POST Academy

[eltee]

I recommend to applicants and new boots to practice running up and down stairs WITHOUT USING THE HANDRAILS, getting over the medium height wall, pushups (for PT and punishment), and then practice doing it all in a sweatshirt and sweatpants and wearing a gunbelt with a baton slapping you all the time. If you have a gunbelt available, use it with no gun but with the baton (if legal in your situation and jurisdiction). You need to get comfy at doing all these physical things with a pair of sweatpants trying to drop below your knees, a gunbelt weighing you down and trying to drop below your knees and a 26" baton slapping your leg all the while.

Practice PENMANSHIP. I've sent back more reports for illegibility than for content. Practice sentence structure if your English is weak. If you have spare time, look for simple stuff around the house to describe in writing. Have someone create a simple, simulated crime scene at your house, walk in and diagram it and write a description of what you see.

Practice or read about de-escalation practices, the same kind of stuff you'd use to stop two neighbors, friends or family members from arguing. Our academies put alot of emphasis on being able to calm hyper folks down in tense situations.

Lastly, GOOD LUCK. Nice to see people as motivated as you looking at LE careers.

[Steyrlp10]

Best of luck to you and having such an upbeat attitude. We need good people on the streets.

When my nephew was at the police academy, he and his friends would camp out in my kitchen. About 5 cadets.

The written portion of your studies may be as challenging as the physical aspects. I wanted to make sure the guys had a decent meal because their schedules were pretty full driving to and from school -- two of them from SF to Napa.

It was great to attend their graduation and see them go onto a very honorable career.

I'm sure your wife will be very supportive of you. Tell her to test you on your codes

[Shotgun Man]

The most difficult part of any academy is having mental strength. That will help you know why the instructors are on you. that toughness will also encourage you to study and prepare every night for the next day even though you may be tired. 18 weeks is a long time and you must be mentally ready for it. continue the p90x, it is good to go. here is an example of LASD "black monday". this is the first day when that mental toughness is put to the first test. Good luck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IURHf...rom=PL&index=1

Nice video, but lame training techniques for a civilian police force. Yes, you want to recruits to be alert and physically fit, but nonsense such as this only teaches the recruit to have a dim view of the training process and the bureaucracy.

[retired]

Nice video, but lame training techniques for a civilian police force. Yes, you want to recruits to be alert and physically fit, but nonsense such as this only teaches the recruit to have a dim view of the training process and the bureaucracy.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but unless you went thru that academy, that is all it is; an opinion. Speaking as one who spent almost 30yrs. with that dept., it is not nonsense and it doesn't teach the recruit to have a dim view of the training process and bureaucracy. No one in my academy that I am aware of, thought that. Nor did anyone who I worked with in patrol as a deputy or as a sgt. in the jail, ever voice that view.

I went thru the same dept.'s academy, tho in 1976 and at a different location. There are multiple reasons why they do that and if you are/were in le, you would know it. If you have no leo experience, then I guess you will not.

[Shotgun Man]

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but unless you went thru that academy, that is all it is; an opinion. Speaking as one who spent almost 30yrs. with that dept., it is not nonsense and it doesn't teach the recruit to have a dim view of the training process and bureaucracy. No one in my academy that I am aware of, thought that. Nor did anyone who I worked with in patrol as a deputy or as a sgt. in the jail, ever voice that view.

I went thru the same dept.'s academy, tho in 1976 and at a different location. There are multiple reasons why they do that and if you are/were in le, you would know it. If you have no leo experience, then I guess you will not.

Ha. I know so many LASDs. Pretty low morale. The only people that have nice things to say about managment are transgendered, gay or lesbian.

However, there exists within the dept a sincere desire to do right.

[retired]

Ha. I know so many LASDs. Pretty low morale. The only people that have nice things to say about managment are transgendered, gay or lesbian.

However, there exists within the dept a sincere desire to do right.

I've been retired for a little over 6yrs., but I would surmise the low morale can be attributed to several things:

1. Not much chance of a raise and a hope nothing already gained is taken away.

2. Spending a long time in custody, TST or the courts prior to going to patrol; especially custody.

3. Your bolded statement doesn't really deserve an answer, but I'll address it. There will always be complaints about certain policies being implemented by management. That is pretty universal in any line of work.

If you know any deputies who hired on near the end of Block's term as Sheriff, ask them about the 2nd tier deputies. That caused a lot of morale problems and that changed when Baca came on and got rid of that.

I could go on, but I would hope you understand the point I was trying to make.

That said, whether or not you know people in LASD who mention low morale, that has nothing to do with the training and the reasons for it when they go thru the academy that your original statement was directed towards.

As I said, there are reasons why they do that and if you are curious, you might ask the people you know what those reasons are. They should know.

[Shotgun Man]

[...]

3. Your bolded statement doesn't really deserve an answer, but I'll address it. There will always be complaints about certain policies being implemented by management. That is pretty universal in any line of work.

[...]

What bolded statement, Deputy? I never made a bolded statement! Drop down and give me 20 with a sir!

[retired]

Evidently the Bold didn't take. I just redid it. And it's Sgt. to you.

[BigDogatPlay]

Wow... is it Friday the 13th or what?

FWIW.... the regional academy I attended in the 80's was not as in the face as the LASD model. PT out the kazoo, yes... although not anywhere outside the gym. The RTOs did not drop us in the hallways or the classrooms to push. In the gym was a different story. Four days a week, two and three hour blocks. Even the best athletes were gassed by the time the day was done. We also ran road miles... a lot.

The focus was on getting us trained, into much better shape than when we started and with a mindset to survive. We lost a third of the class; most on academics, a few on scenarios, none on firearms, DT or PT. Even in a more militaristic approach, that focus remains the same.

My best advice to get ready is to be able to comfortably run at least 12 miles a week, work very hard on upper body strength and get the mind clear and ready to be filled with learning. Whether it's rigid discipline or a more academic format the information will come at you, in the words of one of my colleagues, like drinking from a fire hose. You have to be mentally prepared just as much as you have to be physically prepared.

[Jonathan Doe]

In my oipnion, people with low morale are usually low achievers. They complain a lot and do a minimum work. I have seen a lot of them even at the training bureau also.

If they didn't like long jail assignment, or other assignment, they should apply for another agency. I had a great experience in custody assignment. I learned a lot about the "bad" guys and to this date, I never had to fight once to get my job done.

I just don't like people complain too much.

[SoCalDep]

Ha. I know so many LASDs. Pretty low morale. The only people that have nice things to say about managment are transgendered, gay or lesbian.

However, there exists within the dept a sincere desire to do right.

Hmm...I'm not transgendered, gay, or a lesbian...at least last time I checked...And I have nothing to say about management because I don't care about management...Low morale...Nahh...I can't think of any other job and I'm having a blast.

Yea....There's politics, there's drama, but I do my job and can't complain. I make good money, get paid to carry a gun, drive fast, catch bad guys, help people, and learn more about life than most will ever know.

The academy...nothing is done for no reason. Do this job for a while and you realize why things are done the way they are done. It's not random and it's not pointless. I was a geek from a suburb who never saw a dead body and hadn't been in a fight in years...Now I feel that I "specialize" in dealing with dead people and their families. The academy did much to convert me from a sheep to a sheepdog and I only wish it had been harder. I really do.

Lastly...Pushups in suits is nothing compared to ripping your uniform pants in front of the homicide detective while trying to catch the dog that's refusing to leave the room of the 25yr old lady who hung herself in her closet...You learn to deal with what gets dealt.

[Jonathan Doe]

Hmm...I'm not transgendered, gay, or a lesbian...at least last time I checked...And I have nothing to say about management because I don't care about management...Low morale...Nahh...I can't think of any other job and I'm having a blast.

Yea....There's politics, there's drama, but I do my job and can't complain. I make good money, get paid to carry a gun, drive fast, catch bad guys, help people, and learn more about life than most will ever know.

The only time that I was unhappy and not very motivated was when I was at the training bureau. Most people at the bureau were just in for promotion in my opinion. No team work for the most parts. I always tried to find a reason not to go to work every morning for 2 years.

Other than that, I worked many assignments and was on loan to special units, vice, homicide, narco, boat patrol, being an EMT and rescue diver etc. I loved it. The best assignment was getting massages with the county money while working undercover. I love where I am at now, and I am looking at about 5 more years before I pull the plug. I have no regrets about my career.

[Jonnyboy182]

I don't think bad moral is always due to a bad work ethic, but I'm sure it does help. Just an update and hopefully a chance to help someone else out when it comes to a modular academy.

I talked to one of the RTO's on Saturday and got the scoop on this academy
" The modular academy is going to be tough, but most of the toughness comes from academics. It is not as in-your-face as the full time academy-but we expect quite a bit since we only see you three times a week. As far as PT goes, if you come in here able to run about 5 miles, you should be ok."

I was then told that they just finished a Level III and will be doing Level III then a Level II right after. Then if they have the graduates from level II, we will do a Level I. If not, I could find another academy to go to and get my level I done.

Testing is in December. A good idea I was given was to have my wife record all the Penal codes onto a cd for me and listen to them on the way to work every day. Then get flash cards and have her test me before bed. I also talked to a few local LEOS and it seems that there is always a need for reserves, so I'm pretty excited. :-D

As far as all the kind words about my motivation-thank you-and we have tons of great people working right now in LE, so lets take a second to thank them when we see them. I get an opportunity to do that often, since I work at a hospital and there are always LEOS coming in and out.

Off to run again! You guys have a great day and stay safe!

I will be doing my ride along this next week probably. I'm trying to get my new work schedule ironed out.

[Jonathan Doe]

I don't think bad moral is always due to a bad work ethic, but I'm sure it does help. Just an update and hopefully a chance to help someone else out when it comes to a modular academy.

I talked to one of the RTO's on Saturday and got the scoop on this academy
" The modular academy is going to be tough, but most of the toughness comes from academics. It is not as in-your-face as the full time academy-but we expect quite a bit since we only see you three times a week. As far as PT goes, if you come in here able to run about 5 miles, you should be ok."

I was then told that they just finished a Level III and will be doing Level III then a Level II right after. Then if they have the graduates from level II, we will do a Level I. If not, I could find another academy to go to and get my level I done.

Testing is in December. A good idea I was given was to have my wife record all the Penal codes onto a cd for me and listen to them on the way to work every day. Then get flash cards and have her test me before bed. I also talked to a few local LEOS and it seems that there is always a need for reserves, so I'm pretty excited. :-D

As far as all the kind words about my motivation-thank you-and we have tons of great people working right now in LE, so lets take a second to thank them when we see them. I get an opportunity to do that often, since I work at a hospital and there are always LEOS coming in and out.

Off to run again! You guys have a great day and stay safe!

I will be doing my ride along this next week probably. I'm trying to get my new work schedule ironed out.

Noy only the penal codes, but you need to learn radio codes, other codes and code of ethics etc. that the agency is using.