Good, I'm glad to hear that. I was getting worried about them.
Well, it does not mean you should not be worried...:image035:
For the original OP:
I made the switch from local to federal. The transition was dififcult at first. Every time you see a patrol car running code somewhere, you tend to get an ache inside that tells you that you miss it, accompanied by an urge to flip on your kojack bubble-gum light and follow along.
That being said, after several years with the feds, family considerations returned me to a local PD. At first, I was thrilled. I loved being back on patrol. Then I realized I had become spoiled. After a couple of years, I was back with the Feds.
It has been my experience that
most former patrol cops have some trouble with the transition, but, if they make it past the first year, they will stick with the feds. The thing is, you tend to only remember (and miss) the fun stuff: running code; foot pursuits; fights; kicking in doors; etc. You quickly
forget working wrecks right at the end of your shift; directing traffic in the pouring rain, blowing snow, or egg-frying heat; drunks throwing up in your cruiser; rotating shifts; extra work to make ends meet (at least in the southeast); going to the same house every weekend to separate the same drunken brawling husband and wife; death notifications; etc.
I'm lucky. I'm in a job I love where I have lot of really cool lights on my g-ride and still get to think I'm a real cop sometimes. Do I still miss patrol when I see a cruiser running code? Absolutely. But would I go back now? No. Better pay; better hours; better family life; and I love what I do.
Gonzo