Might make a change

[Bull Durham]

Howdy. I am considering changing positions at work but am not sure if it is the right thing to do. I might be shooting myself in the foot. I've been with my department for almost 11 years. I am currently working in Major Case and am assigned to serious assaults and sex cases. I have been in the MCU for a year now and for the most part have been miserable. Before coming to the MCU I worked Narcotics for 3 1/2 years. I loved working drugs. The MCU has recently gone through some tough times, a great Detective got fed up with the whole mess and walked out of a job he has had for 9 years. Another Detective also got out and has gone back to patrol. Everyone knows what the problem is and what it would take to fix it but nobody that can fix it has the guts to do anything about it. I am now considering going back to working uniform patrol. The 2 Detectives that left are the ones that talked me into applying for the position in the first place. I have always missed working patrol. I am afraid if I do transfer that it will prevent any future possibilities. By the way, being assigned to MCU is not a promotion in my department, only a transfer so the pay would stay the same. I would love to get back into Narcotics but policy requires a 2 year break before reapplying and then there has to be an opening. So, I can stay in MCU and work 5 days a week plus be on call for 1 week every month and be miserable or go back to patrol and have 14 days off a month and not be on call. Either way I still get a take home car and the same pay. I know from being on both sides that Patrol is who really does the work. Oh well, I will keep ya'll posted. Thanks for listening, Bull Durham.

[Big John Denny]

The only thing I can tell you if that you're not happy at the MCU it could affect your home life as well. I do also agree that most departments would consider it a step back, but police work is tough enough without disliking what you're doing now.

[Baron von Haltomstadt]

In 1989, I left solo motors and took an administrative postion. It was the worst decision of my career. I have now completed 16 years of misery sitting at a desk and missing out on what I once enjoyed. I cannot afford to start over. I am only 4 years away from permanent retirement. I am stuck. My advice is: do what you enjoy, not what you are stuck in at the moment..

Terry

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[Utah Bob]

As Big John said this field is tough enough without the added stress level of being stuck where you don't want to be. Eventually you begin to dislike the job, then the department, then yourself, and on and on. Life's too short pard. Don't waste it. You need to look forward to going to work every day.

[Cuts Crooked]

The others have tol' ya right pard! I used to work in small community where I wore many hats. I quickly figured out that I am not cut out for Internal Affairs, Narcotics, or Admin. So I took a job as a Patrolman. Been doing that fer 20 years come April...they been good years!

[SFT]

Make the change and feel good about going to work every day.