Need your help.

So you guys know I've been unemployed for the last 6 months.
I was recently hired by a college friend to work with his company. They started me at 36K, which isn't a lot at all, but its better than nothing.

Problem though, is that its an 86 mile ONE WAY drive. It costs me nearly $30 every day to put gas in the tank. The light at the end of the tunnel is that after two months, I can either work from home a few days a week OR put in a 4 day work week.
Office hours are also 9am to 5pm, meaning I don't get home until almost 7pm, which is hell on the wife- being home with 2 kids for that long alone. Plus, I get home in time to put the oldest to bed, and I'm gone after he's up for half an hour in the morning.

I can't afford to uproot and move right now, having been unemployed for that long, our resources are pretty tapped out.

Well, I've been talking to a friend of mine that I firefight with, who is a local cop.
He's been pushing me to go that route.
This evening I got a phone call from the chief of police in our town. They've unearthed a rule that says a person can work for up to a year in a local law enforcement agency before they get into the academy, as long as you get in BEFORE the year is up. Not only that, she's already called civil service and DCJS to make sure they can hire me.
The chief gave my father an application for me tonight, and is willing to push for an immediate hire for me at the town board meeting tomorrow night.

The pay is comparable to what I'm making now....but instead of a 170+ mile commute....its 6. SIX miles. With benefits- that I don't have right now. Retirement.

Where I need help....Is figuring out how to tell a good friend who bent over backwards to get me a job that I have to pull up stakes and move along, leaving him shorthanded again.

I feel like a d-bag, but this job looks to be my best option at a future instead of oe dead end job after another.

RoboCop wrote: Tell him your situation. If he is a good friend, he will definitely understand. It's not that hard.

Yeah, I know. I just hate to look like an ingrate.

My final sticking point right now is the green light from the Mrs.
Everyone's told me that if your spouse isn't 100% behind you, a career like this one is hell on everyone.

As much as I want to do it, if she even remotely decides there's a problem...I won't. I can't.

If you decide against it, tell them I'll take the job.

How's your mustache-growing abilities? 

usafpilot07 wrote: Make sure to look into if you would be getting paid when they send you through the academy. And, if family time now is an issue, things will often be as bad or worse in law enforcement. Have you looked into their shift hours, how their schedule works, etc? As a father of two young ins, I'd hate to see you get off FTO and put on 10 or 12 hour night shifts.

Small town.

8 hr shifts.

7-3, or 3-11

Reb,
I'm sure you know the stats about marriages and law enforcement, they are not pretty.

I've been pursing this type of career for a few years now, (have an Associates is Admin of Justice, and currently looking for openings) and have been on a "few" ride alongs. Depending on the agency, and location/population of the area. The hours on the job can easily rack up, way past what you expected. Sure, most city cops will have it easier, but get into a deputy/detective kind of gig, and your probably gonna be away from the house for a few days at a time every once and a while. As you know, you can't just "walk away" from a scene just because your shift was "supposed" to end.

But, if i were in your shoes, and were truly passionate about it, and had a recruit / paid academy opportunity. I would jump on it in a nano second. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, considering Washoe county is supposedly hiring.

Best of Luck.

Ps. commuting sucks.

Write "I banged your wife" on a cake and leave it on his doorstep the night before your going to tell him. That way it won't be the worst news he's had that day.

Kayback wrote: Commuting sucks. It really does, but sometime you gotta do what you gotta do.

Oh yeah.....2 hours one way every day....

Don't forget Reb, once you get a couple years on, your options are nearly unlimited to lateral elsewhere.

usafpilot07 wrote: Don't forget Reb, once you get a couple years on, your options are nearly unlimited to lateral elsewhere.

So very true! Guys do this with the DCMPD and Fairfax and Montgomery counties. They'll put in a few years in DC and then bail for a lateral move to one of the counties with better benefits and more opportunities for advancement.