A Police Officer's "Million Dollar Career"

[NCC 1701]

Yes, I am. On the job for almost 19 years, a sergeant for 9+.

a multi-million dollar career

[cdwjava]

a multi-million dollar career

Uh ... yeah ... just like teachers ...

I assume your tongue was firmly ensconced in your cheek.

[That Guy]

a multi-million dollar career

Even if that were true, and in Carl's case, it would be worth every single penny of taxpayers money!

[NCC 1701]

Uh ... yeah ... just like teachers ...

I assume your tongue was firmly ensconced in your cheek.

Actually I was being Totally serious, with your salary now including OT, and projected retirement benefit, you'll be good for VERY close to IF not more than a couple million that you would've collected from the state, or whomever, I don't know how north you are, SJ starts qualified applicants out at $70k a year, so with your tenure and rank, I'd say you're on track to break that barrier easily

Even if that were true, and in Carl's case, it would be worth every single penny of taxpayers money!

I'm passing NO judgement what so ever, I'm merely making an opinionated statement, that's probably very close to being 99% accurate

[cdwjava]

Actually I was being Totally serious, with your salary now including OT, and projected retirement benefit, you'll be good for VERY close to IF not more than a couple million that you would've collected from the state, or whomever, I don't know how north you are, SJ starts qualified applicants out at $70k a year, so with your tenure and rank, I'd say you're on track to break that barrier easily.

I'm passing NO judgement what so ever, I'm merely making an opinionated statement, that's probably very close to being 99% accurate

You are making some very rough assumptions. Also understand that a cop in San Jose cannot generally afford to LIVE anywhere NEAR San Jose. Most the SJPD officers I know commute an hour or more to work unless they were lucky enough to buy their home some years ago in the lean market of the early 1990s or they have spouses with similar or greater incomes. In San Jose, an engineer who makes $80,000/yr. could not qualify for a home loan, much less a cop.

Yes, when taken as an aggregate salary over a 20+ year career, I guess the gross salary might well be about $1.5 million or more. But, in a place like San Jose, that does not go very far.

I, however, have not lived in San Jose since my youth. While I might come close to that $1.5 million mark after 25 years, I am scarcely able to save a whole heck of a lot of it and I have a modest house and a wife and three kids, and no "toys" (like boats, quad runners, etc.). My salary (which is less than the $70k starting for SJPD) affords me a comfortable existence where I live in the sticks, but is not sufficient for me to pay for my kids' college without significant student loans or scholarships. As a note, most officers north of the Bay Area and Sacramento, and in the Central Valley, make SIGNIFICANTLY less the SJPD.

My family income is about 1/2 of what it was when I was in southern CA and we are living at about the same standard of living - perhaps better because I don't have to spend as much money on gas - smaller town means we can walk or ride bicycles more often. It is not about how much one makes, but how far it gets them where they live. Heck, that $80,000 that is weak in the Bay Area would be pennies in New York City, yet officers there start off at a wage about 2/3 of that of an officer in San Jose.

So, yes, over a career, I will earn about $1.5 million, but, so what? It certainly does not seem like it. Most teachers will do that over a career as well ... as do many other middle income professions. If getting rich is what someone wants to do, then getting into public service is NOT the way to go about it. Stay in the private sector if you want to be wealthy.

[aaron]

I'm reminded of some insipid lyrics from the Steve Miller band,

Billy Mack is a detective down in Texas,
You know, he knows just exactly what the facts is,
He ain't gonna let those two escape justice,
He makes his livin' off of the peoples taxes.

Because, you know, we would be so much better off if Billy Mack were asked to hunt down murdering burglars in his spare time, on a volunteer basis.

I would say that I'm sorry you're offended that police officers are paid middle class wages, but actually... I'm not.

[cdwjava]

I would say that I'm sorry you're offended that police officers are paid middle class wages, but actually... I'm not.

I would hope that is not directed at me! I never once have claimed that I am "offended" at receiving a middle class wage. It is what it is, and I knew what the job paid going in.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Pretty sure Aaron is directing that at NCC, Carl.

We figured out recently that by the time we retire (if we ever get to!), my husband will have earned a little over a million dollars in aggregate, and I will have come pretty close in spite of spending 12 years out of the workforce altogether to raise the Monsters. He's a retail manager. I'm mostly self-employed in the information sector.

Spread out over our working lifetimes, though, it ain't much.

[cdwjava]

Pretty sure Aaron is directing that at NCC, Carl.

I THINK so ... but, I have been surprised from time to time.

We figured out recently that by the time we retire (if we ever get to!), my husband will have earned a little over a million dollars in aggregate, and I will have come pretty close in spite of spending 12 years out of the workforce altogether to raise the Monsters. He's a retail manager. I'm mostly self-employed in the information sector.

Spread out over our working lifetimes, though, it ain't much.

Yeppirs.

[aaron]

Pretty sure Aaron is directing that at NCC, Carl.

Correct. Sorry for any ambiguity - I thought my intent was pretty obvious.