Out of state applicant

[carcop]

Wannabe,
Just some info to your Q on BP. Now-a-days BP is paid fairly well actually. If you look at thier scale you may be mislead, but when you take other factors (they get OT of 25%, locality) into consideration they make decent money. CHP does have a decent working relationship as far as the officer to agent relationship. As far as departments, BP has dumped a lot of load vehicle pursuits onto CHP and many have resulted in multiple fatals due to a collision at the end of it. As a result CHP is not to get involved in any BP pursuit if it is only immigration related. BP has a lot of good people but are tied down by their ever so "be nice" political policies. Agents will back you up in a heart beat and our chippies in those areas do pretty good at helping them out when possible.

BP does not work traffic in the sense of vehicles like CHP. They refer to traffic as smugglers or "hikers" through the hills. You can be really busy or really slow but you can always find good sh*t to get into. As for weapons: they carry .40 H&K or, .40 Berretas. Also have shotgun and M-4's (short full auto m-16). Times have changed a bit since Mentor was there ------ Man Mentor ..... You dated yourself :smile:

[CHPwannaBE]

I am very interested in the CHP. I am wondering if anyone knows of anyone that was hired from out of state. If so how did they go through the process? I know that I will eventually live in California, but not within the next year. All responses appreciated.

[dw]

Unfortunately, due mostly to budget issues, consolidated testing no longer exists. (We used to offer almost all of the testing process in one weekend for those in the military or out of state.)

The good news is that under the current testing schedules, the written psychological, vision, and physical abilities tests are all the same weekend. QAP interviews should start the next week, and if you're lucky, you can get a QAP date in the first few days. So that's two trips to get through to the QAP (one for the written test and one for the above tests.)

Then you're looking at one or two trips during the background/medical/psychological portion. Again, if you're lucky, some/most of these can be consolidated into the same day(s).

That's four to five trips total. It may seem like a lot, but it's worth it for a great career.

What draws you out here?

[centurion]

Do chippies take laterals? If not, why? Just curious.

[redhead]

The good news is that under the current testing schedules, the written psychological, vision, and physical abilities tests are all the same weekend. QAP interviews should start the next week, and if you're lucky, you can get a QAP date in the first few days. Just some more insight, when I was testing for Golden Gate back in August, they asked multiple times for all out of state applicants so they could make sure and get them scheduled on the Monday after the Sunday Psych for the QAP. hth

[CHPwannaBE]

DW and everyone else thanks for the replys. I am most interested in the CHP becasue I was born in California, lived out there for twelve years and all of my family is out there excpets for me my mom and dad. I still go to Cali. for holidays,summers, and we have a timeshare in south lake tahoe. I have always been fascinated with the CHP and their black and whites. I am only 19 now so I know I have a while to go but can always plan ahead. I will try to transfer to SDSU next year. Also my brother lives in Temecula and everytime I visit him we drive by a Border Patrol station. Does anyone on here know much about the Border Patrol? I know that they are federal. but does CHP get along well with them? Thanks.

[Your Mentor]

As far as I've heard we get along great with Border Patrol. Years ago, and I understand it hasn't changed at all, the USBP was the lowest payed federal law enforcement agency. If you speak Spanish and don't care to work traffic, they may be the ticket. Good people and always willing to back you up. They carried revolvers without speed loaders longer than any law enforcement agency in the US. Things might have changed significantly since 9/11.

[dw]

Centurion,

We do not take laterals. I can see both sides of the argument. We lose a lot of good candidates with prior law enforcement experience every year because we do not. I understand not wanting to go through another academy only to lose your seniority. On the other hand, we maintain control of our training program and know that it is standardized for everyone in the state.

I don't know much of the history behind this -- maybe some of the more senior guys know more.

[centurion]

DW, thanks for the reply. I was just curious. I have 12 years on the job with LAPD and went through a tough academy back in '92-'93. Don't really want to get yelled at by some 20 something DI...hehehe. I have lots of Chippie friends. I like your retirement and the fact that you guys get to play with lots of local and federal agencies on special task forces. I wouldn't mind being a chippie, you guys run a pretty good outfit...just don't want to go through the academy again... be safe out there

[CHPwannaBE]

Thanks carcop. I was reading up on the BP and heard that in some cases it can takes as long as 3 years before you reach the academy. And in the CHP isn't it a year at most? At the San Clemente check point I used to live by they could only pursuit cars for so long until giving up because of the dangers. It is really political for them too. Is it like that for CHP? Also do all CHPs nowadays have a college degree? AA or BA? Did any of you CHPs apply right when you turned 20? Thanks and the links section is very useful.

[carcop]

As far as the pursuit deal, we adhere to our pursuit policy fairly well. We are allowed to chase and usually stick with a chase for quite some time. Like anyone else if the chase becomes TOO crazy we shut it down. Sergeants over see (or hear) all pursuits. Pursuits for us are not as political as for BP. Don't get me wrong.... if one goes bad, the anti-cop crowd goes crazy. It is usually short lived though.

In regards to AA or BA? No degree is required but there are many officers with at least a two year degree and many more with a four year. It's just the sign of the times. If you meet the requirements for the hiring process then you will be fine. There are MANY people with degrees that never get passed the testing itself. You will do far better to have a good personality and good sense. There are some that apply at 20 and even get to the academy at 21. If they are mature enough they do well, just depends on the individual. If you think your up for it, give it a shot. Looking back now I would love to have started at 21, hell I would be retiring at 51 and not a day later................. SEE YA! Love it but I have to go!

Any how good luck to you. Just an FYI, our hiring process does take about a year if everything goes well. Some have waited a couple years. For BP they are about the same, usually a year. If they are in a hiring frenzy, they can expedite it to as few as 4 months and your on your way to Glynco.

[Your Mentor]

Carcop,
Yeh, I've been around a while. 16 years with the CHP. I was also in the USCG for 9 years and worked part of that time in San Diego. Had a lot of contact with the BP back then. I haven't ever worked in Border Division so don't have the current info you have. Thanks for the update

[Mac]

Did any of you CHPs apply right when you turned 20?

Yep...applied when I was 20, and went to the Academy 16 months later. It's been a great ride, and the thought of retiring when I'm 51 is definitely nice. :smile:

As far as the Border Patrol - I've worked closely with them for a number of years. An interesting sidebar to the conversation is that although BP are federal agents, they don't fall under the definition of a Peace Officer in the state of CA (as defined in the PC), so all arrests they make for state crimes (Penal Code, Vehicle Code, Health & Safety, etc.) are 'citizens' arrests'. They turn their DUIs, traffic arrests and most of their drug arrests over to us or an allied agency (depending on what type of crime and what agreements they have in place with the local agencies), and they're not supposed to make traffic stops for VC violations - just immigration. I believe they still have a "no-pursuit" policy, but that may have changed since they were integrated into the federal DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security). Our Department has a sensible pursuit policy with a lot of discretion left to the pursuing officer.....which, of course, requires that you use good judgment at all times and constantly re-evaluate what you're doing and why you're doing it (Risk vs. gain assessment). As Carcop said, we do a pretty good job of adhering to our pursuit policy - and chances are that if a Sergeant has to step in and shut it down, you should've already done it - and you'll probably get a little 'reminder' about your judgment afterwards. Pursuits are exhilarating, but they're also very serious business....the potential for disaster is always just one little mishap away.