Charleston PD hiring? (Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown: apartment complex, rent, home)

[ontheGtrain]

Hello. I checked their website but not much info on it. I was wondering if any of you know if the Charleston PD is doing much hiring now? I've heard in the past that they could not hire as much as they wanted because they had to send all of their new people through the state training program which was limited in space. Does anyone know what their current hiring goals are? Is it the kind of job you have to know somebody to get on with? I've been trying to get away from new york for a while but every department I've applied to seems to have hit hard times and stopped hiring. Starting pay for CPD is around 37k but top pay is not mentioned on the website? Is that good money for a single guy without kids? Are police officers in Charleston happy with their job or are they looking for something better? Any impressions from locals about the department and being a officer in Charleston?

[DJShymansky]

I used to work at Charleston PD, and have plenty of friends who are still there. The dept. has been going through a number of changes in the last few years with the new chief coming on. He's had a good deal of "mess" to clean up from previous administration, but it seems the dept. is on its way finally. The main greif with the dept. in the past was little to no movement for officers. The top brass was entrenched, which left no room for promotion, advancement, etc. That's changed somewhat, and officers are finally being rewarded for staying and continuing to help the community. The pay scale is among the highest in SC, from what I've seen. However, that's tempered by the fact that OT is almost frowned upon, and off-duty jobs have been limited to 20hrs. per pay period. All in all, it's plenty of salary for a single guy, especially if you can get yourself on as a security contact for the apartment complex you'll be living in (cutting your rent in half generally). Another great dept. would be State Highway, but that's a lot more traffic. or S.L.E.D. for more investigations.

[baylovers]

I retired from the NYPD and moved down south about 2 years ago. I really wasn't looking to get back into LE at the time but a job came up with the Pawleys Island PD and I am really happy that I took it. I don't really know anyone in Chas. PD but I went through the state academy with a couple of guys from N. Charleston who had left & decided to go back. Sounds like a busy department but they seemed to be happy & said the pay was pretty good by SC standards.

Myrtle Beach always seems to hiring. I know Georgetown Sheriffs Office is always hiring & losing personnel. Seems like most of the agencies, except the larger cities of Chas/ Myrtle Beach & Columbia, are starting people off around $26-27K a year. Many agencies do not have step increases and generally get 3-4% raise a year unless you can get promoted. Horry County Police is another fast growing agency that you may want to take a look at.

[ontheGtrain]

Thanks guys for the info. Lack of OT does not sound good but I think I might give it a shot along with Vegas metro and San Diego SD. Its tough in this economy also the fact that places I'm applying to must also be ok with my lady. She likes San Diego and Charleston but is not so happy with me applying to Vegas, which looks like the best department on my list. Thanks for the info and by chance any of you guys know if they have take home cars for Charleston PD patrol? Also do they work 10 or 12 hour tours on patrol?

[DJShymansky]

CPD is on 10 hr shifts in patrol. The policy on take home cars used to be after 1year's service, but most of that can be overwritten by a good Sgt. The policy may have changed since I was in.