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Main Page Residency reqirements
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: JCM1975

Will Massachusetts ever do away with the ridiculous one year pre-test residency requirement? Most departments have smartened up (except Boston to name one) and don't require a post-hire residency...... Does it make any sense at all to limit your talent pool to only those who live (for one year prior to test) in you city or town? Who's brilliant idea was this any way? The system most states have in place (California, Florida and New Hampshire to name a few) works best, since a large talent pool from all over is in place. The result is better candidates and better officers.

Posted by: Curious EMT

The theory is partly that officers working in their hometown will care more, and want to put in the extra effort to keep their home town clean.

You will always have outstanding officers from out of town, and lazy half-assed cops from home.

When will they do away? who knows! As soon as they realize the first ethnic minority / woman on the list isnt the best candidate for the job. People who get things handed to them tend not to appreciate those that worked hard and got it 100% based on merit, not physical traits...

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCM1975

Will Massachusetts ever do away with the ridiculous one year pre-test residency requirement?

I don't think it's so ridiculous. We always have many more applicants than positions, and having someone from the city is a positive in many ways. Most importantly, they don't need a remedial lesson in geography. I don't expect new officers to know every side street, but they should at least be familiar with the main roads. Someone who's lived in the city for a year or more will most likely know this already.

Posted by: LA Copper

Delta,

I usually agree with you on other stuff but I think I have to disagree with you on this one. Other than being familiar with the streets and such, I think the residency rule is limiting the departments from other potentially qualified candidates.

I'm an example of that. I didn't know much about Los Angeles before I tested out here and I certainly didn't grow up here. (I'm a Weymouth guy by way of Jamaica Plain) There are a heck of a lot of folks on the job out here that are also from the Boston area who didn't live here prior to testing. I'd say most of us do a pretty good job, regardless of the fact that we're not from here. The geography lesson is really no big deal, especially with city and town sizes back there. (Los Angeles is 465 square miles! I've been on the job 17 years out here and I still don't know the whole city.)

I can see giving a resident an extra look but I don't think the city or town should limit themselves to residents only.

And speaking of residency requirements, I also disagree with the city or town forcing you to live in town. Thankfully, we don't have that problem out here. Just my opinion.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

I usually agree with you on other stuff but I think I have to disagree with you on this one. Other than being familiar with the streets and such, I think the residency rule is limiting the departments from other potentially qualified candidates.

My point is that there's really no need to eliminate the preference around here, because there are always plenty of qualified residents for each position. My brother and two of my best friends grew up in Quincy, and could never crack the Civil Service barrier to get hired. My brother and one of my friends went to Maine, the other friend went to Florida, and they're all great cops on their respective departments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

I'm an example of that. I didn't know much about Los Angeles before I tested out here and I certainly didn't grow up here. (I'm a Weymouth guy by way of Jamaica Plain) There are a heck of a lot of folks on the job out here that are also from the Boston area who didn't live here prior to testing. I'd say most of us do a pretty good job, regardless of the fact that we're not from here.

Different circumstances. As I mentioned in another thread, it's always fascinated me that departments out west have to recruit nationwide, while PD's around here are swamped with applicants for every position. LAPD would dwindle to almost nothing if they only accepted residents, don't you think?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

And speaking of residency requirements, I also disagree with the city or town forcing you to live in town. Thankfully, we don't have that problem out here. Just my opinion.

I agree with you 100% there.

Posted by: Buford T

How about the smaller affluent towns where the average officer cannot afford to live? Sort of eliminates residency preference after the initial hiring. This is nothing new in Boston or any other major city with residency requirements.

Posted by: LA Copper

Delta,
I can totally relate to your brother and friends. I got to within twenty on the Weymouth list but that was it. I would have loved to get on Quincy or Brockton or Boston but because of the residency rules, I, and people like me had no chance. Such is life I guess.

As far as why we take people from outside Los Angeles, it isn't so much that we go out and recruit, it's that people like me come out here and test. We give the test six times a week out here. None of the "once every two years" stuff like back there. Plus, we hire approximately five to seven hundred people a year. That's a lot more than the three or four that a place like Weymouth would hire each year. Supposedly, we hire one person for every thirty five that apply. Kind of a strict hiring policy, especially in backgrounds.

You should come out sometime and check us out!

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buford T

How about the smaller affluent towns where the average officer cannot afford to live? Sort of eliminates residency preference after the initial hiring. This is nothing new in Boston or any other major city with residency requirements.

Boston is a pretty bad example, because you not only have to live there when hired, but also stay there for the duration of your career.

Keep in mind that residency is a mere preference. If an affluent town like Cohasset is hiring, non-residents aren't excluded, they're just further down the list than residents. If not enough residents are on the list, the non-residents will get the card in the mail.

Posted by: SGT_GRUNT_USMC

I am a Police Officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and I am from Holliston, Massachusetts.I was a Corrections Officer for the Mass DOC for over 5 years(MCI Walpole,Mass Boot Camp,and SBCC,Tac Team.etc) and trying to become a cop.Mass sucks for police hiring.I scored a 95 on the last MSP test and nothing.I decided to test for the LVMPD and I was in within a year from the test date.LVMPD has no residency or AA.Just 2 points for vets, of which I am a vet twice.
There are no regrets here.I graduated from the LVMPD Academy after 23 weeks and couldn't be happier.This is the greatest police department in America (sorry MSP and LAPD).

Semper Fi,

Posted by: LA Copper

Hey Sgt,
no offense taken. More power to ya for really liking your job and your department. I've heard good things about the Las Vegas PD. I take it morale on your department is up. Enjoy it while you can. How much time do you have on the job there?

Delta,
I agree about Boston. I would love to work there but not want to live there. Just like out here, I love to work in L.A. but would not want to live there.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA Copper

You should come out sometime and check us out!

When I first got out of the Army, I did go out there, and tested for both the LAPD and the LA County Sheriff's Department. Back then, the police would test on one day of the weekend (Saturday or Sunday), and the sheriff would test on the other (no idea if they do that anymore). I was told by the sheriff's recruiter to expect no more than 3 years in the jail, apparently it's a lot more than that now.

I ended up getting hired fairly quickly by a PD here, so I never did pursue LA more than taking the tests. I would like to visit there someday, however, and see more than the airport, my hotel room, and the testing centers. I'll be sure to let you know if/when I do!

Posted by: Officer Dunngeon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta784

Boston is a pretty bad example, because you not only have to live there when hired, but also stay there for the duration of your career.

Not necessarily. I believe in the last contract, if you've been employed there since 199(4, I think?) you are NOT held to the residency requirement. I know for the Munis it's at 1990. They try to push it up with every new contract.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Dunngeon

My point was that you can't get hired by the BPD, unless you live in the city, and you have to continue to live in the city for the duration. A cut-off date of 1994 doesn't much help new hires, or people currently on the list.

If the BPPA is smart, and I know they are, they'll parlay the proposed BPD/BHA/BMP merger into dumping the residency requirement.

Posted by: Officer Dunngeon

Oh God... you had to bring up the oldest rumor in the world, 20+ years and counting... don't hold your breath!

Anyhoos, I understand what your point is, I was commenting that you more than likely WOULD NOT have to spend the duration of your career in the City if employed by BPD. I live in the City, I work for the City, I do as of this date have to abide by the residency requirement, and I make no where near the money BPD does... but somehow, I'm still able to afford it! However, EVENTUALLY, I'm sure than I'll have the option to move outside the city limits at some point. Yes, you'll more than likely spend a big chunk of your career living under that ridiculous Boston rule, but it probably wouldn't last for the ENTIRE duration. So who cares about the new hires? If you wanna work here, then move to the city and do the time like the rest of us!

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Dunngeon

Oh God... you had to bring up the oldest rumor in the world, 20+ years and counting... don't hold your breath!

I won't, but I will say that I have some inside information, and it's most likely closer to reality than you probably think. Keep in mind I said "closer", not "done deal".

PM me if you want some non-specific details.

Posted by: Officer Dunngeon

I work for the Munis. Thanks for the offer, but I don't need it. If you want some inside information, don't PM me for the very specific details, it's a waste of my time and yours.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Dunngeon

I work for the Munis. Thanks for the offer, but I don't need it. If you want some inside information, don't PM me for the very specific details, it's a waste of my time and yours.

By non-specific, I meant names, but I won't waste your time.

Posted by: no$.10

QUOTE=JCM1975-"... The system most states have in place (California, Florida and New Hampshire to name a few) works best, since a large talent pool from all over is in place. The result is better candidates and better officers.[/quote]

Another result is that the aforementioned departments have quite a few candidates who go through the academy, last a year or two, all the while still applying to their home state (where they grew up, where their families are located). After being accepted (they now have experience) the out of state agency has trained this candidate for nothing. I think the residency rule helps to ensure that if the state is going to invest in someone, they will get their money's worth. IMHO

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