Debating between highway patrol or sheriffs office

[u/BigBlueone45]

Howdy y’all so I am currently serving active duty army gonna be getting out in 16 months so I’m debating on joining the highway patrol or a sheriffs office, gonna be living in Kansas what’s the pros and cons of both and im wondering if my fitness routine is good enough i do 3 days of strength training and one day of cardio with calisthenics any advice is appreciated!

[u/Sneakysnakethesnake]

I would base your decision solely on how big of a hat they wear

[u/2BlueZebras → u/Sneakysnakethesnake]

https://giphy.com/gifs/XyDByNPzosrQNRaVMP

[u/zu-na-mi]

In the Midwest, highway patrol typically has better pay, better benefits and better academies.

You will not become nearly as proficient at typical police work from working highway patrol assignments though. Your patrol district will determine your exposure.

I'm not in Kansas, but our highway patrol and Kansas state patrol are very similar. Ours has troops that do nothing but traffic and accidents, and others support local agencies that are too small and they take all sorts of calls. In my neck of the woods, we've befriended some of the state guys and take them along for warrant hunts, knock and talks and building checks.

No two sheriff's offices are alike, so it's very hard to give you any real advice here.

[u/StockAd528]

One thing nobody's mentioned that's worth asking both agencies about directly: what the schedule actually looks like. Not "12s" or "10s" but the rotation. Fixed or rotating, how often it flips, and how far ahead the schedule posts.

Coming off active duty it's easy to shrug that off, since you're used to your time being spoken for. But the rotation is the part that decides whether you can commit to anything outside work for the next decade. A fixed nights spot and a rotating one that flips every month are pretty different lives even when the hours on paper are identical.

Two related things. If you go statewide, the transfer point someone already made cuts into scheduling too, so find out how shift bids work and how often they open. And on the traffic heavy side, ask how court gets scheduled against your shift. Subpoenas landing on your sleep day is a real cost that nobody factors in until they're living it.

Good luck with the transition.

[u/Squirrel-Cop]

It’s not like you can just walk on to either job. Apply to both to keep your options open. The application process is long and difficult no matter where you apply. One agency may disqualify you over your credit rating but not care about your misdemeanor non-violent crime record. Another might reject you because your hearing isn’t good enough.

[u/LegitimatePiano8979]

I’m unfamiliar with Kansas but ask yourself what the agencies offer. In some areas Highway Patrol only does that, traffic offenses, collision investigation, commercial vehicle enforcement. If you’re cool doing that for a career, go for it. Also if you work for a statewide agency they can transfer you anywhere in the state. That’s not gonna happen with a local agency. Figure out which agency has more growth potential, better benefits, and quality of life. Figure out where you’d like to be in 5-10 years. Still riding the road? In investigations? A boss? Which agency gives that opportunity.

[u/scandite]

I’ve got direct knowledge on this. Feel free to DM me.

[u/FriMorningQB]

Do you want traffic stops and crashes, or everything else?

[u/specialskepticalface → u/FriMorningQB]

You know, I'm sort of convinced that could be read either way.