Low wages thin the ranks of USF's police force
David Guidi, Managing Editor
Issue date: 8/27/07 Section: News
click to see video interview with Officer Chris Migliore
Within a few weeks of starting his job with USF's police department two years ago, Chris Migliore saw three officers leave for better-paying positions at other law enforcement agencies.
The 25-year-old patrol officer is looking to make a similar move.
Migliore faces a dilemma common to many of USF's police officers with a few years of experience under their belt: Should they continue to work at USF, where the call-volumes are lower and the atmosphere more relaxed and open, or take the higher pay and other perks offered by other local law enforcement agencies?
The enticement of the added income often trumps, a fact crystallized in the police force's 40 percent turnover rate during the last six years.
"We have a good thing here, but it's to the point where I have to do what I have to do to secure my financial future," Migliore said.
Like a farm club for a major league baseball team, USF regularly loses officers who have gained the experience to garner better wages, benefits and opportunities with other agencies. As veterans of the force leave for jobs offering more money, benefits and excitement, greener officers fill the void.
More than half of the officers on patrol have less than a year experience with university policing, Longo said.
And veteran officers looking for jobs with other departments in the Tampa Bay area, have lots of choices, meaning USF has lots of competition. More than 30 different jurisdictions in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties compete for law enforcement officers, and all of them pay better than USF.
"It's a revolving door," said USF Police Chief Thomas Longo. "What we're experiencing now has been the culmination of years of events."
Finding qualified candidates willing to work for lower pay and do less sexy work than that offered by the vice squads, SWAT teams and K-9 units in city and county police forces presents a challenge, said Longo.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Mike Garry
posted 8/27/07 @ 5:35 PM EST
I worked at the Police Department for almost 30 years, every year we had Budget cuts, problems, threats of layoffs. None of this this stuff is really new. (Continued…)
Wayne
posted 8/28/07 @ 11:39 AM EST
I guess our safety really isn't a priority around here.
USF COP
posted 8/28/07 @ 5:24 PM EST
Fellow students....do not think for a second you are safe on campus. YOU ARE NOT !!! Genshaft, VP Meningall, and the others are lying through their fat pockets to falsely promote a safe environment. (Continued…)
U/P
posted 1/23/08 @ 3:00 PM EST
Officer Migliore, USFPD's Officer of the year, left the Department soon after this interview.
1 Million dollars for Security guards and a University Administration that will continue to preach that the sky is not falling. (Continued…)
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