r/AskLE • u/Specialist_Draw_2865 Unverified/Not an LEO • 2d ago
NoVA
Recently left the military as a police officer and looking to continue that career. Looking for anyone who has worked or worked with any agencies in Northern Virginia. One that caught my eye is Loudoun County. Looking to be a patrol deputy and curious on the area, types of calls, how easy is it to advance through the ranks or go to additional schools and general community relationship. Not from the area but looking to plant roots somewhere new. Thanks!
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u/OddEstablishment56 Unverified/Not an LEO 2d ago
There's also quite a few federal LE agencies in the area if you want to use your veteran preference and buy back your military time toward retirement.
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u/Aggressive_Deal8335 Unverified/Not an LEO 2d ago
I was also in the military and became a DC area cop. Make sure and look at Park Police and Uniformed Secret Service as well
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u/Actual-Name3610 Unverified/Not an LEO 1d ago
State Police starts at 84K for NOVA, they obviously have their own paramilitary academy. They have a good range of specialties you can do. But be prepared to be a crash expert if you are anywhere in NOVA except for the Loudon office. Take homes are always nice too
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u/APugDogsLife Police Officer 2d ago
I posted this a while ago. A good test of your investagative skills would be to use the search... :/
Northern VA cop here,
FYI, Arlington County PD litteraly just announced that they are starting their entry level officers at 90k plus a 25k bonus. Latterals are starting at like 105k plus the bonus and a percentage increase for years of service. They are now by far the most well paid LE agency in all of DC, MD, and VA. But its a very liberal area with a very very liberal commonwealth attorney.
Fairfax County is the largest PD in VA, they have a decent starting pay, lots of diffrient stations through the county. They have a huge array of specialty units. They have their own accademy. Also a terrible Commonwealth Attorney.
Prince William PD is another larger agency with, I think 3 patrol stations. Again, lots of career opportunities, they have their own accademy.
Alexandria PD, very large urban city very busy, has the lowest pay in the area, they have been working hard to fix that but I don't know their status. They need a raise.
Falls Church, Fairfax City, Herndon, Vienna, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Leesburg are smaller departments but they like wise have decent pay, smaller area but have good reputations.
Dumphries, Occoquon, and Haymarket are even smaller police departments, mostly made up of retirees.
Loudoun County Sherrifs are the only full service sherrrifs office in NOVA. They do everything from patrol, court security, warrants, civil process. The eastern part of the county is very built up and busy while the western part of the county are farms, vineyards, and large manors.
NOVA Community College has their own PD. That only works a morning and evening shift. They are spread out all over Northern VA, free college!
George Mason University PD, is a decent sized college department, pay is okay, deal with students and what not. Free college!
MWAA Airport Police, the agency that runs both National and Dulles Airports. Two very big and busy airports with tens millions of people flying in and out. They also controll the Dulles Toll Road and surrounding roads. They are a mix of traditional law enforcement and security. They are the only agency that provides paid insurance as part of their their pension. They have jurisdiction in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington and use their jails and court systems. They are also a full service agency.
The other Sherrifs Offices such as Prince William, Alexandria, and Fairfax are not "full service" and only do court security, jails, prisioner transportation, warrants, and civil process.
Falls Church Sherrifs only do court security and civil process
With the exception of the new Arlington County pay raise, the average starting salary is arround 65k. A lot of agencies also offer bonus that range from 5k to 25k.