134 Recruit Class

[Unregistered]

Oh look, we graduated ANOTHER new class. I mean, sheriff and PD applicants.

[Unregistered]

Oh look, we graduated ANOTHER new class. I mean, sheriff and PD applicants.

I'd rather put myself through the LE academy if I wanted to work for a PD or SO, can't these folks manage their finances? I just don't get it, the self sponsored academy costs around 4k and takes 5 months and you can start applying with many SO and PD before even finishing the program, you go through 6 months of FHP academy then you have to work and live a couple of years as a Trooper in an area that you may hate, if you dislike anything traffic related good luck those years at FHP are going to feel endless, and then you can be an Officer or Deputy, it just doesnt make any sense to me, you have financial aid and grants for the LE academy, you can work part time, I am pretty sure you can use your GI bill, so why joining an agency when you are already thinking about leaving even before you signed the contract. I am not a recruiter for my agency but if I were one I can tell you that I wouldn't be too excited about applicants who took the free ride at the FHP academy, served a year or two and then somehow realized that they hated the Highway Patrol and wanted to be a Deputy or Police Officer.

[Unregistered]

I'd rather put myself through the LE academy if I wanted to work for a PD or SO, can't these folks manage their finances? I just don't get it, the self sponsored academy costs around 4k and takes 5 months and you can start applying with many SO and PD before even finishing the program, you go through 6 months of FHP academy then you have to work and live a couple of years as a Trooper in an area that you may hate, if you dislike anything traffic related good luck those years at FHP are going to feel endless, and then you can be an Officer or Deputy, it just doesnt make any sense to me, you have financial aid and grants for the LE academy, you can work part time, I am pretty sure you can use your GI bill, so why joining an agency when you are already thinking about leaving even before you signed the contract. I am not a recruiter for my agency but if I were one I can tell you that I wouldn't be too excited about applicants who took the free ride at the FHP academy, served a year or two and then somehow realized that they hated the Highway Patrol and wanted to be a Deputy or Police Officer.

Recruiters and background investigators are very well aware of the fact that a large amount of applicants plan on going to PD or SO eventually. Nothing they can do about it. But they'll take them anyway. Because it's also a fact that some of the applicants with these plans eventually become comfortable and complacent in their position in the patrol and stay their entire career. One less position to have to fill.

[Unregistered]

While I certainly can't speak for everyone, Im happy with joining FHP. Where I'm from, getting sponsored for a local academy is almost impossible and paying for it wasn't really an option because of bills and family obligations. Joining FHP gave me the ability to do the academy while getting paid and putting food on the table. I was lucky enough to be able to get stationed at home too. There's no doubt that the pay sucks long term and the sad truth is that if it doesn't improve I'll probly do what most troopers do and leave to better take care of my family, but I don't think FHP sucks or is any lesser of a law enforcement agency than a PD or SO. Good law enforcement officers are good regardless of the uniform or the pay IMO. Fact of the matter is that the FHP payscale and lack of step plan simply make it a poor choice to do 30 years with unless u really love the road. Great agency to start with though.

[Unregistered]

While I certainly can't speak for everyone, Im happy with joining FHP. Where I'm from, getting sponsored for a local academy is almost impossible and paying for it wasn't really an option because of bills and family obligations. Joining FHP gave me the ability to do the academy while getting paid and putting food on the table. I was lucky enough to be able to get stationed at home too. There's no doubt that the pay sucks long term and the sad truth is that if it doesn't improve I'll probly do what most troopers do and leave to better take care of my family, but I don't think FHP sucks or is any lesser of a law enforcement agency than a PD or SO. Good law enforcement officers are good regardless of the uniform or the pay IMO. Fact of the matter is that the FHP payscale and lack of step plan simply make it a poor choice to do 30 years with unless u really love the road. Great agency to start with though.

Nice comments with good logic.
However, there is one way to make FHP a long term career that is economically viable:
PROMOTE.
No reason an ambitious trooper with some common sense and some decent education can't promote every 3-5 years. I know of one trooper who became a $112,000/year base pay employee, just by promoting and doing a good job.
Good attitude, common sense, good education, ambition, and you can retire in 30 years making great income.

[Unregistered]

Nice comments with good logic.
However, there is one way to make FHP a long term career that is economically viable:
PROMOTE.
No reason an ambitious trooper with some common sense and some decent education can't promote every 3-5 years. I know of one trooper who became a $112,000/year base pay employee, just by promoting and doing a good job.
Good attitude, common sense, good education, ambition, and you can retire in 30 years making great income.

Really? Promote? How come I didn't think of that b4? Promote and your family life is over, all the stress for the miserable pay. Unless you make it past Major, there is no upside to promote financially, you will only take the extra responsibility and blood pressure medication. I see what my Sgt and lt go thru and no thank you. I make more than them by just working off duty and saving my $. You are a fool if you don't have your 25 in and promote past lieutenant. Your sleepless nights will take over just worrying about your job and whose arse to kiss. My advise is to go to a local agency, you will make 70k eventually without having to promote. I'm on the process of it right now and I'm not looking back.

[Unregistered]

Really? Promote? How come I didn't think of that b4? Promote and your family life is over, all the stress for the miserable pay. Unless you make it past Major, there is no upside to promote financially, you will only take the extra responsibility and blood pressure medication. I see what my Sgt and lt go thru and no thank you. I make more than them by just working off duty and saving my $. You are a fool if you don't have your 25 in and promote past lieutenant. Your sleepless nights will take over just worrying about your job and whose arse to kiss. My advise is to go to a local agency, you will make 70k eventually without having to promote. I'm on the process of it right now and I'm not looking back.

I have a strong feeling that no matter where you end up, you will find a way to complain. Please hurry up and leave. We don't want you anyway!

[Unregistered]

I have a strong feeling that no matter where you end up, you will find a way to complain. Please hurry up and leave. We don't want you anyway!

Your worthless yourself. That mentality is what got us in the position we are in today. When your people have concerns,issues and complaints you listen. You don't tell them we don't want/need you anyway. That is poor leadership at its finest, which runs deep within FHP. I have promoted and I see the pay issue, I see the leadership issues and I see the messed up priorities of this agency.

What I can tell you is this agency is barely hanging on. There is nothing protecting this agency from being disbanded. Watch that "we don't need/want you" mindset before everyone leaves, and you have no job either.

[Unregistered]

Your worthless yourself. That mentality is what got us in the position we are in today. When your people have concerns,issues and complaints you listen. You don't tell them we don't want/need you anyway. That is poor leadership at its finest, which runs deep within FHP. I have promoted and I see the pay issue, I see the leadership issues and I see the messed up priorities of this agency.

What I can tell you is this agency is barely hanging on. There is nothing protecting this agency from being disbanded. Watch that "we don't need/want you" mindset before everyone leaves, and you have no job either.

You are a chronic complainer and a liar. I highly doubt you have promoted. Again, please hurry up and leave. People like you just whine and complain all the time. Disband? Really? You sound like some typical POS from a local agency. Bye Felicia! Good riddance! You will complain and complain wherever you are. We don't need people like you and neither does another agency.

[Unregistered]

Really? Promote? How come I didn't think of that b4? Promote and your family life is over, all the stress for the miserable pay. Unless you make it past Major, there is no upside to promote financially, you will only take the extra responsibility and blood pressure medication. I see what my Sgt and lt go thru and no thank you. I make more than them by just working off duty and saving my $. You are a fool if you don't have your 25 in and promote past lieutenant. Your sleepless nights will take over just worrying about your job and whose arse to kiss. My advise is to go to a local agency, you will make 70k eventually without having to promote. I'm on the process of it right now and I'm not looking back.

You sound pretty miserable.