Anyone here a Cop?

[jahrasti]

As everyone else here has said go and do it, you will love it. Tauranga is a popular place. As a candidate the recruiter will tell you the waiting list and as Spud said if you have the goods it can be sped up. Another option could be going to another station in your district. A good mate went to a different station to speed up the waiting list and he loves it now.
But once again as everyone has said start the process. I actually started it then put it off for 2 years but then carried it on no problems.

[spudchucka]

Any tips on what will help make a recruit attractive to them? I'm 22, reasonably fit, and have excellent working records. I'm also a Trooper in the NZ Army Territorials. I'm not worried about getting in - I'm more than sure I can exceed minimum standards - but I definately want to get a job in the Bay, particularly in Tauranga. What about internal transfers? Eg, working in Rotorua for a while until something opens up in Tauranga?

Its hard to say just what would make you a top candidate. You obviously have a high level of intelligence and fitness as a territorial soldier. Attitude is a big thing but that's hard to coach a person on without knowing them. Then there's the pshyc tests they put you through, who knows what that crap tells them.

One of the biggest things is what your referees say about you and when you do your SCOPE, (ride along with the cops you would be working with) what the cops you are assigned to say about you. You have to remember that throughout the recruitment process from first application to graduation from the college you will be under intense scrutiny the whole time, you may not realise it but they will be watching you intently.

Plenty of people do take postings at second choice stations with a view to transferring to their preferred station at a later date. Its not always easy to get they transfers you want but it does happen. You have to remember though that Tauranga is a popular destination and there will be considerable competition for jobs there.

Rotorua or Whakatane would be good second choice stations for you.

[Fatjim]

I'd say you'll not notice too much difference at parties. Accountant jokes and police jokes usually have the same punchlines.

[Drum]

Not to put a dampener on your keeness, but I would think that the Police force would be a lot less financially satisfying than your current career (unless you get on the Rickards of course).

[Soul.Trader]

Junior accounting is not very lucrative - to make any money in accounting, you have to do it for a long time. Besides which, I enjoy accounting from a business point of view, but the actual work itself is no very stimulating. Later in life, I want to run my own business.

[marty]

I'm with Spud. It is a rewarding career, that has many many opportunities. Tauranga/Mount used to be very hard to fill stations, as it is quite expensive to live there, and progression through the ranks was slow due to the work-to-retirement nature of the older staff working there. It has got a lot better now though, and at one stage Mt Maunganui was really short of full timers.

It will take you about 5 years minimum in Tauranga to get a Detective qualification, which may lead you into the fraud squad. A bigger station like Auckland will lead you into this field a little quicker (like 4 years) but you will be living at the station and at court.

If you wanted to be a Detective then a Sergeant, it's more like 7 years. These are based on: time to permanent appointment, 2 years. Detective constable, 2 years. Drinking piss, hooning around, checking out persons of interest on the Mt main beach, 2 years. Minimum

[Taz]

So you don't want to be a cop in south Auckland??

[Usarka]

So you don't want to be a cop in south Auckland??

I don't think he does. But that's just a wild stab in the dark.....

[Disco Dan]

Good on you for wanting to join up, when I was younger I gave the training a go.. but the wouldn't have me... apparently I have been too much of a 'bad boy'

Just dont come looking for me when you a fully fledged income officer

Good luck

[Soul.Trader]

So you don't want to be a cop in south Auckland??

No, I'm really not interested in that type of posting to be honest. Not least of all because I hate Auckland passionately

[sAsLEX]

progression through the ranks was slow due to the work-to-retirement nature of the older staff working there.

This interests me.


Is progression reliant on positions being available above your current position? Spud seemed to suggest you can race up the ranks if those above you leave , is there time and qualification requirements for each rank/rate?

[marty]

Absolutely it does - if the positions are not available you can't fill them. There is a lot of movement around the country with people taking promotion - especially from constable to sergeant.

There are plenty of pre-promotion qualification hoops to jump through - it's not like the old MOT where service was the primary qualification for promotion.

[sAsLEX]

Absolutely it does - if the positions are not available you can't fill them. There is a lot of movement around the country with people taking promotion - especially from constable to sergeant.

Does the police have a rotation policy to keep fresh minds coming into positions or can people sit in their little niche/empire once they find it?

[spudchucka]

Not to put a dampener on your keeness, but I would think that the Police force would be a lot less financially satisfying than your current career (unless you get on the Rickards of course).

The super package is very good and the starting salary is pretty good for a 22 year old.

[sAsLEX]

The super package is very good and the starting salary is pretty good for a 22 year old.

Does the starting salary change with age?