PD vs. SD vs. CHP

[BigDogatPlay]

Why's that? It's interesting though, because while I have only had a negative experience with school police (safety?) I have always found the Sheriff's Deputies to be the friendliest when I need directions. Haha.

Variety of assignment perhaps more than anything else. Larger, more rural, counties often have resident deputies out in the far reaches of the county. Those are, generally, challenging assignments that require a strong, but common sense approach which is something I think I've always been blessed with. In many counties deputies spend a certain amount of time working with other agencies, particularly the non-CHP state agencies. Lots of opportunity for activity, networking and career development.

[epilepticninja]

Do Sheriffs ever do undercover work?

The Sheriff's Deparment I worked for had a unit called SIU or Special Investigations Unit that was attached to the detectives division. My best friend worked in SIU, so I got to assist in a bunch of stuff with him, even though I was assigned to patrol. It was a good learning experience.

[Notorious]

Sheriffs work tons of undercover here. Narcotics, gangs, you name it. In the urban counties like LA and the big one like San Bernardino, you get tons of contract cities which don't have their own Police so they contract (rent) sheriffs for general LE services so the deputies end up like city cops in that area.

The difference is the sheriff has tons more resources than pretty much every agency except LAPD so they can dump a ton of people on a homicide in their contract city of Duarte, for example, than Arcadia police can dump on any investigation in their own city.

As a matter of fact, most suburban departments contract with the sheriffs for major investigations so if a homicide happens in a small city such San Gabriel with 35 cops, they would actually have LASD Homicide detectives conduct the investigation since they don't have their own resources to do so.

That's what the posters above are saying. If you work in any smaller department which includes places which have maybe 150-200 cops, and that's pretty big relatively, you are looking at 10 years in patrol, minimum... with some places doing mandatory rotations in investigations or other assignments but patrol will be the bulk of it.

150-200 is not even the norm. Most suburban police departments don't get bigger than maybe 60-80 cops, and there are smaller ones with 15-30 cops. You are pretty much stuck with a few different assignment choices and few promotional opportunities because you gotta wait until that guy dies or retires or leaves or quits or gets fired before the spot opens up for competitive testing.

With the big ones like LAPD (10,000 officers) or LASD (8,000 deputies), you get to have that much more opportunity and movement. They have more assignments and people in one division than most suburban departments have in the whole organization.

It's all about what you want to do though. Some prefer to work in a smaller city and smaller department where the pace might be different or they don't want to be just another number in a huge organization. To each his own.

[ckim34]

Sheriffs work tons of undercover here. Narcotics, gangs, you name it. In the urban counties like LA and the big one like San Bernardino, you get tons of contract cities which don't have their own Police so they contract (rent) sheriffs for general LE services so the deputies end up like city cops in that area.

The difference is the sheriff has tons more resources than pretty much every agency except LAPD so they can dump a ton of people on a homicide in their contract city of Duarte, for example, than Arcadia police can dump on any investigation in their own city.

As a matter of fact, most suburban departments contract with the sheriffs for major investigations so if a homicide happens in a small city such San Gabriel with 35 cops, they would actually have LASD Homicide detectives conduct the investigation since they don't have their own resources to do so.

That's what the posters above are saying. If you work in any smaller department which includes places which have maybe 150-200 cops, and that's pretty big relatively, you are looking at 10 years in patrol, minimum... with some places doing mandatory rotations in investigations or other assignments but patrol will be the bulk of it.

150-200 is not even the norm. Most suburban police departments don't get bigger than maybe 60-80 cops, and there are smaller ones with 15-30 cops. You are pretty much stuck with a few different assignment choices and few promotional opportunities because you gotta wait until that guy dies or retires or leaves or quits or gets fired before the spot opens up for competitive testing.

With the big ones like LAPD (10,000 officers) or LASD (8,000 deputies), you get to have that much more opportunity and movement. They have more assignments and people in one division than most suburban departments have in the whole organization.

It's all about what you want to do though. Some prefer to work in a smaller city and smaller department where the pace might be different or they don't want to be just another number in a huge organization. To each his own.

Yeah with smaller departments the chance to do specialized assignments are more limited. Thats not to say that they dont exist though. I work for a "small" department and I've had the chance to work investigations and swat within my first 3.5 years.

[oldmotor]

I had a chippie call me for a 245 that happened on an off-ramp. When I got there he ran down the situation and the only thing that came out of my mouth was:

"So.....All roads, all codes?" We laughed and I got to work :P

Depends on the Chp area. We have different mou's with different dept.'s My area, we would have taken it. Or he could have just been a lazy s.o.b. We all have them.

[Jonathan Doe]

Do Sheriffs ever do undercover work?

Yes, of course. I enjoyed working undercover for our Vice Bureau in early 90's. Getting massages with county money was pretty cool. I also did undercover work at some bars tracking narcotics suspects. And, did other FUN assignments. Now, it is all past. I left patrol in 1994 and never really did much undercover work since then. I still get involved in homicide investigations occasionally.

[Notorious]

Yeah with smaller departments the chance to do specialized assignments are more limited. Thats not to say that they dont exist though. I work for a "small" department and I've had the chance to work investigations and swat within my first 3.5 years.

Here's a balancing act. The smaller places will generally let you jar what opportunities they have to give sooner than you would be able to experience it in a big department.

For example, LAPD requires 3 years on to test for detective and 5 years on to test for sergeant and 9 years for SWAT. (old figures)

If you are in a small PD that has a detective bureau, you might be able to test sooner. I know a few guys who made sergeant in a small place before 5 years if there is an opening. I also know guys in small places that are still pushing a radio car after almost 20 years because there is nowhere to go.

It's all hit and miss. You gotta research the department.

[Doug B]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that a Sheriff is NOT required by law to provide patrol services. They are only mandated to provide and staff the county jail(s). I believe there are one or two counties in the northern hemisphere of California that only provide jail services. CHP covers the areas not patrolled by a city PD.

[ckim34]

Here's a balancing act. The smaller places will generally let you jar what opportunities they have to give sooner than you would be able to experience it in a big department.

For example, LAPD requires 3 years on to test for detective and 5 years on to test for sergeant and 9 years for SWAT. (old figures)

If you are in a small PD that has a detective bureau, you might be able to test sooner. I know a few guys who made sergeant in a small place before 5 years if there is an opening. I also know guys in small places that are still pushing a radio car after almost 20 years because there is nowhere to go.

It's all hit and miss. You gotta research the department.

Hit the nail on the head.

[Ron-Solo]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that a Sheriff is NOT required by law to provide patrol services. They are only mandated to provide and staff the county jail(s). I believe there are one or two counties in the northern hemisphere of California that only provide jail services. CHP covers the areas not patrolled by a city PD.

Not entirely correct. The Sheriff is mandated to staff the county jail, attend the Superior Court, and provide law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff decides what those levels of law enforcement are.

[DEPUTYBILL]

As far as I know,the only county that does not have a patrol division is San Francisco. That is because the city and county are the same jurisdiction and area.

[smfdff]

As long as I have been in the business; coming up on 27 years, there are many units or divisions with each dept. I am always learning of new, for the sake of this conversation we will call them teams, new teams within a department. I know that the CHP generally cover traffic enforcement on all freeways, to include state routes, highways and roads within a county or unincorporated area. Back in the 1980's the disbanded the Cal. State Police which provided the State Capitol and other State buildings with security and gave those duties to CHP. CHP also works as agents for the DMV, working "Undercover" in vehicle crimes such as theft and chop shops.
The Sheriff will enforce laws anywhere but their many area of coverage is the unincorporated areas, county, and in Sac they work the two jails, court house, air port and other venues.
PD mainly enforces the laws with in the city, although each department assist each other as needed, as well as each dept may have an officer or more assigned to DHS Task Force as do other agencies.

Hope this isn't TMI.

[Chachie]

Of those three, who have the best mustaches?

[Notorious]

I thought CHP investigators work as their de facto detectives while the DMV had their own separate arm of LE with their own DMV investigators?

[Mr310]

I thought CHP investigators work as their de facto detectives while the DMV had their own separate arm of LE with their own DMV investigators?

Really? Are they stationed in certain DMV offices??