PD vs. Sheriff job differences

[Catalyst81]

Right now I'm interested in working for an agency where I could become a detective, although that might change in the future. I've applied with the OCSD and various PD departments. Realistically, I'll take whatever job is offered, but I wanted to get a better understanding of the two agencies. Thanks for all the great info!

And one last question...will I have issues with having too much education? I have a J.D. and HATE working as an attorney, which is why I'm looking for change. I won't have a problem articulating this in an interview, but could it hurt me in the application process?

[tbhracing]

Cat- you might find some free interview help at- www.indeed.com

[Ron-Solo]

And when the Sheriff needs help, they call the CHP

Only to direct traffic because of all the black and whites....

[Ron-Solo]

Thanks, that gives me a better idea of the two. Is it difficult or inadvisable to switch mid career between SO and PD if you wanted a change?

Your retirement might convert easily, but you would lose any dept seniority and rank that you have earned in 99.9% of lateral transfers.

[Clutch-n-Throttle]

Someone has to do traffic control!

Only to direct traffic because of all the black and whites....

And to take TC reports when you guys crash.

[9mmepiphany]

Your retirement might convert easily, but you would lose any dept seniority and rank that you have earned in 99.9% of lateral transfers.

Yup, you have to remember that vacations and shift bidding (hours and days off) is usually determined by seniority

And one last question...will I have issues with having too much education? I have a J.D. and HATE working as an attorney, which is why I'm looking for change.

It shouldn't...I had several co-workers who had their JD and had passed the Bar. No advantage when looking at promotions or assignments, but didn't hurt them either

[mixicus]

"Right now I'm interested in working for an agency where I could become a detective, although that might change in the future."

I can't think of any city PD's that do not have detective positions. Maybe a small PD, such as Irvine Valley community college (yes they are cops not security), may not have a detective slot. If you want to make a career as a detective. You'll be better off in a large PD or a SD. Many small and mid-sized PD's rotate their special assignments (i.e. you can only be in detectives for 3-5 years before having to go to another assignment).

Remember you are going to be on patrol for a while in a PD before you would have a shot at the DB. At OCSD, realistically 4-6 years in the jail then out to patrol for a while before getting a chance there.

If 'detective' type work is your ambition, have you considered federal LE? You have one of the preferred degrees for the FBI.

[Catalyst81]

If 'detective' type work is your ambition, have you considered federal LE? You have one of the preferred degrees for the FBI.

I have. They aren't accepting applications again until August. It's hit and miss with the other agencies. I've started checking the other agencies periodically.

[Notorious]

If you have your JD... you have to tailor your responses a certain way... while it doesn't hurt you once you are in, getting in the department might present a challenge. There are a lot of places who will be hesitant because they don't want you to get in and do a few years and get bored and move on or use your experience later as a defense attorney against them. More insidious are those who are insecure and won't like you because you are educated and might be a mover and shaker later on in your career.

I've seen a lot of different things in my time and you cannot assume every person in the BI unit and up the chain is a straight up good guy who wants the best to be hired by his department. There is a lot of politics and backroom dealings and preferential treatment given to people, a lot of whom will not have half the education you have, but who will get hired before you. It happens. Nobody knows exactly why, and none of them will tell you when asked, but it happens.

How old are you and have you ever practiced?

[5shot]

I have. They aren't accepting applications again until August. It's hit and miss with the other agencies. I've started checking the other agencies periodically.

August isn't that far away. You need to understand that if you want to work investigations in a SO or PD it could take you 5-8 years or longer. In a SO, you may be just getting out of the jail in 2-6 years. Then you have to put in your patrol time before getting into investigations.
With the education you have, a federal agency would be the best fit for what your looking for. Downside (for some) may be the possibility of being assigned out of state.
There are some good state investigative jobs, but it looks like the state will be having money problems for quite a while.

[Catalyst81]

If you have your JD... you have to tailor your responses a certain way... while it doesn't hurt you once you are in, getting in the department might present a challenge. There are a lot of places who will be hesitant because they don't want you to get in and do a few years and get bored and move on or use your experience later as a defense attorney against them. More insidious are those who are insecure and won't like you because you are educated and might be a mover and shaker later on in your career.

I've seen a lot of different things in my time and you cannot assume every person in the BI unit and up the chain is a straight up good guy who wants the best to be hired by his department. There is a lot of politics and backroom dealings and preferential treatment given to people, a lot of whom will not have half the education you have, but who will get hired before you. It happens. Nobody knows exactly why, and none of them will tell you when asked, but it happens.

How old are you and have you ever practiced?

I turn 31 in December and have been practicing for about 2 years.

[Notorious]

State investigative agencies like DOJ and BNE will not hire off the street. They want experienced cops with investigative experience from the local level.

Feds are not what you think either. You will not be doing all the exciting movie stuff out of the chute. You will be thrown to some office in podunkville or NYC, and then maybe in 2 or 3 rotations, make it back to LA. Feds also pay lower and have less benefits on average than a good city agency.

Hollywood and popular culture would have you believe that running around in a suit or civvies playing cop with a badge clipped on your belt or dangling around your neck like some fashion accessory is the coolest thing ever and is what every cop should be like or aspire to. Well, not only are those assignments either non-existent or very rare, it's not what you think either.

For every case you get to have fun with, you need to put in days and weeks and months of work to get to that few minutes of kicking down a door... which you actually want to avoid at all costs and try to set up an easy arrest in a controlled area where you can have all the uniformed support you can and take the guy in without a fight.

You ever done an investigations as an attorney? Ever try doing one on a case before going to court? It's not all fun and games. As a matter of fact, it's mostly boring as crap and tedious as hell while you line everything up before you forget it all yourself.

You want to be a good cop? Start in patrol like everyone else. Study hard, keep your head down, do your job. Be good at patrol. Hone your patrol cop instincts. No good cop, no matter the assignment, ever got there without being a good patrolman.

[Catalyst81]

August isn't that far away. You need to understand that if you want to work investigations in a SO or PD it could take you 5-8 years or longer. In a SO, you may be just getting out of the jail in 2-6 years. Then you have to put in your patrol time before getting into investigations.
With the education you have, a federal agency would be the best fit for what your looking for. Downside (for some) may be the possibility of being assigned out of state.
There are some good state investigative jobs, but it looks like the state will be having money problems for quite a while.

You're right. I'm very interested in working for a federal agency, but I need something for now. Federal jobs are pretty competitive and it could take a while to get hired, if at all. I've had enough of practicing law and need out. Moving isn't a problem, although I'd prefer to stay in SoCal.

[Notorious]

You're right. I'm very interested in working for a federal agency, but I need something for now. Federal jobs are pretty competitive and it could take a while to get hired, if at all. I've had enough of practicing law and need out. Moving isn't a problem, although I'd prefer to stay in SoCal.

Unfortunately, while the feds say JD is a preferred degree, they got tons of them applying so there is no shortage of JD applicants to pick from. Also, the JD doesn't help you much in the field because what you need to know about CrimPro and case filings you will learn on the job or the AUSA will tell you. No way a junior agent is going to be taking over filing considerations or be given a seat at the table with the AUSA over case direction.

The feds would rather go for those with impacted language skills such as any Arabic language (Farsi, etc.) and Chinese/Korean, and electrical engineering, or accounting degrees over law and Spanish, which is another needed language sill but which is in abundant supply.

[tanksoldier]

I've started checking the other agencies periodically.

Don't check periodically.

Have the announcements sent to you:

https://www.usajobs.com

Sometimes they are only open for a few days. A USBP announcement was recently open for less than 24 hours.