Advancement

[4CHP]

Hi again!

The CHP website lists many advancement opportunities. Of course, I assume one's advancement would depend on which division he/she is currently in. A rural area probably does not offer much room to become a sergeant.

On average, how many officers actually seek a Sergeant position? How long, again on average, can one expect to be promoted to such a rank?

Thank you, in advance, for your time!

:cool:

[Your Mentor]

Where you are posted has nothing to do with the opportunity to advance. All promotional exams are competitive statewide and you have to be willing to relocate to where an opening exists. It's all about studying and preparation. Especially the sergeant's test. Before a person can even take the test they are required by policy to served two years at the officer rank in a field or field support position. Unfortunately, that rule isn't always strictly applied. Frankly, two years isn't enough time. We have managers in staff positions with very little actual road time as officers or sergeants. Generally five to six hundred individuals take the sergeant's test competing for 125 slots on the list. The list moves at roughly two or three promotions per month (that all depends on need; it often moves faster, sometimes slower). So your placing on the list dictates how fast you make rank.

Understand that the website isn't just talking about rank when it refers to advancement opportunities. There are a lot of specialties on this Department. Moving up in rank means changing jobs. Being a sergeant is a totally different job and many people wish they hadn't promoted after the fact. The best job, and managers will even tell you this, is being in a patrol car on a beat as an officer. In fact, the vast majority of uniformed members retire as officers. It's a sweet setup. You go out, work your beat, take your crashes, back up your buddies, meet and greet the public and then go home to your family at night without any work left undone (accept for the occasional pending report). Once you move up to sergeant you are no longer represented by a union and the Department owns you. The higher up you go the more they own you. I know this from personal experience (I'd have to talk about my personal life to explain so I won't). If executive management calls a manager and says to be in Sacramento tomorrow, that manager doesn't have a choice. They can't say, "Yeh, but my son has a soccer match tomorrow and I promised him I'd be there," or, "But I'm starting vacation tomorrow and was going to fly to Paris with my wife." They have to go. Period. An officer, however, can say those things. The beauty is it keeps the job a job and nothing more.

[4CHP]

Mentor,

Thank you, that was a very thorough response and exactly what I was looking for. I can definitely see how being on the field remains very desireable, after what you pointed out.

Thanks again for your time!

:cool:

[CHPwannaBE]

Your Mentor, you are a very good writer. When I get hired for CHP I would want to be on the beat for my entire career. There is so much work out there, and it seems like it would never get boring.