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How much should cops be paid?

How much should cops make in a year, on average?

  • Less than 50K starting

    Votes: 17 47.2%

  • 50-60K starting

    Votes: 11 30.6%

  • 60-80K starting

    Votes: 8 22.2%

  • 80K-100K starting

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 100K and up

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    36
CaptainCourtesy said:
No. Without people doing these jobs, society breaks down. Imagine your life without the police (anarchy), firemen (urban destruction), and teachers (illiteracy). Perhaps these jobs are sought after because there is some personal prestige that goes with them. So, yes, these jobs are the foundations of society. I would agree, that the military would be included in that group, also.
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Then with that logic you could say the same about Farmers. Now THOSE people have hard jobs! They deserve much more money than teachers.
Look out of the police, fireguys and teachers, to me they are like union works at an auto plant. They are VERY replaceable. And there are MANY people that would love to have their jobs. Is the jobs they do important for society? Yes. Are they jobs hard? Not really. Can the majority of people in America do those jobs? Yup. Just like the folks in Waste Reclamation. The jobs are required for todays society..... but it doesnt mean they should get paid crazy money either. No pensions. No 100% free health care. In Illinois these people are so far over paid it makes me ill to think about it.
 
The Giant Noodle said:
Then with that logic you could say the same about Farmers. Now THOSE people have hard jobs! They deserve much more money than teachers.
Look out of the police, fireguys and teachers, to me they are like union works at an auto plant. They are VERY replaceable. And there are MANY people that would love to have their jobs. Is the jobs they do important for society? Yes. Are they jobs hard? Not really. Can the majority of people in America do those jobs? Yup. Just like the folks in Waste Reclamation. The jobs are required for todays society..... but it doesnt mean they should get paid crazy money either. No pensions. No 100% free health care. In Illinois these people are so far over paid it makes me ill to think about it.
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Nope. Those jobs require a hell of a lot of training. They are replacable only with that training. And, they deserve full health care and pensions for the service that they do to society... keeping it functioning. You in no way refuted anything I said in as far as their importance. It makes me sick to hear people degrade these types of professionals.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
Nope. Those jobs require a hell of a lot of training. They are replacable only with that training. And, they deserve full health care and pensions for the service that they do to society... keeping it functioning. You in no way refuted anything I said in as far as their importance. It makes me sick to hear people degrade these types of professionals.
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No way man. I'll give a farmer a pay raise far over a teacher. And I know what training they go through. Big deal. Everyone needs to be trained for their job! Now why do you see a HUGE amount of people applying for those jobs???? Because the pay is insane and the jobs are generally pretty damn easy. Its makes me ill to see people that feel these people are doing these jobs because they are somehow SPECIAL. They are NOT special. They go to work and do their job just like a car salesman or a waste reclamation employee. They deserve no special breaks. They deserve no pensions and they need to start paying out for their healthcare PLUS their salary needs to be lowed by 20% for starters. I am very very very aware of what these people do on a daily basis due to my past job along with very close relationships. I know what Im talking about here.

For someone to put these employees on a pedestal is a misstep.
 
The Giant Noodle said:
No way man. I'll give a farmer a pay raise far over a teacher. And I know what training they go through. Big deal. Everyone needs to be trained for their job! Now why do you see a HUGE amount of people applying for those jobs???? Because the pay is insane and the jobs are generally pretty damn easy. Its makes me ill to see people that feel these people are doing these jobs because they are somehow SPECIAL. They are NOT special. They go to work and do their job just like a car salesman or a waste reclamation employee. They deserve no special breaks. They deserve no pensions and they need to start paying out for their healthcare PLUS their salary needs to be lowed by 20% for starters. I am very very very aware of what these people do on a daily basis due to my past job along with very close relationships. I know what Im talking about here.

For someone to put these employees on a pedestal is a misstep.
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And I know very well what these people do because of VERY CLOSE family relationships. You are absolutely wrong. We've had teachers, cops, and fireman LONG before we ever had car salesmen or waste reclamation workers. These people ARE special and deserve special breaks because of the huge impact they have on society and HAVE had on society for a very long time. Your position on this is absurd and insulting to these professionals. Makes me ill to see people attack these folks. It shows that you do NOT know what you are talking about.
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
And I know very well what these people do because of VERY CLOSE family relationships. You are absolutely wrong. We've had teachers, cops, and fireman LONG before we ever had car salesmen or waste reclamation workers. These people ARE special and deserve special breaks because of the huge impact they have on society and HAVE had on society for a very long time. Your position on this is absurd and insulting to these professionals. Makes me ill to see people attack these folks. It shows that you do NOT know what you are talking about.
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You are not correct. I am correct. Because these people applied for a job and they got hired..... it makes them SPECIAL?
What about all the other professions that this society CANT live without Hmmm? Should we think those people are special too? After all THEY trained for their jobs too. And society cant live without them. The people that work at the water reclaimation plant? The people that work at the water company? Should they get a HUGE $100K pension too? NO!

Make a list of all the jobs today that society couldnt live without. And remember, just because you and I come in contact and/or see police, teachers, firemen much more often than other professions doesnt mean they deserve more money and a pension! :roll:
 
The Giant Noodle said:
You are not correct. I am correct. Because these people applied for a job and they got hired..... it makes them SPECIAL?
What about all the other professions that this society CANT live without Hmmm? Should we think those people are special too? After all THEY trained for their jobs too. And society cant live without them. The people that work at the water reclaimation plant? The people that work at the water company? Should they get a HUGE $100K pension too? NO!
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Absolutely wrong. These folks have been keys to society for FAR longer than most other professions. EVERYONE comes in contact with a teacher. MOST people have some interaction with the police, and EVERYONE has some indirect interaction with them. Firemen are more like EMS workers. You may not need them often, but when you do, thank goodness they are around. Other professions are important, but these folks affect our lives DAILY. So, no, you are completely wrong.

Make a list of all the jobs today that society couldnt live without. And remember, just because you and I come in contact and/or see police, teachers, firemen much more often than other professions doesnt mean they deserve more money and a pension! :roll:
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No, they deserve more money and a pension because of the huge impact they have on society.
 
TurtleDude said:
the entry cost to be a cop are very low compared to say engineers, doctors, lawyers (as an attorney I note there are way too many attorneys in the USA and way too many law schools). that is why those occupations don't pay all that highly.
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The entry cost is only a portion of what determines what someone's pay should be. How many engineers, doctors, or attorneys are willing to do the work that cops do?
 
CaptainCourtesy said:
No, they deserve more money and a pension because of the huge impact they have on society.
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More money than who? More pension than who? Men and women are standing in line to become coppers. Standing in line to be teachers. When did our society switch from supply/demand? And how long can we afford to?
 
MaggieD said:
More money than who? More pension than who? Men and women are standing in line to become coppers. Standing in line to be teachers. When did our society switch from supply/demand? And how long can we afford to?
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Exactly! Its not like these people are hard to find ya know! People applying KNOW that these jobs have benefits that are HUGE. They are basically set for life and THEN some with the pay and benefits they get. They get paid TOO much! And to add insult to injury they have titanic pensions! Free Benefits! Hell cops and firemen get a lot of things for FREE because they have a badge..... (which is stupid).
I feel CaptainCourtesy is romantcising the whole notion that these gov't employees are better people or better workers than other folks in other jobs. They arent! They are people going to a job that pays MONEY and has perks! (just like you and I)
So according to the Capt's logic Truckers, Garbage men, People at the Water Treatment plant, plumbers and other folks that do things for society that we cant live out should also get paid a crap load of money and have huge perks too. :roll:
 
MaggieD said:
When did our society switch from supply/demand? And how long can we afford to?
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It also has something to do with the importance of the work performed. The higher the pay, the greater the possible pool of applicants for the position, and the greater the odds of obtaining an employee who is the most highly qualified. When you're talking about law enforcement officers, this is really important.

Trust me. You don't want some $8 an hour schlub carrying a gun and investigating felons. That's how Mexico's police force has been easily co-opted by drug gangs.
 
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The Giant Noodle said:
Exactly! Its not like these people are hard to find ya know! People applying KNOW that these jobs have benefits that are HUGE. They are basically set for life and THEN some with the pay and benefits they get. They get paid TOO much! And to add insult to injury they have titanic pensions! Free Benefits! Hell cops and firemen get a lot of things for FREE because they have a badge..... (which is stupid).
I feel CaptainCourtesy is romantcising the whole notion that these gov't employees are better people or better workers than other folks in other jobs. They arent! They are people going to a job that pays MONEY and has perks! (just like you and I)
So according to the Capt's logic Truckers, Garbage men, People at the Water Treatment plant, plumbers and other folks that do things for society that we cant live out should also get paid a crap load of money and have huge perks too. :roll:
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If these jobs are so great, Noodle, why don't you become a teacher/cop?
 
Catz Part Deux said:
It also has something to do with the importance of the work performed. The higher the pay, the greater the possible pool of applicants for the position, and the greater the odds of obtaining an employee who is the most highly qualified.

Trust me. You don't want some $8 an hour schlub carrying a gun and investigating felons. That's how Mexico's police force has been easily co-opted by drug gangs.
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You're right about that $8/hour schlub. But there's gotta' be some balance, yes?

Chicago's latest exam schedule (2 sessions) saw over 9,000 applicants for several hundred positions. That simply must say something.
 
MaggieD said:
Chicago's latest exam schedule (2 sessions) saw over 9,000 applicants for several hundred positions. That simply must say something.
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It could say nothing more than that there are 9,000 out of work people looking for a job. The local poultry plant recently opened a new line and there were several thousand applicants for around 50 jobs killing and plucking chickens. by your logic...being a chicken killer/plucker must be a plum job that pays well.

If being a cop pays so freaking well and they have it made....why are so many of them moonlighting as security guards and club bouncers?
 
MaggieD said:
You're right about that $8/hour schlub. But there's gotta' be some balance, yes?

Chicago's latest exam schedule (2 sessions) saw over 9,000 applicants for several hundred positions. That simply must say something.
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What do you think it says, Maggie? Do you think a cop in Chicago should earn less than an accountant?

You're also assuming that all 9.000 were actually qualified. I think that most departments require college degrees these days (and that's a positive development).

It costs a substantial amount of money to train and equip a cop, and once you've done so, you have to pay the person enough that they will be willing to stay in the field (versus becoming a private security director where they can earn 300% more).
 
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Catz Part Deux said:
If these jobs are so great, Noodle, why don't you become a teacher/cop?
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I would in a HEART BEAT! But have you seen the waiting lists!?!?!? Plus Im too old. (40) I would be gray(er) before I got a freakin job. YOu have to know someone generally or be in school for it. I dont know anyone ENOUGH to have them get me a job with the PD or Fire. Being a teacher would be great but again..... the waiting lines. Infact to make it tougher to get in they put up restrictions. I would have to go back to school for the teacher gig.
They have their pick of the litter because of the popularity of these jobs and how difficult it is to get canned.

AND LET ME ADD....... this isnt a result of this crap economy either. These have been very high demand jobs for at LEAST 20 years.
 
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The Giant Noodle said:
I would in a HEART BEAT! But have you seen the waiting lists!?!?!? Plus Im too old. (40) I would be gray(er) before I got a freakin job. YOu have to know someone generally or be in school for it. I dont know anyone ENOUGH to have them get me a job with the PD or Fire. Being a teacher would be great but again..... the waiting lines. Infact to make it tougher to get in they put up restrictions. I would have to go back to school for the teacher gig.
They have their pick of the litter because of the popularity of these jobs and how difficult it is to get canned.
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So what you're saying is that you aren't qualified for either of these jobs, but you're bitching because people in these professions outearn you? You don't see a correlation here?
 
with a real unemployment figure of around 20% is it any wonder that there are waiting lists for jobs?
 
Catz Part Deux said:
So what you're saying is that you aren't qualified for either of these jobs, but you're bitching because people in these professions outearn you? You don't see a correlation here?
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no I dont. It has no bearing on what I earn. And the qualifications became tighter because of the HUGE amount of people applying for the positions! They dont want 40K people applying for 200 job openings. But rest assured little lady.... I could do a better job than 60% of the cops..... 80% of the firemen and 90% of the teachers!
 
OscarB63 said:
It could say nothing more than that there are 9,000 out of work people looking for a job. The local poultry plant recently opened a new line and there were several thousand applicants for around 50 jobs killing and plucking chickens. by your logic...being a chicken killer/plucker must be a plum job that pays well.
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No. It is not merely an effect of our economy. LEO jobs are plums in any economy.

If being a cop pays so freaking well and they have it made....why are so many of them moonlighting as security guards and club bouncers?
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I spent 4 years living (nearly) free working at an apartment complex. Got, on average, 1 call a month for people being too loud in the pool overnight (among other things in the pool :eek: ). Now I live in a house but have a steady bank job on my days off. Get paid to play on the internet and watch movies on the DVD. Took me a while to find such a cake job and intend on keeping it as long as I can.
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Road construction details are the sh*t! 35/hr to sit in your car (with AC) and watch a dvd. come on. On a side note, the dept i work for has a deal set up with the local sonnys restaurant; every nite, 1 officer has to come and escort the waitresses out to their cars and make sure everyone leaves safely. They get a free meal and $40.00. Not a bad gig. Stay safe.
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Above picked up from a copper's forum.
 
MaggieD said:
No. It is not merely an effect of our economy. LEO jobs are plums in any economy.
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tell that to the sheriff's deputy trying to support a wife and 2 kids on $28K a year.
 
MaggieD said:
No. It is not merely an effect of our economy. LEO jobs are plums in any economy.
Above picked up from a copper's forum.
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It does beg the question...if law enforcement work pays so well (and on average, I note that it pays less well than almost all professional jobs), why are so many cops forced to moonlight to supplement their incomes? And yeah, they are.
 
The Giant Noodle said:
no I dont. It has no bearing on what I earn. And the qualifications became tighter because of the HUGE amount of people applying for the positions! They dont want 40K people applying for 200 job openings. But rest assured little lady.... I could do a better job than 60% of the cops..... 80% of the firemen and 90% of the teachers!
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No offense, but I can't see you as a copper. MAYBE a dispatcher.
 
Catz Part Deux said:
What do you think it says, Maggie? Do you think a cop in Chicago should earn less than an accountant?
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Do you think a cop should earn more than a soldier?

Those 9,000 applicants are standing in line for this:

Starting salary for the Chicago police department is $43,104. It is increased to $55,723 after one year and an additional increase to $57,744 after 18 months. In addition to these base salaries, there is overtime earning, holiday pay, night differential and uniform allowance.
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MaggieD said:
Do you think a cop should earn more than a soldier?

Those 9,000 applicants are standing in line for this:
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I consider $43k a year a reasonable starting salary for a cop in Chicago, especially since I believe that CPD requires a degree. I don't believe that a cop should earn more than a soldier. However, our failure to adequately pay our armed forces is no justification for cutting pay for other vital functions. In addition to pay, of course, soldiers receive many benefits, such as a housing allowance, which should be taken into consideration when calculating their pay.

Tell me. What is the starting pay for an accountant/sales rep/financial advisor, etc.?

Good cops tend to have very specialized skills. It's fair for them to be compensated for these skills.
 
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MaggieD said:
Do you think a cop should earn more than a soldier?

Those 9,000 applicants are standing in line for this:
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well, all those UAW workers who lost their $40/hr jobs tightening screws on the assembly line have to go somewhere.
 
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