It's tough to decide what's better.

In short, the NorthBay department pays more, has better benefits, will give me a commuter car, is far safer, filled with almost all upscale people and very little crime, and the equipment in the vehicles and on the officers is bar-none best in NorCal, if not the state.

The eastbay department has old equipment, is in the ghetto, pays about $12,000 less (though still adequate), is busy as hell, has tons of violent crime and has even had numerous officers shot in the past couple years. But the huge thing for me is, I absolutely loved the place when I did a ride-along. We were arresting people that really are a "menace to society," not just some rich white uptight asshole kids with Marijuana in their pockets.