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Hey everyone,
I would've preferred to post this in the Authorized Personnel Only forum, but it seems new admittance is indefinitely suspended; so I have no choice but to post in here.
I've been a employed with a Connecticut city police department for almost two years now. I passed my one year probationary period last week, and I'm now fully protected by the union. A lot of my academy classmates have already applied to other smaller agencies or left for better pay and benefits. I'm really conflicted in what I want to do. I was hoping I could get some opinions from other officers on here that went from a large agency to a smaller agency. I'll list the pros and cons of my agency.
Pros:
Compensatory time - We are one of the only agencies in Connecticut that has no cap or limit on comp time earned and used. Whenever you work overtime (which is unlimited, since we're understaffed) you can elect for comp time or overtime. Comp time allows you to comp out your regular shift. In doing so, you can have the entire day off, or pick up a different shift from the one you comped out of and earn even more overtime. Comp is earned at 1.5, so if you work an 8 hour OT shift, you earn 12 hours of comp.
Flexibility with time off - Again, comp time. We already get 3 days off every other week, due to our rotating days off. You're technically getting 1 extra free day off every other week. And if you comp out one day every week, you're always getting 3 days off or 4 days off every week. I typically work my entire 40 hour work week in a 3 day period, and I spend more time at home this way.
Unlimited overtime, as mentioned before.
Our city has a full time fire department and utilizes AMR, so we are not first responders and we don't have to go to medical calls.
We don't have to do traffic enforcement or do any traffic stops. Our sergeants don't expect it of you. On the midnight shift (in the winter time, when it's slow), we can literally all park together in a lot and doing nothing the entire shift if no calls come in. No micromanagement.
We have a lot of prisoner guard details at the hospitals. If you don't feel like patrolling at all, you can just go and watch after a prisoner at a hospital receiving medical care your entire shift. I've literally spent one of my entire work weeks in the hospital every day, doing absolutely nothing but guarding my prisoner.
Cons:
We're one of the lowest paid police departments in the state of Connecticut. Our pension plan is 25 years, 50% of base salary. You would almost be better off with a 401K.
We are understaffed, and thus there are a lot of order-ins and shift hold-overs. It's significantly worse in the summertime, where you are sometimes working 65-80 hours per week.
We have a lot of violence, and a ton of homicides. There's a huge risk factor, and we're exposed to way more than surrounding towns in terms of call type and volume.
Our call volume is excessive on 1st shift and 2nd shift. You're almost guaranteed to get at least one domestic violence call every shift, and all the paperwork that comes with it. I've probably wrote about 20 arrest warrants since being off Field Training in May of 2022. It can be overwhelming, which is why I went to third shift.
Our cruiser fleet is in falling apart. Our newest cars are 2012-2015 Chevrolet Caprices, which can't even be used as police cars. They're always deadlined and getting repaired at the city yard. They're cramped and unergonomic.
Our spare fleet consists of Ford Crown Victorias, which I love, but most of them had their MDT's/computer terminals removed years ago. I feel it's an officer safety issue not to have a computer in your car. A lot of them also have holes in the floorboard, with stop signs welded in to cover the rot holes. Some have electrical issues with the lights and siren not working properly.
I'd be appreciative for any opinions from others who once had to weight similar options.
If I go to a smaller town, I'd have to learn how to do DUI's, be a medical first responder, and do traffic enforcement. But I'd also be making better money and have a better retirement. I would be giving up time off flexibility most likely, due to less sworn manpower.
Thanks to anyone who read all of this.
I would've preferred to post this in the Authorized Personnel Only forum, but it seems new admittance is indefinitely suspended; so I have no choice but to post in here.
I've been a employed with a Connecticut city police department for almost two years now. I passed my one year probationary period last week, and I'm now fully protected by the union. A lot of my academy classmates have already applied to other smaller agencies or left for better pay and benefits. I'm really conflicted in what I want to do. I was hoping I could get some opinions from other officers on here that went from a large agency to a smaller agency. I'll list the pros and cons of my agency.
Pros:
Compensatory time - We are one of the only agencies in Connecticut that has no cap or limit on comp time earned and used. Whenever you work overtime (which is unlimited, since we're understaffed) you can elect for comp time or overtime. Comp time allows you to comp out your regular shift. In doing so, you can have the entire day off, or pick up a different shift from the one you comped out of and earn even more overtime. Comp is earned at 1.5, so if you work an 8 hour OT shift, you earn 12 hours of comp.
Flexibility with time off - Again, comp time. We already get 3 days off every other week, due to our rotating days off. You're technically getting 1 extra free day off every other week. And if you comp out one day every week, you're always getting 3 days off or 4 days off every week. I typically work my entire 40 hour work week in a 3 day period, and I spend more time at home this way.
Unlimited overtime, as mentioned before.
Our city has a full time fire department and utilizes AMR, so we are not first responders and we don't have to go to medical calls.
We don't have to do traffic enforcement or do any traffic stops. Our sergeants don't expect it of you. On the midnight shift (in the winter time, when it's slow), we can literally all park together in a lot and doing nothing the entire shift if no calls come in. No micromanagement.
We have a lot of prisoner guard details at the hospitals. If you don't feel like patrolling at all, you can just go and watch after a prisoner at a hospital receiving medical care your entire shift. I've literally spent one of my entire work weeks in the hospital every day, doing absolutely nothing but guarding my prisoner.
Cons:
We're one of the lowest paid police departments in the state of Connecticut. Our pension plan is 25 years, 50% of base salary. You would almost be better off with a 401K.
We are understaffed, and thus there are a lot of order-ins and shift hold-overs. It's significantly worse in the summertime, where you are sometimes working 65-80 hours per week.
We have a lot of violence, and a ton of homicides. There's a huge risk factor, and we're exposed to way more than surrounding towns in terms of call type and volume.
Our call volume is excessive on 1st shift and 2nd shift. You're almost guaranteed to get at least one domestic violence call every shift, and all the paperwork that comes with it. I've probably wrote about 20 arrest warrants since being off Field Training in May of 2022. It can be overwhelming, which is why I went to third shift.
Our cruiser fleet is in falling apart. Our newest cars are 2012-2015 Chevrolet Caprices, which can't even be used as police cars. They're always deadlined and getting repaired at the city yard. They're cramped and unergonomic.
Our spare fleet consists of Ford Crown Victorias, which I love, but most of them had their MDT's/computer terminals removed years ago. I feel it's an officer safety issue not to have a computer in your car. A lot of them also have holes in the floorboard, with stop signs welded in to cover the rot holes. Some have electrical issues with the lights and siren not working properly.
I'd be appreciative for any opinions from others who once had to weight similar options.
If I go to a smaller town, I'd have to learn how to do DUI's, be a medical first responder, and do traffic enforcement. But I'd also be making better money and have a better retirement. I would be giving up time off flexibility most likely, due to less sworn manpower.
Thanks to anyone who read all of this.
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