EDIT: There is one thing I am afraid of (minus the pepper spray and possible tasing. I can handle intense PT and getting yelled at). I'm too nice of a guy. I don't come off as threatening or that of someone who demands respect. Maybe that is just the popular opinion of all my friends but physically i'm in decent shape and rather muscular.
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Originally Posted by blake-b
Another piece of advice - see if the department you are testing for offers ridealongs. If so, go do one and ride the entire shift. This will give you a snapshot of what it is like.
It isn't like COPS. They NEVER show the mountain of paperwork associated with all the stuff they do on there. Reports, evidence, another associated report or two, waiting on tow trucks... getting something kicked back by your supervisor because it isn't correct and having to redo a portion of it... Property and evidence rejecting your packaging because you forgot to write something in or something similar. Thankfully, I'm a supervisor now so I don't have to deal with the preparation as much as the review of it.
Sometimes one good felony arrest will eat your entire shift but that heavily depends on the department's policies and procedures.
One thing I learned about COPS - they were here this summer and they will ask the officers to re-enact certain parts (obviously not the parts with the suspects and/or arrests on camera) so it looks better on camera.
In my academy, if one of us messed up, we all paid for it. I remember getting smoked because someone didn't bring athletic shoes when we all were told to do so the day before. We had to PT relentlessly in our uniforms and were not allowed to dress out in our PT gear. Then we sat around the rest of our day in our uniforms all hot and sticky.
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Right, and i'm totally fine with that. I'm not expecting guns and lights and sirens every shift. In Scottsdale, some +10 year veteran police officers have never even pulled their guns before. I will be ready when something big does happen though.
Good on ya for making supervisor. It's gotta be tough and competitive in the dept. I was in the explorers program for 3 years back in high school and I did get to do a ride along as well. Both were fun. That being said i'm expecting the worst out of the academy. I can definitely see something like that happening and I'd sure as hell hate to be that guy who forgets and causes punishment to everyone.
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Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65
I did a ridealong last month with Osceola County Sheriff and it was easily one of the best things I've ever done.
Just finished my last run before my PAT test tomorrow.
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I just ran 1.20 miles in about 13 minutes today before I had to stop and walk. Still not quite there yet but i'm getting closer! Really hope you can pull through man, being a police officer has it's ups and downs but mostly ups when you are given the opportunity to make a huge difference in someones life.