Part-time police work

[jc000]

Hi, I hope this is an appropriate forum for this type of question, I apologize in advance if it is not.

I have recently made a "life change" (a positive one) and am currently looking at taking on a meaningful part-time job. I am interested in something community-focused and more physical and I am gravitating to some sort of LEO work. My county offers part-time positions in its sheriff's dept. and I'm considering applying.

Generally I'm looking for some perspectives from P-F members with LEO experience who may know something about part-time police work. Is it uncommon? Is being a part-timer a raw deal? I'd prefer an actual part-time position as opposed to volunteering or a support role, but I'm open to the options out there.

By way of background, until very recently I was 15 years into my career in an unrelated-to-LEO-work field/industry. I do not have a military background, not sure what other professional skill-sets would translate over, though I have significant managerial experience. Guessing people management is always helpful. :)

Anyway would appreciate your insights -- thanks!

[Lon]

We have ALOT of part time officers in my neck of the woods. Some agencies utilize the part timers as regular patrol officers handling calls like the full timers. Other agencies use them for scut work. I've got friends who do it part time for good agencies and they like it. My only advice is to research the agency/agencies you apply to before you take a job.

[98z28]

I spent a few years doing part-time LEO work while I was in grad school. It was great. I worked full-time at a busy metro department before going back to school. The part time gig was at a small, rural department with very little supervision (or backup!). That was a whole different experience. Your experience will depend greatly on the department, just like full-time LEO gigs.

There could be some significant costs associated with getting into LE work, especially if you are not already POST certified. All of the part-time work in my area is at small departments. I can't imagine a small department paying to send someone through an academy just to get a part-time worker out of it. Getting POST certified runs $2,000 - $3,000 and is a three-month, full-time commitment where I'm from. That's just tuition. It doesn't count equipment, ammo, uniforms, or room and board if you need it. Small departments also might not provide a gun, duty gear, handcuffs, or vest. They generally won't offer much in the way of training after the academy either. It helps to make friends at a larger department and/or academy near you. They are happy to let you sit in on training for little or no cost in my experience.

It would be best to find a department that offers part-time work near you and get to know some of the officers. Do a few ride alongs and get a feel for what it's like.

As for professional skills that transfer over, being a good problem solver and keeping your head screwed on straight under pressure are important. I think the most valuable skill in LE work is verbal judo (http://www.policeone.com/columnists/George-Thompson/).

[KeeFus]

I think the most valuable skill in LE work is verbal judo (http://www.policeone.com/columnists/George-Thompson/).

QFT. I had to learn that the hard way.

Some agencies have non-sworn positions that really assist LEOs. Some agencies also offer citizens police academies that may help direct you to into the field. I paid my own way through the academy and it took about 4 months to get hired...Have a back up plan if things take awhile.

[pablo]

There are a couple agencies that hire part time around here. From what I understand, the workers comp and LODD benefits suck for part timers. Those guys are taking the same risk as everyone else when they suit up, but they don't have much of a safety net if the get hurt or killed.

I'd definitely recommend that you look into the benefits before applying for a part time LE job. Heaven forbid you become completely disabled due to work related injury and your agency's workers comp covers your part time pay.

[Trooper224]

Having done it for over two decades full time I can't imagine why anyone would want to do it part time. Giving back and all that is great until you get your leg blown off by a shotgun blast or your eye put out by a crack whore wielding her twelve inch stripper heels. If you're going to do it look into the department standards for things like workers comp, etc. Many departments utilize part time or reserve officers as a way to save money by not paying out benifits. You want to make sure an injury on your part time life change won't jepordize your day job.

[jc000]

Giving back and all that is great until you get… your eye put out by a crack whore wielding her twelve inch stripper heels.

Ha! Duly noted!

I should mention that this particular sheriff's dept. is mainly focused on courtroom security and serving civil warrants. There is a county police dept. as well who handles more of the criminal LE work. Not meaning to downplay the risks, but I would reckon this outfit is lower on the hazardous duty scale.

Also I plan on (as I have been) maintaining my own insurance so benefits aren't a "must-have".

Initially I had been interested in doing some SAR work but the lack of opportunities led me to the Sheriff's office.

Really appreciate the thoughts so far!

[98z28]

Having done it for over two decades full time I can't imagine why anyone would want to do it part time...

It's unbelievable how fun the job is when you are there because you want to be, not because you have to. I heard an old sergeant say, "This job is the most fun you can have with your clothes on." For me at least, that was more true when I could walk away anytime without a significant financial impact. Hell, I still might jump back on as a reserve one day just for fun.

Definitely check into the workman's comp, death, and legal benefits. I've never heard of a department offering less coverage to the part-time or reserve troops. That's borderline criminal. Don't go anywhere near a place that won't cover you (or your fanily) when you get hurt, sued, or killed. Play the game long enough and at least two of those three will happen.


Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[Trooper224]

Very few of us got involved because we had to be, and I was lookin' for a job before I found this one. However, I agree being a hobby cop is quite different than making a career commitment. You're old sergeant was right, there are times when you can't believe you get paid for some of the things we do. On the other hand the job has changed since I started, societies view of it has also changed, as well as the people entering the field and mostly not for the better. OP do yourself a favor, seek a cure for your midlife crisis somewhere else because this job will eat your soul and no one will give a damn. I don't mean to come off like Debby Downer but that's the gods honest truth.

[SouthNarc]

I've witnessed one part time officer for a city agency get indicted, tried, and ultimately found not guilty on a positional asphyxia death. He lost his full time job (political pariah), his house, and everything he had paying his defense team.

One part timer for our agency had a shooting that caused him a ton of problems with his full time business.

After doing it for 21 years I wouldn't go near part time employment.

[KeeFus]

Ha! Duly noted!

I should mention that this particular sheriff's dept. is mainly focused on courtroom security and serving civil warrants. There is a county police dept. as well who handles more of the criminal LE work. Not meaning to downplay the risks, but I would reckon this outfit is lower on the hazardous duty scale.

Also I plan on (as I have been) maintaining my own insurance so benefits aren't a "must-have".

Initially I had been interested in doing some SAR work but the lack of opportunities led me to the Sheriff's office.

Really appreciate the thoughts so far!

The Sheriffs Office here hires retired LEOs to work as bailiffs or use guys that aren't cutting the mustard on the street (think about that) and a few serve civil processes. That's not too bad in and of itself but court room security and dealing with defendants can become just as dangerous as the street.

I've got 19 ( actually over 22 years in the retirement system as I bought back 3 of my 4 years of .mil service) in now and if I could retire at 20 or 25 I would. I will be 49 years old and have 30 years in and I don't plan on doing the court room thing when that bell rings. Society has changed since I first started. I love the job and even now rarely take off but as mentioned earlier society is changing making the job less desirable. Did I mention that I love this job...I'm in Instructor class the next 2 weeks. I guess I still feel like I have some knowledge to impart on the new guys. We will see I guess.

Seriously, if available in your area do a citizens police academy and if you like that try to move forward. Not trying to disparage you but everything that's been presented in this thread is true and comes from experience.

[LSP552]

Add me to the list of experienced officers who wouldn't recommend a part-time LE position. The job is dangerous by nature and you stand to loose much under the wrong circumstances. Liability and injury are not fun topics when you are on the receiving end. Experience, training and judgement form the foundation for staying safe (physically & financially) in the business and developing/receiving those part-time will be difficult.

Ken

[LSP972]

Experience, training and judgement form the foundation for staying safe (physically & financially) in the business and developing/receiving those part-time will be difficult.

Ken

Well stated, old friend.

Speaking of reserve programs, is ours (such as it was) still in place? I haven't seen any reference to it quite a while.

For those interested, retirees could "volunteer" at a troop to work the desk during peak times. AFAIK, none of these guys do any actual patrol/police work, but in a pinch could be pressed into service. This actually occurred during Katrina, when a bunch of retirees were hired back at their last pay grade, re-sworn, and put to work escorting convoys, etc.

But the key point here is that these "retreads" were ALREADY experienced troopers. As Ken said, experience can only be gained by doing it… and for more than a few hours per week/month.

.

[JBP55]

A friend of mine who is retired military is a part time LEO here and is covered by City Insurance like the full time LEO. Here every sworn Officer is insured Full Time, Part Time and Reserve. He works whenever he wants and works mostly traffic overtime grants which are all overtime. In the low pay climate of Louisiana he often makes $2000 in a two week pay period. He has been doing this for 20 years.

[ST911]

Policing is too regional and too agency-specific to make any blanket statements about the advisability of taking on PT work.

I know some agencies that train, supervise, back, and insure their PT/reserve folks just as well as their FT guys, some with pretty good cover, and others that are left hanging in a bad way. I know a number of guys whose 20+ years of LE service and retirements were earned juggling several PT gigs at a time with various small towns and counties. Without PT (and reserve) folks, there is an awful lot of policing out there that wouldn't get done.

It's also very individual. What's the relative motivation, mindset, and level of commitment of the individual? A switched-on PT troop, or at least an average PT troop, may be worth far more than a full time ROD.

Further... Is a decent to average PT troop any more or less at risk than a freshly minted rookie working his first months after his training pipeline?

[jc000]

Policing is too regional and too agency-specific to make any blanket statements about the advisability of taking on PT work.

I know some agencies that train, supervise, back, and insure their PT/reserve folks just as well as their FT guys, some with pretty good cover, and others that are left hanging in a bad way. I know a number of guys whose 20+ years of LE service and retirements were earned juggling several PT gigs at a time with various small towns and counties. Without PT (and reserve) folks, there is an awful lot of policing out there that wouldn't get done.

It's also very individual. What's the relative motivation, mindset, and level of commitment of the individual? A switched-on PT troop, or at least an average PT troop, may be worth far more than a full time ROD.

Further... Is a decent to average PT troop any more or less at risk than a freshly minted rookie working his first months after his training pipeline?

Skintop911 – thanks very much for your post.

First of all I really want to thank everyone for their input. I don't take any of your thoughts lightly in the least, and I absolutely value the years/decades of experience many of you bring to this thread.

That being said, if not clear, I wasn't asking about whether or not I should do this. I've made that decision – and this isn’t the first time I’ve considered this either. I don’t believe comments about “cures for my mid-life crisis” are meant to be offensive… but they are to me. I’m not sure why someone would discourage me as opposed to any 21 year old interested in joining a dept. You could get sued, hurt, or dead any number of ways. I understand as best I can and accept the risks inherent in doing this work – obviously my understanding of these risks is not complete (not any less complete than any other recruit candidate) but I’m also not walking in totally blind here.

I have no doubt there is much to absorb by way of experience and that this doesn’t happen overnight. If it seems that I would be in way over my head, I recognize that this probably should not be the path for me, and I would likely change course. However, the motivation and commitment is there.

I do appreciate all comments though, even the “discouraging” ones. My primary purpose in the OP was to get more information about this type of work, and I’ve gotten some great insights here. I would definitely be interested to hear about any other experiences with part-time LEO (or other first-responder) type work.

Just so we’re clear – the dept. from what I’ve gathered so far has a solid reputation as does the Sheriff himself. I do have some current LEO friends in other jurisdictions who have given me some info on what they know, and I have a very casual acquaintance who is a deputy with this dept. who I intend to grill as much as he will allow.

Thanks again for all your thoughts.

[Trooper224]

I’m not sure why someone would discourage me as opposed to any 21 year old interested in joining a dept.

In fact I'd tell a twenty one year old the same thing and have. If you find my comments offensive that's unfortunate, but I use that reference because that's the attitude I typically see from those going through a mid-life sea change. (better?) If that offends you, then you'd better develop a much thicker skin if you intend to enter the world of law enforcement. I don't regret my career choice and don't know if I'd do anything else. On the other hand I can't recommend it and give an honest answer at the same time. I'm a cop, my wife's a teacher and in all good conscience I can't recommend either one in our current environment. I believe you wanted truth not lip service, so that's what I'm giving you to the best of my ability. If you're determined to do it then good luck. Just make sure you're covered in the ways already mentioned.