Hired by a smaller department and bigger department came calling 2 weeks later.
Hello, I am currently split between 2 police departments, kind of.
Let me explain, I currently have an academy date set for early May and already did everything in the conditional offer to turn it into a legit contract. I have a swear in date for later this month. Needless to say I applied to a bunch of departments a few months ago in hopes that I would have options to pick, I picked a smaller department of about 40 officers, 20,000 in population and around 10 square miles. Their starting salary is around $81,000. The DA is a little more helpful in making arrest go through. Top out is about 115k.
The other department who came calling is a department where they have around 120 officers, 70,000 in population and 25 square miles. Their starting salary is $92,500. The DA is terrible. Top out is about 130k.
Both departments top out at 7 years, also doesn't include new contracts that would happen in the future every 4 years.
Obviously the questions begs and remains, do I go through the academy and stick with the smaller department or do I jump ship following the academy and go to the bigger department? The bigger department told me they wouldn't even notify the smaller department until I was officially hired and then they would pay the smaller department's academy cost for me to offset it. Regardless I am going through the academy, I guess it's just for who.
Obviously, this feels like something where if I don't like the smaller department and want more "action" and use in assignments and such I can easily just lateral in 3 years but is the money even worth the stress? What would you suggest? Is it better just to drive around with 4-5 people per shift in a smaller department and have fun with your guys rather than deal with a bunch of retail and other crimes in the bigger area just for it to not be prosecuted? I think I already have an answer in my mind but I'm just more so curious to what others what do in a situation like this. Keep in mind if I do decide to go with the larger higher paying department I would have to do the entire background investigation over again along with the poly, psychological, medical, the whole 9 yards.
Also by the way when the bigger department called I told them I went with the other department and he said he understood and gave me a congrats and that was that before the called 2 hours later, this call felt more like a recruitment call, looking at comparable salaries, special assignments and such. Both of these departments are in great towns, little crime.