Daddy Financials

There is an article in today's New York Post regarding the rookie salaries for the NY Police Department. The article talks about how " The city is about to shell out more money for a puppeteer than for a rookie cop. " This could become a major problem in the future as far as recruiting new police officers. Is this a problem only in NY or are police officers being underpaid across the nation? Anyone have any stats on the police salaries by state? This can be taken one of two ways.

First let me say that I admire what NYC cops go through each and every day despite a lot of the negative media attention they get. I, for one, appreciate them putting their lives on the line for me and my family in the same way I appreciate the troops who are fighting overseas. I may not agree with the war, but they don't have much choice in where they are sent.

Now back to the article, it states how the starting salary for a rookie officer is only $25,100, while the listing for this puppeteer position has a salary range of $32,275 - $50,242. $50,242 to move some puppets around for a kiddie show, sounds a bit extreme but more power to them if they can get this money. While I agree that it is sad that a puppeteer makes more than a police officer, later in the article it mentions that the salary of these officers jumps to $32,700 after 6 months on the job. That's a 30% increase in pay after only 6 months. How many non-sales jobs allow for a 30% bump within that 1st year of employment without a promotion/change of position? Also, after 5 years of being on the force, the officers salaries jump to as much as $59,588. This is almost a 138% jump from their original starting salary of $25,100. How many of you would take a job knowing you would make 138% more in 5 years than where you started? I'm guessing this number factors in overtime, but it's still not too shabby. So while everyone focuses on the starting salary, the bumps in pay are pretty significant within those first 5 years. Almost no one mentions that the union is the reason this in place. They negotiated this deal to get more financial compensation for the veteran officers while rookies would have to wait to move up the pay scale. Blame the city all you want, I think the police worker's union should get equal blame for approving this deal.

The other way to look at it of course is to say it's not right and demand more pay for police officers. Puppeteers are nice and yes it takes a lot of skill to become a master puppeteer, but the courage and bravery that police officers are supposed to exhibit is a much more valuable commodity to our civilization.

In my honest opinion, I am torn on this subject. I think police officers and firemen and doctors and all other professions that saves lives while at the same time risking their own lives, should be the highest paid positions no matter what. When police officers do their jobs well, it dosent make the news because they stoppped the story from becoming news-worthy. You hear all the time about good samaritans saving lives, when a police officer does it, he's just ding his job. But when they do something wrong, you hear about it everywhere and they all get blamed and put it the same boat of shame.

On the other hand, its not as if the salaries are hidden from them until the last possible moment. These people make a choice to become police officers knowing full well that they will start in the mid $20K's/year. It's almost like applying for a job and then once you get it, your already complaining and telling your boss your underpaid. If you took the job to show your bravery and to help your fellow man, that in and of itself is the reward to you. In our capitalist society, if you wanted to make money you should obviously have studied puppeteering or at least watch Mr. Rogers Neighborhood until your good enough to apply for the position with the Parks Department.

Thanks for Reading

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