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Don't read into my posts what isn't there. I am disappointed at the economy too. You are correct that retirees see a 3% COLA...but for almost 27 years...I didn't have such a thing until I retired. We saw many lean years...I was hired at $889.00 PER MONTH yet within the first month in the academy, we received a $100.00 across the board increase. My thoughts were..."Wow...great!". That was the last pay increase we received for several years. Had I not made THI after two years...I would not have received a raise for a long time. The step pay plan began in 1984. I started out in step 9 of 13...and did not hit step 13 until 1995 and then POOF...the step plan was gone. We did receive some good increases here and there, but raises were not a guarantee. In 1978, the legislature raped our retirement benefits from 3% DOWN TO 2%. In 1985, we won back the 3%, but got it returned in .02 % annual increments...so from 1978 through 1990...I received LESS THAN 3% retirement accrual. Don't cry to me about how things are now. I wholeheartedly agree that they suck. How about quitting your bitching, moaning and whining and do something about it? How many legislators have you contacted personally? How have you supported your collective bargaining representatives? Fact is, we received far more benefits from a good contract than we did from the Legislature, but don't take my word for it...facts are facts and you can do your own research (You know...that stuff one does to separate fact from fiction...)
Or, be like so many others that are content with their plight and do nothing but whine.
Is the State still doing the tuition waiver? That's a heck of a real benefit that so many pass up. I took advantage of this program and made my situation better because of it. I see the world through different eyes...not just FHP but everything. Education empowers...trust me!
Years after Col. Burkett retired, I invited him to dinner while I was in Tallahassee for some union business and he told me point blank that he believed the ONLY reason he made Colonel was because out of the whole lot they had to choose from, he was the only one with a bachelor's degree which he earned taking night classes while working...amazing. (Note: I rarely agreed with his policies when he was Colonel nor was I a fan...must be some inbred thing us troopers feel we must do...yet later...I could at least see where he was coming from.) Hard to believe that someone could be the leader of the entire force without having college. Scary is what it is. But, that's how the mentality was then...fat, dumb and happy.
Do they still test for promotion? The only way to start making more money is to promote...study and do well on the test unless you just want crumbs...
On that note...exactly just what is it that you want? On your list of wants...which items do you actually have some sort of control over? My advice...work to improve what you can for your benefit as others will benefit too...and those things you have no control over...either accept that as it is or move on. How sad it is to be so miserable that you resort to putting me and others down because we met with limiuted success in and after our careers while you're wallowing in your frustration due to an apparent lack of ambition. Get a life, troll. Having a battle of wits with you is akin to dueling with an unarmed man...I would not waste my energy except that others read this and most likely understand my position. Whiner. Do something to make things better or shut up.

Being content is not getting anything else and settling for what you have. We are not being allowed to keep what we have Bubba. When you worked for FHP, you got some raises and you certainly never had the State come and take 3% of your salary from you and take your retirement COLA from you and you didn't drive a patrol car to 200,000 miles. Every year state workers don't get a yearly COLA on their paycheck is a paycut. Getting a yearly paycut is nothing to be content with (unless you're an idiot). My power bill, my grocery bill, and my gas bill are all going up. Glad that Bubba's retirement check will get a 3% COLA in July so he can try to keep up with inflation. Bubba should go to work for Rick Scott so he can explain to us why we should be content with whatever crumbs they feed us. He could start every speech with YOU TOOK AN OATH

I had a good time with FHP. Some of it sucked, like anything else I suppose. I made what I could of it. I raised a family, paid my bills and the state paid for most of my college degrees. My experiences allowed me to become a college professor when I retired from the FHP. If I had been in FHP for the money, I'd have left right away. Personal satisfaction means a lot...some are lucky to have a career that they enjoy. I was lucky. I also became involved where I could...and I learned plenty. There is plenty of life after FHP...but there are much worse jobs that I could have done too.
If I truly felt as some of these trolls feel about their job...good sense would dictate finding another line of work, huh?
Isn't it good to focus on the positives rather than the negatives all the time?
I feel sorry for those who stay and aren't somewhat content. They aren't helping themselves or anyone else.

Guest wrote:All that feel good stuff at the begining of this thread is just that, an attempt at making yourself feel good about wasting your life at a dead end job with a crap ass agency. I thought you made a huge fool out of yourself with the original post but after you admitted that you let FHP ruin your marriage I am convinced you are fool. Not only that, but you should be ashamed of yourself for coming on here and trying to make other people feel good about being at or worse staying at an agency, that for all intents and purposes ruined your life, whether you want to admit it or not.

FHP is a black hole that promises nothing, not even the make believe self-satisfaction that bubba spews here on this thread. Anybody who wants even a halfway decent standard of living, not to mention a marriage that survives, will run from FHP like a scalded dog. Spouses don't want to get by on Cherrios and Raman Noodles forever and they don't want to see their significant other for five minutes between naps and a 10/208 either. No matter how hard Retired Bubba tries to make himself feel better about the bad choices he made in life, don't be a fool and buy into it. It's all just a facade and a lie. Make something of yourself and get out of there if you can.

Thanks, "Former." B'bye.

All that feel good stuff at the begining of this thread is just that, an attempt at making yourself feel good about wasting your life at a dead end job with a crap ass agency. I thought you made a huge fool out of yourself with the original post but after you admitted that you let FHP ruin your marriage I am convinced you are fool. Not only that, but you should be ashamed of yourself for coming on here and trying to make other people feel good about being at or worse staying at an agency, that for all intents and purposes ruined your life, whether you want to admit it or not.

FHP is a black hole that promises nothing, not even the make believe self-satisfaction that bubba spews here on this thread. Anybody who wants even a halfway decent standard of living, not to mention a marriage that survives, will run from FHP like a scalded dog. Spouses don't want to get by on Cherrios and Raman Noodles forever and they don't want to see their significant other for five minutes between naps and a 10/208 either. No matter how hard Retired Bubba tries to make himself feel better about the bad choices he made in life, don't be a fool and buy into it. It's all just a facade and a lie. Make something of yourself and get out of there if you can.

Guest wrote:

Who cares who the boss is.

You've got to be kidding me? Who cares who their boss is? You obviously haven't had to work for a supervisor that couldn't find water in a rainstorm.

I worked for plenty of incompetents...and with some too. Tripping over skidmarks and other foolish things that made my day difficult...but I knew the policy manual and contract which prevented me from being taken unfair advantage of.
...
You do not know me or my history (as unamazing as it may be),or maybe you do... so I will dismiss your statement as an unsupported assumption.
Regardless, the basics of the job remain unchanged...show up on time, answer calls, work your wrecks, arrest those needing arrested, help those in need, show up prepared for court, try to please your sergeant enough to keep them off your butt, and go home alive. FHP owned me for 8 hours (at least) per day...I tried to do as I was told with competence. It mattered not who was at the helm...the basic tasks remain unchanged. What's so difficult about that concept?

Trust me...unless you're the lead dog, the scenery never changes.

Who cares who the boss is.

You've got to be kidding me? Who cares who their boss is? You obviously haven't had to work for a supervisor that couldn't find water in a rainstorm.

Guest wrote:

Guest wrote:There seems to be a difference between how the S.O. picks their leaders and FHP. I've been stationed in the same area for years. With the S.O., the employees getting promoted to leadership are those that distinguished themselves in the trenches. Everybody respects them because they''ve shown they are squared away through their actions. FHP picks their leaders from whoever can memorize the policy manual the best and can say the right buzzwords in an assessment interview.

Some are chosen based on how well they blow the Colonel.

I'd think that a leader surrounds themselves with those they think are qualified and that are loyal...seems the smart way to do it huh? Who cares who the boss is...just do your job!

Guest wrote:There seems to be a difference between how the S.O. picks their leaders and FHP. I've been stationed in the same area for years. With the S.O., the employees getting promoted to leadership are those that distinguished themselves in the trenches. Everybody respects them because they''ve shown they are squared away through their actions. FHP picks their leaders from whoever can memorize the policy manual the best and can say the right buzzwords in an assessment interview.

Some are chosen based on how well they blow the Colonel.

There seems to be a difference between how the S.O. picks their leaders and FHP. I've been stationed in the same area for years. With the S.O., the employees getting promoted to leadership are those that distinguished themselves in the trenches. Everybody respects them because they''ve shown they are squared away through their actions. FHP picks their leaders from whoever can memorize the policy manual the best and can say the right buzzwords in an assessment interview.

Just take a look at who is "supposedly" our fearless leader of field operations. Nuffield said.

Guest wrote:

Ex-Trooper To Help wrote:FHP is a crap agency and crap job. Those of you that stay are really missing out on some great opportunities in law enforcement!

Not everyone has the same experience you had when you were a trooper. It depends on where you are and what troop you are in. Yes we all have the pay issue but not all have the same problems. You can't group the whole agency as one.

The problem is we have failed to retain quality people and mentored them to promote and lead the agency. We have people with less than 10 years on that are Captains and Majors. What can they really bring to the table but poor leadership and no supervision skills except what they read in some book. They panic the first time something happens and freeze up. I will have completed 25 years on the patrol in a few months and I can tell you I am glad to be getting close to the end. We keep promoting a bunch of clowns that don’t have a clue how to lead or supervise and they will be the demise of this agency not the Trooper working the road. Bubba it aint the same organization it was.

Guest wrote:Bubba Bubba Bubba we need IUPA back! Get busy HELP!

I'm not in that business anymore...cost me a marriage and ten years off my life...

Bubba Bubba Bubba we need IUPA back! Get busy HELP!

Didn't Quit Trooper wrote:

Guest wrote:Sucks when losers are making 50% more than troopers are.

No, it's just proof that you can make 50% more than a trooper and STILL BE A LOSER!!!

I had all intentions of passing out good karma folks...but I gotta admit...that's funny!

I know you guys miss me...