Unless there is something you are leaving it out it seems to me your current job is much better in the long term for you and your family. Losing the benefits including the free education is a big loss, not to mention the 10k that you would then be losing out on. Doing what you've done for 8+ years probably gets boring especially if you dont particularly like who you are working with....but in your case it sounds like you would only be hurting yourself to ditch your current job for the sherriffs position. We all get burnt out from time to time, but if you really think you would get more enjoyment out of the other offer then maybe it is worth it to change. In the end only you can make that decision.