chp turnover

[jason281973]

I am strongly considering resubmitting my application after having my BI DQ me due inaccuracies on my initial application...and he was right in doing so. At any rate, what kind of turnover does the CHP experience? I understand that there is a sizeable officer shortage. Is this because of a high turnover rate, or because of the past hiring freezes, or maybe a combo of both? It seems to me that if you put in all the hard work involved with the hiring process and deal with the rigors of the academy it would be a tough position to leave. All the officers I've talked to really enjoy their job. Anyway, if anyone out there has any information on this, please feel free to share.

[MicahJames]

I am strongly considering resubmitting my application after having my BI DQ me due inaccuracies on my initial application...and he was right in doing so. At any rate, what kind of turnover does the CHP experience? I understand that there is a sizeable officer shortage. Is this because of a high turnover rate, or because of the past hiring freezes, or maybe a combo of both? It seems to me that if you put in all the hard work involved with the hiring process and deal with the rigors of the academy it would be a tough position to leave. All the officers I've talked to really enjoy their job. Anyway, if anyone out there has any information on this, please feel free to share.

If you dont mind satisfying my paranoid curiousity, what did you get DQ'd for? What was the nature of the inconsistency?

[TheForceCHP]

Lots of officers are reaching retirement age, those are the officers from the big hiring phase that the CHP had a long time ago, thus they need officers to take those spots

[jason281973]

Got DQ'd for not having my application 100% spot on accurate with my job history. My previous employer claimed I was terminated from my position and had put down that I left on my own volition since the product I was selling was being discontinued. Either way I could care less since it was over 7 years ago, but he was right in stopping the application process there. He suggested that I reapply but before I do, I did want to find out what their turnover figures were and do more research into the academy lifestyle. Looks intense!

[undertow999]

Well I hope you do decide to reapply. Like TheForce said, alot of officers are reaching retirement age, because like today, thirty or so years ago the CHP had a huge hiring phase were a large number of officers where hired. I would assume that 30 years from now, the department may be in the same need for officerss. I dont think the need for officers has to do with any abnormal turnover rate experienced within the department though.

[Mac]

The turnover rate (as far as officers leaving the job for other employment) is actually very, very low. Attrition is the major factor that depletes our ranks - service retirements and medical retirements make up the vast majority of it. There were two big hiring pushes back in the 70's and 80's where thousands of officers were hired in rather short time frames - and now that those officers are reaching retirement age, it's leaving a large void that the department is having trouble filling due to both budgetary constraints (don't have the money for that kind of mass hiring anymore) and recruitment problems (less people are choosing law enforcement in general as a career.)

There seems to have been an increase in turnover recently, though. I know a few guys who were looking hard at other agencies and considering a career change, and the biggest factor I've heard cited is alternate work weeks, i.e. the 4/10 or 3/12. While I can understand the thinking to a degree, I still think it's short-sighted because they're not considering a lot of other things they're giving up in the process.

The Academy "lifestyle" IS very intense - and that's as it should be. It demands extreme sacrifices and 100% effort from you for over six months, and will most likely test you as you've never been tested before in your life. I'd guess that 99% of the people you'd talk to would tell you that it was worth it, and once you graduate and start actually doing the job, you come to understand WHY it's the way it is.

[jason281973]

Thanks for the info Mac. I know that CHP works 5/8 shifts which maybe isn't as desireable as a 4/10, but it is what it is. I've sent in for another application to reapply. I passed the written about 16 months ago. Does anyone know how long that is good for?

[makakona]

i think it's been discussed before that no office is even trying anything other than the 5/8... but my husband's office does a modified version that i THINK they might call 9/80? something like that? as i understand it, they work an extra hour a day and get two extra days off each month. it's worked out well for us this far. my husband has three day weekends every weekend except when he's switching from one phase (read: shift) to another. in those cases, he gets his three day weekend, works two days, gets two weekdays off together, then works through that weekend, resuming the three day weekend the next weekend. does that make sense? obviously this won't be a standing case till he's more senior, but for the older guys, it seems like a nice deal.

[godinez90]

Thanks for the info Mac. I know that CHP works 5/8 shifts which maybe isn't as desireable as a 4/10, but it is what it is. I've sent in for another application to reapply. I passed the written about 16 months ago. Does anyone know how long that is good for?

YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO RETAKE THE WRITTEN AGAIN. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!!

[Mac]

...i think it's been discussed before that no office is even trying anything other than the 5/8... but my husband's office does a modified version that i THINK they might call 9/80? something like that? as i understand it, they work an extra hour a day and get two extra days off each month....
That IS the 9/80. I have a pretty good idea which office you're talking about, and they're one of the only offices (if not THE only office) in the state that currently have troops on the 9/80 work week.