2 answers
Alyssa
Student
Gilbert, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
1135 views
what is it like being an police officer?
what is it like at the academy for police training?
how hard was it to get through?
is it difficult being an officer on patrol?
how can i be ready for when i’m able to join the academy?
what is it like being an officer?
is it scary?
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2 answers
Trevin Mercer
Police Officer
1
Answer
Fife, WA
Updated
Trevin’s Answer
The academy is different for each city or state. The academy I went to was very paramilitary, marching in formation and daily inspections. I don’t think most academies are like that any more. The academy where I currently live is very academically driven. Lots of classes on constitutional law and state law. The academy builds an amazing foundation for you to begin your law enforcement career.
The academy staff genuinely want you to succeed but they probably won’t just let you pass if you can’t pass the tests.
I think being an officer on patrol is very easy but that is because I have 20 years of experience doing it. When you first start field training after the academy it is going to feel like the amount of information you need to process and tasks you need to get the hang of are coming at you at a hundred miles an hour. I always tell my student officers that it is normal to feel like you’re trying to drink from a fire hose.
I would say that to be ready for the academy, and testing for a police officer position, you need to stay out of trouble, you need to have a good work history, you need to be teachable, and you need to be in great physical shape. I also think if you were to enroll in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym near you and you trained as after as you could, that would make you ready for defensive tactics training in the academy. I would say join a police explorer post at a local police department if you can.
Being a police officer is an amazing job! I love the freedom of going all around my assigned area to patrol, interacting with people and being able to effect change for people. When I ask new officers what they think our job actually is I usually get the standard answer of “To arrest bad guys.” Or “To protect and serve.” I really believe that our job is to increase the quality of life for people that live in, work in or visit my city.
After doing this job for 20 years I can honestly say that if you aren’t scared when you’re going to an in progress call, or faced with any other adrenaline producing scenario, then there is something wrong. Every police officer I’ve ever worked with or met has been scared, but it’s that scared feeling that makes you a little more cautious or makes you slow down before rushing in to something. I believe that cops aren’t brave because they aren’t scared, they’re brave because they’re scared and they go towards danger anyways.
Good luck in your pursuit of a career in law enforcement! You’re asking the right questions!
The academy staff genuinely want you to succeed but they probably won’t just let you pass if you can’t pass the tests.
I think being an officer on patrol is very easy but that is because I have 20 years of experience doing it. When you first start field training after the academy it is going to feel like the amount of information you need to process and tasks you need to get the hang of are coming at you at a hundred miles an hour. I always tell my student officers that it is normal to feel like you’re trying to drink from a fire hose.
I would say that to be ready for the academy, and testing for a police officer position, you need to stay out of trouble, you need to have a good work history, you need to be teachable, and you need to be in great physical shape. I also think if you were to enroll in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym near you and you trained as after as you could, that would make you ready for defensive tactics training in the academy. I would say join a police explorer post at a local police department if you can.
Being a police officer is an amazing job! I love the freedom of going all around my assigned area to patrol, interacting with people and being able to effect change for people. When I ask new officers what they think our job actually is I usually get the standard answer of “To arrest bad guys.” Or “To protect and serve.” I really believe that our job is to increase the quality of life for people that live in, work in or visit my city.
After doing this job for 20 years I can honestly say that if you aren’t scared when you’re going to an in progress call, or faced with any other adrenaline producing scenario, then there is something wrong. Every police officer I’ve ever worked with or met has been scared, but it’s that scared feeling that makes you a little more cautious or makes you slow down before rushing in to something. I believe that cops aren’t brave because they aren’t scared, they’re brave because they’re scared and they go towards danger anyways.
Good luck in your pursuit of a career in law enforcement! You’re asking the right questions!
David Deshaies
Police Officer
17
Answers
Sanford, North Carolina
Updated
David’s Answer
1) In North Carolina, the police academy is called Basic Law Enforcement Training. The state standard currently is 632 hours of training (roughly four months). Some agencies, like Raleigh Police, NC State Highway Patrol, ALE and others require you to go through their academies, which can run as long as 11 months, but include BLET along with specific training relating to their agency, local resources, etc. For me, the academy wasn't intellectually difficult, but the quantity of information you had to absorb was challenging.
2) If you are physically active and play sports, you're unlikely to have serious issues physically getting through BLET. The most important thing to remember is don't create your own physical training regime; use what is provided. What's provided for you is specifically tailored to help you pass the Police Officer's Physical Abilities Test (POPAT). Take advantage of any study aids you're given, and frequently review your coursework and lesson plans.
3) Being a police officer is often extremely challenging. Depending on where you work, more challenges can come from work than your personal life, or vice versa. It's extremely easy to become burned out if you're not careful. Some agencies, especially agencies in high-crime areas, are going to be more exciting to work in, but also more difficult: you won't have much time to be proactive because you'll be responding to calls for service your entire shift.
4) To be ready for BLET or a similar academy, exercise frequently and make sure that you avoid discreditable activities. Don't break the law, drive recklessly, use drugs, etc. Any of these things could get you expelled from the academy, or make you unhireable.
5) Being a police officer is extremely rewarding sometimes, extremely frustrating others. One of the hardest lessons for officers to learn is "you can't save everyone." Saving people from themselves is virtually impossible, no matter how hard you try, and trying in fact can lead to you being burned out.
6) Sometimes being an officer is scary. Responding by yourself to a violent domestic or being shot at is never fun. Anyone who tells you they weren't afraid is either lying, or too dumb to know how much danger they are in.
2) If you are physically active and play sports, you're unlikely to have serious issues physically getting through BLET. The most important thing to remember is don't create your own physical training regime; use what is provided. What's provided for you is specifically tailored to help you pass the Police Officer's Physical Abilities Test (POPAT). Take advantage of any study aids you're given, and frequently review your coursework and lesson plans.
3) Being a police officer is often extremely challenging. Depending on where you work, more challenges can come from work than your personal life, or vice versa. It's extremely easy to become burned out if you're not careful. Some agencies, especially agencies in high-crime areas, are going to be more exciting to work in, but also more difficult: you won't have much time to be proactive because you'll be responding to calls for service your entire shift.
4) To be ready for BLET or a similar academy, exercise frequently and make sure that you avoid discreditable activities. Don't break the law, drive recklessly, use drugs, etc. Any of these things could get you expelled from the academy, or make you unhireable.
5) Being a police officer is extremely rewarding sometimes, extremely frustrating others. One of the hardest lessons for officers to learn is "you can't save everyone." Saving people from themselves is virtually impossible, no matter how hard you try, and trying in fact can lead to you being burned out.
6) Sometimes being an officer is scary. Responding by yourself to a violent domestic or being shot at is never fun. Anyone who tells you they weren't afraid is either lying, or too dumb to know how much danger they are in.