Kids becoming Firefighters and Cops

[Anonymous]

You have to live within a certain distance of the station

Hard to find a home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Don't think I have ever heard of a kid on here who wants or is a cop or firefighter.

Probably because their parents aren't posting here on the college forum. They know what they want to do and are already taking steps to get there.

They are both important careers; both are physically demanding. Police work requires a high degree of "emotional intelligence" that many do not have. One needs to be the right type of person to do either sort of work, unlike office-drone work, which pretty much anyone can do with the right training and experience.

My son wants to go into (federal) law enforcement. He graduated from a HADES school and is at a T20. Do I think it's a great idea? Not really. Do I think it's a waste of education? No, education is never a waste. Time will tell what he ends up doing.

Good thing he's a trust fund baby, given the pay. Not that he knows that yet.

[Anonymous]

In many places where firefighters are paid well and have good benefits it is actually really hard to get a job because so many sons, nephews and grandsons get the inside track to getting hired.

Recently cities have passed anti-nepotism rules but it can still be hard to get hired in many cities.

My son’s math teacher told me a few years ago he tried to become a firefighter but said it was so competitive and he had bad luck in a lottery so after getting an AA in firefighting he transferred ti a 4 year college to get a math degree to become a math teacher.

[Anonymous]

I'd never encourage my kid to be a cop. Firefighter, EMS, ok. But never a cop.

[Anonymous]

If public safety is your calling, you can still be a college-educated professional in support of a public safety mission. I broadly support emergency managers, fire, police, 911, and others through-out the region with technical and analytical support. Its important stuff that still give a similar sense of public service and society impact. A lot of folks in similar roles can still be volunteer fire-fighters to scratch that itch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone encourage their child to go into a profession where death is a real risk? Why would a parent encourage a child to go into a profession where smoke inhalation and lung cancer are real risks?

You’re more likely to be injured or killed driving your vehicle. Sitting at a desk all day is unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Project 2025 no more overtime pay.

These jobs will be paid nothing.

The recent bill that passed provides up to a $25,000 tax credit for overtime.

[Anonymous]

Being a SCOTUS police officer seems like a great deal. It’s not like they’re out on the road making traffic stops. With a $50k hiring bonus and an $83k starting salary it may be something for rising college seniors to think about.

https://www.joinscuspd.us/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't think I have ever heard of a kid on here who wants or is a cop or firefighter.

Found out recently that brother in law, a FDNY member of 20 years, brings in 240k a year.

Back then, less went to college but now the academies for both FDNY and NYPD require some college credits.

Why aren't more parents encouraging these careers as well, along with the usual talk on trades given the rise of AI for white collar job risks. Understand it could be a dangerous job but guaranteed employment, excellent benefits and pension, location mobility, and high salary in areas like NYC.

OP, people don’t realize how much firefighters and police officers can make. When their normal shifts are only 3-4 days those 4th and 5th days are all OT.

Here is publicly available salary information for Fairfax police officers(not Sergeants+).

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/VA/fairfax-county/j/police-officer?year=2024

Here are the Sergeant salaries.

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/VA/fairfax-county/j/police-sergeant?year=2024

Lieutenants.

https://govsalaries.com/salaries/VA/fairfax-county/j/police-lieutenant?year=2024

These are all salaries without overtime added.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't think I have ever heard of a kid on here who wants or is a cop or firefighter.

Found out recently that brother in law, a FDNY member of 20 years, brings in 240k a year.

Back then, less went to college but now the academies for both FDNY and NYPD require some college credits.

Why aren't more parents encouraging these careers as well, along with the usual talk on trades given the rise of AI for white collar job risks. Understand it could be a dangerous job but guaranteed employment, excellent benefits and pension, location mobility, and high salary in areas like NYC.

Well their parents probably don't need to be on the college thread. They're researching police academies.

Why would you assume the newer generations of law enforcement don’t have college degrees?

[Anonymous]

My son is a police officer.

He makes a nice salary, even better with OT, his health insurance is fantastic, can retire after 25 years of service, gets plenty of time off.

Yes there’s definitely the risk of danger. But I’m very proud of him and thankful for all who take on that risk to keep us safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is a police officer.

He makes a nice salary, even better with OT, his health insurance is fantastic, can retire after 25 years of service, gets plenty of time off.

Yes there’s definitely the risk of danger. But I’m very proud of him and thankful for all who take on that risk to keep us safer.

Please know that the vast majority of people appreciate what your son does.

[Anonymous]

DCUM snobs only want other people's kids to be firefighters and cops.

[Anonymous]

Your BIL might be like Gregg Pemberton. He charged DC overtime to attend his own DUI hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your BIL made $240k taking every overtime hour available and never saw his family. I made $500k sitting at a desk and picked up my DC's from school every day. Call me crazy, but I think that I won.

Doesn’t sound like you won anything.