Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

S

sawgunner2001

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 25, 2006
533
37
Minneapolis, MN
#1
Since being laid off in January, and having wanting to become a LEO for quite some time, I decided now is the time. I've gotten everything lined up and start class on Monday 04-12-2010 as a "Pre-Service Candidate", meaning that I haven't been hired by any agency and am putting myself through the Academy at my expense with the hopes of getting hired either during or shortly after class.

My "shopping list" (given to me by the Academy) included a few sets of uniforms, PT clothing, and some duty stuff.

I've got a duty belt, under-belt, holster, handcuff case, magazine pouch, and belt keepers (these were the minimum requirements).

My questions are;

1. Does the under-belt get used in the place of a regular trouser belt (ie. through the belt loops)? I normally wear a "riggers" belt. I guess I'm assuming leave the riggers belt at home and wear the under-belt instead?

2. How do you use the belt keepers? Do they go on after putting the duty belt on and go around both the under-belt and duty belt?

3. Was told to have my boots shined. Does this mean spit shine with a mirror finish on the toe? Or rather that the boots should be clean without any scuffs? I was in the military and know how to spit shine, but don't want to look out of place being the only one with spit shined boots.

We are to be dressed in "full battle rattle" (as we called it in the Army) when we show up for class and I can't afford to look like a goon.
 
#2
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

1) Yes, under belt through the loops, outer belt over it.

2) Yes, after placing the outerbelt the belt keepers go around both. Get plenty of belt keepers as it is nice to be able to put one on each side of your heavier items on the belt.

3) It's a toss up. My AO is fine with just cleaned/shined boots. But it seems every academy is different with respect to spit shined vs. shined.
 
#4
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sawgunner2001</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We are to be dressed in "full battle rattle"</div></div>

Ya'll gonna be packing empty holsters or what? Since youre not LEO yet, ya'll arent carrying pistols yet are you?

At any rate, good luck.
 
#5
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SniperCJ</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ya'll gonna be packing empty holsters or what? Since youre not LEO yet, ya'll arent carrying pistols yet are you?</div></div>

From what I can gather, we'll be issued one of the blue training pistols to carry around in the holster.

To date, I haven't been told much about anything. It seems that this is geared more towards people being sent from a department and getting the "tips and tricks" from the guys that are sending them. Guess I'm doing this the hard way...
 
#7
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

Having never been through a Police Academy, I'm inclined to say that spit shining the boots and not needing it would be better than showing up without a proper shine and finding out you need it.

Good luck on everything!
 
#8
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

Thanks for the help so far, guys. I spoke with Parallax via telephone and was offered some solid advice which was greatly appreciated. I also met with an officer that lives in my apartment community and he got my gear squared away, which was quite helpful.

Thanks again.
 
#10
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shibby</div><div class="ubbcode-body">get ready for the PT </div></div>

No sweat
cool.gif
 
#12
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

Remember.....The first few weeks you will do nothing right...(no matter what you actually do).....When I went thru in 2000 I was told something very useful: "Don't be the first and don't be the last....be right in the middle." That advise was pure GOLD!

Texagator gave excellent advise above....print that out!

Be safe....
 
#13
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

+1 for advice above and good on you for asking questions.

Couple of quickies for ya that may seem kinda common sense and you may allready understand. I watched a lot of fellas/fellets get bunked that went in with the wrong head.

Its over quicker than you think and you can't take shit back. The instructors are more often than not a little on the righteous side and sensitive to their area of expertise.

Turn off the I know that and I once did this mentality.

Pay lots of attention to the legal sections, stay awake and take good notes, sleeping during class equals shit tons of pushups and extra miles on the track, the questions are not only designed to ruff you up but also to turn you around. Pay attention and reread the question, on timed tests hit the ones you know first and go back to those vague ones after.

Study, sleep and perform as ordered.

Don't push the fat guy in front of you while running in rank, he will fall out on his own.

Stretch.

Don't volunteer for the brachial stun or other pressure point training scenarios by the Bruce Lee trainer, unless you like full day headaches.

Avoid falling in with the cool crowd, the braggarts and shit talkers, they are all lacking.

Don't flirt with the one and only hot instructor or trainee.

Don't accelerate into the top of the negative turn only at the bottom.

Don't burn the tires on acceleration.

Put the light hand under the fire hand always.

Bring cold, flu, sinus meds, allieve and vitamins.

Apply polish to boot and lightly heat with lighter, damp rag to move in, then dry rag light but fast and furious for mirror.

Most importantly don't piss of the food servers. Likely they are convicts litterally.

Best of luck.

 
#14
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

I like Texagator's post.

I would add: Mouth shut; ears and eyes open; opinions to yourself.

That's not to be mistaken for advice meaning that you are to believe everything that you hear. Think critically, but keep your conclusions to yourself.

Evaluate your peers and the instructors using the knowledge and experience that you already have. Listen to what isn't said. Watch what isn't done.

I learned a lot, but they taught me very little of it.
 
#15
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

You've got a lot of good advice already, all very spot on.

The whole purpose of the academy is to provide a basic training foundation for your dept/FTO to build on so learn the theories and "why's" of what you are doing. The only thing you need to memorize word for word is the law and legal aspects.

Not everyone that goes to the academy has a military background (myself inculded). Some academies like to run a very rigid "boot-camp like" atmosphere of discipline. It's always good to know what they expect of you before hand. Play the game, do as you are told, and make it back to the department.

This is a good time (and probably the last) to be focusing on your basic fundamentals (pistol work, control tactics, patrol ops, report writing, etc.). Keep this in mind. Don't waste your time trying to be the class badass.

Be early and have ALL of your gear

When in doubt:
<span style="font-weight: bold">Keep your mouth shut and eyes & ears open
Use common sense</span>
 
#16
Re: Starting Police Academy Monday...what to expect?

Texagator gave good advise. I would add this for when you are in FTO:

Don't be afraid to make a decision. Nothing is worse than a trainee who is so scared to be wrong they won't make a decision. Even those of us that have been on the job for years screw up, and there are usually several ways to solve a problem (though your FTO will usually want it done his way).

I'm not saying that you shouldn't carefully consider what you're doing, but in the end you have to make a decision and be able to articulate why you did it.
 
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