CHP or PD?

[OfficerInTraining]

I know this is a CHP forum, but try to be honest.

I posted this on another forum, but it seemed biased.

http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=610018#post610018

[TheForceCHP]

I will say what i told my cousin who is thinking of doing Sheriffs

Pick the one that you want the most and do it. I have talked to a lot of people during the process so far and so many people are just saying that they will pick whoever asks them first, sorry but in my opinion this is the wrong attitude.

I picked the CHP because of officers that i know, it is what i want to do, and other reasons. It saddens me when somebody tries for CHP, doesn't get in because of how hard it is, and gives up/tries with another agency because they are easier(not putting down any agencies). I told my cousin that if sheriffs is what he wants then he better become one and that i don't want him choosing some other agency just because he couldn't get in. I want him to be happy and never look back on his decision.

I don't know if that helps, but i hope it did

[Chippysgt]

I looked at a couple of notes on the cops BB and if you think the CHP is a boring job, you still have a lot to learn. In 1966 I passed the CHP tests and the LAPD tests and I had my choice. I spent almost three decades on the CHP and I never had a day I would call boring. Everyday was something new and rarely was there no excitement. If you want to stay busy on the CHP you stay in the metropolitan areas and you will work your tail off, writing tickets, investigating accidents, booking drunks, catching car thieves and every other type of filty vermin that slither around the big cities. Look at it this way, no agency in the state makes more felony arrests than the CHP and how do you think all that Meth, cocaine, heroine and marijuana moves from one part of the state to another. Boring, only is if you drive around with your head up your butt.

Best of luck on whatever department you go to and as far as the CHP academy being tough, Yep it is but the product we turn out after training is the best.

[RoadDawg]

Every officer will support their agency... but for me the CHP beat out the other LE agencies for several reasons. One, you can work anywhere in the state. Two, you get to see a vast area while on patrol, not the same neighborhood every day. Three, where I call home the CHP is one of the top paid agencies, not to mention retirement. Four, the Department?s professional reputation is undeniable. Five, they pay you good money while attending the Academy. And lastly, you actually get to help people once in awhile. Although we do see some bad stuff, our job is not the constant negative that some of the PDs and SOs face day in and day out.

Ultimately though the decision is yours? My bro-in-law works for a PD, and swears he wouldn?t want to do our job. He often teases me about the old AAA with a badge thing, but then I fire back with the fact he tried, but failed to pass the CHPs written exam. Do your homework on each department that interests you, and go in what ever direction you feel is best for you.

[OfficerInTraining]

I know a lot about the CHP. Like I said I have been on 2 ride alongs, and done my homework. I know the academy is hard and I have been training for about 6 months now.

[RoadDawg]

I know a lot about the CHP. Like I said I have been on 2 ride alongs, and done my homework. I know the academy is hard and I have been training for about 6 months now.

Well then, it sounds like youve made up your mind... I dont think you can go wrong with the CHP, we are considered the best by many! You are young, so hang in there and dont give up... You will be in W. Sac before you know it!

[Mac]

I was an Explorer and Reserve Officer with 2 different PDs for over 2 1/2 years before joining the CHP, so I've seen both sides of the coin. I've been with the CHP for well over 20 years, and haven't regretted the decision for one second. Anybody who considers this job boring either a) has their head lodged firmly up their butt, or b) doesn't have even the slightest idea what they're talking about. It is what you make it. You're not "tied to the radio" as much as you would be on a PD/SO and more of your activity is self-generated so you can either keep yourself busy, or practice "patrol by avoidance" and do very little.....which will soon have you sitting down for a not-so-friendly chat with your sergeant about why you're such a slug compared to the rest of your shift.

Now for a little different perspective on the difference: Try this with one of the major metropolitan PDs - say you get tired of wading through waist-deep crap in the city everyday, and would like to go live/work in a place where the pace is a little slower and you can raise your kids and send them to school in a place that isn't a drug and gang-infested cesspool. With a PD, you have two options - move somewhere nicer and commute 80 miles each way to work in heavy traffic, or lateral to another PD somewhere.....oh yeah, and don't forget to factor in that when you lateral, you're going to lose all your seniority, probably take a moderate to major pay cut, and have to learn the ins and outs of a new department - how reports are written, what forms are used, new radio codes, new policies and procedures, etc. Now take a look at how it works with the CHP....you transfer wherever you want to go in the state. Your seniority stays intact, pay stays the same; the reports, policies and procedures are all pretty much the same, and you can live close to where you work if you so choose. After a year or so there you decide you don't like the area after all? Throw in another transfer and go somewhere else....or go back where you came from, for that matter. Try a resident post, go work in Division or up in Sacramento at the Academy or Headquarters.....give the mountains a shot, or maybe go out to the desert.....how about Upper Nowheresville in northern California along the Oregon Border - or maybe Surftown along the coast.....heck, maybe Middle Megalopolis if you like night life, traffic and lots of crime. It's all there for you - you choose. That's the freedom you have as a CHP officer that you don't have anywhere else.

As far as "the job" itself goes, I don't think either one (PD/SO vs. CHP) is "better" than the other.....just different.

[Kevin]

Now for a little different perspective on the difference: Try this with one of the major metropolitan PDs - say you get tired of wading through waist-deep crap in the city everyday, and would like to go live/work in a place where the pace is a little slower and you can raise your kids and send them to school in a place that isn't a drug and gang-infested cesspool. With a PD, you have two options - move somewhere nicer and commute 80 miles each way to work in heavy traffic, or lateral to another PD somewhere.....oh yeah, and don't forget to factor in that when you lateral, you're going to lose all your seniority, probably take a moderate to major pay cut, and have to learn the ins and outs of a new department - how reports are written, what forms are used, new radio codes, new policies and procedures, etc. Now take a look at how it works with the CHP....you transfer wherever you want to go in the state. Your seniority stays intact, pay stays the same; the reports, policies and procedures are all pretty much the same, and you can live close to where you work if you so choose. After a year or so there you decide you don't like the area after all? Throw in another transfer and go somewhere else....or go back where you came from, for that matter. Try a resident post, go work in Division or up in Sacramento at the Academy or Headquarters.....give the mountains a shot, or maybe go out to the desert.....how about Upper Nowheresville in northern California along the Oregon Border - or maybe Surftown along the coast.....heck, maybe Middle Megalopolis if you like night life, traffic and lots of crime. It's all there for you - you choose. That's the freedom you have as a CHP officer that you don't have anywhere else.

As far as "the job" itself goes, I don't think either one (PD/SO vs. CHP) is "better" than the other.....just different.



Well said! I agree.

[Cameron]

Mac, that was awesome.

[not5150]

On the other board.. you stated you would like to work LAPD because you get a partner.

CHP car units double up after a certain hour, so you do get a partner on the night shifts. You also stated that you don't want to get into a "routine". The CHP is probably the most non-routine agency out there. Anything and everything can happen on patrol. Heck, a seemingly easy stop can turn into a shootout because the guy just robbed a bank. :smile: I don't know what is routine about that.

The previous posts hit it on the head, especially Mac's.

[OfficerInTraining]

I know you get a partner for C-Watch.

[Dipmo]

For me it comes down to why I want to get into law enforcement in the first place. I want to make a difference in our society and make it a better and safer place to live. In researching I found that the CHP offers more opportunity to accomplish that than other agencies.

Think of the difference a traffic stop makes, not just on the violator, but on the hundreds of cars that pass during the stop and slow down when they see you. Some might even drive safer for a while just because they saw you driving on the road. If it saves one of them a difference has been made and the mission is slowly getting accomplished.

Take a drunk off of the road before he crashes into somebody and kills, paralyzes, or maims them and while you will never meet the person you potentially made a difference for, a difference was made none the less.

Stop and help a stranded motorist before they are rear ended on the shoulder and society has been bettered a little tiny bit.

Clear a road hazard? you get the picture.

I guess I?m saying that you need exam what drives you to this career choice and choose an agency that is most compatible with you goals.

[ruda001]

Every officer will support their agency... but for me the CHP beat out the other LE agencies for several reasons. One, you can work anywhere in the state. Two, you get to see a vast area while on patrol, not the same neighborhood every day. Three, where I call home the CHP is one of the top paid agencies, not to mention retirement. Four, the Department?s professional reputation is undeniable. Five, they pay you good money while attending the Academy. And lastly, you actually get to help people once in awhile. Although we do see some bad stuff, our job is not the constant negative that some of the PDs and SOs face day in and day out.

Ultimately though the decision is yours? My bro-in-law works for a PD, and swears he wouldn?t want to do our job. He often teases me about the old AAA with a badge thing, but then I fire back with the fact he tried, but failed to pass the CHPs written exam. Do your homework on each department that interests you, and go in what ever direction you feel is best for you.

Those are reasons I think CHP is for me....I will start the process soon enough....:biggrin:

[23112]

I'm very new on the job, but I wanted to chime and say that this job has been anything but boring! It's also been pretty exciting for both of my Academy roommates. With high respect for other LE agencies, I have no regrets about choosing the CHP.

[Flying Pig]

Live the dream...be a deputy :smile:

[RodeoChippie]

Live the dream...be a deputy :smile:
HA!:lol: I wanted to be a Deputy when I first started testing but I scored too high on the written test so I had to go to CHP!;)

[cacop]

Being a PD officer, I work with CHP and the deputies all day, everyday.

All jobs are similiar, all jobs are different. CHP here in the Central Valley from MY EXPERIENCES take mostly dueces, TA's , and write good ole' citations. Obviously they do other duties, but these seem to be the primary one's here anyway.

Deputies call CHP for duece evals, and TA's. PD does our own on both.

Can't say in the year I have worked for my PD have I ever had a CHP back me on any call, the deputies have numerous times.

I backed a Chippie on a traffic stop once, he gave me a major 'tude...last time I did that.

CHP will call for Deputy or PD for Penal Code stuff, mostly 273.5's, 242's, etc.

Basically, if you go PD you will do it all...Traffic, Penal Code, H&S Code, W&I Code, etc

Sheriffs deal with mostly Penal Code, Warrants, Subpeona service, coroner duties, etc

CHP is TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, minimal Penal Code

I have told some of my fellow PD officers of my intentions to go CHP and to be honest the most common reaction is either laughter or they ask me "Why dude? Your going to hate that shit, traffic sucks!" There is a definite bias of the PD officers I WORK WITH that CHP is not real police work.

I, however, enjoy traffic. I also like the idea of being able to go statewide, experiencing a highly reputable academy, and being able to still do Penal Code stuff if I'm scanning and available.

Do your ride alongs, ask questions, do research and if you get hired somewhere and your not happy and want a switch, that's fine. No one will blame you for finding your niche while still putting food on the table for your family in a very honorable profession.

[ka4993]

So far all the posts on this topic have good points. I only applied with CHP and was fortunate to be hired with them at a young age. I am very eager and energetic about the job and love "getting into stuff". I was around a PD growing up and was able to see how and what they do. I love law enforcement and was pointed in the direction of the CHP by my father.

There are certain things that you should now about the CHP. As of now we are a traffic enforcement agency. Occasionally you might get into something else but at the end of the month there are only two things your management is looking at: Citations and DUI arrests.

That aspect of the job has, at times, made me go crazy. However I was able to find a place within the department where I can do more general law enforcement.

I currently work directly with a PD and SO on a daily basis. At one point I seriously thought about going to the SO. I looked over all aspects: pay, schedule, benefits, retirement, days off, seniority, everything. At the end of the day I decided I couldn't afford to switch. And after a while found that I was very happy being a CHP Officer and as the saying goes ?if its not broke don?t fix it?.

I LOVE my job with the CHP. I am very passionate about DUI and channel my energy in that direction. I feel that I can make a real difference with a DUI arrest. How many meth heads can you hook for being under the influence that will stop doing meth because of that arrest....not many. I would be willing to bet that 80% of the people I arrest for DUI will never drive under the influence again. It's funny because the PD and SO at times talk down about what we do. However, there are more people killed by DUI drivers than shot and stabbed combined, yet they won?t arrest a DUI.

Let me get back on track. There are good and bad with the CHP and PD/SO's. Its true that you can go anywhere in the state as a CHP officer. I transferred closer to home however, I still commute 150 miles a day in order to live where 1) I can afford to live and 2) to live where I want to live. It will be another 4 or 5 years until I can get to a 30 mile commute situation (I've been on 3 yrs). I have many friends from the academy that see their families on the weekends because they live to far to commute. That?s not in the brochure. We do it though because we love the job.

As far as specifically going with a PD I would caution you. If you want to leave you have to lateral. That means starting over. A lot of times people transfer (CHP) just because they are working under poor management. If you get stuck in a poor management situation with a PD you?re stuck.

I'll wrap it up (I know I'm kind of babbling). If you become a CHP officer and don't like it after a couple years (and give it at least 2 or 3 years) then you can lateral to a PD or SO no problem. However if you go to a PD you will probably never go to CHP because you wont want to go through our academy. One of the deputies I work with says he would love to be a CHP Officer but he won't go through our academy.

Just know that people are right when they say we take crashes, write tickets, and arrest DUI's. Also know that we are the best in all three of those areas.

All three jobs are different CHP PD SO otherwise why would the three exist. You have to find the agency that fits you best in both the long run and the short run that?s the key. A PD probably would have fit me good in the short run but I know the CHP will fit me best in the long run.

P.S. Talk to a PD officer with 20 years on and ask them which they would pick if they had to do it all over again, you might be surprised ;).

Good luck and let us know which you picked. (I?m just curious)

[OfficerInTraining]

I appreciate the honest answers.

[HwyChaser]

As stated above, all three agencies are defiantly different. CHP is about 90 percent traffic, that?s a fact. But don?t ever let anyone tell you that it is not ?REAL? police work. We handle our own stolen vehicle arrests, DUI arrests, drug arrests, weapons arrests, warrants and more. We handle the PD type stuff once in a while, but it?s rare. The scope may not be as wide, but its real crime none the less.

Do you like pursuits? We are absolutely the best vehicle pursuit agency in the state, and we do a lot of them. Throughout most of the state, if an agency gets into a pursuit in a county area or the freeway, it will be turned over to the CHP.

It is very disrespectful to say we don?t do real police work. Our jobs are just as dangerous if not more dangerous than PD or S.O. This is due to the fact that we are constantly in traffic. We don?t just get killed by cars. We get killed by guns too. Just take a look at how many brothers we have lost in the past couple of years. A traffic stop is one of the most dangerous things we as law enforcement officers do, no matter what department you work for. Most of the calls other agencies handle are reactive. Most of the enforcement that we do is proactive.

Saving lives? I guarantee that we prevent more deaths than S.O. or PD.

Cacop said he has never been backed up by CHP? I back up the S.O. often. You just have to keep in mind that the CHP is a large agency, but we are spread very thin throughout most of California. The county I work in may only have 6 or 7 units working the road at any given time. The county if VERY large, and to expect us to back up S.O. or PD on every call is impractical. Out of those 7 units, 4 are probably on calls. At any given time, S.O. probably outnumbers us 8 to 1 on patrol.

I enjoy working for the CHP because of the freedom. You are practically your own boss. As long as you do your job the way you were taught, no one is on your back. If you want tickets, write tickets. If you want to hook someone up, start fishing for them. Take a scenic trip? Go for it and get some tags along the way. It truly has got to be one of the best jobs in the world.

As Cacop said, go on a ride along with all three. You may find that the CHP is best for you. If you think PD is your thing, then great.

[OfficerInTraining]

The problem with PD's is that they won't let you go on a ride along until you are in the Academy.

[uoplax13]

Many PD's will let you out on a ride along if you just call and ask. Where in CA are you? PM if you don't want to post it. If you're anywhere in the central valley I have a suggestion or two.

[TheForceCHP]

P.S. Talk to a PD officer with 20 years on and ask them which they would pick if they had to do it all over again, you might be surprised ;).



This is one that i can address. I had already met the CHP Captain that i know and had basically made the decision that the CHP was what i was going to choose, when i at a class at school, Cal Poly, a teacher had a higher ranking Sheriff's officer come to talk to the class about something or another, not specifically LE related.

When the class was over i went up to the officer, he impressed me with his education(two degrees) and the training that he talked about, and asked him if he had to do it over would he choose CHP or Sheriff's again... he said that if he could that he would pick CHP and proceeded to explain why(same reasons already discussed). This just made more happy with my choice

[Mac]

Can't say in the year I have worked for my PD have I ever had a CHP back me on any call, the deputies have numerous times.
I can tell you that's not universal. In one of the Areas I worked, we were VERY tight with both the SO and the local PDs - backed them on calls and stops all the time. Several of the Dep's and Officers became our best buddies, and we did a lot of stuff together off-duty. We scanned them and they scanned us, and there were several times we were their closest and/or only available cover - we rolled as backup unit on a 211 silent at a Costco, more than a handful of burglary alarms, innumerable 415/DV calls, and I was the first unit on scene at one of their officer (deputy)-involved shootings. We ALWAYS rolled in on their t-stops, and they on ours. This wasn't a rural out-in-the-sticks area with 2-man shifts on the PDs and SOs, either.

I backed a Chippie on a traffic stop once, he gave me a major 'tude...last time I did that.
Sorry to hear that, and that's not universal either. I'm always happy to have a brother back me on a stop, and haven't ever seen any of our guys in the Areas I've worked give 'tude to a PD or SO for rolling in on a stop. I've heard of it happening, just like I've heard of our guys getting a 'tude from PD or SO when they rolled in to cover - but haven't personally seen or had either one happen to me in over twenty years on the streets. As far as I'm concerned, any officer/deputy from ANY agency (ours included) that has problems with another agency backing him needs his head examined. If things go sideways on a stop or call, I'm really not concerned what color the uniform or what shape the badge is when somebody jumps in to give me a hand.... and I'm sure as hell not going to look down on them because they didn't happen to be wearing tan pants with blue and gold stripes!

[Royd5150]

Another factor to consider is that if you think you may need some time/experince before joining the CHP or other LE then work in the jail as a correctional officer/deputy. You will see more and have lots of experince dealing with people who Law Enforcement comes in contact with every day. Those interested in knowing more about street gangs, the jails in bigger areas will give you that.

One last thing is that in California in general there are many agencies recruiting and in need of good people (www.porac.org). This includes PD/SO, Fish and Game Wardens, Parks, ect. Also on the plus side for the SO's, search and rescue's and marine patrols are a definate bonus! Just my humble opinion.

[Flying Pig]

ka4993...


A little correction on your post....its not that we (Sheriff) WONT arrest DUI's. Its that the S.O. made an agreement with the CHP that we would turn over all DUI's to the CHP to assist you guys with your stats...hence justify more bodies and less time off of the street for us. I have arrested probably hundreds of DUI's over the past 8 years, and actually hate calling for someone to come and take my fish. But hey...I do what I am told.

[23109]

ka4993...


A little correction on your post....its not that we (Sheriff) WONT arrest DUI's. Its that the S.O. made an agreement with the CHP that we would turn over all DUI's to the CHP to assist you guys with your stats...hence justify more bodies and less time off of the street for us. I have arrested probably hundreds of DUI's over the past 8 years, and actually hate calling for someone to come and take my fish. But hey...I do what I am told.

It really depends on your office. Out here, the SO's will take a duece home instead of taking the time to hook them up.

[SB 405]

Taking drunks home? Why not just leave a key hanging on the wall in the jail and ask them to check themselves into a cell like Otis did in Mayberry.:lol:

[HazMat]

All of the above points are valid but they left out one point. PD/SO/CHP are all jobs. They are all exciting at times, and boring at others. They are all dangerous, and each one may require you to give your life. (think hard about that point) What they do NOT have in common is pay and retirement benifits. Think about your future... not just about driving fast and shooting guns. I know some will disagree but eventually, chasing cars, responding to crashes, and writing tickets becomes just a job (not a boring job). The PD and SO will tell you that responding to domestic abuse and disturbing the peace calls gets old.

Bottom line... most PD's and SO's would kill for CHP's pay, benifits, and retirement plan. Otherwise, they both have their good and bad points.

cacop, sorry to hear you got a 'tude' from a chippie, and sorry to hear that's the last time you will back one up. I cant's count the number of times I got 'tude' from a PD or SO and yet i still stop to back em.