Post retirement careers

[CBR_rider]

OP,

Another item to think about is Social Security. Do you have enough quarters in? If not you may want to think about a job that pays into it and get more money in your later years.

If your job related injury forces you out I thought worker's comp would send you to a school of your choice. One of ours went to polygraph school (?) or voice stress analyzer training. He does contract work for agencies and private organizations.

PI work for the "dark side" is always there.

I am just starting this portion of the workers comp side (been hurt before; never really with much threat of medical retirement) so I am not up on exactly everything that could/would be provided to me for retraining but it appears I would be eligible for the retraining voucher. Unfortunately; I didn't see much available in the way of armorer, rangemaster, or shooting courses I am not sure what else would be available yet as far as money for retraining careers.

Realistically though, unless I decide to do law school (which I have been pondering a little bit; but wow that is expensive) I'm not sure I want a career that would require major schooling. I've thought about flight school (that was a path I was looking at through work...); but that is also pretty freaking expensive and I'm not sure my back alone could deal with long periods of time in a cockpit.

Social Security is a good point; I have some time in but I am not maxed out there. I wasn't really concerned about it because my plan was to obviously retire from my agency with plenty of cash to figure out what, if anything, I wanted to dabble in afterwards and be fine. I guess I just have to confirm I can still obtain Social Security with a medical retirement? I assume I can; but I don't know..

I'm not sure about polygraph school; but if I can't find anything else out to spend retraining money on it would certainly be better than letting the money go to waste. Maybe I'd become more of a believer in it after learning the process in depth..

The thought of PI work for the "other" team has flashed through my brain a few times; but I don't think I could do it. Closest I would get is maybe law school and work towards civil liability for LEO's or something..

[benjamin101677]

[CinnamonBear723]

How about consulting or teaching to the private industry? You can work at your own pace. Background investigations? I know that fire folks retire and make really good dough as consultants.

Maybe apply for one of your favorite firearms related businesses. Weatherby moved to WY. Magpul is in TX. Heck, Holoson is hiring (see jobs forum).

The retired guys I know do this. They work as private sector background investigators or they work for large corporations as fraud investigators. They make a decent six figure salary doing the latter.

The other big one is working for a DAs office as an investigator. Or do nothing law enforcement related and enjoy the rest of your life not worrying about all the stupid **** we deal with.

[gumby]

My retirement job is to watch my granddaughters.

[Ubermcoupe]

I know we have folks on here at various stages of their working lives (and some with side jobs); I am wondering if ya'll could help a brother out. It appears that my latest OJI's are now going to lead to a medical retirement. Besides processing all that; I'm having trouble figuring out what I am going to want to do for work. I guess the other big variable that is throwing me for a loop is this will probably be my opportunity to leave CA; however, some post LE career options that I think I have a shot at here are probably not as likely in the more rural locales I am looking at.

Only thing I have really pondered is maybe an armorer type job; but again I am concerned about not being the most experienced person available (I am not an armorer for my agency). I am open to burning through armorer's schools ahead of time on my own dime(I have been through some in the past); but I just don't know if any such jobs will exist anywhere outside of LEA (which usually hire their own retired it seems if they aren't currently sworn members) or private contractors which are often back east where I don't want to move.

Part of my problem is also I really don't feel like I should be qualified an "expert" in much of anything; I've had my sights on some really specialized training that due to work schedule and injuries I have not been able to attend over the past year and a half. I am no boot; but I haven't been working this career for 30 years yet either. Things such as a UOF "expert," DUI "expert", etc just feel wrong because there are so many other folks with so much more knowledge out there.

Many years ago I had to take some vocational tests or whatever they call them to finish my degree; the highest rated careers were: Ranger/game warden (or whatever they titled that particular subset of jobs), military, and law enforcement. I don't think I will be able to do any of those, so I'm kinda stuck I guess what I'm looking for is just ideas/job opportunities that other folks have come across that might hold my interest. I don't need to roll in the big bucks if I can land somewhere with reasonable housing costs; but I also don't want to work for pennies just because I don't broaden my horizons or put in work on the front end.

Any info/ideas you may have here or in a PM would be awesome.

Would you prefer to do 'badged' or 'non-badged' work, or non-LE work?

Obvious opportunities for 'badged' work include non-PERS (assuming you're in PERS now) or vice-versa work as a part time. In the Bay Area there always seem to be openings for 'extra help' positions with the SO for court security. Some agencies like county/city park rangers conduct peace officer enforcement activities but may or may not fall under PERS and are generally part-time or seasonal.

One of the large private universities up this way has full-time enforcement. They have several retirees in administrative positions, but also have level-1 patrol officers in cars taking calls. Most started with different agencies and then joined at different parts of their careers, some after retiring from other local agencies. They also have extra help options for academy grads who completed FT to provide support or other ancillary duties when big events are happening (football/sports games, presidential/VIP visits, etc). Depending on your education, a county probation up this way (for example) has opportunities for those with at least a BA/BS for 'counselor' positions. I'm not sure if something like that exists local to you.


Non-badged opportunities run the whole gamut depending on your qualifications, the type of person you are, and how much of a second career you want.

I like CaptMike's idea about teaching (and college/university work). One of my previous instructors retired out as an LT and did her second career with the local college teaching AJ classes. You could also look for a paper-pushing job with a university. It might be menial, but most of those ride a desk and academic schedules are pretty forgiving. They also offer other incentives like money towards education (maybe you still need a BA, or want a Masters?), or tuition assistance if you've got almost college-age children, and often their own 'retirement' packages vested at ~65 years old or after 5/10 years of employment.

I know a Battalion Chief that retired from city fire that went to work as a homeland security/training liaison with county EMS by capitalizing on his skills and experience as a medic. He stayed there for a year or two and then finally retired to working at the local chain outdoors store in the boating section. He's a big fisherman, so his personal expertise really drives that. He's been doing that 'in retirement' for half a decade now and always has a smile.

Several of the larger tech companies (like google/Netflix, for example) are always looking for legal/law enforcement liaisons to assist their physical security, IP, and legal teams to better interact with law enforcement or provide insight to how LE will approach certain situations. This could be assisting with responses for warrant requests for specific users/activities or working with corporate legal teams to provide expertise about what law enforcement might be after or anticipation of LE requests as investigations continue. The guy I know doing this came from the corporate security/loss prevention side, but he told me they're always looking for experienced (investigations) retired LE guys.

If you've got the investigations side (and the network), there is always life working for 'the other side' with defense attorneys/firms in consulting advisory or non-testimonial roles.

The larger counties always seem to be looking for compliance 'investigators' or auditors for things like health code/environmental roles. Most of this might be site visits and then writing reports. Not really something that gets one outside in the sunshine, but these roles are usually banker hours.

There's also local sports teams that have full-time security operations. I met a guy a year ago that retired from one of the local city agencies and now works with the 49ers doing administrative coordinator work and travels with the team/interacts with the players. This is all separate from the "standing post" type details that are usually contract out to security companies, although those companies also seem to always be looking for 'off duty officers' for their events.

I know another local city retiree (charismatic guy, did the SWAT team/UC investigations/task force stuff with his agency), that moved down to SoCal and spends him retirement time as a script writer. If he's not traveling with his wife, he's drawing on his past experience for material in Hollywood.

There's also out of state-
I know a young lady that vested at the minimum age in PERS with her agency while also doing graduate science work. After graduation, she moved to a larger city agency in Texas (cost of living was her big motivator) and now does forensic investigations full time. I believe there is someone here on the board that did something similar (LE half a career, now forensics full time) - i'm not sure if you've got that technical background, but maybe someone else reading this does.

If you've got the instructor/professional creds (or ambition), there are numerous shooting facilities out of state that always like LE guys/gals.

Or you could be like my uncle; retired, attempted a extra-help job, then spent the rest of his time shooting, flying, driving, sipping coffee, and reading. He was able to do that for about 11 years before health took him too early. The future can go any direction, so make sure you enjoy some of it before it slips away.

...
I've thought about flight school (that was a path I was looking at through work...); but that is also pretty freaking expensive and I'm not sure my back alone could deal with long periods of time in a cockpit. ...

FAA medicals are also a thing. Without that, you can't fly.

[CinnamonBear723]

Another option that I've seen work is to put together a comprehensive resume and post it online. People will come to you for a variety of reasons because of your law enforcement background. Could open up some doors you didn't even think were there.

[3S16]

If you will receive a retirement pension from a County or City agency, and are counting on that Social Security that you have earned from previous employment where you accumulated your 40+ quarters to supplement, I suggest you get on the Social Security website and go to "Government Pension Offset - Windfall Elimination Provision".

SURPRISE!

[pistolero805]

Have you ever thought about executive protection or high end security? You can make some decent money, and possibly get on with a client that likes you enough for full time work.

[sonofeugene]

I have no idea what jobs retired LE would be best suited for, but I'll say this......do NOT sell your experience short. It's gold.

'Best of luck to you!

[SMarquez]

OP,

Another item to think about is Social Security. Do you have enough quarters in? If not you may want to think about a job that pays into it and get more money in your later years.

If your job related injury forces you out I thought worker's comp would send you to a school of your choice. One of ours went to polygraph school (?) or voice stress analyzer training. He does contract work for agencies and private organizations.

PI work for the "dark side" is always there.

With a defined benefit pension it isn't worth going to work solely to collect SS. The offset is around 2/3 of what non pension people get.
OP, have you retained a good work comp attorney? If you are going out early a good attorney can get you have worked for up until now. I was taken care of for things I never thought of.

[Samuelx]

We recently hosted a group of CA DMV Investigators with some training (they were training their own people, they were just borrowing our gym to train in). One of the guys in the class said he did (IIRC) 20 or 25 years at San Bernardino (didn't specify SO or PD) and then retired and hired on with the DMV. He said it was an easy gig and would recommend that route to anyone...

[CBR_rider]

[Spanky8601]

I am just starting this portion of the workers comp side (been hurt before; never really with much threat of medical retirement) so I am not up on exactly everything that could/would be provided to me for retraining but it appears I would be eligible for the retraining voucher. Unfortunately; I didn't see much available in the way of armorer, rangemaster, or shooting courses I am not sure what else would be available yet as far as money for retraining careers.

Realistically though, unless I decide to do law school (which I have been pondering a little bit; but wow that is expensive) I'm not sure I want a career that would require major schooling. I've thought about flight school (that was a path I was looking at through work...); but that is also pretty freaking expensive and I'm not sure my back alone could deal with long periods of time in a cockpit.

Social Security is a good point; I have some time in but I am not maxed out there. I wasn't really concerned about it because my plan was to obviously retire from my agency with plenty of cash to figure out what, if anything, I wanted to dabble in afterwards and be fine. I guess I just have to confirm I can still obtain Social Security with a medical retirement? I assume I can; but I don't know..

I'm not sure about polygraph school; but if I can't find anything else out to spend retraining money on it would certainly be better than letting the money go to waste. Maybe I'd become more of a believer in it after learning the process in depth..

The thought of PI work for the "other" team has flashed through my brain a few times; but I don't think I could do it. Closest I would get is maybe law school and work towards civil liability for LEO's or something..

There are problems with obtaining your full SS income if you have a pension income from a government agency. On the SS web page study the WEP ("Windfall Elimination Provision). While I qualified for SS it was cut by 2/3, So I only get about 1/3 of they money I thought I would qualify for.

[9mmContagion]

When I retire, I’ll be the crotchety PIA at your local gun store... do something you love to keep your mind sharp

[micro911]

My brother just retired 2 weeks ago, and he is already recruited by DOJ. I am on the expert list on court expert panel list. I get cases here and there. I am not overly busy, and I maintain my convenient schedule.