Hitting the streets in 6 weeks...

[rainman0341]

What Academy?

Stanislaus County Sherrif in Modesto.

[Ralston]

Ray Simon?

[rainman0341]

Formally known as Ray Simon. It's now the Stanislaus County Sherrifs's Regional Training Division.

[SansSouci]

Thanks for all the advice guys. The academy I'm at is a brand new style. We have been writing reports in our own department style/format. That and we have been doing scenarios from day 3.It's only 4 1/2 months but we have been doing 10 hour days 4 days a week. The whole focus has been getting us prepared for FTO not just passing our LD's. But I a lot to learn still.

I did 8 years as an Infantryman in the Marines so I'm not like some of the "kids" we have. But I have had to relearn things for the civilian side of things, not just kicking in doors!

It's great that you're able to distinguish between military and civilian law enforcement objectives. The military is willing to take casualties whereas civilian law enforcement is not. Civilian law enforcement's ideal is bad guys go to jail and good guys go home.

If you don't have a degree, get one. My advice is brick & mortar schools. If there's a CSU need you, enroll. Any degree will work, but some are more valuable than others. Accounting, computer science, and any hard science will give you a very wide advantage. Besides promotion preference points, college degrees are a valuable insurance policy. Should you become injured and unable to return to work, you will have a marketable skill. I know many retired cops with no options, so they don't work. I know others that have transitioned into other professions.

Be wary of private universities. I briefly dated a woman who was an administrator for one. She was candid about going after military personnel because they had access to government $$$. I asked her about her placement rate. She wasn't so candid in answering that one. Also, while valuable within law enforcement, degrees from many institutions, especially on-line degrees, are less marketable if at all in the private sector or public education.

Years ago, accelerated college programs were all he rage. I know more than a few cops that went that route. I know of not one that was able to use his degree in the private sector.

[SansSouci]

rainman0341,

https://www.csustan.edu

It looks like a very good school.

[rainman0341]

Right now I'm sitting at 56 semester units. I fully plan on finishing once my feet get wet. After FTO is over I will finish my AA and work on a BA/S. I was going for forensic anthropology before I moved up north from San Diego.

[SansSouci]

rainman0341,

When we're young & idealistic, we know we have it all figured out. When we finally figure out that what we thought we knew was an illusion, many aren't in position to correct their misjudgments.

I finished school w/o taking a single computer science course. In '87, I saw the writing on the wall: law enforcement was entering the digital age. So I went back to a community college and enrolled in computer science 130. I regret not picking up a second degree in computer science. The course was taught using a then almost obsolete Apple computer & we wrote programs in BASIC.

I've worked in a very wealthy area. I have friends that have a lot of money. I used to date a woman that came from a lot of money. She was shocked that I put myself through college. She told me that her parents footed bills for her brother & her educations. She told that it is expected that kids born of wealth will go to college. Before that, I figured that they were just like the rest of us. Rich kids are instilled with academic and professional success before they're out of diapers. My brother and I were the first ones in all of our family to graduate from college. So I learned something new.

The point is to not allow doors to remain closed to you. After an education, network like hell. Get to know the right people who can provide an inside edge of all aspects of life.

Forensic anthropology is good. College will be a lot more difficult were you to major in something you don't like or have aptitude. If you're good with numbers, and most cops are because they have innate linear thought processes, accounting might be the way to go. Usually top dogs in business are bred in engineering and accounting/finance.

Were I accorded a life do-over but were still denied rock & roll star talent, I'd major in computer science. Think, for a moment, how many copies of popular video games are sold at about 70 bucks each. Some 19 year-old nerd with natural aptitude can write a freaking video game that sells 100 million copies world-wide & from that one game he grosses maybe 50% of sales. While the nerd ain't Bon Jovi, he's living Bon Jovi's lifestyle.

BTW, the most successful people in life have written plans: short-term & long-term. Know where you're going to be in five years and how you're going to get there. Read your plans and modify as necessary, every day.


Best of luck.

[RedVines]

Any degree will work, but some are more valuable than others. Accounting, computer science, and any hard science will give you a very wide advantage. Besides promotion preference points, college degrees are a valuable insurance policy. Should you become injured and unable to return to work, you will have a marketable skill.

^ yessssss. Definitely get a degree that will provide you with a technical skill set, something as far away from police work as possible.

[SansSouci]

BTW, the statistical probability of the 19 year-old kid writing a video game program that earns billions is living in India.

[RedVines]

rainman0341,

When we're young & idealistic, we know we have it all figured out. When we finally figure out that what we thought we knew was an illusion, many aren't in position to correct their misjudgments.

I finished school w/o taking a single computer science course. In '87, I saw the writing on the wall: law enforcement was entering the digital age. So I went back to a community college and enrolled in computer science 130. I regret not picking up a second degree in computer science. The course was taught using a then almost obsolete Apple computer & we wrote programs in BASIC.

I've worked in a very wealthy area. I have friends that have a lot of money. I used to date a woman that came from a lot of money. She was shocked that I put myself through college. She told me that her parents footed bills for her brother & her educations. She told that it is expected that kids born of wealth will go to college. Before that, I figured that they were just like the rest of us. Rich kids are instilled with academic and professional success before they're out of diapers. My brother and I were the first ones in all of our family to graduate from college. So I learned something new.

The point is to not allow doors to remain closed to you. After an education, network like hell. Get to know the right people who can provide an inside edge of all aspects of life.

Forensic anthropology is good. College will be a lot more difficult were you to major in something you don't like or have aptitude. If you're good with numbers, and most cops are because they have innate linear thought processes, accounting might be the way to go. Usually top dogs in business are bred in engineering and accounting/finance.

Were I accorded a life do-over but were still denied rock & roll star talent, I'd major in computer science. Think, for a moment, how many copies of popular video games are sold at about 70 bucks each. Some 19 year-old nerd with natural aptitude can write a freaking video game that sells 100 million copies world-wide & from that one game he grosses maybe 50% of sales. While the nerd ain't Bon Jovi, he's living Bon Jovi's lifestyle.

BTW, the most successful people in life have written plans: short-term & long-term. Know where you're going to be in five years and how you're going to get there. Read your plans and modify as necessary, every day.


Best of luck.

wise words. listen to this guy

[SansSouci]

RedVines,

Thanks so much.

[rainman0341]

I will look at some more marketable majors. I know that most of the guys in the academy with me have BA's in criminal justice. I'm a bit older than most (31) so picking a different major might help me out after I retire. We are 2.7% at 57 so even if I go to 60 I won't be 100%. I need to think about retirement or if something were to happen on the job.

[wazafuzz]

My best advice from many years of being an FTO is learn from your mistakes, don't take it personal when you get yelled at and realize that some of the guys you work with are probably not nearly as smart as you, but know a hell of a lot about police work. Learn from everyone. One more thing that really helped me, treat every person even the lowest scumbag with respect until the prove they don't deserve it.

[jdubs71]

Which agency will you be working for? Send me a PM if you don't want to answer publicly. I worked for an agency in Stan CO for 8 years.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Let me share with you something that has provided me with a lot of inspiration during my travels as an LEO: