HCSO Future?

I'm an 18 year old, who has just graduated High School. I'm getting ready to finish my application for the start of my Spring semester of college as a freshman. I'm planning on taking Criminology at HCC (I am aware that taking this wont better my chances as opposed to someone with a Business major etc.), with a continuation towards getting my Bachelors once I graduate HCC. I've done JROTC in HS, and a future in law enforcement is something I've considered heavily since I was a freshman in High School. Just need some guidance on the path I should take to better my chances once the time comes for me to begin the process of my LEO career (God willing). Thank you, any help is appreciated.

The biggest thing you need to evaluate before making law enforcement your career goal, is to be certain within your heart that this profession is in your blood and not just a paycheck to pay the bills. As far as HCSO is concerned, hopefully by the time you finish college and endure the lengthy application process, both Sheriff Gee and Chief Docobo will be gone. If they ate not, then rule out HCSO. You also need to consider that agencies like HCSO that are under the Florida Retirement System, require that you must endure 30 years on the job before you can retire without suffering severe & costly penalties if you ate not 60 yoa now. You have no idea how long 30 years in this line of work is on your body & mind. Personally, if I had to do it over again right now, I would absolutely look for agencies like the Tampa Police Department where you can retire with FULL BENEFITS, regardless of your age at just 20 years! In the meantime, obviously stay out of trouble, keep from getting any traffic tickets and DO NOT get any visible tatoo's. The tatoo thing will hopefully no longer be a issue once Gee & Docobo leave, but not worth the risk in case another idiot takes over. This profession has a nack of destroying many a cops personal life due to the hours & stress, so like I said before, be sure that this is what you truly want in your heart. Goodluck and I hope you are happy in whatever direction you choose to go.

The biggest thing you need to evaluate before making law enforcement your career goal, is to be certain within your heart that this profession is in your blood and not just a paycheck to pay the bills. As far as HCSO is concerned, hopefully by the time you finish college and endure the lengthy application process, both Sheriff Gee and Chief Docobo will be gone. If they ate not, then rule out HCSO. You also need to consider that agencies like HCSO that are under the Florida Retirement System, require that you must endure 30 years on the job before you can retire without suffering severe & costly penalties if you ate not 60 yoa now. You have no idea how long 30 years in this line of work is on your body & mind. Personally, if I had to do it over again right now, I would absolutely look for agencies like the Tampa Police Department where you can retire with FULL BENEFITS, regardless of your age at just 20 years! In the meantime, obviously stay out of trouble, keep from getting any traffic tickets and DO NOT get any visible tatoo's. The tatoo thing will hopefully no longer be a issue once Gee & Docobo leave, but not worth the risk in case another idiot takes over. This profession has a nack of destroying many a cops personal life due to the hours & stress, so like I said before, be sure that this is what you truly want in your heart. Goodluck and I hope you are happy in whatever direction you choose to go.

My father is former NYPD, my cousin and my other cousins husband are both NYPD. So it's something I always remember my dad putting his uniform on, I even rode in his cruiser once that I remember. I originally pursued going into the Navy, but this allows me to be local to stay close to my family, while still doing something that allows me to help people. Within the Navy I was going to pursue the Master at Arms position (an MP equivalent in the Navy), but then I thought about the HCSO. I honestly can't wait for the day where I wake up to put that uniform on and proudly walk out of my home a deputy.

I honestly can't wait for the day where I wake up to put that uniform on and proudly walk out of my home a deputy.

Listen to the other poster, go to TPD...This way you will only have to "proudly walk out of your home " for 20-25 years, instead of 30 years....Trust me, you will regret it down the road, not going to TPD...TPD is more like an NYPD atmosphere...

Doesn't the TPD look to hire officers with experience? Also are there certain periods where the applications are open or is it always open?

Doesn't the TPD look to hire officers with experience? Also are there certain periods where the applications are open or is it always open?

Well the best answer to your question is why would you not wait a few months or more for a opening at TPD if needed, rather then being miserable at Hcso, trust me you will be within 2 years or less, and have to work 10 extra years or wait till age 60 to retire with any meaningful pension? Most new deps w/o any other Leo experience are almost always happy here in the beginning because it is naturally exciting, or should be anyway. Then after going thru all the extra BS that Hcso puts it's new recruits thru and working the street for about a year, some less, you see what a totally restrictive and non-supportive agency Hcso has become. It has changed drastically downward over the last 10 years and you will see that Hcso will no longer let it's deps be real cops, but rather just glorified secretaries on wheels. In addition, you will soon discover that there is no longer a need for any reds & blues on your car, since in most districts, including mine, we get in trouble when we use them or exceed the posted speed limits unless the world is coming to an end, or the current sheriff needs his vehicle jump started or needs an escort to lunch. Your location and speed is constantly monitored by GPS and is the latest tool being used by most supervisors to micro manage every breath or $hit you take. Morale totally sucks and unless you have some type of political connection or don't mind seriously kissing ass to the point of becoming a mindless robot, you won't fit the current mold of what this place wants and in essence will be miserable like I said. It's just a really poor time to work here for most people due to the horrible leadership in place. You sound like you really want to be a cop and be allowed to do real police work, so this is why I am warning you that you will be very unhappy when you find out just how chained down ypu will be, along with being pressured to do a bunch of BS details between going call to call due to the extreme shortage of deps on the street. Mark my word, it won't take long for you to soon see just why the agency is so shorthanded.

So basically what you are saying is that you are lazy

So basically what you are saying is that you are lazy

In reality, what you are showing everyone is that YOU are obviously one the ass kissing robots spoken about and do a fine job proving what was said about this office is TRUE. Not to mention that you have some bad reading comprehension if you mistake anything the poster as evidence of laziness.

So tired of the same lame brain responses to the REAL, present day situation at HCSO. Meaning the-----"Leave if you don't like it" or stating that a poster must be "lazy" whenever they speak out about a known fact, being just how crappy this office has been to it's troops for many years now, where they have taken advantage of a weak economy and have been getting away with this treatment. Well thats all fixing to change soon enough and the current exodus of sworn Leo's will only grow in number.

By the way, even though many troops have still been busting their humps because they actually care about what they are doing, how can you blame those with some years on the job who no longer give everything they have to a Administration who has shown time & time again, that they will not support you. Instead they invent new ways to micromanage and discipline you. Does the word "Tyrants" come to mind?

All any doubter has to do, is find a way to HONESTLY LISTEN to what the

[Average Joe]

Leave if you don't like it

That is nothing new for HCSO. It has been that way for years. Even Sheriff Heinrich had this mentality. However he would add that he had a thousand applications for anyone that wanted to leave.

Hey In Reality u sound like one of those malcontent losers that whine about everything and then talk about the good old days which in reality you were probably the same exact lazy malcontent that you are now.

End of story chump

Oh yea go take another holding call