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Top 25 Cities for Police Officers
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Kevin Powers, PoliceLink.com
#8. Portland, OR

Population: 550,396
City’s Average Salary: $43,370
Starting Salary for Police Officers: $51,912
Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 58
Average Commute Time: 22.4 minutes
Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 55
Unemployment Rate: 10.7
Historically, Portland has had a long-standing association with high-tech industries. According to City-Data.com, more than 1,200 tech companies currently operate in Portland, and, in 2004, microcomputer components manufacturer Intel was the city’s largest employer. The city has also seen consistent growth in the education and health-services sectors, helping the area maintain its high growth ratings despite significant decreases in employment in the natural resources, mining and construction sectors.
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JBtcso3424
about 4 years ago
554 Comments
WOW Austin made #1, what about Travis County, why are we not in there, or do they not want Sheriff Depts. hmmm, sup with that.
cmh308
about 4 years ago
3524 Comments
Great information. Just FYI Columbus, Ohio and Honolulu, HI are NOT hiring at this time.
MCBJ
about 4 years ago
5874 Comments
I haven't been in every one of the listed cities.
But, of the ones I've ever lived in or visited, I totally agree with the comments.
Two things: (a) I'm surprised that San Diego is only #25, and, (b) any folks who aspire to join Portland, OR PD, just be aware there is a lawyer up there who somehow believes he is on this earth to issue parking tickets to on-duty patrol officers...I kid you not...
tigerlilly_07
about 4 years ago
1322 Comments
Good List.. Hopefully when I'm going through the hiring process Austin will be hiring. I wouldn't have to move that far away from my mom's side of the family and I'd have two family members from my dad's side of the family within a twenty minute drive.
blucas80
about 4 years ago
1002 Comments
Good list, hopefully none of those cities will be laying off any police officers. Seems like that's all the my state talks about.
LP_MD
about 4 years ago
1358 Comments
Hey where's Balmer (Baltimore) or DC? Clean , fresh air, little noise or traffic, LEO friendly neighborhood folks...HAH ;)
didevine
about 4 years ago
12 Comments
My wife and I just took a vacation to the mainland and we stopped for a few days in San Antonio to visit a friend. What a shithole.
rpd242
about 4 years ago
158 Comments
wow, we made a list? and it wasnt for most homicides
Woody_TX
about 4 years ago
8 Comments
Austin and San Antonio #1 and #2
Mr_Fister
about 4 years ago
12 Comments
i would like to see a list that ranks the highest populated city in every state from best to worst
JamieKent2000
about 4 years ago
36 Comments
lol Nashville Tn made 16 sweet
lv_fuzz
about 4 years ago
2 Comments
Who made this list? No Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department anywhere on the list. I laugh!!!!!!!!!
Miles07
about 4 years ago
24 Comments
#6 for Seattle PD! Starting pay $60,672 and tops out at $90,000!
spchudsonkj
about 4 years ago
150 Comments
Hell yeah Salt Lake!!! Number 3!!! Go UTAH!!
TGman
about 4 years ago
594 Comments
GO CINCINNATI!!!!!!!!! lol