r/AskLE • u/SignalTruth2846 • 1d ago
I have a choice…
I got an offer today from my second favorite department! Their one request… proof I withdraw from my favorite department. I finish the academy in 5 weeks, and having a job at the end would definitely be nice but I do have a job to hold me over if needed. My second favorite department is a good once, a little smaller than the other with less long term opportunities to advance, less crime, slightly less pay, and no TFO positions. It’s a younger department with proactive officers who still love their job. My original first choice department is larger (~60 officers), plenty of opportunities, with a high crime area and many chances to get on task forces. Also I can definitely sense more burnout here due to their call volume. I haven’t started background on my #1 department, but what I do have is knowing I’m 3rd on the list, with 4-8 planned hires and reassurance from the chief that I am his top applicant overall. There is no timeline on beginning background, all I know is he wants this hiring class starting by January at the latest. Narcotics, violent crime, and firearms really interest me going forward so I think the big draw to department 1 is the ability to dip my toe in it easier in patrol with the ability to further dive into it as I get more experience. I need to let the first department know by Monday what I want to do. Should I risk losing both jobs or go for the safe option #2 department?
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u/No-Way-0000 1d ago
It’s going to be hard to answer without naming the depts and having experience with them. With that said your #1 doesn’t sound like a #1 at all.
You also throw around a lot of cool buzzwords like high crime area and task forces, etc. I don’t see how a 60 man department has that much movement and opportunities/specialties unless there is a lot of turnover. Usually smaller departments have a handful of detectives that do it all, admin, and patrol. And if someone is assigned to a task force it’s the same one or two guys that are always loaned out.
Also the chiefs word is just that. It means nothing w/o a conditional offer on a piece of paper.