Law Enforcement/Security

Graduating the police academy was one of the most difficult challenges I have ever accomplished. The academy is at least 20 weeks and some academies can go longer (28 or 33 weeks). The stress level is unbelievable. All recruits must pass every exam. If a recruit fails an exam, that recruit has only one chance to remediate that exam. The exam will be different of course. If the recruit does not pass the remediation exam, then that recruit is dismissed from the academy. The number of tests throughout the academy can range from 110 to 130 tests. Tests come in all forms: written, scenarios, defensive tactics, pursuit and emergency driving, shotgun, firearms, etc.

The recruit training officers are strict with the recruits. The uniforms must be military pressed and immaculate. Boots must be spit shined and brass must be polished. The uniforms can not have threads or lint on them. It must be perfect. All recruits must learn over 120 California penal codes as well as their elements. When in formation, no recruit shall move unless ordered to. If you have a spider crawling on your head while standing at attention, the recruit must remain at attention. This happened to me. I had to stand at attention for 1 hour and 15 minutes in 104 degree weather and I could feel a spider crawling on my neck and head. I could not move.

The academy lifestyle literally consumes your life from the moment you wake up and until you go to sleep. I had no time for anything else.

My fellow recruits at the academy became my family. Without each other, we could not have graduated.

Law enforcement is a very unique profression in which all peace officers have a special bond. All peace officers must graduate from a police academy. It is a band of brotherhood that must be earned. In most departments the comradery is exceptional. While there is everyday drama and gossip among coworkers in every department, when shit hits the fan, all of that is put aside and we are there for each other. Officer safety is the most important. Everything we do revolves around that.

Law enforcement departments work on shifts. The work hours can be during anytime of the day or night. Holidays are not guaranteed to be off. Days off are not always on the weekend.

The pay varies among departments. Some deptartments pay their officers 55,000. Others pay their officers 88,000. This does not include supervisory positions.

The locations of each department vary. Every county has a sheriff's dept. and most major cities/ areas have a police dept.