My Clock's Ticking

John, I enjoy your articles, but I have noticed this trend. That local cops must, or should transfer to Federal agencies. As a local, I see the situation a little different. I am completely vested in my community. (Especially if you live in the area you patrol) That presents some very significant dangers, but the rewards of seeing the difference that I can make first hand exceed those negatives.

My situation may be unique, I am peace office in California. My retirement is the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) 3@50 in California. My pay is comfortable for my area in California, which has some of the most wealthy areas in the United States. I received some very good training in my academy and thru-out my career.

I have had to explain to friends, family and citizens this philosophy:

What type of Law Enforcement do you want to do?

Fed vs local is pretty pointless. Having experienced both, you should understand this. Locals take calls for service, drive in circles for 10 hours at a time looking for the same problems day after day. Largely, Feds do not. You guys construct extremely complex and in-depth investigations into issues that effect the United States. Sometimes your investigations run into our daily operations, sometimes our daily operations run into some of your pretty sensitive investigations.

On the whole, we do different jobs. The public have very distinct images of what "cops" and "feds" and that the "uniform" and the "suit" are forever burned into the American Psyche. So far I have enjoyed my experience with Federal Law Enforcement. I have many friends who have either retired or are active in the various agencies the United States. I have also heard of some very dangerous horror stories, about Uniformed Officers confronting plain clothes Federal Agents...thankfully the situations were resolved without violence, but those stories could have easily gone the other way.

Certainly leaving a small town or large city department that pays considerably low is common and going to a National agency, whose jurisdiction starts with U.S., where as before your authority was only in MayBerry is beneficial.

It is true that for most of America, the Feds offer a better package than the local agencies. But at the end of the day, it boils down to what kind of law enforcement do you want to do. Do you want to be seen everyday driving a "black and white" or do you want to wear a "blue jacket with three gold letters on it"

You think that working in the "stan" countries is a con? Those of us who are over here know it's kinda hard to go after extremists from an office in the states.

John,

I enjoy reading your articles and we have worked for the same master, however I just wanted to make a quick comment. I work for a federal agency and I am in a unique position. I am a uniformed police officer for my agency and I believe that there are those of us who enjoy being in uniform and interacting with the public on a daily basis and being on patrol.

I initially wanted to be an "agent" however after being in uniform and working around DC I enjoy what I do and at this time I have no plans to apply for an "agent" position.

I think that communities in this country need dedicated hard working officers that won't "jump ship" just to get to an "agent" job that they might not enjoy. I am 27 years old an I know that I am looking forward to leaving my federal agency to go back to a city or town where I can be part of the community and set a good example. Cops on the street can influence the country and do good just as much as feds can.

-RG I like your post, it makes sense.

Go article; however, I must point out that if you are in a managmenrial position like captain up to police chief, it is easier to become a police chief in different parts of the country than it is being a street cop or detective after 20 or 30 years on the job.

Unless you have political connections, there is no way for an ordinary patrol or detective to become head of a federal law enforcement agency or head of a mid-size to very large city. Remember Mayor Rudoplh Guililia of New York City. He pluck out a street cop with a couple of years in and promote the guy a very very high ranking police officer. Now that guy is in trouble because he had connections with organized crime. Some of California Governor Swchanegger's Parole of Board Hearing member came from local police or sheriff departmetns. The media doesn't say what their rank was before they were appointed; however, I do know one former Parole Board member was the former Sheriff of Amador County. He must had some connections to get appointed.

You also would have to be indepedently wealthly if you want to run for the office of Sheriff if you couldn't get backing from the rich people in the county.

Just one more quick comment: Do you think that too many people leave state and local PDs JUST for the retirmement package that Feds offer and nothing else? It seems to me that this shouldn't be the only reason to jump ship. But I guess $$ talks even in our profession.