$95k OT for an HISD police seargent?

[arlon]

Man what was I thinking when I went to college..

I need to be working security for HISD or be an electrician at the port..

Click on the "top 25 OT earners"..

http://www.chron.com/databases/publi...derBy=OVERTIME

That's just insane. No wonder there's no money left for computers for the kids in HISD. One seargent just cost about 100 of them..
Why is there only one HOSD police "officer" getting OT?

[AndrewCCM]

I dunno... I think Police Officers (and teachers) should be much higher paid than they are. My IT "Security" position pays more with so much less risk and/or effect on others lives.

[skittle]

In any type of position, whether it be in a state/city/private company, you will always find people who will work as much overtime as they can possibly get.
Maybe with the so called, "police shortage" they are struggling to find officers to cover the districts. Who knows with the city of houston?
Most of the time, for the police officers, security, etc., they are paid overtime by the private sector (i.e., businesses, private event security), maybe that's where the money is coming from?
Those high amounts of money that they are earning are really surprising though!

[AndrewCCM]

Yeah.. I know when I first got started with my IT career, I was eligible for OT. After a few years, they quickly realized it would be more cost efficient to go to salary and just factor in my OT. That worked better for both of us for a while.

[robert t]

There wouldn't be so much overtime if there were not so many open positions. No one wants these some of jobs but the jobs must be done. I could be making mega bucks in OT but after 28 years I want to go home when my day is done. The money just has not made me overcome the desire to get away from work, yet. It is not easy to find people with the qualifications and a clean record to hire on and work at the base rate for a year before they can start working the OT.

[copper]

Originally Posted by skittle

Maybe with the so called, "police shortage" .....
Those high amounts of money that they are earning are really surprising though!

I would not have said anything, but this really gets to me. Look at the Pro athletes, they make tons of money, work only part of the year, work a few hours a day, etc. I am not picking on them but come on... millions to play golf? Look at plastic surgeons they make tons of money, for what, to make you look better.

Yes, Most of these officers are working a lot of Overtime. Court / Federal Grants Programs / etc. They are never at home. Yes, there is a police shortage and they, the officers, are working extra hours to protect the civilians (citizens of Houston). They are the ones putting their lives on the line to help protect the citizens of Houston. Are some greedy? Some, I think, but they pay the price never being at home working almost 80 hours a week.

Then you have the rookie officers who are just starting their lives with little kids at home. Most of them work weekends so they miss their children growing up / playing sports / school stuff / etc. They pay a heavy price being officers. Most officers are not working the job for the money, most enjoy helping people and the satisfactions that they are helping making safe their small part of the world.

[copper]

Lets look at populations


City \ Population \ Officers
1. NYC \ 8,143,197 \ 37,838
2. LA \ 3,844,829 \ 9,733
3. Chicago \ 2,842,518 \ 13,600
4. Houston \ 2,016,582 \ 5000 And Counting


Officers per Civilians

NYC 1 officer per 215 civilians
LA 1 officer per 395 civilians
Chicago 1 officer per 209 civilians
Houston 1 officer per 403 civilians

Hmmm short handed?????

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by copper

Look at plastic surgeons they make tons of money, for what, to make you look better.

Well, even if a lot of what they do is elective surgery, I would want the person holding a scalpel and cutting on me to be well paid and HAPPY when they are operating.

That said, teachers, police, fire fighters, nurses, etc. are all grossly underpaid in my book.

[AndrewCCM]

For the record.. Some types of photographers are plastic surgeons. :)

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

For the record.. Some types of photographers are plastic surgeons. :)

Some would say even better - no black eyes, bruised eyes, swelling or several week recovery period! That's my kinda plastic surgery! Too chicken for the other.

[copper]

Originally Posted by L Stegall

Well, even if a lot of what they do is elective surgery, I would want the person holding a scalpel and cutting on me to be well paid and HAPPY when they are operating.

That said, teachers, police, fire fighters, nurses, etc. are all grossly underpaid in my book.

Wouldn't you want the officer holding pointing his weapon at the suspect to be a great shot and not hit you if your being held hostage with a gun to your head???

LOL.....

[LEATHERNECK]

Originally Posted by robert t

There wouldn't be so much overtime if there were not so many open positions. No one wants these some of jobs but the jobs must be done. I could be making mega bucks in OT but after 28 years I want to go home when my day is done. The money just has not made me overcome the desire to get away from work, yet. It is not easy to find people with the qualifications and a clean record to hire on and work at the base rate for a year before they can start working the OT.

Same here....I work security for the Air Traffic Controllers and 40hrs is enough for me..I've got other things to do now thats its just me(kids are grown). But some of the other officers almost fight for the over time; which puts them at almost $30 an hr.

[skittle]

Originally Posted by copper

I would not have said anything, but this really gets to me. Look at the Pro athletes, they make tons of money, work only part of the year, work a few hours a day, etc. I am not picking on them but come on... millions to play golf? Look at plastic surgeons they make tons of money, for what, to make you look better.

Yes, Most of these officers are working a lot of Overtime. Court / Federal Grants Programs / etc. They are never at home. Yes, there is a police shortage and they, the officers, are working extra hours to protect the civilians (citizens of Houston). They are the ones putting their lives on the line to help protect the citizens of Houston. Are some greedy? Some, I think, but they pay the price never being at home working almost 80 hours a week.

Then you have the rookie officers who are just starting their lives with little kids at home. Most of them work weekends so they miss their children growing up / playing sports / school stuff / etc. They pay a heavy price being officers. Most officers are not working the job for the money, most enjoy helping people and the satisfactions that they are helping making safe their small part of the world.

The only reason why I said, "the so called police shortage" is because as the wife of a police officer, HPD routinely turns down qualified applicants to their police program. Our friends (all in law enforcement) have tried to get on with HPD thinking that there is shortage, only to be told that there isn't an immediate need, and to reapply at a later time. These are officers with years of experience, education, and expertise in critical need areas. I was only venting my own frustration with HPD and their hiring practices. From the recruiters own words, " 4 out of 5 certified police officers are turned down from the application process." If there was truly a need and a shortage, then why aren't they hiring competent, experienced officers over people with no experience?

I completely understand the sacrifices that are made by families of law enforcement, as I have sacrificed for the past 11 years, because my husband goes out night after night and risks his life every day to protect citizens who are less than appreciative of his hard work. I do agree with you when you say that they don't do it for the money; it's true. Like my husband always says, "you don't go into it for the money, if you are, you're in for a rude awakening because there is none."

Thanks for the support for our officers, at least it's nice to know there are some people out there who appreciate them!

[copper]

Originally Posted by skittle

From the recruiters own words, " 4 out of 5 certified police officers are turned down from the application process." If there was truly a need and a shortage, then why aren't they hiring competent, experienced officers over people with no experience?

I too have heard this and knowing a lot of the recruiters and others on HPD, the reason for this is the applicators debt... If a person debt is too great HPD will turn them down because of the risks involved with dope, theft, corruption. I am not saying that these people would do that, but I think that is the outlook of HPD. Remember, I am not in an official position to speak for HPD. If you look at some people their dept to equity isn't too good, and like most live pay check to pay check. So that could be the reason. Have you heard that reason?

What have you heard from the officers who applied, but were not hired with city (HPD)?

Peace

[skittle]

Yes, I understand the debt thing, and law enforcement agencies are extremely picky in hiring their people (it can often take 6 months to a year to get through the entire application process).
There is another, more controversial reason why they were not hired...it's a bit absurd, and to respect the rules of the forum, I can PM you with the reason :)