Hello from Houston

[johnclark1102]

Good morning all, I've been here for a few weeks just observing but I decided the time had come for an official hello.

When I was growing up my grand plan for life was to become a Georgia State Trooper. That plan got put aside when I discovered my love for aviation and I chose to pursue a career as professional pilot. That's worked out well for me so far, but aviation is as unstable an industry as there ever will be, and since I fly on call I have too much free time, so I've decided to start pursuing my other career interest, law enforcement.

After college I spent a year volunteering with the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary and going through the process to become an Auxiliary Trooper, but I had to move to Houston unexpectedly 2 years ago when the Flight School I was working at started bouncing paychecks and letting people go. Now that I'm here I've decided to continue my pursuit of law enforcement involvement.

I've applied for a Reserve Deputy position with my local Sheriff's Office and have passed all the selection tests so far, just waiting on the background check which I'm confident won't be an issue, so I'm expecting to start at the Sheriff's Academy in April.

Thanks to all of the verified LEO's here for what you do, and I look forward to volunteering my time to help serve and protect not only my community, but the men and women who have made a career serving and protecting it.

[Safety Steve]

Welcome to RP from Central Texas!

If you could handle the pay cut, Texas DPS has an aviation unit you can promote to after four years on the road as a Trooper.


Be Safe.

[johnclark1102]

Thanks Steve.

I've been looking at law enforcement aviation as a viable career path for a while now. The DOJ flies my favorite airplane out of Ellington filed here in Houston quite frequently and I'd be lying if I said I'd never fantasized about that job.

That's part of why I decided to pursue my TCLEOSE certificate and get involved with my local Sheriff's Office.

They have a fairly active aviation unit at the airport I fly out of already so I know a few of their pilots.

The ride alongs I've done and the recruiters with the Reserve Command here have all told me that the Reserve Deputies can choose any department to participate in so, I already plan to pursue District 5 Patrol (where I live and work) and then whatever opportunities might be available with the Air Unit.

If civilian flying continues to be as unstable as it has been lately, I'm definitely trying to put things in place to pursue law enforcement aviation.

[marinepilot]

Welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle from an old, retired Marine who flew KC-130's and T-34 Turbo Mentors! I too believed the flying career path to be too unstable and with a young family I couldn't risk it. Plus, I wanted to be closer to my family more often than flying would have allowed. So I made the switch when I retired and haven't looked back since!

[mcsap]

Welcome to RP ( I used to be in the USAF )

Thats all of the flying talk I can muster.

[Safety Steve]

Sounds like you have a good foot in the door johnclark with the SO! Carry on!



Be Safe.

[johnclark1102]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I'll post in regularly and keep those who care updated about the process.

[marinepilot]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

I'll post in regularly and keep those who care updated about the process.

Please do!!