Which agency would you choose

[mirage2887]

Hey guys, I would like to get everyone's thoughts on this, from any LEO's here both former an current.

I have been in the app process for border patrol agent for almost a year an half. An I am finally waiting for the call to come. I also am going through other local Pd an sheriffs app processes.

Now I'm 24 yrs old an will take any opportunity that arrives first. Border patrol is what looks like is going to arrive first. Most likely with BP I will get sent to Arizona or new Mexico maybe Texas those are the highest probability stations I will get. Considering I'm still young I look at it as getting out an living life a bit living in another state. My plans would like to be to put my time in an maybe later on come back to a station in California. Although maybe that could change I might like living outside of this state.

So my question is what are the pros an cons besides the obvious of working for the federal gov vs. A local Pd or sheriffs. Are their benefits to working for one vs the other. Or is it pretty much what you are personally looking for in a career. Thanks for your input in advance guys.

[RickD427]

Hey guys, I just to get everyone's thoughts on this from any LEO's here.

I have been in the app process for border patrol agent for almost a year an half an I am finally just waiting for the call to come. I also have an am going through other local Pd an sheriffs app processes.

Now I'm 25 yrs old an will take any opportunity that arrives first. Border patrol is what looks like is going to arrive first. Most likely with BP I will get sent to Arizona or new Mexico maybe Texas those are the highest probability stations I will get. Considering I'm still young I look at it as getting out an living life a bit living in another state put my time in an maybe later on come back to a station in California.

So my question is what are the pros an cons besides the obvious of working for the federal gov vs. A local Pd or sheriffs. Are their benefits to working for one vs the other. Or is it pretty much what you are personally looking for in a career. Thanks for your input in advance guys.

Every job has its pros and cons. Your career is probably going to last 25-35 years and you want to make sure that any agency you go will stay interesting for that long. I started with a very small PD (9 officers). After three years, I had pretty much done everything. I did a stint in the service and then joined a very large agency (10,000 sworn). I've been there thirty years now, and it still remains interesting and challenging. There's more different jobs that I could ever do. That really means a lot to me. If you're the same way, I'd strongly recommend a large agency.

I've known a few officers with the Border Patrol. Most have observed that the job is really "narrow". The same is true of most federal agencies. They're good to work for, but local agencies, particularly here in California (the current economy notwithstanding) offer better compensation packages and more varied assignments.

[Ron-Solo]

Border Patrol will offer a lot of opportunity for a variety of assignments throughout the nation, while a Sheriffs Dapartment will offer the stability that goes with a local area.

Look at what type of work you will be doing, and the opportunities available in your future.

[Gnome]

Border Patrol will offer a lot of opportunity for a variety of assignments throughout the nation, while a Sheriffs Dapartment will offer the stability that goes with a local area.

Look at what type of work you will be doing, and the opportunities available in your future.

Also, BP and LE are two different jobs. BP is directed more toward drug/human trafficking. LE is more about taking local street level bad guys to jail. Sure, LE has all of the cool special assignments, but the "meat and potatoes" of police work is going 10-8 in a black & white, and taking bad guys to jail.

[Linh]

Gnome made a great point.

Ask yourself this question instead do you want to do patrol and street police stuff then become a Detective/Sergeant, etc.......

Plus it's gurantee that you will stay in your city.

Or patrolling the border which may lead to other opportunities nationwide such as Special Agent or become a supervisor etc......

Being a Border Patrol Agent will gurantee that you will be at some middle of nowhere desert looking for people and it's really unknown how long you'll have to work there before you can move back to California.

What are your goals?

[Notorious]

What kind of work appeals to you? Border Patrol does important work... but what are the starting assignments like and how long do you have to do grunt work before you can put in for special assignments or move up?

Walking around in the desert in the stark blackness not knowing where the drug couriers are or riding an ATV alone along the fenceline or driving a SUV around the wastelands... sure, they got tons of great toys and equipment... but you might also get stationed at some remote outpost where it's you and 3 guys in basically a trailer for a week at a time... alone out there... but then you work some cool stuff too like BORTAC and other things local agencies will never do.

With the locals, you get what they got, which may be only patrol and supervision, or every assignment imaginable with a big agency like LAPD and LASD, which includes detectives, horse patrol, helos, motors, vice, swat, narcotics, jttf, beach patrol, boat patrol, airports, you name it.

[gh0stface]

I would take an opportunity to leave the state. I left California at a very young age. I learnt a lot about myself and likes. I didn't like working and living in the Midwest, Southern, and Eastern states. I'm definitely a West Coaster. It was a good experience, and even though California has it's problems, I appreciate living here. You may have a different experience and actually like other states. You'll never know unless you try.

[mirage2887]

Wow thank you guys! This is the kind of info I needed to hear. You guys have given me a lot of food for thought. I hope when the time comes I make the best decision for me.

[veeklog]

The BP or any Federal Agency is very different than State or Local work; it depends on what type of law enforcement you are trying to do. I can tell you that standing in the middle of the desert or in a canyon with limited radio coverage on a midnight shift, knowing that there are a lot of eyes staring at you can be a little nerve racking. Then again I haven't been in the Border Patrol for eleven years, so things might have changed. A criminal investigator position, unless assigned to a border office or a drug/gang group, can be pretty boring for a new agent (insert any Fed Alphabet agency)

Right now the question is to get a job in LE, period, especially with economy being rough.Take whichever comes first, and if you don't like the job of BP and are hired by the agency of your choice, quit. You would have to go through another academy, but that is the price you will have to pay. I know several agents, including your's truly, that had to go through several academies; you would not be the first nor the last if this were to happen.

[wicked51]

BP is different than State and local agencies. Depending on where they station you, your duties can differ from sitting at a location for 8hrs to standing at a checkpoint. I have spoke to former police officers who decided to become BP agents. They told me that it is very different from being a police officer and some are considering leaving. Like others have mentioned, you can apply for ICE or other specialized assignments, but like most sectors, you are assigned there for at least three years. I thought about applying for BP before becoming an officer. I decided chasing after illegals wasn't for me.

[415dog!]

Take what ever comes first!!! Scary times right now. Better to be employed and unhappy then unemployed and wanting a job

[Gnome]

Take what ever comes first!!! Scary times right now. Better to be employed and unhappy then unemployed and wanting a job

^ I'm not sure about this statement. It's never better to be unhappy.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

All I could focus on in your post was **an opportunity to leave California**. I'd go BP for that reason only. If you want to stay here, go local LEO.

On the other hand, in this economy I'd probably take the first hard offer.

[cacop]

When I was looking to get hired 15 years ago I never even bothered looking at the Feds because I saw their pay was pretty low compared to where I eventually wanted to live in CA. That also brings up the other part of why I didn't go Fed. I didn't want to be bounced around state to state. Sure it might be okay when young and single but at some point you are going to have a wife and kids who may not want to move every so often. Or they may not want to move in the middle of high school, etc. There are people who do it.

[veeklog]

When I was looking to get hired 15 years ago I never even bothered looking at the Feds because I saw their pay was pretty low compared to where I eventually wanted to live in CA. That also brings up the other part of why I didn't go Fed. I didn't want to be bounced around state to state. Sure it might be okay when young and single but at some point you are going to have a wife and kids who may not want to move every so often. Or they may not want to move in the middle of high school, etc. There are people who do it.

A few things: our pay as Feds is as competitive as any state or local. Many times we make as much or more than locals w/o overtime. Fourteen years ago when I was first hired as a GS-5 my pay was $27500 on paper. What they didn't tell me was when they added COLA, law enforcement pay, and AUO/LEAP, my paycheck was closer to $40,0000. When I worked on gang task force on my last assignment before I left Southern California, the locals didn't come close to what I made without a lot of overtime.

As far as moving, Uncle Sam doesn't move you at random anymore; they may move you between office or stations within their AOR, but that is pretty much it. The only time the Feds will move you is if you got promoted to another office or request a transfer to another office. Moving people accross the country is expensive, and if you work already for the Federal Government, it becomes a paid move which cost the G over $100,000, more if you have a family (trainees don't count) If you are happy at your office and want to stay till retirement, then you won't get moved.

IMHO the only thing California is better than the Feds is CALPERS; way better retirement that we used to have until some jack-hole decided to change the retirement from CSRS to FERS (way before my time)