kgain673
I'm sorry for the typos!!
- Dec 18, 2007
- 1,820
I understand your concern for teachers (which I share with you) but you're comparing apples to oranges in my opinion.
Truth.
I understand your concern for teachers (which I share with you) but you're comparing apples to oranges in my opinion.
If the pension is still there at retirement, and you cannot raise a family on that salary.
Sure you can.
99% of police officers get lots of OT and PT money beside, so that base salary is very misleading, and does not include holiday pay and shift differential.
The benefits are not just "OK," they are outstanding, meaning top tier health care programs at little or no cost to the employee and very generous retirement benefits.
As for "if the pension is still there," everyone is in the same boat. If state pension systems fail, you can bet your IRAs, Money Markets, the Stock Market and your private pension plans will be crumbling too.
Six one way, half a dozen the other.
I am a police officer retired under the Maryland State LEOPS system, which is marginally less than MSP gets, and I do well, plus lifetime top tier health care for me and my dependents, so don't let 49K (to start, it goes up) fool you, its better than you think.
Maybe I'm wrong or just getting older, but if you have a job, where you must find part time work or work a lot of over time to make ends meet, one of two things are happening. One, you are living way too far past your means, or two you are under-employed. Now I'm not saying that something can't come up that you need a short term part time job, or a need to work extra over time. But if you need either or both to survive, then you need to look over your situation and find a solution if possible.
I'm just saying...
For those complaining about the money, certainly police (including state police) should be paid better. But, all state and local government employees tend to be underpaid. That new State Trooper making just under $47K/yr can get that job with only a high school diploma (though probably has a year or two of college on average) plus the 6 months of training that is the academy during which they are paid $36K/yr. In comparison, a first year teacher for Anne Arundel County has to at minimum have a bachelors degree for training (which they paid for themselves) and many have a masters degree. With a bachelors that teacher is being paid about $1000 less than the State Trooper, and with a masters the new teacher is making only $1760 more than that State Trooper with a high school diploma.
I'll agree with some of the comments about the benefits of the job above, especially the OT and PT part. Some of it depends on the agency though. AA County there is no holiday pay, the shift differential is a whopping 7% for after 5pm IIRC. No overtime for lieutenants and higher when I was there. I pay in about $550 a month for my healthcare family plan, and starting next year I will likely have to also pay the difference on top of my contribution if I fail to choose the cheapest plan the county offers. And the AA County Council is making efforts to drop health care partially or altogether for retirees.
I retired after 25 years with 16 years in grade as a lieutenant, making just under 100K a year. My retirement is about 47K a year, or 41K if you take out the health care premiums.
I have a C5-C7 fusion in my neck, an 18% disability in one forearm, and a 60% loss of strength in another hand. I have assorted other health issues I don't have time to list. I hope to make it to my 70th birthday, but am not overly optimistic when being a realist about it.
I have a Master's Degree in Management from UM (IT Management Concentration), a Bachelor's in Social Science (Magna) from UM, and an AA from Harford Community in CJ. And I've literally been turned down for car salesman jobs (let alone IT) because "everybody knows retired cops are lazy." Fortunately the firearms industry found me useful. A rare stroke of luck in a very small group of people.
So yeah, I got to retire at 46. Not bad. I know I won't be homeless at least. But it isn't all rainbows and kittens. And you still need to make it to retirement. The road is a very dirty, nasty, shitty place that gnaws away at everyone who works it every day they come to work. A few it kills outright but all it kills slowly. So look before leaping. It's not just a job, it's an identity.
So what is the allure of what coincidentally sounds to be simultaneously one of the lowest paying and most demanding police agencies in the state?
Friend of my little sisters happens to be finishing up msp Academy right about now.
So what is the allure of what coincidentally sounds to be simultaneously one of the lowest paying and most demanding police agencies in the state?
Friend of my little sisters happens to be finishing up msp Academy right about now.
There is an upside and downside to every agency. One just needs to find their niche or determine what works for them. And despite what many residents may think the MSP has a well known reputation in the U.S. For more then just writing tickets. Many of its personnel travel the country training and lecturing in their respective fields.
I have a few questions. I am a few years away from retiring (AD Military) and was very interested in the MSP. I have zero LE experience past working with the FBI and other federal agencies on a analyst level. I love intelligence, but I think I would prefer to be an LEO. Is any consideration given to retirees? I mean they do come with a pension and medical coverage already. Since MSP is not a federal entity the pay should not affect their petition, but if you have to retire before 55 and cannot complete 20 years of service before that, do you still get any retirement compensation? I am not concerned about pay. We will always make due. I have never served for the money so why start now? I mean 55 is not even old enough to draw from an IRA without incurring some heavy penalties. And forget Social Security. Anyway just some general advice. The physical requirements and background checks should not prove to be a challenge. The 6 months of Academy might prove a tough sell to the wife, but we have done deployments before and it can't be much different than that.
I'll agree with some of the comments about the benefits of the job above, especially the OT and PT part. Some of it depends on the agency though. AA County there is no holiday pay, the shift differential is a whopping 7% for after 5pm IIRC. No overtime for lieutenants and higher when I was there. I pay in about $550 a month for my healthcare family plan, and starting next year I will likely have to also pay the difference on top of my contribution if I fail to choose the cheapest plan the county offers. And the AA County Council is making efforts to drop health care partially or altogether for retirees.
I retired after 25 years with 16 years in grade as a lieutenant, making just under 100K a year. My retirement is about 47K a year, or 41K if you take out the health care premiums.
I have a C5-C7 fusion in my neck, an 18% disability in one forearm, and a 60% loss of strength in another hand. I have assorted other health issues I don't have time to list. I hope to make it to my 70th birthday, but am not overly optimistic when being a realist about it.
I have a Master's Degree in Management from UM (IT Management Concentration), a Bachelor's in Social Science (Magna) from UM, and an AA from Harford Community in CJ. And I've literally been turned down for car salesman jobs (let alone IT) because "everybody knows retired cops are lazy." Fortunately the firearms industry found me useful. A rare stroke of luck in a very small group of people.
So yeah, I got to retire at 46. Not bad. I know I won't be homeless at least. But it isn't all rainbows and kittens. And you still need to make it to retirement. The road is a very dirty, nasty, shitty place that gnaws away at everyone who works it every day they come to work. A few it kills outright but all it kills slowly. So look before leaping. It's not just a job, it's an identity.