Police Academy Memory...

[Speedo66]

I grew up in a housing project in the Bronx, I think I had my street smarts before I was 10. I remember one incident there when I was eight where I was riding my older brother's bicycle and got pushed off by three young teens who tried to steal the bike. I grabbed onto the frame while on the ground and they punched and kicked me to let go. I figured my brother would do worse if I lost the bike, so I held on until some adult chased them away.

Dropped out of college after 2 years, then Army, then LE for a state agency in NYC for 40 years. Finished college along the way with the help of LEEP (Law Enforcement Education Program).

To be honest, I don't think the military did anything LE related for me except get me into better shape. And try and make me "the ultimate weapon". lol

 

[Trey Veston]

Thread title is misleading. I was all ready with...

 

[entropy]

"Follow Me!"

 

[Old Dog]

This one's for Denis (I get it, you don't like doing push-ups
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/police-academy-20-less-military-training-more-empathy/
An old article about my state's academy ...

Trey, love the first movie, just a lotta Rule 3 violations (as depicted in the pic).

 

[9mmepiphany]

I get it, you don't like doing push-ups

I loved push-ups in my academy...this is more in-line with the OP

We had circuit training every other morning (we ran the other days). To establish individual standards, we went through a different sets of exercises for a set period of time (I can't remember how long). Whatever that number of reps, per exercises, you cut it in half and that would be the number you performed during Circuit Training. During the Push-up set, I could perform two (2), so my Circuit Training number of reps was one (1)...didn't make the instructors happy, but it was their rules that I followed.

 

[cheygriz]

I had a firearms instructor, fresh out of the army. ( Spec 4 in a bridge building outfit.)

we were all amazed at how much he knew about bridges and how little he knew about anything else. Full military, D.I. wannabe! Lasted for about three weeks and got transferred to records.

Mostly darn good instructors, except for the few that thought they were still in the military.

 

[cheygriz]

In the military, I learned how to be a trooper.

In the academy, I learned how to be a cop.

Two different things. No connection between them. I already knew how to follow orders and do push ups. In the academy, I learned how to enforce the law, protect my community, and serve the taxpayers who paid my salary.

The military taught me how to break things. the academy taught me how to NOT break things.

 

[Speedo66]

Funny that the talk is of rigorous training, running, pushups, etc. as mandatory in the academy, I’ve never understood why we tolerate overweight, out of shape donut crunchers once on the job.

Stewardesses used to have to meet weight requirements strictly for aesthetic purposes, you’d think a fit officer should be required.

 

[entropy]

Because it's hard to maintain that shape when everybody is giving you free donuts! (Or in my Dad's case back in the mid-60's, free pizza and beer, all he could eat!) My Dad joined the St. Paul (MN) PD just before I was born, (Apr. '63) a svelte 6'2, 225#. By the time I was 5, he was over 300#. The Saint Paul PD stared a program for overweight officers (The Beluga Ballet) in about 1984.

 

[DPris]

My PD instituted a yearly run about halfway through my time there.
It did result in some officers leaving.
Denis

 

[9mmepiphany]

Folks may notice that this thread has been shortened somewhat.

I removed posts that didn't have to do directly with experiences "while in" the academy...to keep it on-track and a bit friendlier. Please help me maintain it was such.