\x3Cp\x3EHistoric police cars and other emergency vehicles dating back to a 1930 CHP Model A Ford were to be expected in Ripon on Saturday.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EAfter all, it was the 21st annual Emergency Vehicle Display Show and Recruiting Fair.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EBut more stunning than the 100\x2Dplus vehicles were the job offers for valley officers who have been laid off due to the recession.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThe San Francisco Police Department fliers offered a $5,000 signing bonus for established officers wishing to join their force \x26ndash\x3B upon completion of a field training program. \x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EWhile I knew the annual car show was also billed as a recruitment fair, it was hard to comprehend that there would actually be openings available in the Bay Area communities for the displaced Manteca, Stockton, Tracy, Modesto and Sheriff\x26rsquo\x3Bs Office patrolmen within the recession environment.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThree tented tables manned by recruiting officers dotted throughout the displays of the old restored vehicles.\x26nbsp\x3B There was Contra Costa County Sheriff\x26rsquo\x3Bs Office, Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department (BART) and the San Francisco Police Department \x26ndash\x3B all looking for officers and Contra Costa needing dispatchers as well.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EContra Costa Sheriff\x26rsquo\x3Bs Sergeant Tory Kornblum and dispatcher Christie Wendling talked about the shortage of positions throughout the Central Valley and the state for sworn officers.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThey even offered me an application on the spot.\x26nbsp\x3B Chuckling, I countered that I was over the age limit and Wendling replied that was not the case for being a Sheriff\x26rsquo\x3Bs dispatcher.\x26nbsp\x3B They were serious about the slots they have to fill as were the officers from the other two departments from over the Altamont.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3ECurious about the dispatcher qualifications, I learned that a candidate has to be over 18 and be able to type at least 40 words a minute.\x26nbsp\x3B Heck, I got the age minimum beat and typing, well, I can beat that one too with about 65 words a minute.\x26nbsp\x3B And, multi\x2Dtasking skills are a must \x26ndash\x3B something every reporter must possess.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3ECandidates for officers and dispatchers must pass a thorough background investigation, medical screening and a psychological evaluation and prove they can remain calm under pressure.\x26nbsp\x3B The dispatcher position in Contra Costa County starts at $4,200 a month and tops out at $5,359. \x26nbsp\x3B\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EDeputy Sheriff in that 450,000\x2Dresident community offers six salary steps from $5,451 a month to $6,791.\x26nbsp\x3B Insurance options include medical, dental and life insurance for employees and their dependents.\x26nbsp\x3B Contra Costa County includes 12 individual cities.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThe two BART officers I met at their recruiting tent were also good to talk to in my wanderings Saturday morning.\x26nbsp\x3B It was obvious in talking with all the department representatives that social skills are foremost in their respective assignments.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThe BART department is comprised of 300 personnel with 215 being sworn officers \x26ndash\x3B most being assigned to patrol duty.\x26nbsp\x3B It also offers detective, field training canine handler, bicycle patrol, tactical team, traffic, SWAT, and hostage negotiation.\x26nbsp\x3B They start at about $5,500 and advance to $7,422 a month.\x26nbsp\x3B They, too, have paid medical, dental, vision and prescription drug plans for employees and dependants as does San Francisco Police Department.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThe San Francisco recruiting officer was equally professional and thorough in explaining what his department has to offer.\x26nbsp\x3B They need 90 recruits to go through their academy and 20 veteran officers who would be willing to transition from other police agencies throughout the state already having Peace Officers Standards in Training certificates.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EThe Bay Area\x26rsquo\x3Bs largest department is expecting some 500 officers to retire next year that will also have to be replaced out of the 2,100\x2Dstrong force.\x26nbsp\x3B SFPD salary scale starts at $85,748 and tops out at $114, 764 with 90 percent retirement at 50 years old.\x26nbsp\x3B Their current plan is to have academy classes of some 50 cadets each this fiscal year.\x26nbsp\x3B Lateral officers are also required to attend an eight week abbreviated academy rather than the full six months. \x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EA few of Manteca\x26rsquo\x3Bs laid off patrolmen have already found other employment over the hill and it\x26rsquo\x3Bs sad in a way to see more looking to the west after proving themselves in our own community.\x26nbsp\x3B There are six retiring at the end of the year knowing that if they stay on the Manteca force they face losing all but $100 of their medical coverage should they retire at a later date.\x3Cbr /\x3E\x3Cbr /\x3EIn the meantime San Joaquin County has been allocated $4.6 million in stimulus funds that is expected to be used for additional sheriff\x26rsquo\x3Bs deputies and correctional officers.\x26nbsp\x3B Sheriff Steve Moore\x26rsquo\x3Bs office said a determination of who will be hired and for what assignments will be determined early in 2012.\x3C/p\x3E
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