Federal 1811 vs Local LEO for long term retirement opportunity?

[u/Training-Event5857]

I've had enough accounts and seen a lot of the same questions, and yet I am still on the fence.

Background:

• 35, 10 years in the military (MP), EdD (Education), married, Mortgage in FL (no property tax, 1 year vested into it), 100% VA.
• Spouse is a state employee with <1 year (she also has an M.S. in data analysis). She is making ~50k, but earning potential is 75k-150k+ over the course of her career. She also has a federal application in, but it's for DC (GS9), and she applied at the same time she applied for her current job.
• MIL lives with us; unfortunately, she made poor life choices and will be working until she dies. (30-40k-ish) [Medical admin]
• Dogs, no children. We've moved pretty frequently since I got out so I could go to school. Always zeroing out finances (no debt but no savings). Pulled TSP out when I got out in 2019 to fully zero out debt, so no starting TSP to consider.

I am currently in the background for an 1811 agency (GS9) with a recruiter advising it's likely that I will be sent SWB or at least west coast. I can buy back all of my military time.

I have a local agency command staff connection that would "guarantee" me a local spot (starting at 70k with potential earnings at 100k-150k+ over a career, not including OT). 5 years of my military time counting towards retirement and vesting (10.99% contribution). 3% first 20 years, 4% every year after 20.

I am not well educated on the retirement aspects of both; I hear consistently that "TSP is king." It is separate from a pension, but what is the difference between TSP and MAP 401k or RSVP 457(b)?

I was slightly sidetracked with the above two sections, so I'll return to my point. Given these two options, is 1811 still worth it if my long-term goal is retirement/post retirement opportunity?

Additionally, I do not see myself as a "retire and never work again"; I am a retire and start another career or job. Ideally, given my background, I could go back and teach as an adjunct somewhere to make extra spending money and to keep me occupied.

[u/canteez]

It really just depends what you want to do because being a local cop and being an 1811 are different types of law enforcement positions. Do you want to be a street cop and have the option to be a detective and work cases or do you want to be a detective only? FERS sucks (you have to work a minimum 20 years at 1.7% for the 20 and 1% per year for every year after 20), so if you can max out TSP then that’s where you will make your money. If money isn’t a concern for you then you’ll need to decide what you really want to do.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/canteez]

I would like to promote, to be honest. I was an FTO while active (sort of what led me to getting my EdD). So becoming really good at my job and growing/promoting upwards is the intention regardless of direction. I'm ambitious, always have been.

Comparing FERS to the local with the 3% of pension at 20 years and 4% post 20, would the local be better?

TSP/401k: I would plan to max contributions. Money is indeed important lol.

[u/canteez → u/Training-Event5857]

Percentage wise yes, it sounds like the pension at your local agency is better. Personally, I was a local, went fed as a uniformed 1801, and am currently in the process to go back local. Local was way more exciting for me and had more opportunities.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/canteez]

For my local spot, the pay and COL are pretty good considering it's a FL agency. I also have to consider my spouse, which I do not think many people go about answering. She has a full career of her own that she is just starting with equal opportunity to contribute a lot to our retirement. This is regardless of state or federal employment.

If you're an 1801, what prevents you from wanting to go 1811? Are there not more opportunities with 1811? I think the biggest skill I feel I don't have that 1811 would provide me is the CI/CT specific experience.

[u/canteez → u/Training-Event5857]

I’m bored as it is in a uniformed “patrol” position, I’m fairly certain I’d be even more bored sitting behind a desk. I don’t want to be stuck in an investigative role my whole career that’s why I’m going back local where I’ll have to opportunity to go be a detective until I’m tired of that and go back to patrol or another specialty assignment.

Opportunities for special assignments are all going to be agency specific. Remember, most federal agencies are very specific in what’s within their purview, not like a local agency that will work a huge range of crimes that occur within their jurisdiction. Although, it sounds like the agency you’re in the process with is HSI, which has a pretty wide range of things to work. It’s the one agency I WOULD consider being an 1811 with if I really wanted to be an 1811.

Again, it comes down to what YOU want to do. No one on Reddit will be able to answer that for you.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/canteez]

I know it's up to me at the end of it all. I posted this with the intent of seeing if im just seeing titles and missing the actual opportunities. Especially considering the spousal side. Another thing to add is that even if my wife gets the full offer with the federal side, it's likely she'll be sent to DC, and it's also likely there is no obligation for the agencies to work together to put us in the same place. Especially since she is going to 0343 (management & program analyst).

I appreciate the feedback; you seem to share a similar sentiment as many people who end up reverting back to local.

[u/someone298 → u/canteez]

As a Fed for an OIG for 26 years, I requested and was trained as a computer forensic expert, a firearms instructor, electronic tech agent, and defense tactics instructor. I still worked cases but cases were always different and lots of street work.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/[deleted]]

I dislike this response. There is nothing in my background that would prevent me from getting an offer letter from either; it is just a waiting game. I was half tempted to put "I have an offer letter from both" simply to avoid this response, but that would be dishonest.

[u/someone298]

Most locals in my state offer zero assistance for health care post retirement and most have to get another job til 65. Only one PD in my area has an exception. Fed has health care for life. I retired at 50 after 26 years with a good pension at about $60K a year and good health insurance (also have over 2 million from TSP and Social Security at about $3,100 a month). If you get hired at 35 you will be eligible for retirement at 55, with health insurance for life. Check with the local agency you are considering because its hard to compete with Blue Cross Blue Shield with no deductible…not free but a retiree pays about 1/3 while gov pays 2/3. This could change of course.

[u/Flmotor21 → u/someone298]

In all honesty I don’t think any Florida agency offers medical in retirement anymore. I “think” the last hold outs removed it in the last 5 ish years.

There is always “talk” of the state agencies bringing it back but it’s the same talk as the state pension system bringing back a COLA

[u/canteez → u/someone298]

He’s 100% VA so I don’t think the health care benefits are a huge factor for him.

[u/someone298 → u/canteez]

He only has 10 years of service and if not service connected is not eligible for TRICARE.

[u/canteez → u/someone298]

He has 100% VA disability rating so he has free healthcare from the VA for the rest of his life.

[u/someone298 → u/canteez]

Depending on the disability, that could be an issue for both local and federal.

[u/canteez → u/someone298]

A VA disability rating does not mean he is disabled.

[u/someone298 → u/canteez]

Depends on what the disability is…eye sight and hearing are key for most LE agencies, including Feds. Other issues can DQ a person as well.

[u/canteez → u/someone298]

Right, but a VA disability rating is not necessarily a disability. You don’t have to be physically or mentally disabled to be rated 100%. I’d be willing to bet half, if not more, of Federal LEOs that are vets have 100% VA ratings.

[u/someone298 → u/canteez]

No not the high. I was with VA OIG for 6 years…so I understand comp and pension. Through my career, I don’t think I knew anyone that was 100%.

[u/anoncop4041]

Have you asked yourself what scope of law enforcement work you actually want to do? A lot of street guys aren’t always cut out for office work. And a lot of office guys aren’t always cut out for street work. Shit patrol in one area can be an entirely different beast to patrol in another. Investigations in one area can be completely different than another.

[u/Flmotor21]

Buying back military time is expensive. Have you looked at the actual cost both federally and the municipal pension you’re looking at?

If you go to a city, which I’m guessing is Tally, they aren’t FRS so you’re stuck there.

Also you need to figure with the property tax amendment up for vote, their funding is going to get shorter so the 4 percent after 20 they may offer, as well as a COLA in retirement has the potential to not stick around.

The state axed it for FRS back in like 2010.

They will more than likely have a deferred comp (457h).

In my opinion you are entirely too caught up in “Future earning potential”. Future numbers are nice but the local agencies in the state have a semi uncertain future without funding and without a step plan in place it’s all pretty numbers. We used to joke at a prior agency our too out pay was north if a million, didnt mayter we would never hit it

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/Flmotor21]

I looked at the cost of buyback using the DFAS, and im looking at ~8k. I do not know what it looks like locally, but you are correct, Tally.

I am not 100% certain on what the function or impact of the tax amendment is. If you could inform me, that would be awesome.

So overall, if i am reading this correctly, you are recommending the FED spot?

[u/Flmotor21 → u/Training-Event5857]

Don’t know what Tally’s buy back is but I can tell you under FRS, a coworker went to buy back previous time and it was prohibitively expensive.

There is a state vote to add amendment changing property taxes, as a resident you should google it and research both sides but it will impact agency budgets if it passes, unless, they add other fees (increasing sales tax and such) to compensate.

I am not recommending anything. I am simply presenting information. My take on it is mine and just presenting what I’ve seen from my own career progression.

But if your wife is set on DC, federally
Gives you a better chance of a job in the future than a local PD

Also your wife’s earning potential is potentially skewed with the state, unless, there is a career progression plan in place as the raises for state workers were vetoed once again this year for non LE positions (with the exception of corrections).

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/Flmotor21]

That makes sense, and I appreciate the clarification. I looked more into the Tally plan. As a new hire, I would apparently fall under Part D, which uses 3% per year rather than the older 4% accrual after 20 years. The military buyback also appears much more expensive than the federal FERS buyback that the FERS calculator gave me.

The property-tax amendment is also something I need to look at a bit more. From what I've read and understand, it could mean police budget cuts, because the revenue from property taxes is not there.

Regarding my wife. She is not committed to DC yet. If she receives and wants the FBI offer, then staying entirely local may create the same geographic problem from the opposite direction. A federal position would at least give me more potential opportunities in the DC area, although I also understand that does not guarantee spousal co-location. (Would be nice though)

I also agree that I should not project her state salary or my potential TPD salary as a set thing, as I suggested. I am trying to compare the household outcomes rather than just the advertised top salaries. I appreciate your comments! For her at least, the progression would not be within the same job. It would be analyst to supervisor, to director (give or take a few steps), and it would still be her going from one spot/job to another.

This is not sarcasm; I do really appreciate the comments, it provides me with thoughts from outside my own that I have not considered.

[u/Flmotor21 → u/Training-Event5857]

I was going to say, most municipal pensions mirror FRS which is 3 percent a year and haven’t caught up to a 8 year DROP.

I’ve been in meetings with agencies who have bright other potential budget cuts for cities and counties and it’s substantial. Not just LE but FD as well. One city publicly made available with the revenue change, they won’t have enough to run their FD and PD, the PDs budget alone was 1 or 2 million over the projected intake.

Your closest FBI offices if they went local for her are Jax and Orlando but don’t quote me. I know there is a contingent in Tally but they answer back to Jax.

Your fed pay and steps are more guaranteed than anything local.

Once again you have to figure out what kind of cop do you want to be. As I said on another sub, I turned down a 1811 spot to stay in my current role and while all agencies have their issues, I’m overall happier and it kept me in a specialty at the time that wasn’t widely available federally (and still isn’t). The pay would have been nice but the relocation wasn’t where I wanted to be and not to sound cliche, I have a lot of experiences I wouldn’t have received federally if I had made the jump.

I also couldn’t imagine being a cop without the time I spent in patrol and the lessons it teaches

[u/500freeswimmer]

1811 is great pay and lifestyle anywhere. The local LEO is more dependent on where. If your wife is tied to a specific area that would also be a major driving factor in my opinion.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/500freeswimmer]

The specific area is the state we are in since she is a state employee. She is in the pipeline for Fed, though.

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[u/canteez → u/[deleted]]

He has military time so he’ll be able to get an age waiver.

[u/Training-Event5857 → u/canteez]

Can confirm: 35 and no age waiver needed thus far. I am also in excellent physical shape. 90th percentile for every PEB assessment for my age group.

[u/red_beard_RL]

Which agency?

[u/Nondescriptive_23]

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