RECRUITING AND MISC. INFO UPDATE

THIS IS JUST TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE LATEST INFORMATION I HAVE.

1) I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS ALREADY HEARD THAT WE HAVE TWO NEW OFFICERS STARTING ON 4/9. (BOTH OF THESE HAVE NO EXPERIENCE)

2) WE ALSO HAVE TWO SCHEDULED TO INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF EARLY NEXT WEEK THAT WE ARE HOPING TO START ON 4/16 AS LONG AS THEY PASS THE CHIEF'S INTERVIEW, PSYCH, PHYSICAL, AND DRUG SCREEN. (ONE IS A DETENTION DEPUTY NOW AND THE OTHER JUST MOVED TO THE AREA AND WAS AN OFFICER IN GEORGIA)

3) WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT IN THE BACKGROUND PROCESS THAT IS EMPLOYED WITH A LOCAL AGENCY.

4) THERE ARE SEVERAL (APPROX. 4-5) APPLICANTS STILL IN THE ACADEMY AND ARE SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN APRIL AND JULY THAT WE ARE PROCESSING.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP ON THE RECRUITING FRONT. THE PROBLEM IN THE PAST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO ONE REALLY KEEPING UP WITH THINGS AND/OR RETURNING CALLS FROM INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS. BUT, I AM ACTIVELY WORKING ON GETTING US GOOD PEOPLE. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE STATE EXAM TO RECRUIT TWO TIMES. WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED FLYERS AT PCC, HCC, AND PASCO-HERNANDO CC. THE WORD IS OUT THAT WE ARE HIRING AND I AM GETTING A GOOD RESPONSE.

THE CHIEF IS STILL WORKING ON A SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM BUT WE ARE FOCUSING FIRST ON PEOPLE WE CAN HIRE NOW. IF WE SPONSOR SOMEONE IT TIES UP AN OFFICER POSITION FOR A LITTLE OVER 4 MONTHS WHILE THEY ARE IN ACADEMY AND TAKING STATE EXAM.
I AM GOING TO WORK ON A CROSS-OVER SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM WHICH SHOULD BE EASIER TO GET APPROVED AND WILL STILL GET US THE PEOPLE WE NEED IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AS FAR AS THE OTHER ISSUES: YES FOR THE TIME BEING THINGS THAT ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED ARE SMALL THINGS. YES, IT IS OBVIOUSLY BEING DONE TO BOOST MORALE. BUT THATS NOT A BAD THING!!!! I REALIZE THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WORKED ON BEFORE NOW. BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE FINALLY BEING ADDRESSED!!!

THE PENSION REDUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION IN THE APRIL COMMISSION MEETINGS SO WE SHOULD BE HEARING ABOUT THE REDUCTION VERY SOON.

FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, BOTH CHIEF AND CITY MANAGER ARE WORKING ON GETTING A GOOD RAISE AND LOWERING COST OF BENEFITS. I CAN OBVIOUSLY NOT PROMISE ANYTHING BUT I CAN TELL U THAT ITS BEING WORKED ON. LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE WE RUN CRYING TO THE UNION. IN OCTOBER IF OUR ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED THEN LETS SEE WHAT OTHER OPTIONS THERE ARE. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THE CITY HAS NO MORE REASON TO LISTEN TO A UNION NEGOTIATOR THAN THEY DO TO THE CHIEF OR THE PAY STUDY ANALYST.
POLICE CANT STRIKE SO WHAT BARGAINING POWER DOES THE UNION REALLY HAVE???????? IN ORDER FOR A UNION TO WORK THERE HAS TO BE EITHER LEVERAGE (LIKE THREAT OF STRIKE) OR A DECISION TO WORK TOGETHER ON ISSUES (LIKE AT TPD) AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN PLANT CITY.

THANKS FOR THE POSITIVE COMMENTS ON THE EAB. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DONT FORGET TO COME TO US WITH ISSUES OR CONCERNS. STAY SAFE!!

Can you tell me if your department will accept applications from out of state officers that haven't started the EOT process yet? Will the starting salary be hiring for an experienced LEO? Thanks.

Yes at this time we will accept applications from out of state officers that have not yet enrolled in an EOT. You can download our application at www.pcpd.us (http://www.pcpd.us).

Im in the academy now set to graduate in July me and another recruit are looking in to applying, and we would like to do a ride along! please let me know? thanks

Im in the academy now set to graduate in July me and another recruit are looking in to applying, and we would like to do a ride along! please let me know? thanks

Best way to arrange that is call 813-757-9200 and talk to Cpt Borders or Ofc Polk

Hello

I'm a ten year plus veteran at another Florida agency, been thinking about making an app. with you guys as I love the area. I would be taking a substantial paycut but like the small town atmosphere.

Questions.....

1. I've heard your pension is brutal in terms of contribution percentage, what percentage do you pay in versus vesting and percentage at payout?

Do you have the option to opt out at employment?

2. What schedule cycle does your patrol section work?

3. Take home car policy?

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks

THANKS FOR THE INTEREST IN OUR AGENCY. ALL IN ALL IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO WORK. I'LL GIVE YOU JUST THE FACTS AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION:

PATROL WORKS A 2 WEEK ROTATING SCHEDULE...EXAMPLE WORK MON, TUES....OFF WED AND THURS...WORK FRI SAT AND SUN...THEN IT REVERSES OFF MON, TUES, WORK WED, THURS....OFF FRI SAT, SUN

CIU DETECTIVES WORK MON-FRI AND HAVE A LATE STANBY SCHEDULE
STREET CRIMES WORKS A RIDICULOUS SCHEDULE BASED ON WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE TIME...SUFFICE IT TO SAY THERE IS NO REGULARITY

MOTORS WORKS A FIVE DAY SCHEDULE AS WELL

OUR MONTHLY RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN ROUGH. IT IS CURRENTLY AT 13 %.....IT IS ABOUT TO BE LOWERED DOWN TO 10 % HOPEFULLY BY JUNE. IN 2000 WE STARTED OUR OWN SEPARATE PLAN FROM SCRATCH. HENCE THE LARGE CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IT HAS DONE VERY WELL WHICH IS WHY IT'S ABOUT TO BE LOWERED. BY STARTING OUR OWN PLAN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DROP THE YEARS OF SERVICE TO 20 RATHER THAN 25 AT 75%.

WE DO HAVE TAKE HOME CARS. JUST GOT A DOZEN 2007 CARS. I THINK ALL OF PATROL HAS AT LEAST A 2004...OUR RESIDENCY RADIUS IS 20 MILES...IT'S CALCULATED BY AERIAL MILES NOT DRIVING SO THE CHOICES ARE BROADER THAN YOU WOULD THINK

WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A BIG HIRING PERIOD. WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL KIDS IN THE ACADEMY, BUT THE CHIEF IS LOOKING FOR SOME EXPERIENCED GUYS THAT WE CAN HIRE NOW.

OVERALL, ITS A GOOD PLACE TO WORK DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE NEGATIVE POSTS YOU SEE....GO TO OUR WEBSITE CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF

GOOD LUCK