View Full Version : cops or feds what would u do?
I am in the process with the USCS as an Inspector but I might also get the chance to work with the local police.
Pro's and Cons of the local police, no civil service protection, but I am well liked in the department with all the guys and with most of the politicians. The bad thing you have to work the politics or just kiss there ass alot, more than most towns in the area. the pro's, for a small town in Northern NJ, it is pretty active with calls, there is a highway here that has high drug traffic because of the proximity to NYC. So you can remain active shooting radar or chasing down cars for overdue reg's to get P.C. and get in that car and stuff. If I get hired in the winter I would make a base of about 90,000 at top salary and with longevity pay, close to 100,000. There isn't much OT. Pension is 25 years = 65%, 30 years=70% of ur final salary at the present moment.
Now do I turn that down if the Inspector position comes first or do I take the Inspector thing and keep it or leave for the local. I know the feds have a great pension system but I have no idea what you can top off on base or with OT with USCS. I am not sure of the moevement from USCS Inspector to USCS Agent or if it would be easier to move from USCS Inspector to an Agent in other agencies or the variety of being a patrolman with a wide range of duties would be better to make it into a S/A position and if not then I would still be making alot of money and have alot of leeway being aggressive on the road.
Just a little confused on which route to take if they both come. Any insight would be good.
If your goal is to be a special agent, either position can serve as a stepping stone toward that end. I am of the opinion that being a patrol cop is better law enforcement and investigative experience (as a whole) than is being an inspector....but, either position will provide you with the basic skills (interpersonal skills, interviewing skills, report writing, etc.) that will help make you a good agent later on. Whichever position you end up in, you will have a decent shot at an agent position somewhere in the few years...it is all in how you sell yourself and your experience to the hiring agency (on your application and at your interview). Again, as a personal opinion--having worked as a Border Patrol Agent--I would take a patrol job over an inspector position...generally speaking, you will find more variety, more investigative work, and FAR more freedom.
That said, I am of the opinion that you should NEVER turn down a firm job offer for an ANTICIPATED offer. If USCS comes first, take the job...if you decline it, and the position with the PD does not work out for one reason or another, then you will find yourself starting over from scratch. Take the USCS position, and then make a decision once the PD offer comes in.
RoscoeRuhl
02-17-2002, 09:40
I agree with nsedet in his position as to how it's gone about. Working for a PD is going to give you alot of experience and exposure to law enforcement from the street on up. As far as the government is concerned, it's a strange and unique world. The same type issues with politics and the like exist, however the folks in the trenches normally aren't exposed, with the exception of being at the bottom when it rolls down! That said, there are good benefits and decent pay once you move up the ranks. The typical GS-6 federal employee makes approximately 24-26K annual, not including locality pay (if it exist where you are) and the potential for overtime. If you're looking at the money aspect, 90,000 doesn't compare. Some decent pay and experience and you'll be ready to move into the federal arena. Government civil service isn't always as secure as one would think. Reductions in Force (RIF) are commonplace as the big machine tries to do more, with less. There are countless folks out there that have had to move around to keep good paying positions because of these adjustments. If you don't have the qualifications to ensure a position (EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION), go with the PD. Of course, if the government position comes to you, TAKE IT!! They don't come frequently and once you get there you can make your own career if you're willing to go where it's at.
Have a great day!
Kahuna5150
02-17-2002, 16:28
Originally posted by rammx32
Pro's and Cons of the local police, no civil service protection, but I am well liked in the department with all the guys and with most of the politicians. The bad thing you have to work the politics or just kiss there ass alot, more than most towns in the area.
First thing I would have to say about your above quote is... Never be fooled into thinking you are well liked or on the in crowd as far as job security. I see more young officers get their feelings hurt because they really believe they are loved and the department could not go on with out them. It is quite common to hear a guy failing probation or being released say, "Man I can't believe this, I work harder, get more stats, love this place, do so much more, etc, etc". In the end you may be a great guy and a well liked individual, but in all the departments I've seen, after you're gone, (quit, get fired, transfer to a new place) 6 months to a year you'll just be like anyone other person, "Remember that one guy that worked here, what was his name?"
In regards to taking the PD or the FED job first. I would agree with the above posts. Take the first firm job offer you can get. I think both would be great to have. I would imagine you would get more exposure to different types of crime and situations as a police officer as opposed to an inspector, but both would give you good public contact and exp.
Good luck!
Kahuna
Originally posted by Kahuna5150
First thing I would have to say about your above quote is... Never be fooled into thinking you are well liked or on the in crowd as far as job security.
Let me second this...being well liked within an agency or by politicians only lasts as long as it is convenient for the people you are dealing with...get in the way of what others want, or take what is perceived as the "wrong" action in the field, or just step on the wrong toes, and you'll find yourself all alone (picture the tumbleweeds rolling by...)...a bad thing when you need the support, but you will find the majority of administrators and politicians will not risk their careers to help anyone. Field officers are another matter entirely, but the ranks of any agency always have a few folks looking to move up by stepping on other officers.
something else maybe your willingness to pick up and travel in a heartbeat. With the local PD it wont happen but im sure its a chance with the USCS. Like others posted becuase ppl on the job and in office like you dosent mean they will be around for ever. How much room for advancement is there in a local PD compared to the USCS!! Good Luck
What type of task forces do the Inspectors with USCS have? I would love a S/A position with an agency that has alot of interesting stuff and not just sitting mostly behind the desk. I could be wrong but the forum has said in the past Customs S/A and DEA seem pretty interesting.
The local pd might be tough to beat. The pension is awesome 65%-70% of a base salary approx. at 95,000-100,000. The towns in north jersey are much smaller, the politics suck but it is one of the more active police departments call wise, and there is alot of stuff going on and drug traffic. Was just wandering if that is betetr experience then the Inspector position?
What is fws inspector? You lost me on that one.
I know the S/A's get paid on the g scale, but can you break that down in english? What do S/A's start with in Customs and DEA? What do they top off at a S/A? How many years does it take to top off at?
What percent of their salary follows them for their pensions?
Thanks for the advice on the last post!
Originally posted by AGENCY
I will try and get a list of some of the USCS Task Forces for Inspectors. USCS Inspector's are involved in Narcotic's, Currency, Smuggling, and Terrorist so I'm sure you'll get your excitment
Where are Inspectors assigned to task forces? I've never heard of any inspector, INS or USCS, being assigned to any of the task forces I have dealt with. Specialized units, yes, but not a task force.
Agency,
What did you hear about an FWS Inspector that makes it a cake job?
GangBuster
02-25-2002, 09:40
rammx32, I will back up what nsedet and RoscoeRuhl have said and encourage you to take the job with the local PD, that is of course if Customs comes calling first. You will get much more experience and exposure to law enforcement with a local PD than as a Customs Inspector. As far as what AGENCY says, there are no "task forces" that Inspectors get assigned to, and the way Customs management runs it, they keep Inspectors doing as much compliance work as they can, as opposed to LE work. Don't get confused on the difference between Customs Inspectors and Agents. Agents do the investigations, work on task forces, get LEAP pay, are criminal investigators. Inspectors, on the other hand, work the borders and ports of entry (international airports and seaports) and do inspectional and compliance work. Either one is a great job, and I am not knocking the Inspector position, but I just want you to be prepared for what lies ahead. Don't be fooled into thinking you will be running around with task forces kicking in doors as an Inspector. With that being said, good luck!
Thanks for the advice from both sides. The Customs things seem to be a good foot in the door, benefits and such if the local thing doesn't come or in the meantime. As for myself, I would like a little more freedom in my daily routine, such that as a patrolman. It's in one of the smaller Bergen County, NJ towns but they have a pretty high call volume compared to the towns of the similar size. I am not sure if it will work out, so in the meantime I am keeping my options open and try for a variety of LE work.
The local thing is nice though, if I do get it. I know pretty much everything there is to know in the area, I know how to play the game politically. The pay is great, starts at about 31,000 and goes up to 85,000, the calculate longevity and OT and that's some major cash. The benefits are good and you can retire: 20 years with 50% and no benefits which is the only flaw.
25 years, you get full benefits and 65% of your salary. 30 years, you get 70% of your salary.
I will still try to get my Masters no matter where I get hired. Whether from there I have the chance to go DEA or something like that, I have no idea but as long as I have something that keeps my interests going that will be fine.
I am an inspector with Customs, and I can tell you we are not detailed to task forces. There are various teams though. Some of the teams are:
CET-contraband enforcement
OET-outbound enforcement
MET-merchandise enforcement
PERT-passenger enforcement rover
PAU-passenger analysis unit
"Task forces" are for agents.
Originally posted by AGENCY
They have several other "teams" or "forces" that focus on a specific task.
Clinton-esque use of the English language assigned, the specialized units you mentioned are not task forces, they are, well, specialized units.
A "task force," generally speaking, would be a multi-agency unit set up for a specific function, which will generally operate independently of any one parent organization (control structure depends on the TF, though)...examples would be a DEA narcotics task force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a HIDTA task force, an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, etc.
You could, I suppose, use your definition of "'teams' or 'forces' that focus on a specific task" as the definition of a task force, but you will be speaking a different language than the rest of us.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.