TexasCHLforum.com

srothstein wrote:...My first is to not do it if you want to earn a good living...

On the subject of a law enforcement career, the statement above was one of the biggest reasons I stayed on the information technology path when I hit a crossroads last year. I might be able to eventually get back to my current payrate but, it would take several promotions and lots of overtime to do it with any of the local agencies. And in the meantime, my wife would see me a lot less often than she does now and there'd be a significantly greater risk of me not coming home at the end of the day. Those were deal breakers for the both of us.

Depends on state and local statutes as well as department regulations. Texas law specifically allows commissioned peace-officers to carry on or about their person. CHL laws do not apply. But, I know for a fact that some constable's offices tell their reserve and off-duty officers/deputies NOT to carry except in uniform and/or on official business. This was a contributiing factor to the death of one local constable in Harris County. HPD on the otherhand, specifically requires officers to carry off-duty but the firearm must remain concealed unless the officer is in uniform.