police officer

paramedical examiner

school safety agent

communication technician

detective

NYPD

There is much to say about working in this department as a police officer.  In regards to some of the negative things said earlier by others, they are totally true and accurate. It’s not about being disgruntled or being a job fighter, it’s simply stating the facts and the truth. There is a high level of nepotism and favoritism from within. Many officers find themselves screwed over simply because a supervisor doesn’t like them despite the work they actually do. This prevents otherwise decent officers from pursuing career goals such as applying to units (details) and/or promotion to a higher rank. The patrol guide for the department is ridiculously long. It contains many rules put into place literally for every time an officer has made an error in the past. In addition, the patrol guide also contains outdated, and often tedious passages that will contradict a different (or newer)  passage. Confusion and overregulation results. Instead of instilling a high level of discipline, confidence, and structure within the ranks (akin to the State Police) from day one in the academy, they’d rather be reactive and passive about it. This discourages officers from developing a positive, productive, and professional mindset from the start. Our pay is significantly less than surrounding jurisdictions who do far less work, have less actual work days throughout the year, and receive more support from their departments. If an officer takes too many sick days, it reflects negatively. Supervisors dwell on the few occasions you messed up. In some precincts it is literally impossible to take a day off unless your immediate family member is dying or you have a wedding to attend. Officers are overworked, exhausted and unhealthy and because of low physical standards, obesity is now a major problem. Officers sometimes find themselves overworked, which leads to exhaustion and arises safety concerns that the department conveniently ignores. After basic academy training, high quality training is reserved for units like ESU. At the precinct level, training mostly consists of online videos and quizzes. This is the department’s way of being accountable without actually being accountable. From the top down, the department sees as you as one thing and one thing only, A Number. Compstat changed the face of the department in positive ways but mostly negative ways. The department became absolutely obsessed with numbers, which led to further complaints of excessive force and quotas. We have literally everything under the sun, but to take the full advantage you either must be promoted or have a strong connection. Without having the smarts to take a test or having social prowess, you’ll be stuck in a mediocre assignment. Low morale, nepotism, mediocre pay, mediocre training, low quality recruit standards, and supervisor mistreatment/neglect/incompetence all make this department a difficult one to work for. Brotherhood seems to be becoming a thing of the past, as officers prefer now to do what’s best for themselves instead of sticking together. There are some positive things to note: Not the lowest paid city department in the nation, a high prestige factor from the outside, health benefits, education incentives, hundreds of different units, a new training academy facility, and the job technology is decent compared to years ago (updated job cell phones, newer vehicles, etc). In my opinion, there are too many working parts to the job, it is just too massive and with too many different agendas by the police/political bureaucracy.

As a University Police Officer you will work within the New York State University Police, expected to carry out all the functions of any other police officer in NYS.  However, this agency is not centralized.  Because of this, each campus operates like its own police department, with different cars, weapons, policies, hours, units and almost every aspect of the job.  Each campus has their own set of chiefs (over 60 chiefs state-wide for only 20-something campuses).  There is no uniformity within this police agency and it lends itself to a lot of problems regarding getting better pay and better benefits.

The agency is only partially civil-service.  Meaning the agency has police officers on the bottom who took tests to be there, and campus administrators who hold police chief titles on the top (hired by the actual colleges themselves).  Because the chiefs are campus administrators, the colleges have a lot of control over the law enforcement activities that happen on campus.  As a result, many police officers simply cannot effect arrests or perform other law enforcement tasks, even though they are legally allowed to do so.  Although larger campuses do not seem to have this issue as much as the smaller ones, this remains a constant issue within the agency state-wide.

The retirement is NOT a police retirement.  Many new officers must do 40+ years before being eligible for retirement.  Compare that with the other 560+ police agencies in NYS who have 20-25 year retirements.  NYSUP is the only police agency without a police retirement in NYS, and the Governor has actually vetoed all attempts to change that.

Overall, if you have the option of working at another police agency in NYS, do it.  NYSUP gives high quality training to officers and turns out very good police officers overall.  Many police departments recognize this and hire University Police Officers regularly to join their ranks, leading to a very high turnover rate within NYSUP.  The University Police Officers accept these positions regularly, due to the large amount of structural and financial problems within the University Police.

A typical work day for a police officer is driving  in a sector car and answering calls to your sector via the radio. Radio calls include virtually anything but typically it will be reports of theft , Motor vehicle accidents, noise complaints and disputes. You will learn something new every day. Management in paramilitary, "You must obey all lawful orders", if you cant do that please take the sanitation exam. I don't have the time or energy to explain the culture just understand that it exists and you are going to have to figure out how to fit in. The hardest part of the job is different for everyone for me it was probably testifying at trials but police work demands a lot of odd things like handling a dead human body or gaining voluntary compliance from a person in crisis . Other people never seem to fit in with other cops and that can be really difficult . and I'm just rattling off a few difficult things here . The most enjoyable thing about the NYPD is all the opportunities you will have to help people . It sounds corny but going from job to job out on patrol is pointless unless you actually help some people along the way. 

Pros If you are interested in becoming a police officer NY city has a lot to offer. out of the Police Academy officers get at least a weeks vacation ( I cant keep up with contracts for specifics ) and that time off increases every year. You can also take your overtime in time to increase your paid time off and that type of overtime is given out more often then cash. Medical benefits are given to you in the first week and from the time you are hired you are inching your way towards an early retirement. In addition to your pension the department offers a 457 plan that you can withdraw from at 50 years old as well as other plans like an ordinary 401k. Being the larges department in the country gives its members a very good chance at a promotion or lateral movement into specialized units.  There are a lot of good and interesting people in NYC and you will meet more of them then you ever cared to.

Working as a Police Officer was a great experience.  I had the opportunity of working in a few different places and experiencing how different precincts work.  For example working on Staten Island I would be assigned to a patrol car and a specific area each night as I performed a midnight tour.  During my tour of duty I would be assigned a partner and we would go out and monitor the radio.  A typical night would be quite busy handling many domestic situations and more serious crimes.  However being a Police Officer gave me the opportunity of performing  more than just everyday police work, you also played the role of mentor, social worker, teacher and many times parent.   Unfortunately management on the police department comes in many different ranks.  For the most part the direct management was great and always available to provide assistance if needed.  Working the midnight shift gave me the opportunity to work with some really great people.  We were a great team on the midnight and always there to back each other up.   The hardest part of being a Police Officer in my opinion  is the stress.  The most enjoyable part of being a police officer was being able to help many people and show the community that we are out to help them.  I will mention one instance that made my job very enjoyable,  I worked s a truant officer for a couple years and I would pick uptake students and bring them back to school.  After about four years I met one of my students on the ferry and he thanked me and told me if I hadn't kept bringing him back to school and telling him how important it was he wouldn't be successful now.  If I could change on life I did my job.

Unfortunately if you’re trying to choose a career in law enforcement, NYPD is NOT the choice. If you think you’re joining to be part of the many units they offer then think again. People only get selected for these units by knowing another person. Hard work does NOT matter in this department, it’s all who you know. This creates a miserable disgruntled cop. If you join the NYPD the only way up through advancement is through civil service test which is a good thing. Overall this department is a clown show and belongs in the circus. I love being a police officer just NOT for the NYPD. If you have the opportunity to go else where you will have a life, get paid a decent salary, and have days off to spend with family and friends. This job also does not care about you as a person or your family. The department says it does but it is a lie. In the year 2019, there were over 10 police officers that committed suicide. The job did nothing to fix the problem and believe counseling was it for the horrors we see as police officers. The issue is we NEED more days off. Working five days a week as a police officer in a city like NYC is too much. In conclusion, this job provides you with benefits, vacation, promotional opportunities, and a pay check every two weeks. Unfortunately to obtain these you must endure nonsense and treated like a robot that is replaceable. In conclusion, do not take this job, unless you know someone that will get you into a unit. Otherwise there are many law enforcement careers that pay way more and offer better quality of life.  

As someone who has observed the workings of the NYPD, I feel compelled to share my perspective to inform others. The organization, unfortunately, presents significant challenges that deter professional growth and a positive work environment.

Firstly, there is a noticeable lack of opportunities for advancement. Career progression seems more dependent on connections than on merit or performance. Nepotism runs rampant, creating an atmosphere where personal relationships trump professional qualifications. This makes it exceedingly difficult for dedicated and capable officers to climb the ranks unless they have the right connections.

Additionally, gender discrimination is a pervasive issue within the department. Despite the evolving societal standards promoting equality and inclusion, the NYPD has failed to keep pace. Women in the force often face unjust treatment and limited opportunities, making it a discouraging place for those aspiring to build a career in law enforcement.

Given these significant issues, I strongly advise against working for the NYPD. The lack of professional growth, coupled with a culture rife with nepotism and gender discrimination, makes it an unsuitable workplace for anyone seeking a fair and rewarding career. Seek opportunities elsewhere where your skills and dedication will be valued and fairly rewarded.

This job is like none other...I am willing to bet! The early stages of your career can be somewhat of a culture shock. If you are straight out of college or just a young person starting new in the workforce, the adjustment can be easier, as you don't know anything different. For those changing careers, it can be a little tough. When you factor in being a 28+ year old rookie with a family to support and you have a 25 year old supervisor barking orders, it can be a little humbling or even annoying. As the years go on and you move to different units, it only gets better. As a seasoned police officer, the job starts to feel more rewarding. Whether its making arrests in narcotics, solving homicides or providing the public a welcoming presence at a public gathering. The people you work with usually end up becoming long time friends and buddies. Some of the best friendships are formed at precincts and patrol cars. I guess it's because after putting your life in another person's hands, you just develop a genuine trust for that person. When moving on to specialized units, the different cases you start to investigate can put a strain on your life and relationships. This comes in to play when you get off at 12 am and have to be back in at 6 am. When you take the cases down (make arrests) then you get to go back to your normal life, even if it may be for only a month or so. Just knowing that you played a role in dismantling some sort of crime organization is all the reward you need.

repare for shift. Arrive early to post. In contact with students, faculty, and visitors. Always busy. Co-workers work together as a team. Patrol designated areas of school buildings and surrounding areas;
identify and prevent infiltration of unlawful or prohibited items through scanning; give routine information to visitors
and direct them to the proper personnel and offices; request identification of, and remove from the premises, any
unauthorized persons; aid sick and injured persons and call for medical, police or fire assistance, when needed; notify
supervisors of all emergency incidents and complete any related documentation; respond to altercations between
students and other persons, and attempt to separate the involved persons and resolve conflicts; maintain records of
persons entering and leaving buildings; monitor security camera systems to ensure facility entrances are secure; identify
persons violating Department of Education Rules and Regulations; apprehend persons violating the Penal Law and
notify the proper administrative personnel; prepare reports and testify in regard to these violations at Superintendent’s
or Principal’s hearings and/or in court; monitor and use radios to request assistance from co-workers; may operate
motor vehicles; and perform related work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I am 21years old I have finish high school and I have high school diploma please help me to be police 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part of working in law enforcement is dealing with unpredictable and high pressure situation, especially when public safety is involved, however,I stay focused on following procedures, staying calm, and making decisions based on training.i also understand the of important of team work and communication during stressful moments.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment in the NYPD is structured, fast -paced, and team -oriented.officer work in shift and relyon strong communication and team work to respond to different situations. The culture is focused on discipline, public safety, respect for the community, and following procedures under pressure.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day in the NYPD involved starting with a briefing, then going on patrol or responding to calls. Officers deal with different situations, help the public, and complete reports Team work and communication are important throughtout the shift.

Working for the NYPD was one of the enjoyable experiences in my law enforcement career. Starting out as a Police Officer in 1984 it was my privilege to serve the people in NYC with care and compassion while patrolling the streets and answering calls for service. I was also assigned to a task force in which I provided security during large demonstrations and events while dealing with numerous outside state and federal agencies. During my tenure a police officer I learned how to provide security and law enforcement for the general public.
After being promoted to Detective Investigator I had the opportunity to investigate various types of crimes while serving the citizens of NYC. Up until my retirement 2004 I had the opportunity to work with numerous law enforcement agencies while conducting numerous investigations. Management was always supportive and flexible in allowing myself as an investigator to hone my skills and conduct my investigations with minimal oversight. The culture at the NYPD while I worked there was one of comradery and a desire to get the job done. The hardest part of the job was trying to stay ahead of those I investigated and the most enjoyable part of the job was brining a case to a successful conclusion.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Police officer 7 salaries reported	$67,685 per year
Paramedical examiner 10 salaries reported	$35.50 per hour
School safety agent 3 salaries reported	$57,000 per year
Communication technician 4 salaries reported	$42,000 per year
Detective 3 salaries reported	$111,625 per year

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