few High Schools here too. I’ve thought about teaching at the Junior College level, but that won’t be for a few years. I would love to do a short academy and get a law enforcement job again, but I know that with my knee I’ll never work in uniform again.

One glimmer of hope that I’ve found is probation. I was talking to a Probation Officer friend of mine who was saying that after finishing school that I maybe able to get on somewhere. In California anyway, their academy is much shorter and more academically orientated, and from what she was saying the run can be waived. My task now is to find what other states require. I love all the great things California has to offer. The beachs, mountains and deserts are great, but I just can’t handle the politics anymore. I’m hoping that after finishing my degree, I can find a probation job somewhere else. My fingers are crossed.

[greg72982]

What about a jail or prison?

[corporal716]

What about a jail or prison?

I can’t do that anymore. I was assigned to the jail when I received the knee injury that forced me to retire from being a deputy. That is why I was doing code enforcement when I got laid off. I could do something inside like classification or investigations, but nothing that would require me to run and go hands on in a fight. Where I worked jobs like that were sworn positions, so they were required to respond when something went down. I couldn’t work the street or jail there anymore, so they retired me. I even tried to go to the civil division and serve papers, but the Under Sheriff said, “no full duty, no job. If you can’t work everywhere you can’t work anywhere. “

I know there is something I can do. I just have to find the place that will let me do it.