Pros
Take home car, excellent insurance benefits (for now and only while you work), plenty of overtime and private off duty (see below for caveat), retirement plan is OK (not great), most equipment provided, advancement possible (see below for the buts)
Cons
The Patrol needs a career merit pay system of some sort. The legislature refuses to fund anything so nobody knows when they'll get a pay raise. We went 6 years without and only got 5% when it finally came through. I make less as a 25 year sergeant than troopers who retired 5 years ago. The starting pay is so low you are forced to work overtime. Forget a family life. Shift work forces you to work midnight shift every few months or more often due to turnover. I repeat, forget a family life. The retirement plan was one of the best until the aforementioned legislature started whittling away at it and continually threatens more cuts. More overtime required to fund your own retirement plan. I repeat again, forget a family life. Grow eyes in the back of your head and plan on sweating your tail off with a ballistic vest; you WILL have a target on you. Advancement is possible assuming you don't get on anyone's list, BUT; you will work long hours WITHOUT overtime for generally less pay than the same hours at entry level (can you say FLSA exempt). And for the last time, FORGET A FAMILY LIFE. My recommendation to anyone considering FHP; join up for the experience and move on quickly, but don't make it a career.