Pilot position now open

Why even post the recruiting notification for positions in aviation, marine, and K9? When these spots become "open", they already know who they are going to pick to fill the positions. Posting the “open” positions, and sending email notifications only gets deputies’ hopes up. All to be let down.

I guess the sheriff reads this. Email was rescinded. Word is the chief said "why pretend, what are they gonna do about it?"

Why even post the recruiting notification for positions in aviation, marine, and K9? When these spots become "open", they already know who they are going to pick to fill the positions. Posting the “open” positions, and sending email notifications only gets deputies’ hopes up. All to be let down.

Because civil service rules make it mandatory to post open positions to all employees prior to filling the position. Its just another one of the dog and pony shows.

It sure would be nice if for only once, a non-deputy-do-boy was selected for one of the premium positions at HCSO. Just imagine what a better office it would be if selections for transfer were actually based upon merit and being a good cop.......for those that are golden and confused on the word "COP", since you were too politically connected to do any cop work ......"It's that deputy that you see who is actually doing the most important job at the office, like actually answering calls for service and apprehending criminals....you know, the bad guys the taxpayers pay us to catch! Anyway, I know it would be a fantasy world to expect that anyone would receive such a transfer based upon how hard they have worked doing police work. Thats why nobody takes those "Job Opening Announcements" serious......they are a joke and this was another one of the areas that this administration promised was going to be corrected if the sheriff was voted into office. STILL WAITING?

[Cruel Truth]

It sure would be nice if for only once, a non-deputy-do-boy was selected for one of the premium positions at HCSO. Just imagine what a better office it would be if selections for transfer were actually based upon merit and being a good cop......

There's a little flaw in your rant.

A review of the roster of pilots reveals some excellent cops, beginning with the recently retired MSgt. Mark Yost.

Just to name a couple of others, Kevin Johnson was a very effective detective in Organized Crime for over a decade and Kevin Langiotti was an aggressive, hard working street cop from the day he graduated from the academy in 1990.

Other factors are also considered when selecting pilots. In the past there have been pilots who had already spent thousands of their own dollars to learn to fly helicopters and/or ex-military helicopter pilots. They could be introduced into the aviation program with a minimum of training time and expense.

Of course you realize that if you want to be considered for assignment to Aviation you must already have a fixed wing pilot license to even be considered. That eliminates a lot of good cops from consideration.

Do you have your pilot's license and want to be considered? Then apply.

But remember you are shutting off your likelihood of future promotion. Very few pilots have moved back into non-aviation positions as supervisors and upward mobility within aviation is extremely rare.

And because of the limited number of pilots and the requirement that the unit must operate 24/7, it is sometimes difficult to get time off when you want it, particularly if other pilots are ill or unavailable.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

:wink:

[Average Joe]

It sure would be nice if for only once, a non-deputy-do-boy was selected for one of the premium positions at HCSO. Just imagine what a better office it would be if selections for transfer were actually based upon merit and being a good cop......

There's a little flaw in your rant.

A review of the roster of pilots reveals some excellent cops, beginning with the recently retired MSgt. Mark Yost.

Just to name a couple of others, Kevin Johnson was a very effective detective in Organized Crime for over a decade and Kevin Langiotti was an aggressive, hard working street cop from the day he graduated from the academy in 1990.

Other factors are also considered when selecting pilots. In the past there have been pilots who had already spent thousands of their own dollars to learn to fly helicopters and/or ex-military helicopter pilots. They could be introduced into the aviation program with a minimum of training time and expense.

Of course you realize that if you want to be considered for assignment to Aviation you must already have a fixed wing pilot license to even be considered. That eliminates a lot of good cops from consideration.

Do you have your pilot's license and want to be considered? Then apply.

But remember you are shutting off your likelihood of future promotion. Very few pilots have moved back into non-aviation positions as supervisors and upward mobility within aviation is extremely rare.

And because of the limited number of pilots and the requirement that the unit must operate 24/7, it is sometimes difficult to get time off when you want it, particularly if other pilots are ill or unavailable.

The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

:wink:

Agree with you 100%

I never saw "Pilot's License" or anything similar as a prerequisite on the job listing. For that matter, what about a marine or K9 position? When's the last time one of those was truly open to any deputy, not just those with political connections? Just because the positions are posted as being open to any deputy off probation, does not mean the positions are open to any deputy off probation.

I never saw "Pilot's License" or anything similar as a prerequisite on the job listing. For that matter, what about a marine or K9 position? When's the last time one of those was truly open to any deputy, not just those with political connections? Just because the positions are posted as being open to any deputy off probation, does not mean the positions are open to any deputy off probation.

Have to admit that they really do make you jump through hoops to go anywhere within the office (unless you golden) other than patrol. This in turn has two negative implications; It makes deputies lose faith in the transfer system and their motivation to strive hard on the street and second, it once again makes street patrol feel like the bottom of the barrel and a form of punishment.

Think about it. If you are not well liked or made somebody mad in the command staff, you never get to leave patrol. If you screw up or once again make somebody mad you are punished by being sent back to patrol. So here you have the people at your agency that have the most contact with citizens as well as the most important & critical job in the agency and this area is full of disgruntled people because of the above mentioned reasons.

Either make it a desirable place to work, or give those who have worked hard a chance to move elsewhere without jumping through those hoops. Also must stop sending deputies back to patrol as a form of punishment.

Why not put time limits on detective and other specialty positions, like (3) years for example, so that more deputies can have a chance to move around and get experience. This way you will have people transferring back to patrol because they reached their time limit and not out of punishment. It's a win win situation, except I'm sure those that currently have the good jobs won't like it. The goal should be to have well rounded experienced deputies and for many thats impossible when they cannot transfer out of patrol. It would also eliminate alot of job burnout, which comes quicker on the street then anywhere else.

Obviously you ve never flown a chopper, handled a dog, or manuveured a boat because you would know it dam near takes 3 years to become an expert in handling those tools. This is the big boys league and personally I want those that are experienced to be in the big leagues and yes patrolling this county is playing in the big leagues with the amount of violent crime we go to on a daily basis. Got to agree with AJ that when you look at the guys in the specialty units majority of them were cops cop on the road who were extremely proactive. Like anywhere your going to have your political picks and thats just a part of life. Go join swat and then you ll be assured a spot somewhere since that seems to be the unit with the most promotions and movement into det spots.

Obviously you ve never flown a chopper, handled a dog, or manuveured a boat because you would know it dam near takes 3 years to become an expert in handling those tools. This is the big boys league and personally I want those that are experienced to be in the big leagues and yes patrolling this county is playing in the big leagues with the amount of violent crime we go to on a daily basis. Got to agree with AJ that when you look at the guys in the specialty units majority of them were cops cop on the road who were extremely proactive. Like anywhere your going to have your political picks and thats just a part of life. Go join swat and then you ll be assured a spot somewhere since that seems to be the unit with the most promotions and movement into det spots.

The street is hands down the most dangerous place to work and the office needs to do more to keep these "COPS COPS", or shall we say the "OLD SCHOOL" Deputies happy on the street. It just seems that all of the good ones are either leaving, retiring or just fed up with trying to still be proactive on the street. Just an example that happened the other night, all you have to do is mention the word that a vehicle may not be stopping for you and you have EVERYONE in a panic, telling you "your not pursuing it are you", "what charges do you have", "turn your patrol car around and drive the other direction right now", as well as other transmissions that were not audible because everybody was tripping over each other on the radio. The deputy trying to make the stop could not even get any air time and was basically called out and embarrassed by everyone acting like he had just committed a great sin, when in fact he did nothing wrong and backed off immediately. For all we will ever know, since he did not even attempt to get the tag number due to the obvious displeasure that he dare even attempt to do a traffic stop on a reckless driver, it may have been one of the many robbery suspects hitting the county right now. We all know the SOP on this, but it has gotten to the point that most Deputies I talk to have NEVER even been in a pursuit situation and say they will not pursue anyone, regardless of what they are wanted for, out of fear for their jobs. Again, this is only one example of many, why all the good Deputies want off the street because all they are allowed to do is take reports or face the consequences for creating any additional paperwork for a supervisor. It stinks, it's stressful and it certainly is NO FUN anymore being a street Deputy at HCSO. It is really scary to think what will happen when all these inexperienced Deputies actually have to go hands on or face down a multi-event violent situation, especially since HCSO hires ONLY those with no prior experience and most with just a college degree. It is not going to be pretty at all!