Pros
Some of the good benefits working for FHP is a take home patrol car once you have completed the training academy and have been stationed to a Troop. Paid training while in the academy which I will add was a top notch training institution. Ability to supplement your income by working off duty. FHP offers state college tuition waiver program. Take advantage of this opportunity, also when I was still working for FHP we were able to utilize our patrol cars to attend college courses. Equipment and patrol cars offered by FHP were always great compared to other law enforcement agencies.
Cons
The negatives which unfortunately is a lot are unstable work and personnel time. FHP had a rotational schedule where every 28 days you would rotate with your squad from morning to afternoon and to midnight shifts. This puts a lot of stress on the body and planning leave impossible. Worst pay scale of any state law enforcement agency in the United States that is not called Mississippi State Police. In my almost 11 years as a State Trooper I can recall only two pay increases that was enacted by state legislators. There is no incremental pay step program, basically you will make the same pay throughout your career unless you either promote or the state legislature enacts a one time pay raise. Adjusting for inflation, you will most likely have a yearly salary that is not keeping up with cost of living. Health and Medical Insurance is cut off once you retire or unless you were lucky enough to retire as a Major or above. You will most likely be overworked due to lack of manpower. Even before I joined FHP there was always a lack of road coverage which translate to forced overtime and at times shift changes. It is not unlike FHP leadership to change someone's schedule at a moments notice due to inadequate road coverage without the consent or approval of the Trooper. PBA and other unions are useless. Unions within the FHP are run by active FHP members who are more than likely in cahoots with leadership. Leadership doesn't care about the well being of their Troopers all they care about is contacts which is synonymous with tickets, and DUI arrest. They could careless if you have been actively working accident reports all day, if you don't tax the motoring public you will surely be in the Captain's office. Most FHP members are unable to retire due to lack of retirement wages from state pension. This forces many Troopers who should have been retired to still work. Do not be surprised if you run in to a 70+ year old Trooper, sad but true there many of them are still working.