Hey all!!! I'm currently a Northern New Jersey resident and I'm considering a move to the Norwich, CT area. Since this is a CT forum I was hopeing some of you in the area could help me out with some info. I want to pursue a career in Law Enforcement and the New Jersey politics are just holding a ton of people back (thats a whole other story). Anyway, I want to get out now while I'm still young. I was curious if anyone could tell me how the area is in general and stuff like cost of living, car insurance, apt rent, and just a general idea of how the area is. How are job opportunities as well? I wil have to get a job to pay for rent and stuff while I try to get hired with a Police Department somewhere. Any info anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Now maybe I should tell you a little bit about myself I'm a police dispatcher and volunteer fire fighter. I drive a 2000 Ranger xlt ex-cab 4x4 with the 4.0. Not much done to it. Window vents, tonneau cover, clear corner lights, and molded running boards are the extent of what i have done. Thanks

 

Norwich is a very nice area of Connecticut. You should have no problem find a fill in job while looking for your perfect job. Both casinos are very close to Norwich. The whole area is growing very fast. I hope this helps a little.

 

start with this page:

http://www.policecertification.com/

its a site of many of the towns in CT who are currently hiring police officers. I look at it almost every day. I too am considering a job in law enforcement although Im not too keen on the hours.

 

thanks for the info, i appreciate it. i know lowes just built a new distribution center in plainfield, ct but i believe the starting rate is $10.50/hour, i don't think that will do inorder to afford an apt and still pay my other bills...i'll have to keep looking, i'm schedualed to take one of the police tests in November but i'll need work before that process is complete.

 

what do u run for lights? what type if and when u move welcome to the ct blue light brigade

 

Well I have a whelen talon for the front dash, had a whelen talon for the rear window, clear hide-a-ways in the front and rear and blue microthin grill lights. Everything had to come out except the talon on the dash. They seem to frown upon all the ligts in the trucks in my area of NJ. we had wig wags too but they had to come out too...this department is very political so who knows, when the next chief is in everything will probably go back in the truck. what are you running?

 

i run a whelen dual dashmizer a shome blu/amber leds above the rear view wigwags w/ ultra white head lamps on top i have a nova small blu/blu light bar and a home made kit that allows my rear turn signals amber to flash back and forth w/ a 2.5 min response time from home to the fd if u ever need cheap lights ither ebay or
www.naugatuckemergencyequipment.com you want mike tell him steve from norfolk/limerock park sent u he is out of watertown good prices for up here at least!!

 

To APH453, I'm a Security Sgt. with a hospital in Middletown CT. and have many young guys working for me that have been trying to get hired onto any PD they can find. Some of these guys have military back grounds and really good educations (Assoc. up to Masters). They simply can't get past the fact that except for maybe East Hatford, There are just too many people wanting to be a cop right now. Many or most of the towns have been holding combined tests that several different towns can hire from. The problem with this method is that it draws literally thousands of people looking to get hired for just a few opennings. I gave two guys the day off to take the last State Police test held. There were 34 slots to be filled in the academy and the possibility of two classes being chosen from the same list. According to the Hartford paper, the test was given on two Saturdays and Sundays during the month. Each day it was given twice (AM and PM). Each time the test was given, 3000 people were able to be seated in three different locations. Every seat was taken with few no-shows. Thats a lot of people for just a few openings. I've heard it gets easier as you get further west, but don't know for sure. Good luck with your move.

 

i was one of the no-shows... i over slept.... oops.

 

i work security at a race track limerock
park

 

i personally hate living here...too many people and too expensive to live...I will be leaving with in the year... we have a lot of menial, service jobs, but very few that will pay your bills... your mileage may vary...

 

Where in CT do you live? It's funny cause i feel the same way about NJ...this place is way to expensive...the price of insurance, homes/rent, etc is out of control. I want to make the move while I'm still young. Thanks for all the imput so far. I will be visting my friend in Norwich this weekend and will check out the area good.

 

it's in my sig. i live in norwich...my insurance is more than my truck payment, i know what your saying...

 

Well I just got home from my trip to Norwich,CT. I must say that it is beautiful there. The only thing I was disappointed with was the price of gas. Other then that the trip was excellent. My friend’s apartment is so nice and he gets allot for the money, which is cheaper then NJ to begin with. I got to talk to some of the firefighters and officers they gave me some good advice .<V</V We went to Mohegan Sun too and I came out $8.50 cents more then I walked in with. For my first time ever being to a casino I think I did pretty well. We also went to a renaissance fair and an open house (fire-police-ems). Now all I need to do is find a job in the meantime to support myself until I get hired somewhere.

 

If u ever come up to the town of norfolk thats in litchfield county (the town next to winsted last exit off rt 8 north the next town over on 44 west) ill give u a tour of the fd