A little advice?

[bigjay21]

Hello i just got hired by the police department here. I will be starting with 16 weeks of on the job training then after that 11 weeks of acadamy. I know a little about law enforcnent but not a expert. Any advice for a beginner so i don't look too bad?

[JKT]

Welcome to the forum http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Some of the most important things you can do in training is pay attention and ask questions. Even if you think a question may sound silly, ASK. You will learn that there is more than one way of doing most things also.

Best of luck to you and feel free to ask questions. You will find a lot of varying ideas and opinions here, but a very good resource if you have questions you don't want to ask in class.

Again, best of luck, and welcome http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Good luck and be safe

Jack

[Don]

Originally posted by bigjay21:
Any advice for a beginner so i don't look too bad?

Welcome bigjay,

First and foremost don't worry about looking too bad. You are a rookie and rookies are gonna screw up. No big deal.

Show a lot of interest, ask questions and LISTEN to what the answers are. Think.

Good luck & don't get mugged! http://www.officer.com/ubb/wink.gif


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"Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining". . . Judge Judy
6P1 (retired)

[Sparky]

Have confidence in yourself. Otherwise, no one else will.

Be earnest and try hard, but don't take yourself to seriously. When you make the inevitable mistakes that we all make as rookies...laugh at yourself just like everyone else is laughing at you too!

Sit back and watch the other officers around you. From now on and even until you retire. Training academy and schools are great at teaching you things you need to know...but when it comes right down to it, we all learn how to be cops from other cops. Listen to the 'old heads'...their experience is invaluable. If you find one that is willing to talk to you, be smart and pay attention, even if he isn't telling you what you want to hear. (Especially if he is telling you what you don't want to hear!)

There are alot of ways to do this job. The one you think might be best is not the only way, and is certainly not the best way. Get as many tools into your bag of tricks as you can.

And don't forget to be friendly. That just helps no matter where you go. We don't expect you to be a bad *****, just a regular guy.

Good luck 'new guy'! Keep us posted. We will help all we can!

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-Sparky

[movista]

Here is a tip for ya that you may use on down the road when you start working traffic:
On the Kustom radar units, there is a button that is marked in really small letters that says MOV/STA. That stands for 'moving/stationary'. It does not say 'MOVISTA'.....don't ask your FTO what MOVISTA means...you just might get yourself a silly street name. (that's what I've heard anyway) http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of justice.

[GDenman]

And don't come in like you know everything already. You're there to learn so, even if you already know how to do something, listen & learn what you are shown. Later you can determine which method you like best after you have some time on your belt. Until then, do it the way they want you to.

And when the seasoned troops are sitting around telling war stories, don't chime in with one of your own. You haven't been there long enough to tell war stories. Just listen to theirs & learn from them.

Good luck!

[Dave]

keep an open mind, alays ask questions dont be afraid to screw up. and when you do take a look at what you did wrong, ask how to do it better and learn from that. use common sence and good judgement. you will probly get a partner for a while learn from him/her thay were once in your shoes. and rember you have a badge on your chest not a big S http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Ore. Cop]

As an FTO, I have trained several recruits. One thing I have noticed about the generation coming into law enforcement now is that they are lazy and think they know it all. The best advice I can give you is to display a strong work ethic and good attitude. This sounds like a no brainer, but a lot of recruits are not doing it these days. Every time you start feeling cocky when you are new, just remember that most of the experienced officers are going to see you as just another FNG until you prove otherwise.

[nightcop]

My best advise is don't second guess yourself. If you think you need to do something such as getting back up, holding the air, or drawing your weapon do it. Your first instinct is usually correct. One of our newer guys was always second guessing himself and did not make it out of FTO program. While in the academy do things their way and when you get on the streets full time other officers will show you the way things are really done.

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It's not how a man dies that is remembered. It's how he lived.

[bigjay21]

Thanks for your help.

[David]

BigJay,

Don't show fear of anything except your FTO. He expects it and is deserving of the quaking feet and nervous sweat.

ENJOY yourself! This life is the most exciting...boring...scary... nerve wracking... ego inflating... embarrassing... exilerating life you can ever have.

You will be joining a brotherhood that is recoginzed the world over.

Some are glad to see it, some are not....

That badge you wear has a heart behind it. Don't be afraid to let it be human.

It's also a shield of power, use it wisely.

That piece of medal means your are a Warrior and Guardian of everyone you see and see you.

Wear it with all the pride you have or can muster. There will be times that the only Pride it has is what you have and show.

Every Officer around you will be there for you come hell or high water.

Remember that.

It will be a comfort on those calls that make your balls shrink up into your stomach.

Welcome to the ranks of the THIN BLUE LINE Brother. http://www.officer.com/ubb/cool.gif http://www.officer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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I'm lost...I've gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait. Thanks, David!

[This message has been edited by David (edited 12-02-2000).]

[Don]

David,

Very well said!

[Ksfuzz]

Work hard and never pass up on an opportunity to learn something new!! Most of all STAY SAFE!!!!!!!!

[CustomsCop]

As the FNG, you will not avoid embarrasment. It is guaranteed to happen! Just have thick skin and realize that you will be teased and chastized, and that you can ABSOLUTELY count on those who tease to bail you out when trouble really happens.

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Fact is a function of evidence; Truth is a matter of perspective.

[RaychelR]

Bigjay, welcome to the forum http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif And you too KSfuzz http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

Basically it has been said above. Just work hard and concentrate on your job. Try to avoid office politics and listen a lot more than you talk.

Good luck http://www.officer.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by RaychelR (edited 12-06-2000).]

[Ksfuzz]

Thank ya for the greeting RaychelR....I hope to be posting quite a bit when I get the opportunities to do so!