Hundreds of cops making six figures

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I'm not usually big on correcting people's spelling mistakes, but that is absolutely brilliant!!

Yeah it is. My big hands get the best of me on a blackberry.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

And where are you getting this info from?

Next to no post-secondary required. A couple years toiling in an arts degree or going to some sort of college to take a law an enforcement course is not what i'd consider much of an education.

[Crispy's Critter]

Originally Posted by valo403

Kind of ironic considering your avatar and sig

I get your point, but the fact is that those people only make what they do becasue the rest of us will pay to support it. Iron Maiden doesn't make a penny unless people buy albums, tickets, merchandise etc. It's not as if it was decided that entertainers are more deserving than cops by some sort of global council, we've decided that through our actions.

I understand people will pay it, but that's just capitalism at it's finest. Doesn't mean it's right though, just what people will bear. What I think is strange though is that people are upset that police etc make as much as they do. It's just a no brainer to me, but maybe my priorities are screwed.

As far as my sig goes, it's true I've payed a lot of money to support bands in my life, but I think I've probably donated/supported my local police/fire dept./hospital/Stars with as much money over the years, so it's not quite so ironic as it first appears

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by MJM

Next to no post-secondary required. A couple years toiling in an arts degree or going to some sort of college to take a law an enforcement course is not what i'd consider much of an education.

Just because the minimum educational requirement for the job is low doesn't mean that is who they are picking. As one poster already mentioned, getting a job with CPS is very competitive. I know a lot of people in the field and the majority of them (especially those with 10 yrs of service or less) have a degree. Including myself.

Now, forget the educational requirement for a moment. You cannot compare a police job with a regular civilian job. These people are required to carry a firearm, they are required to use deadly force if necessary, they are required to work in a very high stress job. Their decisions are always being challenged and seconded guessed by the public and the courts. They are required to give death notifications to families. They are required to interact with criminals, drug dealers, organized crime members. They are required to deal with people who have all kinds of diseases. They are required to think about others before themselves. There are a lot of other examples I could continue with.

If they are in the middle of a high stress situation where their life or someone elses life is in danger they can't just call the boss and say they are going home, they have to deal with it.

So forget any educational requirement and the above list alone justifies their salary.

And again, lets not forget that this is NOT their base salary. These people are WORKING extra for this money, no different if they went and took up a part time job. So your comment "absolutely ridiculous salary" is not only wrong (because it is not their salary) it is unjustified.

[Mtt48]

If they're so handsomely paid, why are they such dicks?

[CaptainCrunch]

If I had to deal with scumbags day after day, I would be a complete dick to.

[shermanator]

It seems like a high salary at first, until you consider OT factored in. I'm sure that if we increase our number of officers on the streets, there would be less OT, and Calgary would have a lower cost per officer.

[Mtt48]

I went to a police station this weekend to report some property of mine stolen. The guy at the desk didn't once look at me and was the rudest person I have ever had any sort of "professional" dealing with. He also basically said that I was lying that my property was stolen in the first place. I wrote a letter to his C.O, but that probably won't do a damn thing.

[Pinner]

Everyone would benefit from less OT long term.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Just because the minimum educational requirement for the job is low doesn't mean that is who they are picking. As one poster already mentioned, getting a job with CPS is very competitive. I know a lot of people in the field and the majority of them (especially those with 10 yrs of service or less) have a degree. Including myself.

Now, forget the educational requirement for a moment. You cannot compare a police job with a regular civilian job. These people are required to carry a firearm, they are required to use deadly force if necessary, they are required to work in a very high stress job. Their decisions are always being challenged and seconded guessed by the public and the courts. They are required to give death notifications to families. They are required to interact with criminals, drug dealers, organized crime members. They are required to deal with people who have all kinds of diseases. They are required to think about others before themselves. There are a lot of other examples I could continue with.

If they are in the middle of a high stress situation where their life or someone elses life is in danger they can't just call the boss and say they are going home, they have to deal with it.

So forget any educational requirement and the above list alone justifies their salary.

And again, lets not forget that this is NOT their base salary. These people are WORKING extra for this money, no different if they went and took up a part time job. So your comment "absolutely ridiculous salary" is not only wrong (because it is not their salary) it is unjustified.

These are facts that you would tell your children to explain why the Police are an integral part of society and worth the money they earn. The fact that you're doing it on an internet forum to adults makes me think you're wasting your time.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Mtt48

I went to a police station this weekend to report some property of mine stolen. The guy at the desk didn't once look at me and was the rudest person I have ever had any sort of "professional" dealing with. He also basically said that I was lying that my property was stolen in the first place. I wrote a letter to his C.O, but that probably won't do a damn thing.

Oh, IC. So all police are a bunch of A-holes and should not be paid well. Gotch ya.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Just because the minimum educational requirement for the job is low doesn't mean that is who they are picking. As one poster already mentioned, getting a job with CPS is very competitive. I know a lot of people in the field and the majority of them (especially those with 10 yrs of service or less) have a degree. Including myself.

Now, forget the educational requirement for a moment. You cannot compare a police job with a regular civilian job. These people are required to carry a firearm, they are required to use deadly force if necessary, they are required to work in a very high stress job. Their decisions are always being challenged and seconded guessed by the public and the courts. They are required to give death notifications to families. They are required to interact with criminals, drug dealers, organized crime members. They are required to deal with people who have all kinds of diseases. They are required to think about others before themselves. There are a lot of other examples I could continue with.

If they are in the middle of a high stress situation where their life or someone elses life is in danger they can't just call the boss and say they are going home, they have to deal with it.

So forget any educational requirement and the above list alone justifies their salary.

And again, lets not forget that this is NOT their base salary. These people are WORKING extra for this money, no different if they went and took up a part time job. So your comment "absolutely ridiculous salary" is not only wrong (because it is not their salary) it is unjustified.

So let me get this straight, we should throw aside educational requirments because they have high-stress jobs, are registered (to carry a gun), their decisions are constantly being scrutinized, have to make spur of the moment decisions, are relied upon by others........

Sound to me like any financial job in industry or at any of the firms or banks downtown. Only difference is most of the people in those positions have 4-8 years of post-secondary education, worked for peanuts for years (30K) to put themselves in a good financial position, have no pension, and next to no union support should they actually make an error. Sure these people don't have to carry a gun, but they have to maintain their status in certain professional organizations which are no walk in the park to maintain.

Wow, there's competition for police jobs..... Welcome to the real world. Ask any of the U of C students who graduated in the past 3 years how hard it was for them to get a job, assuming they have a job because most of them don't. The competition for the CPS Is nowhere near as fierce as you want people to believe either. I know of two relatively recent additions to the CPS. One has no education, the other has some in a completely unrelated field. Their prior work experience was as a night security guard. Can you imagine going to Nexen downtown and saying, " Hey, I have my high school degree, a couple of college classes, and limited work experience" and them giving you a 60K year job plus benefits? We just went through a pile of resumes, to interview 20 university grads to fill 4 positions. All of these people had to maintain a B average at minimum to even be looked at. That's competition.

I have no problem with Cops with say 10-15 years experience maxing out at 80K, or paying detective a premiums, but some of the guidelines posted above for constables is ridiculous with consideration of their pension benefits and the fact that they will be increased so quickly over a 5 year span.

[Mtt48]

I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying that if the police are there to serve the people and are paid by us, they should be professionals and not be total dicks to everyone. I am a law abiding person, I don't break laws or anything and every dealing I have ever had with the police has been the same story. Them being arrogant pricks talking down to everyone else.

My latest dealing with them has just confirmed that. Would the police say a rape victim was lying? Who knows, but from my experience on saturday it seems like they may.

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Was there a point to this post? Because I really don't see one. Cops get fair compensation? so you agree? or are you trying to say cops have no education and they are stupid so they don't deserve a good life and a good salary?

I suppose i should have added that my point is 90K per year with little to no post secondary education, relatively high job security, and sick pension, is more than fair.

The fact that 1/4 of the force is making ABOVE that, to me, is excessive.


I suppose the issue is that it is really unspecific of what the "hard work" bonuses are...is that the jackass cops that hang outside Cowboys and stand there staring down people? if we have cops at the bars, which is theoretically fine for law abiding citizens (a wee bit of public drunkenness in line excluded) why do we still constantly have stabbings at Mansion, some guy getting bottled and nearly dying outside Republik etc? Why, when driving down crowchild, stone sober from work at 2 am do cops follow me from brentwood to Rocky Ridge only to stop me randomly, take my id back to the car, check it, sit for 20 minutes, then say, ok sir have a nice night? Why a few years ago was some chineese gang throwing dudes out of cars in chinatown rolled up in carpets?!

I suppose to have a fair assessment of whether this is "fair" or not, it would be nice to know the basis of someones "bonus". Big ted who has worked down at the precinct for 20 years and is buddy buddy with the chief doesnt deserve some extra vacation pay...nor does a sergents kid who has become a cop, or who knows what constitutes a bonus.


id give bonuses to the cops who offer two drunk guys home from the bar cause its been a long walk (TopChed knows whats up) is totally legit, tells us to "have a good night, thanks for not driving and being safe" and goes on his way...

soooo...i suppose my side is that we really dont have enough information to make an accurate assessment of whether its fair or not. if its just overtime, no. because sitting in tim hortons isnt overtime...

If it is "officers are handsomely rewarded for hard work" id be very curious to know what this hard work is.


YEEEEEEEEEEE SITTIN ON THE FENCE!

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by MJM

So let me get this straight, we should throw aside educational requirments because they have high-stress jobs, are registered (to carry a gun), their decisions are constantly being scrutinized, have to make spur of the moment decisions, are relied upon by others........

Sound to me like any financial job in industry or at any of the firms or banks downtown. Only difference is most of the people in those positions have 4-8 years of post-secondary education, worked for peanuts for years (30K) to put themselves in a good financial position, have no pension, and next to no union support should they actually make an error. Sure these people don't have to carry a gun, but they have to maintain their status in certain professional organizations which are no walk in the park to maintain.

Wow, there's competition for police jobs..... Welcome to the real world. Ask any of the U of C students who graduated in the past 3 years how hard it was for them to get a job, assuming they have a job because most of them don't. The competition for the CPS Is nowhere near as fierce as you want people to believe either. I know of two relatively recent additions to the CPS. One has no education, the other has some in a completely unrelated field. Their prior work experience was as a night security guard. Can you imagine going to Nexen downtown and saying, " Hey, I have my high school degree, a couple of college classes, and limited work experience" and them giving you a 60K year job plus benefits? We just went through a pile of resumes, to interview 20 university grads to fill 4 positions. All of these people had to maintain a B average at minimum to even be looked at. That's competition.

I have no problem with Cops with say 10-15 years experience maxing out at 80K, or paying detective a premiums, but some of the guidelines posted above for constables is ridiculous with consideration of their pension benefits and the fact that they will be increased so quickly over a 5 year span.

No matter what I or anyone else says, I can tell you just wont get it. The only way you would is if you actually worked the job. So we will both just carry on our own way.

[MJM]

The answer to this is , is as someone already suggested. Can all overtime and hire more officers/nurses/etc.. The abuse of overtime in goverment and municipal positions has been rempant for years. It's an open facet of tax payer money.

Professionals are generally not paid overtime. Why are police, doctors, nurses, etc. an exception to this? Professionals are paid a salary, there should be no overtime on this.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by MJM

The answer to this is , is as someone already suggested. Can all overtime and hire more officers/nurses/etc.. The abuse of overtime in goverment and municipal positions has been rempant for years. It's an open facet of tax payer money.

Professionals are generally not paid overtime. Why are police, doctors, nurses, etc. an exception to this? Professionals are paid a salary, there should be no overtime on this.

I don't think anyone has argued that police officers are "professionals"

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by MJM

The answer to this is , is as someone already suggested. Can all overtime and hire more officers/nurses/etc.. The abuse of overtime in goverment and municipal positions has been rempant for years. It's an open facet of tax payer money.

Professionals are generally not paid overtime. Why are police, doctors, nurses, etc. an exception to this? Professionals are paid a salary, there should be no overtime on this.

You must realize that private professionals usually get reimbursed other ways usually through bonuses and or stock options. The government has nothing like that.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't think anyone has argued that police officers are "professionals"

No one has argued it because everyone knows they are.

Originally Posted by MJM

Sound to me like any financial job in industry or at any of the firms or banks downtown. Only difference is most of the people in those positions have 4-8 years of post-secondary education, worked for peanuts for years (30K) to put themselves in a good financial position, have no pension, and next to no union support should they actually make an error. Sure these people don't have to carry a gun, but they have to maintain their status in certain professional organizations which are no walk in the park to maintain.

Wow. You are right. It sounds exactly like a private sector job in some firm downtown.

Although a degree is still valued with the CPS, they found those with degrees don't necessarily make good cops. So to equate education to salary, at least in the police world doesn't really make sense. The move is towards older applicants with plenty of life experience who can, or at least, have experience resolving conflict.

As you like to use anecdoctal stories, so do I. I know 2 guys that go to work downtown in some financial firm. One got there because his dad pulled some strings the other has a few years in some arts program in university and got there because he was recognized as having a knack for investments decisions. See what I did there?

You mention pensions. Do you have any idea what a cop pays into their pensions every month? More then some mortgages.

You don't seem to set on seeing the other side of the equation. Compensation is not solely based on education.