Becoming a LEO 101

[bojangle]

Most academies have a larger focus on running and cardio as opposed to upper body strength, so really focus on getting that mile time down. A good goal to shoot for would be 1.5mi in ~10:00 minutes flat.

What's the POST requirement? 14 minutes? Yeah, that's probably about where I'm at. :laughing

 

[Shaggy]

Hey, I've been doing really good for the last 5 months, lifting almost every day on the bowflex...alternating upper and lower body. I cut out almost all concentrated carbs like breads/pastas/sugar, etc. I've been holding steady, down about 17 pounds, which includes muscle gains.

But you must be some kinda crazy only eating once per day. I work 12 hour shifts (min) and I eat twice during my shift and once before or after, depending on which shift I'm working. I've been bringing one of my small healthy meals with me, and usually go out for the other.

One thing about years of shift work without duty free breaks is that you condition yourself to eat fast, which isn't supposed to be good for you. The other unhealthy thing is, after doing shift work for a long time (and getting older) it really messes with your natural sleep rhythms.

We work 4/10s, so my nights are a bit shorter. I've only eaten once per day for most of my adult life.

I' was also doing the "Warrior Diet", which basically prescribes that you eat once per day at the end of your day (so graves would eat in the morning). The theory is that your body uses all your stored calories and fat from the previous day's feast and you are able to burn fat and lose weight faster. It was naturally easy for me to adopt because all I did was move my one meal from about noon to about 0530. I had to quit it when I had my surgery in March and haven't got back on it yet.

The first few days I was dragging a bit but my body adjusted after that. I'm going to get back on it here soon.

Also, a lot of my health nut coworkers don't eat a lot at work, but just snack on dried fruit or nuts while on shift to keep a constant flow of calories, but not overloading your body when it's supposed to be sleeping.

I'm sure there are a million different theories out there. What's important is to find something that works for you and your schedule.

What's the POST requirement? 14 minutes? Yeah, that's probably about where I'm at. :laughing

When I went through the academy the 1.5mi run wasn't a POST requirement, but it was an academy requirement. I think the cutoff was 14:00 though.

The cutoff for our SWAT team is 12:00 for age 30-35. The best I've been able to do is 10:15, but I'm 6'4"/215 and not in a runner's body. Breaking the run down into thirds (we run on a track) keeps me motivated. Two laps is 1/3, four is 2/3, then the home stretch.

 

[savan]

Any opd Leo's present? I'm in the last stage waiting on character reviews, just have some questions if you don't mind answering them.

 

[EjGlows]

I think you need to pray to the Jeebus to become a Leo!

Dogbutt!

 

[Rel]

^^^ ummmmmm how's this helpful?

 

[B-Cuz]

I need this type of consistency. I work the same hours and do the same things, but I have to adjust how much time I devote to each on a daily basis. Somedays I wake up at 1230 other days it's 1545 which then cuts in to how much time I have to eat/PT etc.

The only thing that is absolutely consistent and I will ALWAYS find time to do is shower before going to bed...for obvious reasons!

Outside of the academy, your schedule is always subject to change with added variables; criminal court, traffic court, extra shifts, cluster-F*&k report, etc.

I need more sleep...

 

[Sidewalk]

I'm going to go back and read through the whole thread, but I figured I could start some dialogue and maybe get feedback at the same time.

I've been kind of getting the stuck in a rut feeling with my life, and want to get back to doing something. I did 10 years in the USCG under the "Jobs that Matter" banner, wanting to be a part of something bigger then myself. While it was the case, most of the time I had things outside of my control dragging me down, so I ended up leaving. I went into commercial HVAC and did that for several years, did pretty well, but just not satisfied. I tried school for a while with my GI Bill, but at the time I had a lack of motivation (hard to explain) so I went back to work. I have since moved on from commercial AC to try and find what I want to be, and I am kind of thinking that CHP is somewhere I should look.

It seems to be, and I have't done a ride along yet, that the CHP has a lot of programs and finding a fit shouldn't be hard. I may be wrong, and you can correct me, but it seems CHP is a bit more of a safety enforcement agency. I want to look further, but I have a funny feeling that typical city law enforcement isn't what I am looking for, but I am willing to look.

The pro's from where I come from:
-Fitness-that won't be a problem. I'm an ultra runner and triathlete.
-Being a part of a para military organization (as the CHP says)-10 years of military proves that I'm fine with COC, uniforms, weapons, etc.
-Experience-I'm 34 and I've done a lot of stuff, been a lot of places, and know myself pretty well at this point (except career, we won't count that ). 15 years of marriage too.
-Flexible with schedule and location. 10 years military helps, plus not only was my wife military but she was also the daughter of a Navy Chief. I've had to work some long and intense hours in HVAC, so long days are okay (not to mention being a ships mechanic). My current job has three different shifts I work throughout the week; so I wake up at 2am, 5am, and 8am depending on the day. I commute by bicycle 2 hours each way.
-One traffic ticket when I was 16 for an illegal left hand turn, nothing since then. No arrests, nothing.

Cons:
-I've got some education, but I haven't completed a degree. Mostly my fault, but most times I always had some sort of road block and I keep having to go back (deployments, moving, work schedule, class schedules, finances, always something). I try to keep on top of my skills when I go back I don't have to feel like a moron from the stuff I have forgotten, practicing math online, reading science and literature to keep up on modern and keep my vocabulary, etc.
-I'm 34, CHP says they cap at 35, so I don't have a lot of time to apply (35 in 2/15).
-Questionable credit history. Every time I get caught up on finances something comes along to sink my battleship. I always get it fixed and pay everything off, never filed bankruptcy even though I probably should have. I did get a security clearance in the military still even with the credit issue, so it isn't the end of the world.


I'm kind of the burn the candle in a pit of fire type, both ends are just too slow :laughing I'm training for a 50k at the same time as an Ironman (50k tomorrow, Ironman in two weeks). Plus dealing with some health issues with my wife and trying to support her while out of work (not fun on my meager income) and actually enjoy myself, it is a very wild ride

 

[1085One]

I'm going to go back and read through the whole thread, but I figured I could start some dialogue and maybe get feedback at the same time.

I've been kind of getting the stuck in a rut feeling with my life, and want to get back to doing something. I did 10 years in the USCG under the "Jobs that Matter" banner, wanting to be a part of something bigger then myself. While it was the case, most of the time I had things outside of my control dragging me down, so I ended up leaving. I went into commercial HVAC and did that for several years, did pretty well, but just not satisfied. I tried school for a while with my GI Bill, but at the time I had a lack of motivation (hard to explain) so I went back to work. I have since moved on from commercial AC to try and find what I want to be, and I am kind of thinking that CHP is somewhere I should look.

It seems to be, and I have't done a ride along yet, that the CHP has a lot of programs and finding a fit shouldn't be hard. I may be wrong, and you can correct me, but it seems CHP is a bit more of a safety enforcement agency. I want to look further, but I have a funny feeling that typical city law enforcement isn't what I am looking for, but I am willing to look.

The pro's from where I come from:
-Fitness-that won't be a problem. I'm an ultra runner and triathlete.
-Being a part of a para military organization (as the CHP says)-10 years of military proves that I'm fine with COC, uniforms, weapons, etc.
-Experience-I'm 34 and I've done a lot of stuff, been a lot of places, and know myself pretty well at this point (except career, we won't count that ). 15 years of marriage too.
-Flexible with schedule and location. 10 years military helps, plus not only was my wife military but she was also the daughter of a Navy Chief. I've had to work some long and intense hours in HVAC, so long days are okay (not to mention being a ships mechanic). My current job has three different shifts I work throughout the week; so I wake up at 2am, 5am, and 8am depending on the day. I commute by bicycle 2 hours each way.
-One traffic ticket when I was 16 for an illegal left hand turn, nothing since then. No arrests, nothing.

Cons:
-I've got some education, but I haven't completed a degree. Mostly my fault, but most times I always had some sort of road block and I keep having to go back (deployments, moving, work schedule, class schedules, finances, always something). I try to keep on top of my skills when I go back I don't have to feel like a moron from the stuff I have forgotten, practicing math online, reading science and literature to keep up on modern and keep my vocabulary, etc.
-I'm 34, CHP says they cap at 35, so I don't have a lot of time to apply (35 in 2/15).
-Questionable credit history. Every time I get caught up on finances something comes along to sink my battleship. I always get it fixed and pay everything off, never filed bankruptcy even though I probably should have. I did get a security clearance in the military still even with the credit issue, so it isn't the end of the world.


I'm kind of the burn the candle in a pit of fire type, both ends are just too slow :laughing I'm training for a 50k at the same time as an Ironman (50k tomorrow, Ironman in two weeks). Plus dealing with some health issues with my wife and trying to support her while out of work (not fun on my meager income) and actually enjoy myself, it is a very wild ride

Not sure about CHP but some agencies require a certain amount of college credit (60 semester/90 quarter or something like that) so assuming you have at least that much then you should be good to go on that end.

The credit thing might be an issues but could not tell you for sure.

Also, with your wife having health issues it might be hard for you to attend a CHP academy because its a live in academy (pretty sure but someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Contact a CHP hiring Officer and see what information they can provide you.

Good luck.

 

[Sidewalk]

Not sure about CHP but some agencies require a certain amount of college credit (60 semester/90 quarter or something like that) so assuming you have at least that much then you should be good to go on that end.

The credit thing might be an issues but could not tell you for sure.

I'll have to check on my hours, I have all my Gen Ed done for AS I just couldn't get into the rest of the major courses because of cut backs. I started taking classes for a BS instead then other things came up. I have't given up, just accept that life isn't perfect.

Also, with your wife having health issues it might be hard for you to attend a CHP academy because its a live in academy (pretty sure but someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Shouldn't be a problem. She is still autonomous, just kind of personal so I don't want to elaborate online. We are looking at moving temporarily closer to other family so she will have extra support. When we were both active duty we spent 15 months apart, so 6 months won't be a deal breaker.

Contact a CHP hiring Officer and see what information they can provide you.

Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Rel]

One of the best things about the CHP is that we can move all over the state and we have a lot of different details we can do within the department. The other agencies, once you're there, you're there. It can become quite uncomfortable if you get pigeoned holed with a bad reputation.

The CHP are the State officers. We handle all the protection details for the government, and we protect all the state's property.

There is a job for everyone. From DUI enforcement to accident investigation, auto theft, K9, helo, FTO, motors, bike patrol, JTTF, and so on.

I started in Santa Cruz, then San Jose, now I work out of my house just outside Yosemite. Not to bad.

 

[SLOWREX03]

There is a job for everyone. From DUI enforcement to accident investigation, auto theft, K9, helo, FTO, motors, bike patrol, JTTF, and so on.

just to help demonstrate the diversity, heres a few more off the top of my head:

governors protective detail, judicial protection, capitol protection (bike patrol, SWAT, mounted patrol, EOD team, etc.), commercial vehicle enforcement, cargo theft investigation, major crime investigations (ISU and MAIT), traffic management centers, large scale incident command / AMBER Alert coordinator, training / academy instructor, and details you can be a part of while in other positions like the mobile field force's, warrant service teams, CAMP, etc etc etc.

you can literally have a "new job" every few years and never experience all the department has to offer.

 

[motoproponent]

Not sure about CHP but some agencies require a certain amount of college credit (60 semester/90 quarter or something like that) so assuming you have at least that much then you should be good to go on that end.

The credit thing might be an issues but could not tell you for sure.

Also, with your wife having health issues it might be hard for you to attend a CHP academy because its a live in academy (pretty sure but someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Contact a CHP hiring Officer and see what information they can provide you.

Good luck.

For My agency a High School diploma is all that's required. Plus you have to be younger than 37, not a felon, and a US Citizen.

We usually post an announcement around October and again in April. The hiring process takes about 12 to 18 months and is administratively challenging. Sometimes I think it is designed on purpose to weed out those that have no motivation and follow through. :teeth

You get bonus points in the hiring rating for college credit, academic excellence, or military service.

I work for DHS/CBP

 

[ShowerBabies]

Does anyone know which are the top 3-5 agencies with the best benefits (in the Bay)?

I know a couple agencies have $10k bonuses, but I'm looking through that into the future.

 

[MR662]

Does anyone know which are the top 3-5 agencies with the best benefits (in the Bay)?

I know a couple agencies have $10k bonuses, but I'm looking through that into the future.

Go to the website for all the Bay Area agencies. Salary, benefits, and hiring bonus (some as much as $30k) are posted. Just about every agency in California is hiring. Do your own research and then you can make an educated decision on who you will apply for. Good luck!

 

[bojangle]

Does anyone know which are the top 3-5 agencies with the best benefits (in the Bay)?

I know a couple agencies have $10k bonuses, but I'm looking through that into the future.

What do you mean by benefits? Excluding salary? There are a lot of factors, including salary steps, additional stipends, and retirement/healthcare/additional benefits. There isn't a whole lot of difference, between agencies, in just the benefits portion, other than how much the employee pays for it if pocket. That can differ substantially and can be difficult to determine. You'd have to really look through MOUs of agencies you're interested in. Many California Agencies post salary schedules and MOUs on line. For the most part, all agencies have good benefits and retirement. They are pretty stable careers with decent pay. Higher cost of living areas usually pay more. But if your primary motivation is money, law enforcement might not be for you. :2cents

 

[NorCalAthlete]

:laughing

I was going to say, there are no stock options / RSU packages / performance bonus / annual bonus / stock refreshers / etc usually.

 

[TheRiddler]

I foresee this thread making a comeback over the next 2 years.