• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

Sheriff & CHP: Differences

HalfEvil

HalfEvil

333
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Location
707
Moto(s)
=wheelies
Hey,

I am graduating shortly, and am considering either Sonoma County Sheriff or CHP .

Without this turning into a flame thread, what would be the main differences in daily work?

My current perception is CHP would be more routine, lots of tickets, lots of clean ups etc. The deputy job would be more domestic, versitle duties, possibly more dangerous?

I would lean far to CHP, but the fact that you cant pick starting location is a real bummer for me.

Thanks
 
do your research. it has been covered already on barf. a google search will also help as well.
 
Versatile.

My reco is to raise your standards in all areas to the highest level you've ever conceived. Then work harder.

If you're going to be a cop, have pride and work hard.

Thanks for considering this line of work.
 
Jm3 said:
do your research. it has been covered already on barf. a google search will also help as well.
Click to expand...

I can/have googled but I value all the LEO responses here much more.

I did a search, found 8 pages of results, a few with city PD/sheriff comparisons, none with CHP/sheriff. If its not too much trouble, could you please link the thread?

Thanks
 
The only reason why I haven't tried CHP yet is because I'd more than likely have to leave the area and because I'm really more interested in a department where I interact with people on a more frequent basis than traffic stops.
 
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=251221

And if you search there are a couple more threads about it.

Short answer, CHP does mostly freeways, crashes, and DUI’s. Don't have to deal with domestics, missing persons, barking dogs, neighbor complaints.

Local PD's and Sheriffs get to do real police work. :rofl (Sorry Rel)

Actually the line has become less defined since the CHP and State Police were combined and the CHP does allot more police work. They even changed their badges from "State traffic officer" to "Police officer".
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the link. I have read that thread which doesnt discuss CHP and sheriff directly, but gives a decent understanding of the differences/similarities.

I am sure everyday is a different battle, but I guess I was just looking for broad differences such as CHP wont be called to a domestic dispute, but Sheriff wont be called out to a high speed freeway chase (not sure if those are true) etc...


Either way I am sure you guys are mentally tough on a whole different level than john doe, but I have heard CHP especially with some of the high speed wreck scenes they need to respond to.

I am also looking for plus/minuses of the jobs (chp may be lonely? Sheriff has a lot of paperwork?) ((not saying those are true, just an example answer))
 
Another difference: Most sheriff deputies will have to work the jail or court for a year or two before hitting the street. PDs and CHP do not.
 
Trogdor said:
Another difference: Most sheriff deputies will have to work the jail or court for a year or two before hitting the street. PDs and CHP do not.
Click to expand...
It depends. Many Sheriff's Offices have a Correctional Division that is staffed by Correctional Officers and the Sheriff's Deputies work patrol, tasks force positions and maybe provide Bailiffs for the courts.. there are some courts where the Bailiffs are all armed security or armed/retired cops.

In some counties, there are very few PDs and the S/O provides 90% of the Law Enforcement. There are some counties where the Sheriff's Office also provides police in some of the cities or towns under contract. Some good examples are Dublin, Danville and Woodside.. all are patroled by Deputies that are contracted to provide "city" police services there.

Most S/O's field a majority of the Narcotics, Vehicle Theft and Computer (High-Tech) Crime and Anti-Terrorist Task Force Agents, so if that is something you are interested in, the S/O would be the place to look.

Oh, and don't think the CHP does not get their fair share of rolling domestic violence cases, road-rage and general stupidity as well as a majority of the DUI drivers and high-speed crashes. City police get everyting from drunk kids at school and purse-snatchings to lost alzheimer's patients and forgeries, identity theft investigations. Sheriff's Patrol sees all of that (usually in the worst parts of the county) as well as more of the rural crimes.. meth labs galore, stolen cargo containers, dumping compaints, you name it.

Each has their good and bad. Go on some ride-alongs to get a feel for the agency. Ask lots of questions. Go on ride-alongs with ADJACENT agencies and ask them about the agency you are looking into. They can give you some surprising insight.

Keep us posted about what you discover. Others can learn from your expereinces.
 
motorman4life said:
Some good examples are Dublin, Danville and Woodside.. all are patroled by Deputies that are contracted to provide "city" police services there.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the "415 wind chime" call rate in Woodside is slightly higher this year. It's epidemic and the residents have had it with the SO's lack of results.
 
Trogdor said:
Another difference: Most sheriff deputies will have to work the jail or court for a year or two before hitting the street. PDs and CHP do not.
Click to expand...

I'd rather be in jail than have to play on the freeway.


Ask any CHP Officer how many times they have been hit (or near missed) on the freeway.:|
 
Dude, you don't want an Engineering job? Just curious.

The reason I ask is because I got bumped out of a hire slot for Pleasanton P.D. by a kid that graduated from Stanford with a degree in English. I'm thinking to myself, you spent all that money on college, invested all that time and you want to be a cop? Why not go for a criminal justice degree or management? :dunno

I know the retirement is good, but geez. I was so damn close too.


Can you tell I'm bitter? :laughing And this was in March of last year.
 
I agree on the ride a longs. See what you can find out for yourself through that experience. Ask a lot of questions and even take notes.

I would also consider the size of the department and their divisions. At a smaller department you'll be limited as to either the divisions they have, or the positions available and the competition for them.

I've worked for both large and small. You don't want to limit yourself on experience or opportunity.

Good luck.
 
ch47dmechanic said:
... I got bumped out of a hire slot for Pleasanton P.D. by a kid that graduated from Stanford with a degree in English. I'm thinking to myself, you spent all that money on college, invested all that time and you want to be a cop? Why not go for a criminal justice degree or management?...
Click to expand...


English degree has no major value and yes be bitter. :laughing

Oral Board scenario:
OB: "You have a degree in English, tell us why you chose that field?"
App: "I chose English so I can speak, write, and understand our non-native language. And make report writing a creative and descriptive procedure to address the facts as well as provide an entertaining reading."

OB: "So you are well verse with the English language then?"
App: "Yes sir. Though I do not speak anything beyond English such as Ebonics and certain street/gang slangs but I can converse with Caucasian well."

:teeth :Popcorn :later
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top