USBP to CHP

[kimejs79]

Hello all,

I've decided to apply for CHP.
I'm currently a Border Patrol Agent. The reasons that I'm going to apply for the CHP is because of their vast available duty stations and ability to enforce all laws. I enjoy my current job, but it has many limitations when performing law enforcement duties. It drives me nuts when I can't sack a tool due to our jurisdictional issues. Most of you know that us BP agents are not considered Peace Officers per CA penal code. Although federal laws has its advantages (such as no PC req for stops), it has negatives that does not make sense to me. The pay as a federal agent is great. The BP gig is great, but it is just not my cup of tea. I thought about this every day on shifts or what not and I've come to conclusions on what I'm going to do. After working with several CHP Officers, I learned that state LEO work is what I really want to do.

With that said and done, I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask, I would really appreciate everyone's input:

1. As for duty stations: After graduating from the academy, how is the probability of being sent to a border station (one of the main reason for applying, to stay away from border station)?
2. I speak 2 foreign languages (asian dialect/spanish), does this factor play a role when sent to a duty station?
3. I'll be taking a significant pay cut (I gross about 3200 biweekly at the moment) How long does it take to regain the loss ( I know that I've stated before that the pay is not the reason applying, but I would like to know for future planning)?
4. Does being a veteran only help during hiring process?
5. How are the probability of transferring right after probationary period?
6. How are the limitation when it comes to daily duties(I. E. are you assigned to places, micromanaged, and so forth)?
7. Are there alot of overtime available?
8. Does all CA Depts use the same abbreviations, penal codes, 10, and 11 codes?
9. What can I study to prepare myself before going to the academy (I. E. law, 10/11 codes and such)?
10. Is POST certificate good throughout CA (my wife is currently a Dispatcher for RCSO and I would like to know if she will be able to transfer later on)?

I know I'm bombarding you with questions, any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Mac]

I'll take a shot at a few of your questions:

1. As for duty stations: After graduating from the academy, how is the probability of being sent to a border station (one of the main reason for applying, to stay away from border station)?
Slim to none. The vast majority of trainees go to Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Blythe takes a trainee on a very occasional basis, El Centro even less often. San Diego takes them once in a while, but it's easy enough to avoid going to San Diego if you so desire....lots of people want to go there. You have a much better chance of avoiding the border than you do of avoiding a major metropolitan area! :smile:

2. I speak 2 foreign languages (asian dialect/spanish), does this factor play a role when sent to a duty station?
I'm not sure about assignments from the Academy - but if an office has a bilingual position open, that will take preference over seniority. I've seen officers with quite a bit of seniority get bumped from some choice spots by very junior bilingual officers. I don't know which asian dialect you speak, but there are only certain offices that have allotted bilingual positions for languages such as Mandarin, Hmong, Tagalog, etc....it depends upon the makeup of the community and the need for having a person who speaks a certain language/dialect.

4. Does being a veteran only help during hiring process?
Yes and no. You get veteran's points only during the hiring process.....once you're on the job, the only advantage to being a veteran (besides the life experience) is the fact that you can "buy back" your military time and retire up to 4 years earlier.

5. How are the probability of transferring right after probationary period?
Depends on where you want to transfer to. Some offices have people lined up 30 deep waiting to get in, others are wide open. Chances are that if a lot of people consider someplace a very desirable place to live/work, you'll have to wait a few years to get in.

6. How are the limitation when it comes to daily duties(I. E. are you assigned to places, micromanaged, and so forth)?
You're assigned a beat to work, and you're responsible to answer radio calls, enforce the laws, render aid to the public and help out your beat partners. Once you leave the office you usually don't see a supervisor unless you call for one or have some kind of major incident that they respond to. Sure, there are micromanagers on this department....just like in every other job....but their impact on a field officer is fairly minimal, as long as you go out there and do your job like it's supposed to be done.

7. Are there alot of overtime available?
Depends on the office. Some have so much overtime that they can't fill all the slots, others are pretty lean.

8. Does all CA Depts use the same abbreviations, penal codes, 10, and 11 codes?
The state laws (penal code, vehicle code, etc.) are universal throughout the state....radio codes vary. Some agencies use '900' series codes which don't even remotely resemble the standard 10 and 11 codes.....of the agencies that use 10/11 codes, they're usually similar for the most part, with a few differences. Go to the "library" forum below and you can see the codes that the CHP uses.

10. Is POST certificate good throughout CA (my wife is currently a Dispatcher for RCSO and I would like to know if she will be able to transfer later on)?
Hopefully one of our dispatch personnel will be able to answer that question for you - I'm not sure how it works for non-uniformed employees. A POST peace officer certificate is good throughout the state - but it's up to each individual agency if they accept lateral transfers from other agencies. CHP, for example, does not.....even if you have a POST certificate, you're still required to go through our complete academy from start to finish like any other recruit.

[kimejs79]

thank you very much for your response. I'm happy to hear that I can buy back my mil time, as I didn't know you could in state service.

[NeverSurrender]

So Is the Border Patrol Academy, tuff as they say, or its nothing compared to CHP.?

[PeckerHead]

You really should contact a recruiter with your questions. Every Division has one and they can give you the latest and greatest "scoop". That's what they are there for. As for your statement regarding "BP Agents not needing PC for stops", that may or may not be true for your agency, but the California Highway Patrol does not endorse, encourage or allow it's Officers to make traffic stops w/o probable cause, period. One suggestion I would make is that you obtain a copy of our study guide before taking our written test. It gives you pointers on spelling, punctuation and grammer. A large percentage of applicants do not pass the initial written test.

[Draxxus07]

Hello all,

I've decided to apply for CHP.
I'm currently a Border Patrol Agent. The reasons that I'm going to apply for the CHP is because of their vast available duty stations and ability to enforce all laws. I enjoy my current job, but it has many limitations when performing law enforcement duties. It drives me nuts when I can't sack a tool due to our jurisdictional issues. Most of you know that us BP agents are not considered Peace Officers per CA penal code. Although federal laws has its advantages (such as no PC req for stops), it has negatives that does not make sense to me. The pay as a federal agent is great. The BP gig is great, but it is just not my cup of tea. I thought about this every day on shifts or what not and I've come to conclusions on what I'm going to do. After working with several CHP Officers, I learned that state LEO work is what I really want to do.

With that said and done, I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask, I would really appreciate everyone's input:

1. As for duty stations: After graduating from the academy, how is the probability of being sent to a border station (one of the main reason for applying, to stay away from border station)?
2. I speak 2 foreign languages (asian dialect/spanish), does this factor play a role when sent to a duty station?
3. I'll be taking a significant pay cut (I gross about 3200 biweekly at the moment) How long does it take to regain the loss ( I know that I've stated before that the pay is not the reason applying, but I would like to know for future planning)?
4. Does being a veteran only help during hiring process?
5. How are the probability of transferring right after probationary period?
6. How are the limitation when it comes to daily duties(I. E. are you assigned to places, micromanaged, and so forth)?
7. Are there alot of overtime available?
8. Does all CA Depts use the same abbreviations, penal codes, 10, and 11 codes?
9. What can I study to prepare myself before going to the academy (I. E. law, 10/11 codes and such)?
10. Is POST certificate good throughout CA (my wife is currently a Dispatcher for RCSO and I would like to know if she will be able to transfer later on)?

I know I'm bombarding you with questions, any input would be greatly appreciated.


what are you? GS-7? 8?

[cal911gal]

10. Is POST certificate good throughout CA (my wife is currently a Dispatcher for RCSO and I would like to know if she will be able to transfer later on)?
Hopefully one of our dispatch personnel will be able to answer that question for you - I'm not sure how it works for non-uniformed employees. A POST peace officer certificate is good throughout the state - but it's up to each individual agency if they accept lateral transfers from other agencies. CHP, for example, does not.....even if you have a POST certificate, you're still required to go through our complete academy from start to finish like any other recruit.

CHP Dispatchers attend their own academy, which is initially 4 weeks, and then two more weeks for basic radio training. We are not POST Dispatcher Certificate holders - our academy is "like" the POST training, but yet Department specific and therefore different. So in essence, her POST certification means literally nothing as far as CHP is concerned.(Which is a sore point with me, I believe we all should hold POST certificates. That's something their union is working on....)

Anyways, the general "CHP doesn't do laterals" applies to dispatchers too. Her past experience will likely help her score very high on the written, and should help her score well in an interview. If she hasn't tested already, I'd probably wait to do so until the next test cycle, and then maybe you'll be out of the Academy and posted somewhere you think you might stay for a bit. Then she can test for that local center....if she did apply for this upcoming test, I'd encourage her to go for it, be it in San Diego, or any other center you may wish to be near. If she gets in now, and completes her probation (1 year) she could then transfer to be near you following your passing the Academy.

If you have any more questions on the dispatch part, I'm here to help. Good luck to you both!

[dw]

Although federal laws has its advantages (such as no PC req for stops), it has negatives that does not make sense to me.

I didn't realise Federal LE were exempt from the United States Constitution.... Oh wait, Homeland Security.

[Mac]

Although federal laws has its advantages (such as no PC req for stops), it has negatives that does not make sense to me.

I didn't realise Federal LE were exempt from the United States Constitution....
You've obviously never worked around the Border Patrol! :badgrin: