CA LEO Vs. AZ LEO?

[762.DEFENSE]

I'm very interested in beginning a career in Law Enforcement, but I'm also very big on my 2nd amendment rights. I was considering becoming a LEO in Arizona. What are the pros and cons to being a LEO in CA vs. a LEO in AZ (besides the pay)?

A friend of mine who works for a local OC Department keeps telling me to stay in California since LE Agencies are considered 10 years ahead of most other states.

A second thought I'm having might be to join an LA/OC Agency, then lateral over to AZ for the pay bump. I'd really appreciate any LEO/ Non LEO Advice.

Thank you in advance!

[J_B]

I was a LEO in NC when I got out of the USMC. I grew up here and moved back after realizing how undertrained I was there.

Yes, I firmly believe we are years ahead in some things here but I'd definately like to move to AZ/NV or back to NC.

[CaptMike]

The only difference is the heat of the car you will ride every day. Our summer is nothing compared to a good old Arizona 115 degree summer.

I have a friend that transferred to an AZ law enforcement agency and his annectodal information is that AZ leo politics is worse than ours. I have a hard time believing that, but he was asking if we were hiring so he could come back. unforetunately, we are frozen so his wish to transfer back is a no go. I told him that we all believe that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. He should stick it out and see what he could make of it over there. Its been two years since we talked, so I assume he was doing better, or he lost my number.

[J_B]

The only difference is the heat of the car you will ride every day. Our summer is nothing compared to a good old Arizona 115 degree summer.

I have a friend that transferred to an AZ law enforcement agency and his annectodal information is that AZ leo politics is worse than ours. I have a hard time believing that, but he was asking if we were hiring so he could come back. unforetunately, we are frozen so his wish to transfer back is a no go. I told him that we all believe that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. He should stick it out and see what he could make of it over there. Its been two years since we talked, so I assume he was doing better, or he lost my number.

In regards to the "Grass is Greener" this is true. I have done ride a longs with other agencies in the local area as well as the Bay area (my lil bro works there) and made my mind up to leave as things were, in my eyes, getting bad here.

After doing these ride a longs and being gone on month long or longer military leave, I realized, it's NOT that bad here. Sure it could be better but I that's everywhere. No agency is perfect.

If I was starting in LE here in CA, I'd look to another state and then if I REALLY wanted to move back, come back when the time is right.

[9mmepiphany]

the training in CA is usually ahead of the rest of the nation and the pay/benefits are usually better.

remember that your retirement is based on a percentage of your pay...I make more in retirement than many officers in other states make while working.

I would not work for a LEA in NV or AZ just based on the summer temperatures.

[retired]

I don't know if this still holds true since I've been retired for 7yrs., but for a long time, I believe most of the officer deaths in the country were concentrated in the South. A lot of those depts. are small and just don't have the money for the training we have available here.

I know the following is anecdotal, but whenever I have watched "COPS," most of things I have seen leos do officer safety wise seem to occur in those states. That doesn't mean of course, leos in California don't do some things I consider really unsafe.

[yzErnie]

Even the big depts in Az don't pay as well as even some of the smaller depts here in Cali but their benefit packages seem to be a bit better than we have here. I'd gladly take a reduction in base pay to have something like fully paid medical and retirement.

[yzErnie]

Retired,
I can't even watch cops any more. The things I see some of those fools doing makes my blood boil. If my guys/gals did somethings like I see on COPS his/her peers (and maybe even me) would be having a meeting with them in the back parking lot. I'm all for peer pressure!!!

[9mmepiphany]

I'd gladly take a reduction in base pay to have something like fully paid medical and retirement.

that was one of my regrets of not going with DEA or some other state agency before I got too entrenched in my department

[meangreen46]

Does AZ have a program like POST? If not, that might be one of your pros to staying in Cali. As long as you get post, you can lateral pretty much anywhere. For me.....the temperature during summer would seal the deal for me.

[CaptMike]

arizona post
azpost.gov

[meangreen46]

arizona post
azpost.gov

okay....that was pretty lazy of me. Thanks for the answer.

I guess that narrows it down to the weather. If you do decide AZ, think about purchasing one of these:



I do have to agree with some of the posters that CA is considered to have better training than most other states. For the record, I went to college in AZ and remember the weather well. If you're not used to it, it sucks.

[oddjob]

No other state can compare to Calif agencies for training, pay & benefits (as a general rule). I do know of one of my partners who retired from Calif and went to work for a AZ local agency. He does very well financially.

One of the guys I worked with bought a home in Las Vegas. He rents it out with the help of a property management company. Its in a nice area. When he retires he plans to sell his Calif home and pay off the Las Vegas home and live there mortgage free. Calif retirement wages + no state income tax + benefits + paid off home = Class 3 auto toys.

[Philthy]

With the economy the way it is, I would go where you can get hired. Oakland cut 80 or so officers, and other cities may have to do so as well. That means that your competition will be already trained and experienced - which might be more enticing to potential employers.

I would apply to both and see what you get, your decision might be made for you.

[9mmepiphany]

I do have to agree with some of the posters that CA is considered to have better training than most other states. For the record, I went to college in AZ and remember the weather well. If you're not used to it, it sucks.

there is just something wrong with going home after your shift, jumping into the pool to cool off and getting parboiled