police officer

communications operator

assistant

Phoenix Police Department

A typical day at work involved talking with many Phoenix Police officers. The beat officers are very cool, nice people mostly with great attitudes for the type of work they do. The civilian staff are mostly nice and as hardworking as sworn counterparts. Unfortunately, they have not hired very much in the past few years, and time off is a priceless commodity. Also, benefits are not near what they once were, and compensation for a select few Units(unions), has been cut by 5% with more cuts in the foreseeable future. Also, some bureau's are more favored than others, and my particular department has chairs that look at least 10-15 years old, torn, smelly, and extremely uncomfortable. Also, it is up to you to go to break, as breaks are not a regular or scheduled occurrence. You are lucky to get a lunch and a 15 minute break in the same night. Management is not very encouraging in some departments, there is little or no recognition for going above the status-quo. The hardest part is dealing with the public who are usually not happy to see the Police. The most enjoyable part was getting to see the high-profile criminals, hearing their stories, and seeing all the different functions carried out by the police. Also getting to ride with patrol officers and see what they do everyday if you want to.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Tried to kick out trespassing  homeless people  and thives.  But now phoenix police don't want to deal with homeless people  and drug addicted  at frys supermarket  at 3026 e thomas rd.  But when it's crime stealing from frys supermarket  we have pay the price when grocery price keep going up. Now gas is going up as well.
Why the state of Arizona  have homeless  crisis and drug addiction.  Who at fault the mayor the governor  and the senator.
They this mess 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Dealing with shoplifters and beggars they come to frys supermarket to steal so they can get there's  drugs. They steal from goodwill store as well and El super supermarket. Other security companies they have deal with the same problem.
They come to frys they know the bathroom  code. I ask the boss to change the codes to the bathroom. The shoplifters  knew the emergency  exit door. I'm by the main door for 8 hours 6 days a week. When alarm panel goes off  I called it over the walkie.
They also  steal from the liquor  department.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
I protect the shoppers when they come to the store to shop. But I have keep watch for thives and drug addicts. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Sometime easy but very difficult

The job was amazing as you get to be that first contact to a person in need, you get to be their soothing voice and make them feel they are being made safer while they wait for police to arrive. The work was very stressful as you can deal with a lot of traumatic calls, and also you never know what you are going to get. Management was great and incredibly helpful for new employees and the trainers care a lot about dispatcher success. The pay is on par for most other city agencies in the county and way above range when compared to MCSO and DPS. When you figure the stress of the job, the pay just is not enough. We deserve so much more than we make and while there is unlimited OT it still doesn't feel enough. We also suffer trauma from our calls just like the officers, just in totally different ways. Higher pay would be amazing but isn't very realistic in current times.

I was a 911 call taker for about year and loved the work and the pay.  Taking emergency calls can be very stressful but it's interesting and rewarding work.
  
My supervisor was humorous and fair, but unfortunately there are multiple supervisors working any given shift and you have to answer to all of them.  Several of them are harsh and unreasonable. 

Due to the nature of the work there is no way to have a rule for every situation you have to deal with, so many calls you just have to handle on the fly with your best judgment.  Sometimes you will be praised by one supervisor for the way you handled a call and reprimanded by another for the same situation.   It would be fantastic if management could come to a consensus before berating employees or just leave them alone.  It can be confusing and demoralizing.

Started in Patrol in the Maryvale Precinct. Developed into a Field Training Officer and transferred to Detective Positions in Plain Clothes and Undercover positions in Vice, Special Investigations, Organized Crime Bureau, Violent Offender Bureau working Repeat and Violent Offenders. Worked with the Repeat Offender Attorneys of the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in investigating and prosecuting Repeat Offenders resulting in approximately 500 sentences averaging over 6.5 years in the Dept of Corrections. I worked on a 6 detective squad and surveillance squad that I worked very closely with. I worked for very professional and dedicated supervisors at all levels.
 I also retired from the Army National Guard as an Master Sgt. supervising and leading numerous soldiers. Hospital Corpsman with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam 1968-1970

There is nothing typical about being a police officer. 
I learned how to have a self pride and stand tall. I learned I had a lot of inner strength. I learned the value of family. And that is why I left the department.
Middle management was sometimes there for you, but sometimes they looked for every fault and pointed them out. Not wanting to help you, but to reprimand you.
I was on the force long enough to make a lot of real friends. They don't always accept the new guys real well.
The hardest part of the job was wondering if every time I put the uniform on was going to be the last time I saw my wife. Or was that going to be the day I took someone else's life.
I enjoyed the fact that everyday was different. And I felt as though I was really helping people.  

This detail worked a 3 day 13.25 Hours per day with 4 days off. We have a 8 man squad maintaining all arrestees with in the phoenix police agency jurisdiction. Very high volume of arrests per day making opperations a high pace and high stress enviroment, dealing with many drug out prisoners and many mentally challenged offenders. For most part of the arrested population are cooperative with a percentage of combative and uncooperative arrestees. The working inviroment for the majority is dealing with the oddors of so many transients being arrested and processed. The highlight of the job is working with supportive coworkers with lots of humor to help each other in getting through the day.

Police Property Supervisor/Law Enforcement Consultant

	Supervise the operations of a large complex police supply warehouse, property warehouse and vehicle impound lot containing found, stolen, and confiscated property and police evidence.  Supervision is exercised over Supply Clerks, Police Property Technicians, Police Aides, and/or clerical personnel involved in the daily operation of a large supply warehouse and inventory control of impounded property of a sensitive nature and/or unusual value. Responsible for the receipt, inspection, custody, distribution and maintenance of inventory. Duties are performed under the direction of a sworn Police employee, and performance is evaluated based upon results.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I found the job opportunities amazing. The job was very fulfilling and exciting.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The leadership could be weak at time.  Lack of personnel support after critical incidents, but this improved over the years.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
A poor relationship between management and line staff.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Never the same, each day was a different set of facts

There is no typical day working as a communications dispatcher/operator; you have to be able to go with the flow of the incoming calls or dispatching calls to officers.  Having this job taught me how to handle stressful situations and to not take the incoming calls personally.  The supervisors and co-workers were easy to get along with - everyone was just striving towards the same goal; getting citizens the help they needed.  The most enjoyable part of the job was knowing that no two days would ever be the same.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Police officer 11 salaries reported	$88,982 per year
Communications operator 3 salaries reported	$24.93 per hour
Assistant 1 salary reported	$28.31 per hour

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