Being a policeman in America is a tough job. You deal with people at their worst, few people like you and for much of your career you are out driving around in weather when all if the sane folks are home in front of the fire. Every once a while a drunk takes a swing at you. If you are really unlucky, a couple of times in a 30 year career you may be in real danger. Remove automobile accidents from the mix, which are, after all the drivers fault and its a low risk job-does not even crack the top 20 most dangerous jobs. Talk about danger- work the late shift at a Stop and Rob and for minimum wage. Policemen in large cities are earning in the low six figures-not bad for a high school grad.
John Early
of TX
@
Nov 08, 2009 18:02:54 PM
Gary's 100K retirement
No. Gary's retirement has nothing to do with CA's crisis. Don't blame the cops, blame the leechers in the general public who collect money from the state for no particular reason. Did you know that if you smoke Meth too much in CA and you have a breakdown, you can collect disability for the rest of your life? How about all the people who are here illegally who get free medical care at county hospitals. I have to pay for my medical care....
Yeah......Gary has nothing to do with CA's problems.
Chris
of CA
@
Oct 31, 2009 04:47:43 AM
Gary's $100K Pension
Do you think Gary's $100K pension has anything to do with California's financial crisis? Having lived in several parts of the country, I was astounded when I learned of the pensions of state and govt workers in California. If I would have known how lucrative those pensions were, I would have skipped by undergraduate and graduate school. I concur with Gary. If you are going to receive a $100K pension in 30 years, this position is a no brainer. Should Gary live 30 years in retirement at $100,000 per year and 6% interest, it is like someone handed him a lump sum payment of $1.5 million at retirement. I know my 401K isn't a fraction of that number. Kudos to Gary for his information and high return on investment. With a MBA from USC, I have been bruised and battered in the banking and investment banking industries while my 401k has suffered. I will be following in Gary's footsteps for job and retirement stability. I just wish I would have discovered this information 10 years ago. With all of my education in finance, I know which one of us received the greatest return on investment and that is Gary - by far.
Bernardo
of CA
@
Sep 30, 2009 13:42:22 PM
Gary
Police work, like any other job, is what you make of it. You can spend 30 years being a court bailiff, or work exciting assignments like homicide or narcotics. You have a choice. The best part- 90 to 100% retirement after 30-33 years on the job. I retired at age 57. My pension is over 100K a year plus medical. Yes, it was worth it.
Gary
of CA
@
Jul 08, 2009 15:38:23 PM
Can be interesting but mostly just boring
Big city PD's are probably the best place for those that want to go into law enforcement. Usually you'll be very busy and as the article says, from day to day, you're putting your safety on the line. Smaller PD's or Sheriff Offices are less interesting. Smaller PD's you'll spend a lot of time driving, working traffic enforcement - the bane of the job as far as I'm concerned. The job can get pretty boring and repetitive. At Sheriff Offices, usually you'll start out working in the county jail as a jailer. How do you think you'd feel going to jail eveyday, dealing with the really lowest of the low. No for me.
John Early of TX @ Nov 08, 2009 18:02:54 PM
Chris of CA @ Oct 31, 2009 04:47:43 AM
Bernardo of CA @ Sep 30, 2009 13:42:22 PM
Gary of CA @ Jul 08, 2009 15:38:23 PM
Steve Maloney of CA @ May 08, 2009 16:00:52 PM
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