City Police vs. Deputy Sheriff?

[LEOReady]

I know there are many difference between the two entities, but for those of you already LEO's, what made you choose the route you went? My brother is a Deputy Sheriff, and I am making a career change into LE. I have applied with both, tested with both, and am waiting the background check and remainder of the process. Some people say to take the first department to offer employment, but I want to make sure I make the choice I will be happy with for an entire career.

I know there are smaller departments (less than 25 officers or so) which is going to have less opportunites than larger departments, I think that goes without saying.

I have not applied to a lot of departments because I am not interested in moving my family all over the state just to be a LEO as some people do. Just curious what peoples thoughts are out there, but right now I am leaning towards the Police Department for the city I live in. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[sigcopper]

I've worked for both a pd and a SO. There are differences .... a lot of differences from the area you patrol to the politics. I'm not sure where to begin to answer this question. I'll sum it up by saying I enjoy working for my pd more than I like working for the SO. There is less politics in the SO and for the most part I will know who my boss is year after year.

[scott72]

I might be able to help out here since I've done both as well. Right now I'm a Deputy after working city for 7 years, and I'd have to say I like working county a lot better. I worked in a small town plum full of politics, so I was glad to be able to escape that. I also like more territory to cover and working with more people. I also have a lot more opportunity for advancement through the SO then I did with the city. The pay is way, way better with county as we're union and the small town I worked for obviously wasn't. Equipment is better as well. Not all situations are the same as mine, but that's my story.

[firemanmatt]

I was hoping to be hired by the county I live in and follow my dad's footsteps of being in a Sheriff's Department. I was hired by the city instead. I honestly think it's a better fit for me. The SO my dad worked for had about 12-15 deputies working the road at times, and there were tons of neighboring community PDs all over the county that would back up deputies when needed. Around here, backup can be a 30 minute wait for the SO. My department has at least 6 or so officers working any given night. If I call 10-78, I'll have a half-dozen officers backing me up within 5 minutes. I saulte the rural deputies in WI. They have it a lot harder than i thought.

On the flip side, muni PDs give you the chance to be in patrol, in admin, or in the detective bureau. Sheriff's offices have that, plus court security, and recreation patrol, and airport security (where applicable), and civil process, and prisoner transport, and the jail, and the narcotics division, and the range master, and warrant processing, and all sorts of part-time positions within that department as well such as bomb squad, SWAT, etc....


Good luck, and do some ride alongs to figure out which is the best fit for you. BIG differences in day to day operations.

[LEOReady]

I have already had ride along's with multiple agencies, and would agree with you that typically the City PD's are going to have back up closer to you. This is certainly something to consider, especially with a Family. There is more to what agency you pick than the money, even though in a couple testing centers I have overheard people discussing the pay being the driving force to where they want to work. The bottom line is that Police Work is not going to get you rich, comfortable yes, but certainly not rich. To me, there is so much more than the paycheck and what positions are available other than typical patrol. I appreciate your posting, and like I said in my original post the PD in the city I live in is still my first choice right now.

[sigcopper]

When you start to have kids and and when they are in their teens and you try to figure out how you pay for college.....will want to make more money!