Louisville Metro Police officer to face criminal charges after allegedly slapping handcuffed man

Yeah, that's part of it. Years ago on LPD we had a "Special Unit" pay (or whatever it was called). Don't recall it being much (like maybe $15 a pay period or something?), but at least it was something.

The other issue is burnout. Riding a beat definitely has it's advantages in that you normally do your 8/10 hours, then leave and you're done until the next shift.

Not so in a specialty unit. On top of all the pressure to keep your caseload managed, there's the callouts, no extra pay on the contract for those times when on call (which contrary to what the contract allows, "on call" happens to some folks 365/year instead of no more than one month on, one month off), and the reality that the vast majority of crimes that need immediate attention from a detective don't always fit nicely within a pre-determined timeframe.

Don't get me wrong: everyone who puts in for one of those units knows these things going in, so I'm not saying feel sympathy for them. However, year after year of the jacked-up sleep schedule (or lack of sleep), no real sense of support from the front office, no real sense of support from *certain* MCD bosses, banging your head in the wall trying to get scumbags locked up and keeping them locked up despite the court system doing their best to just let them all run rampant...you get the idea.

Like I said....burnout.

they get a hell of a lot more OT than the average officer on the beat. They know what the job is and what is required of them. If it is not worth it stay on the beat.