Becoming a LEO 101

bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
TheRiddler said:
QFT :laughing But I don't think my case is the norm, and I have limited myself to one agency. I'm going on 5 years now, but I'm really close.
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Good luck, but I seriously wouldn't limit myself to one agency. That particular agency might never hire you. Much better to give yourself more options. Sometimes one agency will pass someone up for no apparent good reason, maybe more than once, but you might be seen as the best thing to come along with a different agency.
 
TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Riddle me this.
bojangle said:
Good luck, but I seriously wouldn't limit myself to one agency. That particular agency might never hire you. Much better to give yourself more options. Sometimes one agency will pass someone up for no apparent good reason, maybe more than once, but you might be seen as the best thing to come along with a different agency.
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I'm far enough in the hiring process where if the agency doesn't hire me, none would. I think I'm on something like step 6 of 8 with just another half of a psyche eval and a pre-Academy fitness test to go. It's just a long process.
 
rolofung

rolofung

Well-known member
Thank you all for your responses. I will check out those two books!

Please feel free to PM me if that would work better.
 
Rel

Rel

Groveland, where's that?
Just have a healthy understanding as to what you're trying to get into. High stress, divorce.... this job changes you. Don't get me wrong, it's the best job out there, but, there's always a cost. The question is this: Are you willing to pay that cost? Are you willing to give up your life for the guy who hates your guts?

Check out this thread: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=394458
 
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bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
TheRiddler said:
I'm far enough in the hiring process where if the agency doesn't hire me, none would. I think I'm on something like step 6 of 8 with just another half of a psyche eval and a pre-Academy fitness test to go. It's just a long process.
Click to expand...

They all have mostly the same process here in Cali. But I'm telling you, that's not necessarily true. Not only that, but not everyone passes the academy or FTO on the first go around. The training IS part of the screening process. We just had to let a new recruit go after several months of FTO training. Some weren't meant to be in this profession. Others will find a way to get a second chance and make it work. There's more than one LEO on barf who didn't make it with their first agency the first time. Just keep an open mind is all I'm saying. Hopefully everything does work out for you with your one chosen department. :thumbup
 
TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Riddle me this.
bojangle said:
They all have mostly the same process here in Cali. But I'm telling you, that's not necessarily true. Not only that, but not everyone passes the academy or FTO on the first go around. The training IS part of the screening process. We just had to let a new recruit go after several months of FTO training. Some weren't meant to be in this profession. Others will find a way to get a second chance and make it work. There's more than one LEO on barf who didn't make it with their first agency the first time. Just keep an open mind is all I'm saying. Hopefully everything does work out for you with your one chosen department. :thumbup
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Thanks!

Just as a point of clarification, my challenge is for a medical reason (not physical fitness). I certainly understand that different departments may have variations in the type of person they're looking for, or the type of background, or any past transgressions, in addition to differences in what types of calls they're mostly involved in. But the medical eval is pretty standard across the board.

Also, I'm applying for CHP. No laterals.
 
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B-Cuz

B-Cuz

Honorably Discharged
I've been convinced through experience, persistence is definitely the name of the game.
 
Rel

Rel

Groveland, where's that?
TheRiddler said:
Huh, I got in. Sometimes persistence pays off.
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About fucking time. :roll eyes

Start running now. Start getting in the best shape of your life now. Stop riding, stop drinking, and start working out.

I better get an invite to the graduation. AND THERE WILL BE A GRADUATION!
 
TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Riddle me this.
Rel said:
No you didnt.... now you need to kick it up a notch. Your PT score means a lot towards your badge #. Badge # = seniority, and seniority means everything.
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That's good to know. I was doing 2-3x a week previously. Since my acceptance notice I've upped it to 5 days a week, 1-2x a day. Three weeks prior I'll be unemployed and will be able to devote even more time.

I'm well above the minimum standards, but well below where I want to be come day 1.

Currently (all strict form):
45 push ups in a minute (goal 60)
57 sit ups in a minute (goal 65)
11 consecutive pull ups (goal 15)
8:00 minute mile (goal 6:30)
9 min/mile over two miles (goal 8 min/mile)
9:30min/mile over three miles (goal 8:30 min/mile)
 
bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
TheRiddler said:
That's good to know. I was doing 2-3x a week previously. Since my acceptance notice I've upped it to 5 days a week, 1-2x a day. Three weeks prior I'll be unemployed and will be able to devote even more time.

I'm well above the minimum standards, but well below where I want to be come day 1.

Currently (all strict form):
45 push ups in a minute (goal 60)
57 sit ups in a minute (goal 65)
11 consecutive pull ups (goal 15)
8:00 minute mile (goal 6:30)
9 min/mile over two miles (goal 8 min/mile)
9:30min/mile over three miles (goal 8:30 min/mile)
Click to expand...

And when you finally get through it all, and get into top shape, you'll have a job where you sit on your butt all day, driving and writing reports. Then there's the shift work and the poor diet options on graves. :p
 
Shaggy

Shaggy

Zoinks!!!!
TheRiddler said:
That's good to know. I was doing 2-3x a week previously. Since my acceptance notice I've upped it to 5 days a week, 1-2x a day. Three weeks prior I'll be unemployed and will be able to devote even more time.

I'm well above the minimum standards, but well below where I want to be come day 1.

Currently (all strict form):
45 push ups in a minute (goal 60)
57 sit ups in a minute (goal 65)
11 consecutive pull ups (goal 15)
8:00 minute mile (goal 6:30)
9 min/mile over two miles (goal 8 min/mile)
9:30min/mile over three miles (goal 8:30 min/mile)
Click to expand...

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.
 
Shaggy

Shaggy

Zoinks!!!!
bojangle said:
And when you finally get through it all, and get into top shape, you'll have a job where you sit on your butt all day, driving and writing reports. Then there's the shift work and the poor diet options on graves. :p
Click to expand...

It's all about getting into a routine. Graves works best for me, partly because I've been doing it for so long.

Wake up at 1230
Eat at 1400
Nap from 1500 to 1700
Shower at 1745
At gym (in PD facility) by 1845
PT from 1845 to 2015
Shower and ready for shift at 2045
Start shift at 2100
End shift at 0700
Shower at work before going home
In bed at 0730, asleep by 0800

Lather, rinse, repeat.
One meal per day (yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it's bad for you, but I've done it for almost a decade now).
Only PT on work days (OT days are bonus PT!).
Sometimes during my shift I'll take a 10-15 min break from typing in the car and do little calisthenic exercises like dips on the push bars, push ups, find a pull up bar on one of the schools, jumping jacks, etc...
 
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TheRiddler

TheRiddler

Riddle me this.
Nick said:
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.
Click to expand...

Tough but doable. That's a 6:40 mile pace. I've done a 6:10 mile but that was... 7 years ago.
 
bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
Nick said:
It's all about getting into a routine. Graves works best for me, partly because I've been doing it for so long.

Wake up at 1230
Eat at 1400
Nap from 1500 to 1700
Shower at 1745
At gym (in PD facility) by 1845
PT from 1845 to 2015
Shower and ready for shift at 2045
Start shift at 2100
End shift at 0700
Shower at work before going home
In bed at 0730, asleep by 0800

Lather, rinse, repeat.
One meal per day (yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it's bad for you, but I've done it for almost a decade now).
Only PT on work days (OT days are bonus PT!).
Sometimes during my shift I'll take a 10-15 min break from typing in the car and do little calisthenic exercises like dips on the push bars, push ups, find a pull up bar on one of the schools, jumping jacks, etc...
Click to expand...

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.
 
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