Police Academy Adventures

[mojo84]

Or making a delivery to the lumber mill in Notrees, TX.

[nightmare69]

Got to talk to a instructor who does the jailer 2 week course that I believe works for my local county. He said they have a opening but its full time, he wanted me to apply but going to school full time and working full time will not fly with me. I don't think I could stay awake during school and pass the tests. I told him closer to graduation I would put in a application. Before I would accept any jailers job I would have to know a timeline before getting my deputy badge. I don't mind paying my dues in the jail showing them what Im made of but Im not going to work as a jailer for years, there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think Im being unreasonable wanting to become what I went to school for. I could have saved myself alot of time and money otherwise.

Jailers don't make much cause any 18yr old with a GED and a halfway clean background can become one, then later the county sends you for your 2 week certification course. I would love to graduate and get sworn it right away as a cop but I know that is probably not going to happen. So I hope I can go to work for my county and within a year become a sworn deputy, get a couple of years under the badge then move on to a better department. A couple of supervisors said that most people use the county as a stepping stone to get experience. I hope Im not being unreasonable wanting to know a timeline to getting a badge( plus the paycheck) so I don't waste my time and my future peace officers licence working as a jailer.

[Excaliber]

Got to talk to a instructor who does the jailer 2 week course that I believe works for my local county. He said they have a opening but its full time, he wanted me to apply but going to school full time and working full time will not fly with me. I don't think I could stay awake during school and pass the tests. I told him closer to graduation I would put in a application. Before I would accept any jailers job I would have to know a timeline before getting my deputy badge. I don't mind paying my dues in the jail showing them what Im made of but Im not going to work as a jailer for years, there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think Im being unreasonable wanting to become what I went to school for. I could have saved myself alot of time and money otherwise.

Jailers don't make much cause any 18yr old with a GED and a halfway clean background can become one, then later the county sends you for your 2 week certification course. I would love to graduate and get sworn it right away as a cop but I know that is probably not going to happen. So I hope I can go to work for my county and within a year become a sworn deputy, get a couple of years under the badge then move on to a better department. A couple of supervisors said that most people use the county as a stepping stone to get experience. I hope Im not being unreasonable wanting to know a timeline to getting a badge( plus the paycheck) so I don't waste my time and my future peace officers licence working as a jailer.

When you get closer to the end of the course, you can expect to see departments come to the school looking for recruits. They'll talk to anyone, but they're really looking for the cream of the crop based on unofficial feedback from the instructors.

Stay in the top of the top tier and opportunity will likely come knocking.

You can get more precise insight into how it works at your school by talking to the instructors offline.

[mojo84]

I have a feeling attitude and aptitude have as much to do with getting the best opportunities as the actual test results. Is that the case?

[texanjoker]

I have a feeling attitude and aptitude have as much to do with getting the best opportunities as the actual test results. Is that the case?

Depends on the agency... larger agencies and better locations have a higher standard then the state minimum. Some will look at test scores, some will be targeting specific demographics of certain races/sex, but more important a good background investigator will find out what the instructors say about the cadet. Good scores don't necessarily mean a good reference.

Then one must pass a background which will include credit; job history; references; issues with the law; interviews; psych testing; medical testing, ect. I do backgrounds and they are quiet lengthy.

[nightmare69]

I have a feeling attitude and aptitude have as much to do with getting the best opportunities as the actual test results. Is that the case?

Depends on the agency... larger agencies and better locations have a higher standard then the state minimum. Some will look at test scores, some will be targeting specific demographics of certain races/sex, but more important a good background investigator will find out what the instructors say about the cadet. Good scores don't necessarily mean a good reference.

Then one must pass a background which will include credit; job history; references; issues with the law; interviews; psych testing; medical testing, ect. I do backgrounds and they are quiet lengthy.

Im good on all that, kept my nose clean for the most part. I talked to him again and told him the academy is my #1 priority and that I would be willing to work weekends but Im not going to work during the weekdays due to school. I got all A's on the hardest test from studying my butt off. He understood and said about a month before I graduate put in an application. I told him about my concerns about a timeline and he understood, he said, "if I went to the police academy I would want to become a police officer." So he seems to understand that I don't want to work as a jailer for years cause to me it feels like Im wasting my license. He asked me how long would I wait before getting a badge and I told him I would give it a max of 1yr and if Im not sworn in by that time Im going to look for another job. He said that was more than fair and most get a badge within a year or if they work hard and have an opening sooner than that. So i feel better about it but Im still going to continue to apply with other departments with the hopes of getting a badge after graduation.

[mojo84]

Sounds to me like you have a goal, a plan and a good head on your shoulders. You'll be fine.

[WildBill]

Got to talk to a instructor who does the jailer 2 week course that I believe works for my local county. He said they have a opening but its full time, he wanted me to apply but going to school full time and working full time will not fly with me. I don't think I could stay awake during school and pass the tests. I told him closer to graduation I would put in a application. Before I would accept any jailers job I would have to know a timeline before getting my deputy badge. I don't mind paying my dues in the jail showing them what Im made of but Im not going to work as a jailer for years, there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think Im being unreasonable wanting to become what I went to school for. I could have saved myself alot of time and money otherwise.

Jailers don't make much cause any 18yr old with a GED and a halfway clean background can become one, then later the county sends you for your 2 week certification course. I would love to graduate and get sworn it right away as a cop but I know that is probably not going to happen. So I hope I can go to work for my county and within a year become a sworn deputy, get a couple of years under the badge then move on to a better department. A couple of supervisors said that most people use the county as a stepping stone to get experience. I hope Im not being unreasonable wanting to know a timeline to getting a badge( plus the paycheck) so I don't waste my time and my future peace officers licence working as a jailer.

IMO, don't listen to this instructor about career advice. It seems strange to me that anyone would even be talking to a person about a job with less than a month into the academy.

[nightmare69]

IMO, don't listen to this instructor about career advice. It seems strange to me that anyone would even be talking to a person about a job with less than a month into the academy.

Apparently they are needing people right now. He said they like to hire older more mature people vs 18yr old kids witch is understandable. I was told by friends in LE that counties love to hire those who are already peace officers. Im only 25% into the academy so I got a ways to go.

[WildBill]

IMO, don't listen to this instructor about career advice. It seems strange to me that anyone would even be talking to a person about a job with less than a month into the academy.

Apparently they are needing people right now. He said they like to hire older more mature people vs 18yr old kids witch is understandable. I was told by friends in LE that counties love to hire those who are already peace officers. Im only 25% into the academy so I got a ways to go.

"Stand Your Ground". Their needs are not the same as your needs.

BTW it's "which" not "witch".

He said they like to hire older more mature people vs 18yr old kids witch is understandable.

I forgot, but how old are you?

[nightmare69]

"Stand Your Ground". Their needs are not the same as your needs.

BTW it's "which" not "witch".

My bad; hear is you're badge

I forgot, but how old are you?

29, will be 30 in August.

[Excaliber]

I have a feeling attitude and aptitude have as much to do with getting the best opportunities as the actual test results. Is that the case?

Depends on the agency... larger agencies and better locations have a higher standard then the state minimum. Some will look at test scores, some will be targeting specific demographics of certain races/sex, but more important a good background investigator will find out what the instructors say about the cadet. Good scores don't necessarily mean a good reference.

Then one must pass a background which will include credit; job history; references; issues with the law; interviews; psych testing; medical testing, ect. I do backgrounds and they are quiet lengthy.

Im good on all that, kept my nose clean for the most part. I talked to him again and told him the academy is my #1 priority and that I would be willing to work weekends but Im not going to work during the weekdays due to school. I got all A's on the hardest test from studying my butt off. He understood and said about a month before I graduate put in an application. I told him about my concerns about a timeline and he understood, he said, "if I went to the police academy I would want to become a police officer." So he seems to understand that I don't want to work as a jailer for years cause to me it feels like Im wasting my license. He asked me how long would I wait before getting a badge and I told him I would give it a max of 1yr and if Im not sworn in by that time Im going to look for another job. He said that was more than fair and most get a badge within a year or if they work hard and have an opening sooner than that. So i feel better about it but Im still going to continue to apply with other departments with the hopes of getting a badge after graduation.

Before you commit to that agency, you might consider verifying what you've been told by asking to talk to a few of the folks who took this path and got their police officer assignments within 1 year.

[nightmare69]

Before you commit to that agency, you might consider verifying what you've been told by asking to talk to a few of the folks who took this path and got their police officer assignments within 1 year.

Oh I will. I would like to work there cause is my home town and they pay decent but Ill get all my questions and concerns out of the way before I accept the job. That is if they are still hiring 2 months from now.

[WildBill]

"Stand Your Ground". Their needs are not the same as your needs.

BTW it's "which" not "witch".

I forgot, but how old are you?

29, will be 30 in August.

My bad; hear is you're badge

Maybe I am old fashioned but this quote is from one of the most famous and respected crime fighters in recent history.

"Robin, Good English is always important!"

[Excaliber]

Before you commit to that agency, you might consider verifying what you've been told by asking to talk to a few of the folks who took this path and got their police officer assignments within 1 year.

Oh I will. I would like to work there cause is my home town and they pay decent but Ill get all my questions and concerns out of the way before I accept the job. That is if they are still hiring 2 months from now.

Another thing to look at is agency size.

Larger agencies generally take a bit more effort to go through the hiring process, but their training is usually better and the experience you get (from your own calls as well as from the calls that others respond to) is a lot broader and comes much faster than in smaller agencies.

Large agencies also have many more specialized and upper rank positions that turn over relatively quickly. In smaller agencies, you have to wait until one of four or five people retires or dies in order to get promoted.
Getting promoted early can make a huge difference in your earnings over the course of your career.