CLPEX Chat Board

The Texas Department of Public Safety has a few positions open in the Latent and AFIS sections of the crime laboratory in Austin. Follow the links here:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... =9914308PH

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... =9913308PH

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... =9913408PH

A few questions, if you don't mind, Crimcon:

1. Does Texas DPS accept lateral entry, or do new hires start at the bottom regardless of experience in other latent print sections?

2. If there is no lateral entry, how long does it take to top out?

3. What about benefits, other than what HR would tell an applicant?
a. Is the health insurance really any good?
b. What are the terms for retirement -- years? points?

4. Cutting through all the hype, how good really is Texas DPS to its employees?

5. What is the turnover rate, not counting full retirements?

6. Isn't the cost of living high in Austin? How does the salary compare with private employers in the area? Can a latent print examiner live comfortably in Austin, or does it require a second income from a spouse or a part time job?

Thanks

Another question: What is the attitude of DPS about employees doing outside work? Specifically, are employees allowed to work off duty as defense experts outside the state as long as there is no conflict of interest in the cases they work?