April 20, 2008
NYPD Blue Ready to Trade Up to Emerald City
Responding to the siren call of higher salaries and a lower cost of living, about 200 cops showed up to take the four hour written exam to join the Seattle Police Department yesterday. Of the 200 who sat for the exam, it was estimated that the vast majority were from New York's police department. The New York Post reports that 148 of the test takers had at least one year experience in law enforcement already and the Daily News said that 72 of the test takers had at least two years on the job.
At issue is pay and the cost of living in New York City. One cop told the Post "I love it, but it comes down to pay. I can't afford to live in the city that I protect." Once officers leave the police academy, they earn a base salary of $32,100, versus $47,334 for rookies in Seattle. And the Seattle PD is offering a $5,000 bonus to cover moving expenses where one can live reasonably for a lot less money. Seattle's been pushing its recruiting with a huge billboard next to the West Side Highway.
The low starting salary for NYPD rookies was the result of a 2005 arbitration settlement that cut rookie pay and elevated the pay of veteran officers.
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I realize how low that is for someone willing to risk life and limb, but sheesh--that's a few grand more than a starting publishing salary!
Makes me wonder how I can afford to live here either... oh, wait.
In related news, Seattle-area death-by-cop incidents and bank robberies are expected to increase.
nyc should respond with recruiting cheaper hookers, thus allowing our elected officials to leave more tax money for the cops pay (and the subway maintenace and expansion).
"The low starting salary for NYPD rookies was the result of a 2005 arbitration settlement that cut rookie pay and elevated the pay of veteran officers."
Let's get to the reason that our Republican mayor dares not mention: Millions for local police came from the federal gov't. because Bill Clinton made it happen. More police on the streets was one of his campaign promises and, unlike the pantload-in-the-flightsuit who currently occupies our White House, he kept his promises to the citizens. George W. told congress that he would veto any extension of that funding... giving tax breaks to people who can afford private security being more important than your safety and mine.
Oh, by the way. This happened while Dinkins was mayor, even though our own congenital liar, Guiliani, tries to take credit for hiring more cops.
I remember when I was a kid and they had the local Police Officer Public Relations guy "Mr. Friendly" and he would teach kids that Police Officers were good people. It's not true. Police officers are jerks!
"Once officers leave the police academy, they earn a base salary of $32,100,"
Congratulations to Gothamist for being one of the few news outlets to get that right, instead of just repeating the "$25K in the first year" myth.
In fact, according to the NYPD recruitment website: "When including base salary, average overtime and night shift differential, holiday pay, and uniform allowance, a Police Officer earns over $35,000, on average, in the first year."
Interestingly, Gothamist also linked today to a NY Times story that including this observation: "The median salary of a new grad moving to New York is just under $36,000." So a first-year copy in NYC -- who is not required to have a degree -- makes approximately what the average degreed person new to the job market makes... but with better benefits than most of those people, more paid vacation, and unlimited paid sick days.
And if they stick with the job: "A retired Police Officer could receive approximately $1.9 million when retired assuming a life expectancy of 80 years. This figure is based on the age of appointment of 22 and the age of retirement of 42. " By that time, taking advantage of NYPD's educational benefits the "retiree" with his generous pension could also have an advanced degree and be ready to embark on a lucrative second career... or to just take it easy and enjoy his $1.9 million.