Police Academy..

[R8DRFAN]

I was wondering, what is the daily structure of the Police Academy.

[Lrchops]

Wholly shiznit! Each day is different! Differs from state to state. It is a para military structure. Ventura County Sheriff has one of the most difficult training programs in the state. There are different academy's like Fish and Game, State Parks, police, Sheriff, FLETC, and so on. What exactly are you asking?

[non sequitur]

Police Academy

Monday thru Friday, 0800 to 1700 hours, Holidays and weekends off... it's a piece of cake!

[R8DRFAN]

Wholly shiznit! Each day is different! Differs from state to state. It is a para military structure. Ventura County Sheriff has one of the most difficult training programs in the state. There are different academy's like Fish and Game, State Parks, police, Sheriff, FLETC, and so on. What exactly are you asking?

It's the Law Enforcement Academy at Butte College in Ca. How much time do you spend each day doing PT, Patrol technics,ect...

[Outta Control]

If you are asking don't sign up. Seriously if you are asking this stuff you should ask yourself if this is what you want. It is like asking how much felony traffic stops am I going to do or how much time do I have to write a DV report.

[JS89]

As previously stated it depends what type of law enforcement you're looking to get into. As far as the most strenuous in the state, I'd say the most challenging academies are live in academies. My vote goes to the CHP academy as far as being the toughest. Whatever agency you decide to go with, the academy will be no walk in the park.

[R8DRFAN]

If you are asking don't sign up. Seriously if you are asking this stuff you should ask yourself if this is what you want. It is like asking how much felony traffic stops am I going to do or how much time do I have to write a DV report.

I'm asking so I can be better prepared for the Academy!! If you were going to raid a house, would you want to know how many people were in there with guns, or go in blind and hope for the best!! I'm pretty sure you would want all the info you could get!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

[FLIGHT762]

I would suggest you first get yourself into great physical shape. Be ready to complete the PT requirements without having to struggle.

As far as the academic requirements, just show up, pay attention, do what you're told and do well on tests.

Don't worry about what the curriculum is. You will be given all of the information you need to know.

No outside distractions (if you don't have a Girlfriend, that's a good thing).

Prepare to be able to write short stories, which are concise, accurate, to the point, with proper grammar.

If you were going into USMC Boot camp, I would give you the same advice.

[Outta Control]

I'm asking so I can be better prepared for the Academy!! If you were going to raid a house, would you want to know how many people were in there with guns, or go in blind and hope for the best!! I'm pretty sure you would want all the info you could get!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

If you want to be prepared do lots of push ups (35+/2 minutes), Sit ups (50+/2 minutes), be able to run 3 miles with an avg speed of 6-7mph on average but expect at least 6-7 miles during the academy. Contra Costa academies runs 3 miles everyday with sand filled 2" pvc pipes, do push ups on the fly or when every your TO request it. Bottom line is you just have to be mentally ready for it everyday and each academy curriculum is different on their schedule.

[arsilva32]

I would suggest you first get yourself into great physical shape. Be ready to complete the PT requirements without having to struggle.

As far as the academic requirements, just show up, pay attention, do what you're told and do well on tests.

Don't worry about what the curriculum is. You will be given all of the information you need to know.

No outside distractions (if you don't have a Girlfriend, that's a good thing).

Prepare to be able to write short stories, which are concise, accurate, to the point, with proper grammar.

If you were going into USMC Boot camp, I would give you the same advice.

+1 for most helpful advice ^

[Uhhlexxxis]

Culture shock... not sure how long POST academies are, but mine was 27 weeks. I didn't get to go home after the day was over like most folks. Sometimes you even had to live there on the weekends if you were bad and failed tests. It's one of the few live in academies. hours ranged from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. PT in the morning, chow, 8 hours of Learning domains, drill, more drill, chow, night range, etc etc. When it's all said and done, the estimated time learning everything totals nearly 1300 hours.

ahh well, it's not a good time for new officers right now.. my best advice is to focus on school, stay out of trouble, and when the state budget gets better, re-apply. It can't last forever

[Jonathan Doe]

Inspections, class instructions, defensive tactics, driving training, firearms training, PT, role playing, etc. About 6 months of training with combination of any of those things everyday.

[BigDogatPlay]

My academy was 17 weeks, so I'm old... we did a minimum 2 hours of intensive PT and DT 4 days a week and range on the fifth day. We didn't get braced and have to do push ups like boots do now, but we did more than our share in PT, plus more in DT if one did not get with the program being presented.

You should train well enough ahead of time to meet the minimum physical performance standards for graduation when you start, because you want to be able to demonstrate continuous improvement throughout the course. If you show up on day one unprepared physically and can't meet at least the minimum standard your time in the academy may be short and will certainly be far less than fun.

Every academy will vary to some degree in the syllabus of when Learning Domains are presented, but you can expect a variety throughout. Be prepared to write and research a lot.

[1-M-42]

I went when I was 20 (1980 vintage), should have been in better shape and in hindsight should have prepared better mentally. Be ready physically and more importantly, mentally, you'll be be tested by the TOs immediately. Work on your study habits and fit into a study group RIGHT AWAY when you get there. If it's a live in spend most of your free time with the other cadets studying and practicing. It's a lot longer now then when I went but don't waste any available time. It's not easy but it's not supposed to be.

[wildog8812]

The advice of not having outside distractions is very accurate. My girlfriend hated the academy because it took all of my time during the week and on the weekends that I had I just wanted to recover and relax. But more than anything else be mentally prepared, that is the best advice I can give you. Be ready to be yelled at and broken down at first. The PT is not too bad if you are in decent shape and you have good mind set. I will not lie most people including me were hurting at some point but you just have to push through it and not quit.