To change jobs???

to be honest i don't think we can really answer that for you. I think you've already made up your mind.

Does the cheaper cost of living roughly equate the drop in salary? If so then your getting 3 hours free a day. If not then you're paying for time with the folks and waens, and that's always a good investment.

 I dont think we can give you any usable advice without figures. (which I won't ask for)

what town?

Out of curiosity, what do cops get paid down there, both on entry and at 3-5 years in?

Its gonna depend on the town out here. We have a few bigger ones, but its primarily small towns.

tough call. With there being benefits of both sides, no cut and dry solution presents itself.

seriously sit down and figure out the cost. is the drop in pay offset by the drop in travel costs? What about insurance and benefits? Whats the effect on your pension?

Then theres the stuff that can't be counted. Do you have kids? How old? If there's a monetary balance, or even if its close- that would have to weigh in.

I've got a few friends who are COs. One of the guys at my company works as a CO during the day and does billing and stuff for us on weekends and at night. He likes his work, but openly admits its tough. In terms of what goes on inside- as well as Corrections being a HIGHLY politicized work field. There's a lot of stuff going on internally that isn't quite kosher.

Old timers were collecting overtime pay for work that new guys did- since there was a cap on how much time they could do and be paid for it....that sort of thing.

G.I. Joe is absolutely correct with his assessment of the NYPD. My father in law was a beat cop in the Bronx for a lot of years before he got work as a firearms instructor and gunsmith, and he'll tell you the same thing in terms of getting paid and such. They're severely underpaid for the work they have to do. 

Sounds like you've already made a decision, and for good reasons.  You and your wife know yourselves best, and it seems like you've got good reasons.

GI JOES SON wrote: edit- the best, and by best of course i mean worst, is NY City. Starting is around 25-30K and after 5 years its not a whole lot higher. So for less pay you can work in a virtual combat zone, and for higher pay in Suffolk you can deal with CONSIDERABLY less crime.

Getting a job in Suffolk is near impossible though.  Most of the guys they take are experienced NYPD officers.

My town is in the same bracket as Suffolk.  Last time they hired, they had over 500 applicants for 8 spots.  So when they administered their test, they filled our high school parking lots, then had to park on the grass.  Those 8 guys got some cushy spots though.  Worst thing that happens here is serious car accidents, drunk drivers, and kids with pot.


Edited by ParielIsBack - 15 January 2011 at 1:06pm

What kind of tech support, HV?

Flurry, id say make the change then if you feel like thats the best thing. I can assume your in williston, and in that case things are only gonna remain in a downward spiral as more people move there (like me in around 4 months =P ).

Ammo - Make sure you have housing lined up BEFORE you come here. 

Every CO I've ever known has been nothing more than a trumped up rent-a-cop. Just sayin'