First, I wanted to thank you all; I know you do not get a lot of thanks but instead, a lot of grief. I do ask that you do not post on here if your intentions are ill-willed towards the police departments in general.

Second, I noticed that recruiting for both Bryan and College Station has started up again with testing in October. I wanted to get your opinions on which police force is the best, offers the most, etc. I am very interested in trying to get accepted and would love your feedback.

I have about 90 hours of college courses from A&M with no degree, 32 years old, and am intelligent and physically fit. This really is a dream of mine; unfortunately, it took me this long to realize this. I was wondering if I have a chance. I have no criminal record; my last moving violation was in 2006, but it was dismissed. Before that, I have had at most a couple of speeding tickets, all dismissed.

Again, this is something that is my dream and will stop at nothing to be a part of the family. I just wanted to get your insight on job, the training/academy, and what you think in general. Thank you again.

Each department has it's pros and cons. I would do a ride along with each and get to know the officers that way. Both bryan and cs have some issues right now but are still both very good departments.

You'd probably have enough college hours to qualify for the A&M PD as well. I agree with doing some ride-alongs.

Thank you both. I thought about ride alongs but have not researched them, yet. Do you feel the lack of a degree could really eliminate me?

I would check the websites or call about college hour requirements but (and this is in no way verified) I am under the impression that A&M PD requires it's officers to have more college credit hours than either Bryan or CS PDs. <-- so no, I don't think not having a degree would hurt your application anywhere.

maybe PM one of the posters on here who work in law enforcement to get a better idea.

good luck!

Upd requires 45 hours of college, cspd and bryan do not require any right now but will soon. Not having a degree will no effect you if, you stand out in all the other areas of the application process. Get with TLIAC for more info about cspd.

Call me tomorrow and I will answer your questions. My office number is 979-764-3591. We are offering a dual test with Bryan PD. You only have to take one test but if you are interested in your scores going to both agencies, you need to fill out an application with CS and a separate one for Bryan. I'll be happy to help you.

Thanks again everyone.

TLIAC, I will definitely give you a call tomorrow. Is there a good time to call you?

It was good visiting with you and answering your questions. If anyone else is interested please call. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that I can.

me in a police uniform would look like John Candy in Vacation.

I just wanted to say "thank you" again, and if anyone has any questions, that they need to call her. She is very helpful. Thanks again to everyone.

Just don't do what this officer did!

quote:

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A Texas A&M University student was ticketed this week after he stopped to help a woman whose car was on fire, stepped into traffic and was hit by an oncoming vehicle...He was in a hospital bed with a neck brace on and surrounded by several nurses when a College Station Police Department officer wrote him a $300 ticket for failure to yield the right of way to the vehicle.

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www.theeagle.com/local/Man-gets-ticket-as-he-tries-to-help?

Ex-cop here. It's a great job. I worked my way through college as a night shift patrol officer in Houston and Harris County. Having said that, if you want to REALLY learn the job, go where the action is for at least your first couple of years. Bryan would be my personal choice between the two departments without any hesitation whatsoever. Better yet, go to Houston, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, etc. College Station would be a decent job once you have worked for a few years, but it is what it is. You just won't see as much real police work as you would in a lot of other places. It's a specialized community full of college students who do college things. Bryan would prepare you for working in other cities much better. College Station would make more sense for someone who has already been out there and learned the job someplace else. I wouldn't want to work in College Station as a first job. Just my opinion.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/trainingacademy/Trooper_Trainee/traineelinks.htm
Explore all of your options. DPS is also a great career choice. Call 776-3100 and get info on a ride along.

[This message has been edited by Mountain Man (edited 9/5/2009 11:48a).]

Thanks El Miguel for the honest feedback! As for moving, I love the BCS area and would like not to move if possible. I definitely understand about gaining more experience by being in a larger setting with more happening.

Also Mountain Man, I was also looking into the DPS and appreciate the phone number.

I am lucky to have three great opportunities and hopefully, I can land with one of them. My dream would definitely come true.

Thanks again, and keep any feedback coming.

Advance warning – long post.
There are differences in the departments but I disagree that you need to start in a large city. I believe that different people are suited for different policing styles. If a person wants to work in an environment where they literally go call to call to call – they need to work in a larger city. If they want to do more of what I call “good old fashioned police work” they should consider a smaller city, like College Station or Bryan. Police work is not like television. It is not all cool drive fast, run; catch ‘em stuff. There is A LOT of paperwork involved and a lot of calls that are not “cool.”

When I talk about working in a smaller city I think that the advantages are that you have the opportunity to really get to know your community. You are not just being responsive or reactive. You get the chance to be pro-active and help solve problems. You have the ability to get involved beyond just taking reports and taking people to jail. It may sound corny but you have the opportunity to make a difference. You are working in “your” community so you have an active interest in making it a safer, better place to live.

As far as the differences between Bryan and College Station, I do not believe that you can say that you will get more experience in Bryan. CS is past the point where all we handle are students. We have more than our share of drug, burglary and assault arrests. Unfortunately this year we have had several murders. Again, the department you choose to work at should be where you feel the most comfortable and where you feel that you are the best fit, it may be Bryan, it may be College Station. Both are good departments.

I truly admire what the DPS troopers do but I would not want their job. I like having the variety that comes with municipal policing. Plus DPS troopers usually end up initially being assigned to exotic locations such as Sonora, El Paso, Hebbronville, etc. They also tend to have to move when they promote.

Our community is a big part of why I love my job as CSPD and I think that is one of the most important factors in deciding where you want to work. If you don’t like the city you are working in then you won’t be happy. If you aren’t happy with your job, you will not be a good officer.

Which department did you work for prior to College Station PD?

Just curious...

None but I've recruited across the state and talked to many recruiting officers. Just don't think you have to work in a big city to be a good police officer. Many things that are accepted as okay in a large city would not be okay here. I've also seen IA files on officers from larger cities-several were not hired based on the info in their files.

I'm not saying that big cities don't have good officers - I just do not believe that the officers in Houston are better than the cops in Bryan, College Station, Waco, Temple, etc.

[This message has been edited by TLIAC (edited 9/8/2009 12:50p).]

quote:

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exotic locations such as Sonora, El Paso, Hebbronville

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TLIAC, how dare you forget the paradise that is Balmorhea!

Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought.

Good luck to the original poster!

Sorry - I guess that for an ex-cop who worked for HPD another officer with 14+ years at CSPD and who is still in law enforcement doesn't know much.

Yeah, that's what I thought.


Mountain Man - what was I thinking. I take it all back.

[This message has been edited by TLIAC (edited 9/8/2009 6:07p).]

Relax. Agree to disagree.

I never said you couldn't be a good cop coming from a small town, I just happen to believe that there are some fairly obvious differences between policing a town like College Station and most other places.

Once again, good luck to the original poster.

Hey guys, I definitely did not mean to get anything started on here. All I can say is any police officer in any location definitely deserves a pat on the back and respect. No matter where you are, it is a tough career path. So please let me say thank you again.

As far as the DPS, my only concern is location. I love the BCS area and as was discussed earlier, would hate to leave.

Thank you everyone for the good luck, and thank you for your service. I hope to contribute soon and follow my dream.

off topic, but ... thanks to the police officer who was directing traffic today at 2818/2154 at 5PM. It was greatly appreciated.

Copernicus - you did not start anything. You are trying to take all of the right steps and leaving all of your options open. El Miguel and I just have totally different opinions of policing. See you on October 3rd.