police officer

tow truck driver

senior operator

operator

attendant

Detroit Police Department

You only get paid $11.64 and if you're with the union, they take off that amount as well. If you're new, I wish you luck. You will be FORCED to work 16 hour shifts and go to work the next day,only having 7 hours to yourself. To me, it's not worth it. You work so hard and you only get paid so low, in other places, you get paid at least $20.00. The people don't care about us.

Job is seniority based. If the seniors don't want to work overtime, then you will have to. Same with leave (off) days. If majority of seniors want a weekend off, then you can't get that day off. The only way you can leave is if you have a restriction letter, and those can be hard to get.

People are quitting left and right because the pay is awful and the high ups just doesn't care. The benefits are really good, but is it really worth it going to training, learning all of this stuff and only getting paid $11.64? You can't even get an apartment with that money unless you have a significant other.

I do like that the workplace culture is like a family and we can pretty much laugh and talk about anything. If I were you, I would work for 6 months and try to advance to 911 dispatcher, they get paid a little bit better.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Best job I've ever had no joke. They are so very understanding and kind. I'm a civilian and they still treat me like I'm part of the squad sometimes. It is an absolute privilege to work alongside the officers and sergeants that I do!  Very wonderful experience as I am coming up on my one year anniversary. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Just hearing about so much violence and abuse via the police reports I read on a daily basis. All the negativity does take a toll on my mental health if I am not taking care of myself. Self care is a priority but we all slip up sometimes and the heaviness of this work can really get to me at times. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Relaxed, diverse, friendly, open, and stressful at times, so normal!

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It depends on two days are ever really the same. I pull a list of urgent police reports every day and prioritize them as I reach out to the victims. Sometimes people walk in unexpectedly for assistance too

I have been employed by the Detroit Police Department for almost 21 years. I have been blessed with good fortune and have experienced some pretty awesome things. I have worked with some of the very best, dedicated and fearless people I know. I have had the opportunity to work in a wide range of job assignments with the majority being in the investigative aspect of the profession. I was also given the opportunity to create and supervise several new assignments that continue to be very successful. Those experiences and the ability to train other officers that have gone on to have success in their assignments and successfully assisting citizens have been the greatest satisfaction I could have ever hoped for. Unfortunately Detroit is in bankruptcy and my pension, benefits and working conditions have already diminished and the future of them is uncertain.

My day starts off with a roll call that consist of crimes that have  happened in the last 24 hours. Every police run is different, it might have some of the same elements of crime from  domestic violence, robbery or assault. There are  never two  police runs that is  the same, or routine in my line of work. the sergeant and lieutenant compromise with you and  they let you do your job. the co-worker I work with are like family we help each other on police run or whenever needed. I do not have a regular partner due to me being a field training officer: I usually  work with a rookie. the other officers make sure they show up to hot runs. The hardest part for me is not taking the job home, I am  compassionate for what I do. The enjoyment of the job; I know I am not a superhero  but the satisfaction of a job well done is the best feeling ever.  In my line work I have seen things at it's worst but sometime a little positively  can happen that can change a lot about any situation.

I started as a beat officer,  worked the patrol cars, Belle Isle. the Police Academy, Mini-Stations, and various Precincts.  Mini-Stations was the best job, working with the community and the children in the schools.  Planning various outings in and out of the state was fun. Organizing block clubs, neighborhood watches was hard work.  The Police Academy offered me the opportunity to teach other officers and help develop some of the curriculum under my Sgt. at the time.
The job also made me become a mediator, counselor, a teacher, etc.
Like any other job, some co-workers were better to work with than others.
I ran a Mobile Patrol from the mini-station twice a day: mornings to watch the children on their way to school, and evenings, patrolling the community.

Being a Police Officer takes a certain type of individual.  This career is ectremely stressful and an emotional roller coaster.  Your life is on the line not just during your work hours but when you return home.  An officer is never off duty.  I enjoyed and loved helping citizens throughout my career.  The training that was receved during my career was top of the line and extremely beneficial.  Officer's have to be very quick thinking in hostile situations and be able to make life altering decisions in a snap of a finger.  I enjoyed the new experiences i had throughout my career.  You have to be a team player and be able to work side by side with individuals of different ethnicity,religious beliefs,political beliefs,and personality differences.  I do not regret a day of my career.

Receiving calls from the public and assisting them in finding resources for their situations at the time. Interacting with the law enforcement agencies across Michigan is a challenge sometimes because you never know when a small situation such as a traffic stop can turn into a life or death situation. In that moment when contacted by them for a status on a vehicle response must be immediate because most of the time the officers or troopers are out in the field facing an unknown and in some cases an unpredictable situation. It could easily turn into a drug deal or a wanted criminal who was in the process of an escape. The most enjoyable part of my job is when I'm able to give assistance to a citizen and they thank me with great appreciation.

President Calvin Coolidge once said, “No one is compelled to choose the profession of a police officer, but having chosen it, everyone is obliged to live up to the standard of its requirements.” This a profound statement of truth. 

Law enforcement is not a job, it is a calling; a responsibility you commit yourself to. The men and women of the Detroit Police Department took the oath to uphold justice; and from the highest helm to the front-line, these men and women represent a commitment that is central to who they are and what they symbolize.

I am proud to have been a member of the Detroit Police Department. The organization and its environment had a profound impact on my life, and for that I am forever grateful.

I’m for structure and a good working environment. Many friends who work for Detroit say it’s a good job, but after working 20-25 years you have nothing to show for it it’s like a waist of time. Also, while down there, I seen many Officers standing around on the Third floor, when I asked what was going on, I was advised that those are the working Officers, the ones who are always in trouble. I don’t want a Department that does not back its Officers, and many of my friends who wanted to become Officers feel the same way. It’s a huge risk and it appears to that risk comes with the Officers on the short end of the stick. I see many older Officers who just don’t appear to care anymore about the City they work for. I think like many, I’m gonna move on to another line of work. Good luck to the ones who want to be treated like that.

The Detroit Police Department made it possible for me to provide a decent living; for my family, and it provided the best medical and dental programs. The work day goes by fast, when you are knowledgeable about what's happening, you can advance. management is mostly self-serving. The co-works; some are great, and some are bad and need to be fired.  The hardest part of the job is dealing with so many A type personalities. The most enjoyable part of the job is the freedom to solve problems and prevent citizens form doing the wrong thing vs what's right.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Police officer 6 salaries reported	$57,283 per year
Tow truck driver 3 salaries reported	$18.93 per hour
Senior operator 2 salaries reported	$37,950 per year
Operator 1 salary reported	$22.46 per hour
Attendant 2 salaries reported	$31,200 per year

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