Any police officers here?

[Kearnzo]

Hey guys. I thinking for a while about joining the academy. I know a couple of guys on here have recently joined the academy (WTF?), and was just wondering if anyone can share some good tips and advice about joining the academy. Thanks!

[jim416]

Re: Any police officers here?

I'm retired.

Do what they tell you, lol. Ignore the screaming. Show some leadership qualities.

That's really it. You will be required to study. I know when I went you were allowed to flunk ONE test, but they would let you retake it. If you flunked that, you were gone. Don't know if things have changed

[Knight165]

Re: Any police officers here?

I've moved on to better things:winknatch, Jim )....

...but to add to what Jim said...

The academy is like fantasy island....don't forget it's paramilitary, so they kind of want to break you down in order to build you back up to how they need you(maybe I'm not explaining that well).
You won't realize it at the time...but you will later.
Your REAL training will come when you hit the streets. If you're lucky, you get a good "old timer"(are they even around anymore?...seems like all the jobs are young guys now).....
Here's the deal.....STFU and do what they tell you....you really don't have a voice until you start to handle situations...then you can start to have an opinion. Young guys don't usually handle that too well....but it has it's place.
Next....in the academy.....don't be an a$$hole and don't be an All-Star....like I said...it's fantasy island.....being a loser will follow you to your assignment.....but trying to be a know it all...nobody will give a $hit until you prove yourself in the streets.

Hop this helps a little...

M.K.
Knight165

[BigDofBA]

Re: Any police officers here?

My brother-in-law is a police officer. He loves it. I went on a ride along with him one time and it was pretty interesting, as well as scary at times.

He's not like a lot of cops that just set in their car and write the occasional ticket. He likes working shootings and armed robberies.

He got jumped by a couple of thugs a few weeks ago. Luckily, they suffered the worst of it. My brother-in-law is a former college football player. He is 6'3 290. He only suffered a busted lip.

According to him, the job is what you make it. You can either be active or set in your car and write tickets. It's exciting but definitely not for me.

[bkrich83]

Re: Any police officers here?

MattG is a police officer in Vegas. Actually saw him on an episode of Cops once.

[Knight165]

Re: Any police officers here?

MattG is a police officer in Vegas. Actually saw him on an episode of Cops once.

Yes.

...and there are some others on here also.

I know of four active P.O.'s here on O.S.....and a couple of retired guys...

They'll probably P.M. you if they see this thread.
Are you going to local or state law enforcement?

M.K.
Knight165

[joshuar9476]

Re: Any police officers here?

i'd like to be, but the officers here in my small community only make like 25k per year, and most need a part time job just to make it. moving is not an option because my wife's parents live here. besides, i make more now than i would as an officer.

[baumy300]

Re: Any police officers here?

I would recommend doing it.

The pay is above average and the benefits are great. You will also have such pleasures like working with the best people that you could ever hope for.

Another great thing about a career in law enforcement is the advancement opportunities.

It definitely has its ups and downs. The thing is, it isn't just a job/career - It is a lifestyle. You are on the clock 24/7

That isn't really a bad thing, it just means that after you take that oath that you are held to a higher standard.

[Phobia]

Re: Any police officers here?



j/k :wink:

[PVarck31]

Re: Any police officers here?

Hey guys. I thinking for a while about joining the academy. I know a couple of guys on here have recently joined the academy (WTF?), and was just wondering if anyone can share some good tips and advice about joining the academy. Thanks!

Listen to Jim, Knight, and Baumy. They know their stuff. Just keep your nose clean, and don't forget to have a little fun with it.

[Phobia]

Re: Any police officers here?

My buddy just went through all his stuff and is now working the streets. He seems to be loving it. So I guess it is more a person to person deal. You either love it or hate it.

[The C]

Re: Any police officers here?

I've seen robo cop and all the police academy movies.

I'm pretty sure I know how it works

[Knight165]

Re: Any police officers here?

I've seen robo cop and all the police academy movies.

I'm pretty sure I know how it works

Sometimes that might be closer to the truth than you think!

M.K.
Knight165

[opd897]

Re: Any police officers here?

Thirty two years in, thinking of retiring this year. Some states make you go to the academy before hiring you. Where I'm from you get hired and the agency then sends you. Sounds like you must put yourself through the academy first based on what you wrote.

The best advice I can give you is be humble while in the academy and after that when you go to a training officer. Maybe it's my age but it sure seems like a lot of new officers these days are cocky and "know it alls". That is a major problem with officers who have been at it for years.

I was a field training officer for several years and new recruits who didn't want to take advice or were cocky and / or arrogant would get on my bad side in a hurry.

Another piece of advice is to get into this line of work for the right reason. I've seen a lot of officers through the years come and go because they had an agenda or their personality was not a good fit for this type of work.

Good luck to you. With the right attitude and work ethic one can make a good contribution to society doing police work.

[Keirik]

Re: Any police officers here?

good to see some other officers on the site..


what exactly are your biggest concerns/worries/fears/whatever?

it's all a game, and sometimes you'll get in trouble regardless of what you've done. Everyone has to go through some lumps while in the academy whether deserved or not. Most of the time, the academy can be seperated into two parts. The first part is when they really lay into you just to see if you're going to see the whole thing through. This means you're treated terribly, blamed for the skies being blue, given nothing for free, etc...

the second part is once they realize you're not going anywhree. At that point, you're still in the academy, but it relaxes a little more since they know you are going to be there. It's still a paramiitary environment, but a lot more relaxed one. Also, always remember that every single class, test, drill, pointless activity has a purpose to it and you're always being tested. Nothing is done just for the heck of it.