serious question

Ok, new to the board. Good topics and posts, although I must admit I don't know many of the people talked about (but something call JABA makes me nervous...)

Here's my question: if so many people hate it here, then why are they here? If you want to be a cop for better pay, more fun, get your rocks off, or whatever, why aren't you? many agencies will sponsor you through, and even more have cross-over or let you attend at a local college part-time in the evenings.

I understand the *****ing about things like mileage (which finally is getting increased), using my own vehicle, overwhelming work load/stats/investigations, crappy supervisors & co-workers. These are all things we cannot change. If the one thing you can change is the fact that you are here when you don't want to, then why are you?

And it goes on and on and on. why post leo job ads? think that job is so great if they continually have positions to fill? think they're all getting shot or retire in those numbers to have that many openings? I have nothing against those who want to be a cop. What i don't get is those who ***** about not being one, when all they have to do is go and apply.

Ok, that's my posting for now. Just curious about this.

Ok, new to the board. Good topics and posts, although I must admit I don't know many of the people talked about (but something call JABA makes me nervous...)

Here's my question: if so many people hate it here, then why are they here? If you want to be a cop for better pay, more fun, get your rocks off, or whatever, why aren't you? many agencies will sponsor you through, and even more have cross-over or let you attend at a local college part-time in the evenings.

I understand the *****ing about things like mileage (which finally is getting increased), using my own vehicle, overwhelming work load/stats/investigations, crappy supervisors & co-workers. These are all things we cannot change. If the one thing you can change is the fact that you are here when you don't want to, then why are you?

And it goes on and on and on. why post leo job ads? think that job is so great if they continually have positions to fill? think they're all getting shot or retire in those numbers to have that many openings? I have nothing against those who want to be a cop. What i don't get is those who ***** about not being one, when all they have to do is go and apply.

Ok, that's my posting for now. Just curious about this.

It is getting old but many of the people posting it are ex-PO's who are now LEO and know how underpaid we are but feel they need to rub it in I guess to make themselves feel better. Personally if I were a few years younger I would probably switch over. I originally chose this due to flexible schedules you could have but the pay gap has increased so much in the last 6 years it has become a joke. At least in the past we usually started little higher than LEO now we start less than most and really get creamed in pay when a few years go by. With the budgets the state has had recently to only give us the raises they have is a disgrace no matter how you cut it.

All PO and LEO has high turnover but I have never heard a CO or CPO complain they hate the job compared to their former position only the opposite. That tells me something.

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Ok, new to the board. Good topics and posts, although I must admit I don't know many of the people talked about (but something call JABA makes me nervous...)

Here's my question: if so many people hate it here, then why are they here? If you want to be a cop for better pay, more fun, get your rocks off, or whatever, why aren't you? many agencies will sponsor you through, and even more have cross-over or let you attend at a local college part-time in the evenings.

I understand the *****ing about things like mileage (which finally is getting increased), using my own vehicle, overwhelming work load/stats/investigations, crappy supervisors & co-workers. These are all things we cannot change. If the one thing you can change is the fact that you are here when you don't want to, then why are you?

And it goes on and on and on. why post leo job ads? think that job is so great if they continually have positions to fill? think they're all getting shot or retire in those numbers to have that many openings? I have nothing against those who want to be a cop. What i don't get is those who ***** about not being one, when all they have to do is go and apply.

Ok, that's my posting for now. Just curious about this.

It is getting old but many of the people posting it are ex-PO's who are now LEO and know how underpaid we are but feel they need to rub it in I guess to make themselves feel better. Personally if I were a few years younger I would probably switch over. I originally chose this due to flexible schedules you could have but the pay gap has increased so much in the last 6 years it has become a joke. At least in the past we usually started little higher than LEO now we start less than most and really get creamed in pay when a few years go by. With the budgets the state has had recently to only give us the raises they have is a disgrace no matter how you cut it.

..

..

[VOPman]

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Have you considered getting a second job to supplement your income? One of the benefits of being a LEO is off duty work which is, essentially, a second job. Most successful workers in private industry work no less than 50 hours per week which is kind of like having a second job. Lots of P.O.'s work second jobs.

Just a thought.

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Have you considered getting a second job to supplement your income? One of the benefits of being a LEO is off duty work which is, essentially, a second job. Most successful workers in private industry work no less than 50 hours per week which is kind of like having a second job. Lots of P.O.'s work second jobs.

Just a thought.

Most PO off duty jobs they are getting like $ 8 an hour unless its their own business thing. LEO's through position get like $ 25 or more usually by virtue of the position.

[VOPman]

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Have you considered getting a second job to supplement your income? One of the benefits of being a LEO is off duty work which is, essentially, a second job. Most successful workers in private industry work no less than 50 hours per week which is kind of like having a second job. Lots of P.O.'s work second jobs.

Just a thought.

Most PO off duty jobs they are getting like $ 8 an hour unless its their own business thing. LEO's through position get like $ 25 or more usually by virtue of the position.


Face it, we will never get $25/hour off duty work because most off duty employers are paying for a uniformed LEO with a marked patrol car and we are neither uniformed, full LEO's nor do we have marked vehicles. Take what you can get. $8/hour is still better than $0/hour. Do you tell your unemployed offenders to remain unemployed unless they are guaranteed a decent wage? Or do you tell them that COS is due every month, without fail, so any paying legal job will suffice until a better one comes along?

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Have you considered getting a second job to supplement your income? One of the benefits of being a LEO is off duty work which is, essentially, a second job. Most successful workers in private industry work no less than 50 hours per week which is kind of like having a second job. Lots of P.O.'s work second jobs.

Just a thought.

Most PO off duty jobs they are getting like $ 8 an hour unless its their own business thing. LEO's through position get like $ 25 or more usually by virtue of the position.


Face it, we will never get $25/hour off duty work because most off duty employers are paying for a uniformed LEO with a marked patrol car and we are neither uniformed, full LEO's nor do we have marked vehicles. Take what you can get. $8/hour is still better than $0/hour. Do you tell your unemployed offenders to remain unemployed unless they are guaranteed a decent wage? Or do you tell them that COS is due every month, without fail, so any paying legal job will suffice until a better one comes along?

The thing I hate about your posts is that you seemed resigned to the pay situation and not motivated to change it. If everyone thought like you the state could get away with 1% raises the next 5 years I guess. It is not right and we need to look out for ourselves. With these great budget years since 2000 while local agencies were routinely getting large increases we were getting peanuts. We at least started at more than most of them in 2001 - now we start less usually and are really creamed at the 5 yr. mark...

[VOPman]

i just want a better higher paying job currently this situation is poverty and shame. :(

Have you considered getting a second job to supplement your income? One of the benefits of being a LEO is off duty work which is, essentially, a second job. Most successful workers in private industry work no less than 50 hours per week which is kind of like having a second job. Lots of P.O.'s work second jobs.

Just a thought.

Most PO off duty jobs they are getting like $ 8 an hour unless its their own business thing. LEO's through position get like $ 25 or more usually by virtue of the position.


Face it, we will never get $25/hour off duty work because most off duty employers are paying for a uniformed LEO with a marked patrol car and we are neither uniformed, full LEO's nor do we have marked vehicles. Take what you can get. $8/hour is still better than $0/hour. Do you tell your unemployed offenders to remain unemployed unless they are guaranteed a decent wage? Or do you tell them that COS is due every month, without fail, so any paying legal job will suffice until a better one comes along?

The thing I hate about your posts is that you seemed resigned to the pay situation and not motivated to change it. If everyone thought like you the state could get away with 1% raises the next 5 years I guess. It is not right and we need to look out for ourselves. With these great budget years since 2000 while local agencies were routinely getting large increases we were getting peanuts. We at least started at more than most of them in 2001 - now we start less usually and are really creamed at the 5 yr. mark...

You are mistaken about me. I do wish that we made a lot more money. There simply are only two solutions to increasing a CPO's income - either the legislature approves a significant pay raise or each P.O. has to get a second job. Which option do you think will get more money put into your bank account next week?


You are correct - we do need to look out for ourselves. Get a second job because no matter how much you are paid, no one is going to pay you to sit around and complain about how poorly you are paid.

[mystikwarrior]

Curious about the pay issue. Those of you who think it's 'low', what do you base that on? National averages? Local averages?
A LEO in Tampa can compare his salary to a comparably-situated LEO in St. Pete and determine if he's over or under-paid. What does a state PO compare to? The same LEO? The job isn't the same. I also saw comments about moonlighting for $8 an hour. Heck, around here kids get $9.50 for working at McDonalds. But in other areas of the state they only pay $6.00 for the same job. So is somebody over or under-paid?

Median annual earnings of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in May 2004 were $39,600. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,500 and $52,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $66,660. In May 2004, median annual earnings for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists employed in State government were $39,810; those employed in local government earned $40,560. Higher wages tend to be found in urban areas.
So where do Florida POs fall in the above ranges?
Money Magazine says the average is $47,583.

Curious about the pay issue. Those of you who think it's 'low', what do you base that on? National averages? Local averages?
A LEO in Tampa can compare his salary to a comparably-situated LEO in St. Pete and determine if he's over or under-paid. What does a state PO compare to? The same LEO? The job isn't the same. I also saw comments about moonlighting for $8 an hour. Heck, around here kids get $9.50 for working at McDonalds. But in other areas of the state they only pay $6.00 for the same job. So is somebody over or under-paid?

Median annual earnings of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists in May 2004 were $39,600. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,500 and $52,100. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,310, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $66,660. In May 2004, median annual earnings for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists employed in State government were $39,810; those employed in local government earned $40,560. Higher wages tend to be found in urban areas.
So where do Florida POs fall in the above ranges?
Money Magazine says the average is $47,583.

Most are comparing it to federal probation officers who for some reason make more money on average than federal police officers except the FBI. A long term federal probation officer makes 60,000 in central florida and can almost hit 80,000 in south florida and people who have switched I taked to say the job is no harder than being a state PO. The problem is you have to be willing to go to D.C. or California first for 3 years to get one because going straight to it from State Probation in Florida to a fed. probation position in Florida is almost non existant due to other Feds wanting to come here. Also every PO I know that switched over to LEO seems to like that better and says it is not the headache probation is.

A lot of PO's are mad because the state isnt even coming close to matching the raises LEO's have gotten the last few years even though they had good budget years. I know some places we at least started 3,000 more than LEO's in 2002 - now that LEO starts at 1,500 more and this doesnt even count no step pay plan.

Get used to it pal.

Get used to it pal.

:x