[buggyone]

I recently added to a thread that the starting salary for a Sumter County sheriff deputy was about $42,900 plus benefits. A couple of other posters thought this seemed low for a starting salary.

What do you think would be a fair starting salary for such a job in this part of Florida?

[asianthree]

with a degree needed and experience...and someone gets to shoot at you...a teaching degree gets you more money...i think its low

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'd say if a qualified applicant can be found and is willing to take the job then that is a fair salary. if they keep hiring and firing one incompetent person after another they probably need to think about a salary increase.

People who do police work do it for many reason. Some simply love it and it's what they want to do. Government jobs usually provide great security and benefits. Some want the experience on their resume for future ambitions. I don't think most people get into law enforcement solely for the money.

Keep in mind that this is a starting salary. I would imagine that there are colas and other types of increases that may come over the years.

And as to the statement that "someone gets to shoot at you". When was the last time that you heard of an officer getting shot at? Granted, it happens but not as often as most people think. You're probably more likely to be shot if you're a convenience store clerk.

[PammyJ]

Just a few days ago a deputy was shot three times and survived. Last year Brevard county was mourning the death of a female officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop. I remember one year there were about 5 officers killed in separate incidences in central Florida. My own brother-in-law was a police officer killed in the line of duty.There are many more who were shot, it happens more than you think!

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I'd say if a qualified applicant can be found and is willing to take the job then that is a fair salary. if they keep hiring and firing one incompetent person after another they probably need to think about a salary increase.

People who do police work do it for many reason. Some simply love it and it's what they want to do. Government jobs usually provide great security and benefits. Some want the experience on their resume for future ambitions. I don't think most people get into law enforcement solely for the money.

Keep in mind that this is a starting salary. I would imagine that there are colas and other types of increases that may come over the years.

And as to the statement that "someone gets to shoot at you". When was the last time that you heard of an officer getting shot at? Granted, it happens but not as often as most people think. You're probably more likely to be shot if you're a convenience store clerk.

sorry just from experience...one family member and two close friends shot and killed in the line of duty.. three too many in my life...

[DougB]

Originally Posted by asianthree

with a degree needed and experience...and someone gets to shoot at you...a teaching degree gets you more money...i think its low

Let's not make up facts, starting teacher salary in Sumter is over 10,000 less.

[Suzi]

Teachers have the summer off - to my knowledge deputies don't. Do the math.....

[DougB]

Originally Posted by Suzi

Teachers have the summer off - to my knowledge deputies don't. Do the math.....

Maybe you should do the math. 10 weeks of summer wouldn't get them 12,000 more. Plus the fact that the amount of time teachers spend working on top of their regular workday (nights, weekends, summer, etc) without pay.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by PammyJ

Just a few days ago a deputy was shot three times and survived. Last year Brevard county was mourning the death of a female officer who was shot and killed during a traffic stop. I remember one year there were about 5 officers killed in separate incidences in central Florida. My own brother-in-law was a police officer killed in the line of duty.There are many more who were shot, it happens more than you think!

I'm sorry to hear about your brother in law, Pam. My father was a police officer for twenty-five years in the city where I grew up. He was never shot at.
In the past fifty years in that city, there was one officer that was shot and killed and it was primarily because of his own stupidity. He was in plain clothes and was going by a bar where something looked suspicious. He looked inside and saw a robbery in progress. Instead of calling for backup and waiting for more help to arrive, he burst into the room with his gun out and yelled "police". One of the armed robbers shot him.

It seems that the rate of officers shot and killed in central Florida is pretty high.
I still maintain that it is a pretty rare event. But you could be right.

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by DougB

Maybe you should do the math. 10 weeks of summer wouldn't get them 12,000 more. Plus the fact that the amount of time teachers spend working on top of their regular workday (nights, weekends, summer, etc) without pay.

i thought teachers were salaried whereas police were hourly. teachers only have to work 180 days per year, police maybe 250? at what grade level do you think teachers start working night/weekends? and what teacher works during the summer who is not paid for it?

[DougB]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

i thought teachers were salaried whereas police were hourly. teachers only have to work 180 days per year, police maybe 250? at what grade level do you think teachers start working night/weekends? and what teacher works during the summer who is not paid for it?

Teachers work 196 days (180 days are with students). During those 180 days, a teacher only gets 40 minutes a day for planning lessons, grading papers, etc. Elementary teachers have to plan for 6 subjects each day. And with differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all the students, the teacher may need 3 lesson plans for each of these subjects. Tough to do in 40 minutes, wouldn't you say? I won't even get into how many hours are spent on designing assessments with open ended higher order questions the students have to respond to.
I know very few teachers at any grade level that begin and end their school day with the bell. Some teachers attend trainings and have to attend classes for professional development with no pay over the summer.
If your child has a good teacher, you can be assured, he/she is working every bit of 250 days in the 196 days they are paid.

[DaleMN]

Math sucks!!!!

[rubicon]

This comparison between teacher in cop will go nowhere. Back in the 1980's it was referred to as comparable worth. I spent a good time of my life writing job positions setting salary for every level in a company, etc. bottom line is the market dictates.

but let's focus in on local police. In lady Lake a few years back they advertised for police and stated the school requirements to be High School but a GED Equivalent would suffice. In other locations college is required.
Now focus on the community is it Chicago or the Friendliest Hometown in Florida. You get the picture. Also consider that duties may different for each locale

another aspect are the benefits. In some, jobs seekers, seek jobs because the benefits are generous and long term employment guarantees that the retiree and spouse will be set for life.

This is not a complete or exhaustive list of things I could cover here such as the job requirement working hours working conditions....there simply is not enough room but to be sure comparing one job from another take more than saying salary plus benefits

Now I am exhausted

[rubicon]

By the I forgot to mention this issue of the risk cops take. If that is a consideration then the guys in the armed forces are certainly well underpaid because they get shot at all the time

[DDoug]

Anyone who wants to put their face out there to possibly get shot at or killed deserve a good wage but that accounts for both teachers and police now days.Teachers or rather good teachers have been under paid for years especially elementary teachers. They pay for there own education. But then why would you want to walk around with a sign saying shoot me(police)then again why would you want to be looked down on sometimes for being an educator. I guess what I am saying we are all under paid for what we do. And for what we put up with .