Police Academy

[reefworried124]

Hey everyone. After 5 years of indecisiveness, I have finally found what I want to do. I wan't to become a police officer. I have heard that is a very challenging job both physically and mentally and I am both physically and mentally challenged!hahahhaah!! J/K Seriously though, ever since I was about 17 I wanted to be a cop, but for unknown reasons everyone I told just told me that I wasn't the kind of person that would be a cop and that I don't have the personality. They also discouraged me by saying all this B.S about how I have to be prepared to shoot someone and be prepared to get shot. It was just recently that I really started to look into things and I found that alot of the things that I was told were all lies or exaggerations. First off, yes I will have to be prepared to shoot someone, but statistically a cop would have to work on the force for 400 years before he would have to shoot someone. I also watched discovery channels top dangerous jobs, and waiting for the police officer section, it didn't come on! I was like "wait, did they forget?". It turns out, that Police Officer does not even make the top 10! Firemen are only about 6 or something. So I went to the police station at my community college that I am going to, and he told me the truth with no bias. How do I know he didn't tell me with any bias? Because the first thing he told me was that he didn't want to be a cop, but be a firefighter! So he told me what the job is, and how tough you have to be mentally and physically. He told me about how alot of people don't respect cops anymore and stuff. And then he tried to sell me on the fire department, but I don't want to wait 6 years before I can work.
Anyways, so i am going to sign up for the academy at a college up here in august, and then go for it. I also want to get a criminal justice degree, a degree in psychology and maybe a couple of other ones that would help me be a detective later on.
I do have some questions about the academy though. Is there anyone on this site that is a police officer and knows about the academy?? Even though I have a little while, I want to get a jump on things. I am in pretty good shape, I run about 25-30 miles a week, lift weights, surf, hike, trail run, box, and fishtank too. I am really smart if I am interested in what im learning. Oh yeah, and something I am pretty proud of, even though I wasn't considered a geek in high school, I managed to keep myself drug free. Well, i mean the devil weed a couple times doesn't count right?? But that ended at like 19. I don't know, even though I have been a complete goof off, there is still a really serious side of me that is really outgoing and wants to help people. What you guys think?

[Big Dave]

I can't help you on the Academy thing, but good for you!! I am 34 and just this fall returned to school. It's a scary thing at this point in my life - wife and kids to take care of and all! But I was tired of working dead-end jobs and decided to go for it!! I suggest anyone thinking of a career change or furthering their education - Go For It!!


-Big Dave

[Jeremy1973]

Congrats Reef! Once you are a cop, maybe I will come to CA and give you a chance to have a high speed pursuit. heh heh Only if you promise not to ticket or arrest me later when I let you catch me. heh hhe

[FishDaddy]

First, let me wish you well in pursuit of your career. Being a good police officer is a commitment to serve and isn't easy, either on or off duty. The shift work is tough on family life.

I spent nearly 25 years in one form of law enforcement or another, including graduation from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Agent School, which is comparable to the FBI Academy, and have taught in various police academies along the way.

While not always written into the job qualifications, a college degree in law enforcement will go a long way toward being accepted for a police officer position. The application process in most departments is highly competitive and the more education, training, and experience you have the better your chances are.

There is no such thing as a 'police officer personality' but good judgment and common sense are common traits of the good officers.

Good luck in your endeavor,

Dick

[reefworried124]

Big Dave, 34 is nothing! There is this 60 year old guy that is in my french class working on his AA and he is annoying! He is trying to get with my teacher. he is always flirting with her and stuff. Dont even worry about it till you are his age.

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I can't help you on the Academy thing, but good for you!! I am 34 and just this fall returned to school. It's a scary thing at this point in my life - wife and kids to take care of and all! But I was tired of working dead-end jobs and decided to go for it!! I suggest anyone thinking of a career change or furthering their education - Go For It!!


-Big Dave

[tims]

congrads on your choice.. i hope you do very well.
around here you must have college to become an officer. you will love the training and hands on work you will do, even though i am not a officer of the law i did go though US marshal and FBI training in Quanico ( sp?)after everything that was done i decide that it was not for me.... a little late$$$$$.

Good luck!

[reefworried124]

Originally Posted by tims

congrads on your choice.. i hope you do very well.
around here you must have college to become an officer. you will love the training and hands on work you will do, even though i am not a officer of the law i did go though US marshal and FBI training in Quanico ( sp?)after everything that was done i decide that it was not for me.... a little late$$$$$.

Good luck!

Thanks tims, my goal is to become some sort of an investigator with either the police or fbi or anything. I want to go to school while i am an officer and build up my educational level until it is impressive enough for an investigative position. Heres my plan, if you dont mind (Im just planning it all out)

1. finish my AA in general ed by the end of this summer
2. Attend and complete the Hancock Police Academy in August of 05'
3. Put out applications and try to get my Criminal justice degree online or at another college.
4. I hope I will have a job as a cop by now and will be working on a psychology degree and possibly account finance degree at the same time.

[tims]

sounds like a plan!
i would send out feelers during the second 2yr.

[mnreefgeek]

Don't want to bust your bubble as you seen to have a solid plan, but you may be waiting for a while for the cop job too. I have several friends with stacked criminal justice degrees and they cannot get hired on here in Minnesota. Departments announce that they have 1 position opening and 300+ "qualified" applicants show up for the test.

[reefworried124]

uuuhhhh, Im from central california and if I pass the academy I get in guaranteed! My friend is the sherriff.

[AW2EOD]

New poster here...just joined tonight.

Congrats on the decision...good times ahead.

I just took the test for the Chicago PD. A PD in a big town is not the easiest thing to get onto...but, certainly not impossible. I've known, since I was kid that I wanted to be a cop.

Here's are 3 things I've found along the way, that'll help.

It's good to have a bachelors degree...in anything, really, but better to have one in Criminal Justice. And, 4 years active duty military service. Even with the other 2 things going for you, it's always good to have someone on the inside that can give you a good recomendation. Those all go A LONG way.

I've got a BS in Aviation Science, an AS in Criminal Justice and 4 years active duty Navy Special Forces, and I'm still having to use people on the inside to put in a good word for me. Hopefully, all goes well for me.....and for you too.

[Buck2]

Good decision!! Based on the time that I'm writing this you can guess what I'm doing. Graveyard rotation. I got into Law Enforcement when I was 21 and I was too young. I was in for three years before I was involved in a shooting. I got out about six months later and did twenty years of insurance investigations, always missing "the road."

I'm back in a large department now and LOVE it!! There are certainly drawbacks, like Grand Jury at 1:00 p.m. when you're working graves, but that just comes with the territory. Have you considered looking into a Reserve program? You will get hands-on training and exposure to the job. It also helps on the resume.

There is a great book that you should read, re-read and then read again. "Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement." It is very well-written by a nationally-known author/speaker. Keep it around so when you get hired you can have your family/significant other read it to help understand what you are going through. Have your mother read it several times. That should cut down on the "not my baby" questions.

Strive as hard as possible to maintain non-work relationships. This is often the most difficult task because of shift work and weird days off, but often a mistake made by younger guys. The non-LEO people are who keep you grounded.

This is a rewarding job. When you go home you know that you have provided a service, made life better for people just by being there and are working in a close-knit brotherhood. Do you get negatives? Of course, but train yourself to see that for every negative there are positives. Sure, the guy you arrested for DUII thinks you're a jerk, but how does the family that didn't lose a loved one in the crash you prevented feel? They don't know, because no one knows who they may have been, but you did the job and got the guy off of the road.

There are physical demands, but that's part of the attraction of the job. Anybody can go to a cubicle, but how many can drive their office down the road? Is it dangerous? It can be, but current training and tools have reduced the hazards.

Good luck.

Scott

[reefworried124]

Scott, excellent post. I really appreciate that info. If guys like you were around when I just got out of high school, I probably would have made the decision long ago. Very helpful info and thanks!

[Mrs Smith]

Originally Posted by Jeremy1973

maybe I will come to CA and give you a chance to have a high speed pursuit.

Snort. Jeremy's idea of a high-speed pursuit is driving 2 miles under the speed limit. I know.

Anyway, reef, I'm glad to hear you have a new goal. Best of luck!

Danielle

[reefworried124]

I am already starting to train for it. I heard they run you up to six miles and make you do obstacle courses, push ups pull ups etc... so I have been running 3.5 miles to the gym work out for about 30 minutes, (chest,stomach,arms etc) and 3.5 miles back. I barely can make it right now, but in no time, Ill be like stallone in Rocky IV. Not Rocky I-III, but IV the one where he fights Ivan Drago and he runs to the top of the mountain and he is like "DRAGOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!DRAAAGOOOOOOOo!!!!!"