Vegas cops recruiting in Big Apple

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 11:23 a.m.

It looks like they may hit the jackpot, and they didn't need showgirls or Wayne Newton to draw attention to their recruiting table.

The thought of warm weather, a high starting salary and no state income tax were enough of a draw for future cops - and even some NYPD veterans.

The recruiters pitched a line that's worked before: Go West, young man - and young woman, and older person, too. The Las Vegas department, unlike New York, has no cutoff age for its officers.

Their table was very popular at the job fair held Wednesday at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Scores of people talked to two recruiters and filled out applications while passing by recruiters from other police agencies.

Why come all the way to New York for cops? Sgt. Charles Hank III said area residents seem to be greatly attracted to Las Vegas.

"Over 50 percent of our new hires come from out of state and over 30 percent come from this region of the country," said Hank, a recruiter. "We've already got some former officers from NYPD."

Officer Walter Hall, a transit cop for four years, said he was thinking about working in the Las Vegas department because it's not as political as New York's.

"And I think they value their cops out there more than New York does," said Hall, referring to community support of cops.

In Las Vegas, 78 percent of the community approves of the job the department is doing, Hank said.

That's one of the selling points Hank used. Starting salaries, education requirements, and of course, warm weather were the others. Then he compared all that with the NYPD.

Las Vegas offers cops a starting salary at over $37,000, and there's no state income tax. The NYPD's starting salary, according to its recruiting department, is $29,533. And there's that pesky state income tax plus a city income tax.

Las Vegas requires only a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate to apply. The NYPD requires 60 college credit hours or two years of active military service before a person fills out an application.

Las Vegas is warm in the winter. New York is cold. Enough said about that.

And for the final zinger.

"You could go out to Las Vegas, find a three-bedroom home, a 2 1/2-bath, three-car garage, over 1,800 square feet, for approximately $125,000," Hank said.

"I think only Donald Trump lives in such a place here," said Bronx resident Joey Ramirez, 19, as he grabbed an application.

So if life is so good in Las Vegas, why come calling in New York? The force needs people to cope with a growing population, Hank said.

Hank said he may come back next year to administer tests, including physical fitness and written exams. This would eliminate the expense of having people pay their way to Las Vegas to take such tests.

While most people filling out applications had the high pay and warm weather on their minds, Brooklyn resident Efrain Perez said working in New York or Las Vegas would be the same.

"There's a lot of crime there, too," said Perez, 18.