[KMKeller]

I keep hearing this every time a thread concerning questionable actions on the part of a LEO starts sliding downhill. Well I'm gonna do just that.:D

I've been offered sponsored attendance (tuition free) to attend a local BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training) class with the intent of joining the reserve force of one of North Carolina's finest Police Forces. FYI, I've always wanted to be a LEO, but at current make 3-4 times what a LEO does. My Uncle was a city cop, my dad was a reserve sheriff, my mother was a police dispatcher and my sister is a State Trooper (all in NM mind you), and I VERY nearly joined the San Diego PD when I left the Navy (had my report date for the academy, but chickened out).

I figured that I'd do the training, join the reserves and fulfill a childhood dream. Whaddaya think?

Kirk

[10-Ring]

I think it's a good idea...good honorable work & a way to be able to give back to your community & be a positive influence.

[TheeBadOne]

Ditto

[WR Olsen]

Go For It!

While there are a lot of people who don't like the police (many of them are called "Perps") The cops in our lives are there to maintain the law as defined by the public.

You will never regret being a reserve officer whereas you will most likely regret not going to the acadamy.

Luck :)

[Tamara]

There are always more good 'uns than bad 'uns.

Folks like you help keep it that way. :)

[rock jock]

Good for you.

I recently went through the application process to attend the local LE academy at night with the intent to become a reserve officer with my local sherriff's dept. In the interview phase I was told what to expect: classes from 6-10 p.m., Monday through Friday, every week from January through mid-December (with two one-week breaks), for a total of 900 hours of training. This is about 300 hours over and above the minimum training for TCLEOS. It was very tempting and I had a long talk with my wife about basically being absent for a full year during the week from her and our 2-year old son. She agreed to do it, but in the end I just didn't think I could pull it off with my work schedule. Tuition was not even an issue. It still bothers me, but I have to make a living.

[DeltaElite]

Good luck, I love being a cop.

[KMKeller]

Thanks all. I'm very lucky in that the area I live in has a very low crime rate and the LEOs are top notch. I've never met any of them that could be classified as other than top drawer. Great bunch all. A few miles away in Durham however (where Fed168 plays), well, let's just say he's got his work cut out for him.

My home town unfortunately doesn't have a reserve force and I'm either going to go to Durham, Chapel Hill (pick on drunk liberal college kids) or possibly Morrisville. Any way you look at it, I'm a bit apprehensive, but excited at the same time.

The training will take approximately 10 months. 5-10PM three nights a week, every other Saturday and for the last month or so, every Saturday. Should be interesting.

If the members here would like, I'd be happy to spend a little time documenting as I go through it.

And thanks Tamara, what a nice thing to say. :)

[Powderman]

Having been bitten by the Reserve bug some time ago, I can tell you what to expect:

1. Learning that there's lots more to police work than throwing on the uniform.

2. Getting acquainted on a first name basis with your word processor or keyboard.

3. Sitting down for the first time while trying to draw a traffic diagram, and seeing that the #$%&!!@* protractor just won't stay still;

4. Getting to break every traffic law in the book while in EVOC, and living a dream--to drive like a maniac in front of every cop in town--and have them cheering you on!!

5. Finding out that that equipment belt is a LOT heavier than it looks;

6. Learning to carry at least two rolls of Tums on duty (see #5);

7. Going into shock when you find out how much uniforms cost;

8. Going into deeper shock when you find out how much the neat stuff on your belt costs;

9. Going into cardiac arrest with you find out how much good body armor costs.

10. Finding out that OC spray hurts. It really does. Trust me.

11. Learning just how much work it is trying to ground fight.

12. Dilemma for today: Take 4 cops, average size. Tell them to cuff the suspect. Take one skinny kid. Cover his wrists and arms with Vaseline. Tell him to resist cuffing by all means necessary, short of hitting. You have one minute to cuff him. Let the fun commence.

13. During your finals for Defensive Tactics, walking into a room and seeing the biggest, burliest instructor in a Red Man suit. He is staring at the person he is going to attack. You are the only one in the room. Have a nice day.

14. Finally, waking up on graduation day, and marching across the stage. Having your badge pinned on for the first time. Being addressed by your peers as "Officer" for the first time. Seeing your reflection in the mirror in full dress uniform.

And realizing the enormous amount of responsibility and trust that your jurisdiction has just placed in you.

Good luck! Be careful, though--it's addictive!!

[Fed168]

Keller, pm me and let's see what we can do to get ya ready.

[KMKeller]

PM Sent Fed. Looking forward to a little education!

[coonan357]

Kirk , the votes are in and I have one more to add ,mine ... Do it !!! I wish I never dropped out of the acadamy ( personal reasons) and now that I am older and am not able to qualify for reserve status due to a foot injury and age limits .I have to say don't pass it up . Good luck ..

[Erik]

I say 'go for it!'

Then again, I'm biased...

I'm a week away from my second stint in law enforcement. First go-round was at the local level, this time it'll be federal.

Erik -
FLETC bound the first week in March.

[Blackhawk]

Kudos to you! :D

[Double Naught Spy]

Walk a mile in an LEO's shoes and after that, you will be a mile away and have his shoes! :D

[4v50 Gary]

Only as a reserve Sir. Go for the $ and make a difference that way. With $, you can support programs like shelters for battered women, more toys for impoverished kids at Xmas, even sponsor a kid to camp (donate to the Scouts). Playing cop limits what you can do for society. You're just a societal medic rushing between calls and passing out mental band-aids. Every now and then you actually get to collar a criminal.