Anchorage PD Hopeful (Kenai, Cordova: relocation, military, apartments)

[ncwest]

So here it is. Law Enforcement jobs here in Michigan are few and far between, and the ones that are available don't really pay very well at all. Solution? Apply to a department out of state. While browsing various Law Enforcement forums, I stumbled upon a web page stating that the Anchorage Police Department is going to be recruiting in my neck of the woods. I cannot even put to words the excitement that went through me when I saw that this was happening. Alaska. The undisputed most beautiful state out of the entire US (in my opinion, of course). After applying for testing, my fiance and I have spent practically all of our free time browsing these forums looking at pictures, reading stories and hearing everything first hand from all you native Alaskans. We are both avid outdoors-people and the prospect of being able to do something that we love (camping, hiking, canoeing, etc.) on a regular basis is absolutely out of this world exciting! I will be testing in Ann Arbor, MI. on the 16th of September, and if everything goes well and I get selected for further processing, I am to fly to Anchorage for a week from Oct 10th - 17th. As I said, I have been browsing through all of these forums looking at the pictures that you lucky native folk have put up and I just get so excited thinking that I may be able to experience the same in a short time. Well, that's all I have for now. I will try and keep updates as to how the hiring process is going, but it actually doesn't start until September. All I can do for now is try and appease the Recruiting Gods and hope that they smile on me with favor. Thank you to everyone who posts pictures and stories on these forums...it gives outsiders (and future residence hopefuls like myself) a chance to experience the great and beautiful place where you all call home.

[AK_Photographer]

Congrats, and good luck on your interviews! It does my heart good to hear someone else as enthused about moving up here as I was. Maybe we’ll cross paths someday when you’re up here - under pleasant circumstances I hope.

You may also want to keep an eye out on the Alaska State Troopers as a backup plan:

Division of Alaska State Troopers - Home

They are supposed to be recruiting pretty heavily here in the near future. There’s actually a big political stink brewing on the reasons for this, you can read here if you’re interested:

KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Palin outlines new public safety plan

adn.com | Alaska Politics : Palin describes "new direction" for Public Safety (Updated)

But bottom line for you, there should be more positions available.

[Bostonredsock5]

Before joining the military i was looking at APD. On the 911 hotjobs forum they have nothing but great things to say about them. Good pay and great chances to advance.

[pgvicar]

Congratulations !!! ... Your ship has come in ... Seems like so many from Michigan in/going to Alaska .... Ideally, perhaps after a while you can transfer to somewhere on the Kenai peninsula or just north of Anchorage

[ncwest]

Thanks for the responses. Yeah AK, if we ever do cross paths, just remind me that you were one of the well wishers in my first post on the Alaska forums, haha! From what I have heard, the cost of living isn't too extremely differant from that of Michigan, and from what the pay they are talking about, we might be able to afford something alot nicer than what we would have here. Ideally, we would like to get into a condo for the first year or two that we are there. Does anyone know of any rental sites other than craigslist.com? Even after googling "Condo rentals Alaska" and other combonations of that, the majority of things are for vacation rentals. Thanks in advance!

[Barkingowl]

ncwest check out these links.

Fully Furnished Homes in Anchorage, Alaska ~ Anchorage Corporate Housing
http://www.oakwood.com/corporate-apa...Anchorage.html
http://www.aptsuites.com/
http://rentals.nationalrelocation.com/Alaska/Anchorage/

[leesrt]

Hi NCWEST,

Just letting you know I'm law enforcement in south Ga and I'll be flying to Ann Arbor on the 15th as well. The wife and I have always wanted to move to Anchorage and now that our kids are almost out of the house the time is right. I retired from the Air Force and did 5 years with Valdosta Police Dept. in Georgia. I'll see you at the test.

[ncwest]

leesrt,

Good luck with your test and I'll see you there!

-nathan-

[starlite9]

It is about a year long process if you go all the way though it. I went though it some years ago, but I was already a police officer at the time in Cordova, Alaska. I made it all the way though the testing process and was offered a job with APD, but I changed my plans and declined the job.

The State Troopers are the same deal...

Not to sound off the wall, but make sure that there isn't a "FEE" to take the test, there have been some scams running around and some folks are a bit too wide eyed over something that sounds like a good deal. Call the Anchorage Police Department and make sure they have recruiters there that are "recruting".... Nothing is what it seems anymore....

I find it a bit odd that they would recruit out of State when they have a lot of applicants here already...

Good Luck!

[ncwest]

There is no fee to test...which is actually funny because you have to pay to test in Michigan. You have to pay to take the Agility test and the Written portion of the test here. As far as them recruiting out of state, from everything that I have read about, they recruit pretty heavily out of state, primarily in the mid western regions like Michigan, Minnesota, etc. because our climates are more similar than say that of Florida or the Carolinas. As far as having alot of applicants in the state....all I can say is that they either aren't qualified or they didn't pass certain parts of the testing process. Again, from doing research on this situation, it seems that the APD is pretty choosy as to who they want to represent the department.