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Edubz · Senior Member

RE: Why make the captain rank.

Spanish mama · Guru

Definitely not. Not enjoying the money is a big part of it. Constant harassment during off hours. They can keep it

Leslie · Guru

-- Edited by Leslie on Tuesday 25th of June 2024 01:30:47 PM

Tommy Salami · Senior Member

Spanish mama wrote:
Definitely not. Not enjoying the money is a big part of it. Constant harassment during off hours. They can keep it

Yea dont bother, you definitely couldn't handle it

DetailBoss · Member

What are some of the benefits you have experienced by taking the promotion to Captain?

Tommy Salami · Senior Member

DetailBoss wrote:
What are some of the benefits you have experienced by taking the promotion to Captain?

1. cat 1 car is a huge benefit

2. good for resume

3. you will speak at many meetings, your public speaking ability will improve alot

4. your skills on the analysis of problems and plans to fix them will greatly improve just through the sheer amount of meetings you will attend

5. guaranteed DI pension after 5 years in rank

6. opportunity to build time (think years)

7. Opportunity to rub elbows with higher ups, if thats your thing

8. you can improve morale with the people you work with by being a solid and fair leader. if you truly like cops, this is a big benefit in my opinion

9. training and educational opportunities are better as an executive

-- Edited by Tommy Salami on Tuesday 25th of June 2024 02:25:01 PM

Sgtnogood · Veteran Member

You sound like a Kool aid drinker Tommy lol your public speaking will improve lol I never had any problems speaking in front of a crowd or group of people and I'm not a captain and most captains I have experienced could care less they are trying to move up in their career they don't build morale or do anything to help cops. They care about traffic stat and the Numbers and don't want to get chewed out etc etc

-- Edited by Sgtnogood on Tuesday 25th of June 2024 06:35:13 PM

Tommy Salami · Senior Member

Sgtnogood wrote:
You sound like a Kool aid drinker Tommy lol your public speaking will improve lol I never had any problems speaking in front of a crowd or group of people and I'm not a captain and most captains I have experienced could care less they are trying to move up in their career they don't build morale or do anything to help cops. They care about traffic stat and the Numbers and don't want to get chewed out etc etc

-- Edited by Sgtnogood on Tuesday 25th of June 2024 06:35:13 PM

Thanks for your opinion

PD2FD · Guru

Tommy Salami wrote:
DetailBoss wrote:
What are some of the benefits you have experienced by taking the promotion to Captain?
1. cat 1 car is a huge benefit
2. good for resume
3. you will speak at many meetings, your public speaking ability will improve alot
4. your skills on the analysis of problems and plans to fix them will greatly improve just through the sheer amount of meetings you will attend
5. guaranteed DI pension after 5 years in rank
6. opportunity to build time (think years)
7. Opportunity to rub elbows with higher ups, if thats your thing
8. you can improve morale with the people you work with by being a solid and fair leader. if you truly like cops, this is a big benefit in my opinion
9. training and educational opportunities are better as an executive

-- Edited by Tommy Salami on Tuesday 25th of June 2024 02:25:01 PM

I agree with all of this except #3 & #4...we have a ton of executives on this job that are terrible at public speaking (including some at the very top).

Edubz · Senior Member

Car is worth several thousand a year depending where you live and work.

Depending on your personal situation you may be able to give back your personal car and save yourself the payment plus insurance.

DetailBoss · Member

Hitthebook wrote:
If anyone out there is having second thoughts or wondering about what a captains life entails PM me. I will give you my 100% honest thoughts and will answer any question you have.

PM sent.

TicketoutofNarco · Veteran Member

Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?

PD2FD · Guru

TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?

If you're not a bootlicker in a gig where you're getting free overtime (ie 1PP) then your best bet to maximize your salary and pension is to get promoted. $209,000 top base and with everything added on you'll be in the $240,000-$250,000 range. If you can make that as a LT, then god bless.

brooklynbacon · Guru

TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?

The pay is great at top pay and you never have to worry about getting or losing overtime again. You can also make a positive and big morale change on cops who work for you as you have a tremendous amount of say in the command obviously.

However your schedule and quality of life will take a giant hit. You will spend more time with your department phone than your significant other and children.

Tunit · Senior Member

brooklynbacon wrote:
TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?
The pay is great at top pay and you never have to worry about getting or losing overtime again. You can also make a positive and big morale change on cops who work for you as you have a tremendous amount of say in the command obviously.

However your schedule and quality of life will take a giant hit. You will spend more time with your department phone than your significant other and children.

With that being said, is the juice worth the squeeze?

Futureauxiliary · Guru

If you go for Captain you might as well chase the carrot for DI. From what I have seens DIs have it better than Captains.

Wingnut · Senior Member

My worthless $0.02. It depends where you are in your career. People who hit the tests right its silly not to take the promotion. People near or over 20 really need to consider if they want to stick around another 5 years waiting for a DI pension.

The take home car is great but your savings on miles and gas isnt pensionable. Its thousands of dollars in your pocket today, but not the rest of your life.

You go from the top rung of lower management to the lowest rung of upper management.

If youre a true believer youre probably more inclined to take the promotion. If youve come to the realization that no one gives two shits about what you are doing and youre just a warm body filling a seat, youll probably think why bother.

nycop80 · Guru

PD2FD wrote:
TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?
If you're not a bootlicker in a gig where you're getting free overtime (ie 1PP) then your best bet to maximize your salary and pension is to get promoted. $209,000 top base and with everything added on you'll be in the $240,000-$250,000 range. If you can make that as a LT, then god bless.

Plus the cost of gas and car repairs you dont have to worry about.

PD2FD · Guru

nycop80 wrote:
PD2FD wrote:
TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?
If you're not a bootlicker in a gig where you're getting free overtime (ie 1PP) then your best bet to maximize your salary and pension is to get promoted. $209,000 top base and with everything added on you'll be in the $240,000-$250,000 range. If you can make that as a LT, then god bless.
Plus the cost of gas and car repairs you dont have to worry about.

Correct! Tolls, gas, and car maintenance. That's probably close to $10k per year. It's also better to retire as a Captain than a Lieutenant. The Captain rank is more universally known and will benefit you more when you retire.

The Detective rank and Captain rank carry more weight than the Sgt/Lt/DI rank. No one knows WTF, a Deputy Inspector is outside this job.

brooklynbacon · Guru

PD2FD wrote:
nycop80 wrote:
PD2FD wrote:
TicketoutofNarco wrote:
Can this question be re-balanced with current events I know a lot of NEW Lieutenants are contemplating the next Captain exam. What is the current cost vs benefit analysis ?
If you're not a bootlicker in a gig where you're getting free overtime (ie 1PP) then your best bet to maximize your salary and pension is to get promoted. $209,000 top base and with everything added on you'll be in the $240,000-$250,000 range. If you can make that as a LT, then god bless.
Plus the cost of gas and car repairs you dont have to worry about.
Correct! Tolls, gas, and car maintenance. That's probably close to $10k per year. It's also better to retire as a Captain than a Lieutenant. The Captain rank is more universally known and will benefit you more when you retire.
The Detective rank and Captain rank carry more weight than the Sgt/Lt/DI rank. No one knows WTF, a Deputy Inspector is outside this job.

Yeah I remember being a rookie cop and saying wth is an Inspector? The only one i heard of was Gadget.

Jibberjab · Senior Member

Honestly it depends where you are in your career. If you are somewhere making steady ot (yes I know nothing is guaranteed) and tours/days off are flexible and you have young kids, thats where it gets tough. If you are doing patrol, no brainer take the promotion.

If you are miserable going to work everyday, that extra Captain money isnt worth it. Every year will feel like 5 as an XO.

Just my opinion.

PD2FD · Guru

Jibberjab wrote:
Honestly it depends where you are in your career. If you are somewhere making steady ot (yes I know nothing is guaranteed) and tours/days off are flexible and you have young kids, thats where it gets tough. If you are doing patrol, no brainer take the promotion.

If you are miserable going to work everyday, that extra Captain money isnt worth it. Every year will feel like 5 as an XO.

Just my opinion.

Agreed! On patrol take the promotion.

Not on patrol and in a good unit, you have to be an EDP to agree to take the promotion and destroy your quality of life.

4th Time · Senior Member

Over 30 yrs.... Great gig.... Great oscar tango.... Great quality of life.... Just want the promotion for future endeavors (LAPD - Life After Police Department)..... Is he or she crazy for that????

Truthseeker · Guru

4th time. Defer it till youre ready to leave. Then take promotion and walk out door. Get rank without doing the rank

Leftbehind802 · Veteran Member

A Captain, who was just promoted on 2/28/25, did just that. Took the promotion and walked out the door.

4th Time · Senior Member

Agreeeeeedddddd........

Jibberjab · Senior Member

4th Time wrote:
Over 30 yrs.... Great gig.... Great oscar tango.... Great quality of life.... Just want the promotion for future endeavors (LAPD - Life After Police Department)..... Is he or she crazy for that????

Ive seen more than a few people do this. Get that retired captain ID card and an extra title on your resume.

PD2FD · Guru

Leftbehind802 wrote:
A Captain, who was just promoted on 2/28/25, did just that. Took the promotion and walked out the door.

Smart man! Very smart man

Spanish mama · Guru

1 day in captain rank. Responsible for supervision of? Looks great on resume. Something extra to hang on the wall I guess.

-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 24th of March 2025 11:05:17 PM

-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 24th of March 2025 11:05:48 PM

PD2FD · Guru

Spanish mama wrote:
1 day in captain rank. Responsible for supervision of? Looks great on resume. Something extra to hang on the wall I guess.

-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 24th of March 2025 11:05:17 PM

-- Edited by Spanish mama on Monday 24th of March 2025 11:05:48 PM

No one is going to ask them how many Compstat meetings did Chief Chell yell at you for.

What's important is being able to put retired Captain on your resumé.

SonsOfXavier1997 · Senior Member

Sorry. But A LSA/LCD in a detail who has extensive training or high levels of responsibility holds much more weight then Captain Fluff n Butt. The take rank and retire does nothing I agree.

PD2FD · Guru

SonsOfXavier1997 wrote:
Sorry. But A LSA/LCD in a detail who has extensive training or high levels of responsibility holds much more weight then Captain Fluff n Butt. The take rank and retire does nothing I agree.

Sure! If you're a LSA/LCD in a unit like bomb squad or ESU. That holds true regardless of rank.

But a LSA/LCD in an admin gig at 1PP isn't going to impress anyone in the corporate world.

SonsOfXavier1997 · Senior Member

True. I agree w you on that PD2FD

Lowtidesmell · Member

Who the hell wants to rejoin the rat race after doing 20+ in the nypd? Resume can suck my ass. Im leaning towards capt to build time and get out of this shit hole.