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Top 25 Cities for Police Officers
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Kevin Powers, PoliceLink.com
#18. Columbus, OH

Population: 747,755
City’s Average Salary: $40,770
Starting Salary for Police Officers: $41,745
Cost of Living Rank (in a 1-100 list): 17
Average Commute Time: 20 minutes
Job Growth Rank (in a list of 372 Highest Growth Cities): 178
Unemployment Rate: 7.9
Columbus boasts a robust economy, ranking in the top 10 in the nation. Government jobs provide the largest source of employment here, followed by its large higher education institutions. Columbus offers a relatively low cost of living and also boasts the lowest unemployment rate of all the 25 best value cities on this list.
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920527
about 4 years ago
10 Comments
THE UNIFORM GUYS TAKE THE CRIMINALS OFF THE STREET,CORRECTION OFFICERS KEEP CRIMINALS INSIDE.I CANNOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS. IT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST CRIMINALS.
920527
about 4 years ago
10 Comments
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD MEN AND WOMEN. THE PAY IS ALWAYS COMPARABLE TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE NATION.
RetCop9855
about 4 years ago
30 Comments
I can't believe Camden NJ PD did not make it ? HA!!!!!!
NJLE
about 4 years ago
12 Comments
NJ has highest PAY SCALE in NATION and NO department makes list?!
Says more than I can EVER say about the state of this state!
Too much politics, and nepostism, too many regs, too many tick turds to lock up. Crappy commutes, although state government and most (not all local governement!) wholly supports LE here."
State guys just came off 10 year Fed scrutinization for racial profiling, that's pathetic, IMO, as most minorities sadly are doing the racketeering crimes now, drugs, girls, guns, and gangs. Guys hold back, and you cannot do your job "holding back".
Every several years in my home county the county jail has a scandal resulting in arrests of C.O.'s (look it up!)
revbaseball19
about 4 years ago
6 Comments
Haha Deli are you surprised Houston missed the list?
Anonymous
about 4 years ago
I was a little surprised to see Cincinnati where it is. Despite the media and other silliness... its a pretty good department. There are some recent policy issues that make things rough... but overall its a good department. Anyone out there who can comment on Raleigh, NC?
Gunns
about 4 years ago
5206 Comments
Hmmmm. I live near one of these cities.
Deli734
about 4 years ago
410 Comments
Austin hmm? Or San Antone? Both a couple hours away from Houston...
(Which was missed on the lisr)
OfficerMNV879
about 4 years ago
10 Comments
Don't go to Louisville Metro PD either.....Mayor nor the Chief supports their law enforcement officers!!! Crime rate has gone up since Chief White has come to the dept. just like any dept he goes to!!! Moral is at an all time low!!! Fixing to take away the take home car program and officers now have to pay to use their patrol car off duty or drive it home!!!
avmonaco
about 4 years ago
6 Comments
No Phoenix? Bummer...
nebraska_deputy
about 4 years ago
1386 Comments
I would LOVE to move to Denver,but my wife would never go for it.
kylereedy
about 4 years ago
2 Comments
its goo to see what happens when police officers interact with the people who pay there wages and try to make a difference in the community instead of treating every one they encounter like crap i know that not all cop are bad its the 20% or so that join the fore to go after the people that are like the kids that treated them like crap in high school. a police officers job is to serve and protected not population control and harassing the citizens that pay there wages. they need to start spending time with the people in there community and see what they can do to improve there community after all thats why they joined in the first place not to add to the chaos and confusion. thats just what i think they need the communities involvement to make a difference
kimdo
about 4 years ago
2 Comments
I recently moved back to the Bay Area, CA from San Diego. I'm surprised they do not have Fremont on the list. It has one of the highest salaries and benefits in the nation and impressive job schedule. The same time, it is very difficult department to get into now so job growth may have ceased.
San Diego, though I love their department, is constantly facing money issues and problems with the the city. While it was going to increase employment, the financial crisis has forced the department to lower the number of accepted new trainees. Like chucky said, the department is gravely understaffed and getting worse as many employees transfer to other cities and departments for better pay.
ninjava
about 4 years ago
6 Comments
i think the population here in honolulu is a bit more than 5xx,xxx or at least feel like it is, haha. also good to see how we rank amogst all these major city groups.good list.
clobster
about 4 years ago
1552 Comments
If you plan on coming to Seattle to work, plan on a horrendous commute between 5am and 9pm on weekdays. Week-ends are hit or miss.