What is the best kind of law enforcement department to join?

I am about to go to college and major in criminal justice. I want to pursue a career in law enforcement. What is best, local, county, or state? I am pretty sure that I don't want to be a city cop; people just seem to hate them, so really it's a choice between county and state.

As a practical matter, most county Sheriffs end up doing prisoner transports and other "grunt work" activity. Many state trooper commanders don't like to hire anybody who hasn't had a few years of law enforcement under their belt (they want the washouts to happen on somebody elses turf to preserve their image). In my Dad's day, the FBI did a lot of hiring right out of college, they've since become most cautious.

More important is the ethics of your organization. NYPD and LAPD deal with such large populations and established crime (gang, etc). that their ethics is always in question. Whereas the local Sheriff who drinks coffee with everybody at the Dunkin Donuts may be seen as a model of integrity. Pick your department like you would a wife. Do you want them screwing around on you when your career is at stake?

Actually for benefits and pay Border Patrol is a very good option. You do not have to have a degree (it never hurts though), and on average you can be making up to 75,000 after just 3 years. You start in the southwest on that border, then after 2-3 years you can usually transfer to like Florida or Alaska or even the Canadian border.

Go for Federal. You should be able to get on with a 4 year degree and a good backgound. You make more money and have more benefits.

Local Police office

DEA!