Military police lateral?

[Mpguy84]

Hey guys, im going to iraq soon, but once i get back my fiance will already be in norcal richmond area and I was wondering what departments around the SF bay let me use my Military Police training and 2 1/2 years of active police patrol as exp. I know SFPD pays okay, but they dont let me lateral in. they want me to start off fresh as a recruit. Kinda lame since when I get back I should be an Investigator for the military. oh also im a reservist with 6 years in now. Ne thoughts?

[IMachU]

I have a couple of thoughts. First, thank you for your service. Second, regardless of the agency you apply to in California, you need to go through the whole process as a newbie. Even with my 18 years on a police department in So Cal and 3 stripes, if I were to go to another agency I'd have to start over and jump through all the hoops. The only difference is I don't have to go through the academy again. So, if you wanna get hired here, whip out the hoop jumping shoes. The military is good for one thing test-wise....you get extra points for your service.

[Mpguy84]

suck. in FL where i live now. it counts as complete training. Just need to do a transfer and a 2 week refresher. lame.

[FPD GUY]

Florida does things much different then. California is the best trained in the nation and as the above stated "get out your jumping shoes". The "lame" attitude will probably get you thrown out of the academy here. There was a Force Recon, Ranger and former SEAL in my academy and they brought their jumping shoes.


suck. in FL where i live now. it counts as complete training. Just need to do a transfer and a 2 week refresher. lame.

[Bearcat357]

suck. in FL where i live now. it counts as complete training. Just need to do a transfer and a 2 week refresher. lame.

Hate to ruin it for you.....but your MP training and MPI school don't usually mean squat for you on the civilian side of things for most states....

Further, the training you get at Ft. Leonard Wood is nothing compairable to what you will get in a real Police Academy.....

I did 8 years active as a MP and learned all kinds of things when I got out......even though I was sure I knew it all aftr 8 years.....so....

[ask80]

i'm surprised even FL would count your training as an MP as a lateral. why not just get hired and get sponsored and paid to goto an academy? it's only 6 months and you'll probably have an edge. i'm sure most other states won't recognize your MP academy training.

[Bearcat357]

i'm surprised even FL would count your training as an MP as a lateral. why not just get hired and get sponsored and paid to goto an academy? it's only 6 months and you'll probably have an edge. i'm sure most other states won't recognize your MP academy training.

Texas, FL, and I think 2-3 others are the only ones to recognize Military LE training....

[IMachU]

Besides, most academies are accredited by local colleges, so you also get 18 college units in addition to getting paid. As said above, that "suck" attitude will not get you far here. Suck it up, and do your best. It's worth it in the long run.

[DOAcop38]

Florida does things much different then. California is the best trained in the nation and as the above stated "get out your jumping shoes". The "lame" attitude will probably get you thrown out of the academy here. There was a Force Recon, Ranger and former SEAL in my academy and they brought their jumping shoes.

Take it as just part of the "process"- Ca.demands MORE of its officers in terms of ability to perfrom as -no matter what dept you go to here- you will run into REAL OLD FASHIONED street violence.Add to that - this is the backyard of the 9th circuit federal court- a court "infamous" for its sharp eye on law enforcement.Your military experience may come in handy in terms of self discipline,and ability to go thru the phys conditioning.In terms of "Handling street crime"? platoon tactics in a combat zone is far different from late nite foot pursuits of gangsters thru alleyways-totally dissimilar tactics are required for survival( in the latter you will NOT have hand grenades,tank support,and it is quite possible that your suspects will be equally or BETTER armed than you)- it will be breeze if you are focussed and in the end , you will appreciate what you learn in a CA.Basic POST academy + the prior experience you will bring from military training......

[Unit453]

Hate to ruin it for you.....but your MP training and MPI school don't usually mean squat for you on the civilian side of things for most states....

Further, the training you get at Ft. Leonard Wood is nothing compairable to what you will get in a real Police Academy.....

I did 8 years active as a MP and learned all kinds of things when I got out......even though I was sure I knew it all aftr 8 years.....so....

I'm glad you said it first. You always beat me to it.

MP means jack squat outside the gates. They teach you enough to get you killed.

MPguy84, I'm curious to know where you did your MPI or most of your road time at....?

[Bearcat357]

They teach you enough to get you killed.

MP School is waaaaaaaaaaaay behind everyone the times......based on what I saw a couple of weeks ago....

I was on base out here in the DC area and saw some MPs arresting some dude at the front gate (contracted security didn't like the dude, so they called the MPs is what I heard later on from the folks at the PMO)

As I waited in line to get into post.......I watched them place the guy up against a temporay barrier....and "wall search" him.....:eek:

[ExSDSO]

I know of a couple people who came from out of state (Hawaii and Maine) and got hired on after completing a 3 week P.O.S.T recert course. The thing they had to do was contact P.O.S.T and send them all of their certificates and everything else that involves police training.

And if you had to go through a 6 month academy...it should be cake for you since your prior military and you could possibly be getting paid to have fun for those 6 months.

[LB Blue]

Hey guys, im going to iraq soon, but once i get back my fiance will already be in norcal richmond area and I was wondering what departments around the SF bay let me use my Military Police training and 2 1/2 years of active police patrol as exp. I know SFPD pays okay, but they dont let me lateral in. they want me to start off fresh as a recruit. Kinda lame since when I get back I should be an Investigator for the military. oh also im a reservist with 6 years in now. Ne thoughts?



What????? :eek: never heard of a MP lateral. I thought MP's were the same as security guards, just in the military. If CA did accept MP's as laterals, my academy class would have been cut in half. I feel bad for FL and the citizens they protect, who accepts MP's as laterals.

[Bearcat357]

What????? :eek: never heard of a MP lateral. I thought MP's were the same as security guards, just in the military.

Hate to tell you.....but MPs ARE NOT Security Guards for the military.....

They do go through LE Training....it's not the best in the world....but it works for what the Military wants them to do.....

I feel bad for FL and the citizens they protect, who accepts MP's as laterals.

Also hate to tell you.....but in FLA, the State makes them attend lateral training and then test to make sure they picked up statutes and all that before they can go work the road.....they just don't let them get hired and toss them out there....

[Unit453]

Exactly. Some larger installations dwarf some towns and cities with crime, population, traffic, and geographic sizes too so, some of them have their hands full.

Last time I checked, security guards didnt have apprehension authority, write tickets or testify in court systems.

LB Blue, I take it you dont have a whole lot of experience with the military? I mean no disrespect, just asking, so, I dont mean to sound outta line.

[sparkydavid]

As a nine year veteren, I know that there is much much much more that a LEO has to contend with than military police. LB blue is not outta line when he is discussing this.

[Fuzz]

I have had trainees that were MP's for several years before getting hired on as an LEO. They went through a full academy and FTO process before coming to me. They were nowhere near what a PD/SO lateral that had several years on was and in fact were usually behind the other trainees in their progress. In my opinion they should go through a full academy as they are NOT laterals. A police academy doesnt train someone to be an MP and MP school does not train someone to be a cop.

[LB Blue]

Exactly. Some larger installations dwarf some towns and cities with crime, population, traffic, and geographic sizes too so, some of them have their hands full.

Last time I checked, security guards didnt have apprehension authority, write tickets or testify in court systems.

LB Blue, I take it you dont have a whole lot of experience with the military? I mean no disrespect, just asking, so, I dont mean to sound outta line.

I'm sorry, didnt mean any disrespect towards military police, and NO i don't know much about the military because I never went. But I do have friends who graduated the academy with me who were MP's and Snipers and they say that the military train you to kill, not to handle calls for service or any thing close to being a city cop. But i dont know and you would know more about it then me. I'm just going by word of mouth so don't mine me. Sorry if i disrepected any former or current MP's out there. It's all love and I respect anyone who have served in the military.:D

[Unit453]

No problem. You were not out of line. I didnt mean to sound rude....

It really depends on the installation to which an MP has worked at. Some bases are much busier than others. Some bases, MP's are nothing more than animal control, gate guards, or do nothing more than security checks. Some, they run call to call, all day and night long. The training used to be somewhat decent in years past. Most of the training was not in AIT or basic training but at the unit level. It really depended on how much your individual unit cared about LEO operations. Most, couldnt give a crap but looked at LEO as "busy work" or just another battalion tasking that "needed" to be done. I was in units that actually spent a month training before you actually assumed road duties. These days, these kids are lucky to get 2 weeks worth and are basically trained by civilian police who control most installations now. Most MP's these days do nothing more than deploy or right seat ride. The training is a fraction of what it used to be, mainly due to the fact that we're at war and their services are needed "over there" more so than here, stateside. Most installations these days have completely changed over in this post 9/11 world to civilian federal police so you wont really find a whole lot of squared away or fully trained MP's running around that actually know anything. I've known a few in my time that I knew were gonna make something out of themselves but most, were pretty much worthless when it came to actually working the road. I say worthless but its not their fault, and I realize that. Those that were squared away or picked it up immediately, are now civilian police somewhere and just used the military as a stepping stone to get where they wanted in life, much like I did. The problem is that no matter what branch, the military dosent want fat blotters. They'll never be public so the outside communities rarely know what actually happens on installations. The army still lives in the 1950's and thinks that MP's still drive around in jeeps and chrome helmets with a blue or red whoopie light attached to it with an old crank style siren. Those days are long over with but top leadership is in the business to fight wars, not police populations.

The first thing I do if I run into or meet a former MP is ask where they were stationed at. Depending on the installation they worked on tells me how much road time they actually got and if they actually did anything productive within the police field.

So an MP lateral? Its hit or miss. You're either gonna get someone squared away or a kid with next to zero experience. I'd say that they all need to go through a full academy.

[DAL]

One thing that your military MP experience may get you is that you may be able to start at a higher pay grade.

[hbliam]

One thing that your military MP experience may get you is that you may be able to start at a higher pay grade.


Not at any agency that I have ever researched. It may get you higher up on a hiring list but recruit pay is recruit pay.

[Mabbottusmc]

One thing that your military MP experience may get you is that you may be able to start at a higher pay grade.


Military police and regular police are totally different. It'll just be seen as military experience. You'll just be harder to train because you are going to want to do things the "MP" way.

[jebtcop]

Military police and regular police are totally different. It'll just be seen as military experience. You'll just be harder to train because you are going to want to do things the "MP" way.
I don't think that's necessarily true as long as they are open minded. Know it alls come from various backgrounds. :)

[DAL]

"Candidates with military service resulting in an honorable discharge are advanced one Step for every TWO years of completed service." -- LAPD

[hbliam]

"Candidates with military service resulting in an honorable discharge are advanced one Step for every TWO years of completed service." -- LAPD

I never researched LAPD pay. :) And that's for any military service not just MP's. Good for them. Now show me another.

[IE Copper]

I have had several trainees that were prior MP/SPs. Some were ok, some were terrible. I have never had a trainee who I was sure did well BECAUSE they were a former MP/SP, but I have had trainees who I was sure DID NOT do well because of their previous experinence. Old habbits die hard...

The best trainees I have ever had were laterals.

[DAL]

I never researched LAPD pay. :) And that's for any military service not just MP's. Good for them. Now show me another.

Considering that all I said that his military MP experience may get him a higher salary. I demonstrated that at LAPD it would. I did not say that the experience had to be as an MP.

You are the one who categorically asserted "Not at any agency that I have ever researched. It may get you higher up on a hiring list but recruit pay is recruit pay." Obviously, recruit pay is not invariant.

I've already supported my assertion, because one example was all that is necessary to make "may" true. So, if you are so confident of your opinion, why don't you show us that no other departments in California?

[hbliam]

Considering that all I said that his military MP experience may get him a higher salary. I demonstrated that at LAPD it would. I did not say that the experience had to be as an MP.

You are the one who categorically asserted "Not at any agency that I have ever researched. It may get you higher up on a hiring list but recruit pay is recruit pay." Obviously, recruit pay is not invariant.

I've already supported my assertion, because one example was all that is necessary to make "may" true. So, if you are so confident of your opinion, why don't you show us that no other departments in California?

Sorry, wasn't trying to start a ****ing match. I've researched dozens of agencies and never read that military would get high starting pay until I read that LAPD blurb that you pointed out. My point was not have the guy hoping for something that is nearly nonexistant.

[Garbage Man]

Isnt everyone in the military a cop these days? No one says it but we are back to using these guys as the worlds police force. The grunts in the field in Iraq are basically cops with really violent street gangs.

I wish we could make more accomodations for our vets, I think they are the best hope for our current recruiting dilema...The Vietnam vets were our greatest generation.

Dont give up on us just because you have to go to the academy, frankly it will be just like another day in the army for you and there is a lot of learning to do, the criminal justice system is amazingly complicated. The problem is simply that many states have a standardized training system called POST (Peace Officer Standards of Training) so we can all work together knowing that we all do it pretty much the same way. In an emergency situation I can work with any cop from any agency with very little pre planing and know exactly what he is going to do.

[IE Copper]

I wouldn't lose any sleep if this guy gave up. He's arrogant and ignorant. That type of attitude is not needed in law enforcement. I did 5 years in the military. I was in special forces and deployed on over 40 TDY's, and I never asked for any type of special treatment when I separated and pursued a career in law enforcement. Further, with the exception of minor tactical deployment training, I haven't used anything I learned in the military on the streets.

Military Police IS more like security than law enforcement. With very few exceptions, 90% of an MPs experience is spent picking his nose will guarding a gate.

Oh and don't get me started on Navy MPs, hugging and kissing on each other :D

[IE Copper]

GarbageMan, do they teach NIMS and SIMS in the academy now? I think you will see these systems of management taught more in the near future.

[LB Blue]

Where is the guy who started this thread? He needs to speak up im sure hes reading...... ;)

[Mpguy84]

Sorry it took so long to respond back people. Ive been busy trying to get this deployment situation figured out and forgot I posted this. In any case, I spent 2 years mobilized in 03/05 as a patrol unit at FT drum NY. Never spent any time at the gates because they were already taken over by civilians by then.

A base is no different then a small town. Calling an MP is like calling your local LEO. I still made ALOT of arrests and pulled over plenty of people. I spent a couple weeks at FT Stewart, but that was just a AT, not many arrests because the whole base was pretty much deployed. I had the authority to arrest, charge or ticket civilians, GI's and contractors.

All of my fellow MP's in my unit are actual cops around Miami, FT Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area. I get to hear all there war stories and they have been through alot more than I have. Ive been to your basic calls. Assault and batteries, Domestic's, I worked a little bit with narcotics also at Drum. If you guys think that these military bases are perfect little worlds then your wrong. Theres so much gang and drug activity on these posts.

I know you get a lot of good training in the civilian Academies, but I wonder if 6 months worth of training is as good as 4 months of training and 2 years of exp. Though it might not be CALI good, its still real life situations. Plus I'm sure not all California is gang bangers and drug dealers. I could imagine some parts being pretty peaceful and not having too many calls.

[MLPJLP]

The standards to be an MP are significantly lower than the standards in place at most larger civillian police departments. Your approximate 9 weeks of military police school pale in comparison to most civillian academies. Your experience working at Ft. Drum also does not equate to working in a full service civillian law enforcement agency.

BTW, my MOS and civillian LEO career qualify me to make this statement. On another note, as an example, if you were granted an opportunity to take Florida's Equivalency of Training course and pass the "state" test, you would still have to go through a competitive hiring process to become a law enforcement officer.

Being an MP isn't a vestibule to becoming a civillian LEO. Good luck nonetheless.

[Garbage Man]

GarbageMan, do they teach NIMS and SIMS in the academy now? I think you will see these systems of management taught more in the near future.


Ummm ..the academy is a little bit too far in my rear view mirror to know what the heck those are..but I am sure if you could elaborate I would know what you mean.

[LB Blue]

Sorry it took so long to respond back people. Ive been busy trying to get this deployment situation figured out and forgot I posted this. In any case, I spent 2 years mobilized in 03/05 as a patrol unit at FT drum NY. Never spent any time at the gates because they were already taken over by civilians by then.

A base is no different then a small town. Calling an MP is like calling your local LEO. I still made ALOT of arrests and pulled over plenty of people. I spent a couple weeks at FT Stewart, but that was just a AT, not many arrests because the whole base was pretty much deployed. I had the authority to arrest, charge or ticket civilians, GI's and contractors.

All of my fellow MP's in my unit are actual cops around Miami, FT Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area. I get to hear all there war stories and they have been through alot more than I have. Ive been to your basic calls. Assault and batteries, Domestic's, I worked a little bit with narcotics also at Drum. If you guys think that these military bases are perfect little worlds then your wrong. Theres so much gang and drug activity on these posts.

I know you get a lot of good training in the civilian Academies, but I wonder if 6 months worth of training is as good as 4 months of training and 2 years of exp. Though it might not be CALI good, its still real life situations. Plus I'm sure not all California is gang bangers and drug dealers. I could imagine some parts being pretty peaceful and not having too many calls.



Your still young dude, going to an academy will not kill you. Trust me, California cops are the most elite cops on the planet. So, by you comparing MP's to California cops is a slap in the face to all of us. Your MP skills will not cut it at most departments in California (Long Beach, LASO, LAPD, just to name a few). Just suck it up and act like your fresh off the boat and want in on the small selective world of Law Enforcement Officers. :cool: good luck

[MLPJLP]

Your still young dude, going to an academy will not kill you. Trust me, California cops are the most elite cops on the planet.

Your profile suggests you have been a police officer for two years, I would imagine you too are young and haven't experienced nearly what you believe you have.

I was with you until you made the comment that CA "cops" are the most elite on the planet, I always thought state police troopers were?

Have you ever served in the military, been deployed?

[Fuzz]

I know you get a lot of good training in the civilian Academies, but I wonder if 6 months worth of training is as good as 4 months of training and 2 years of exp.

That training is not the same and the experience is not the same. It may help a little, but trust those of us that have had to TRAIN ex-MP's. The training they had hindered them more than it helped them....at least the several I have had. I'm not trying to sound negative about MP's because they do what they are trained to do, but once again it is not the same thing.

Though it might not be CALI good, its still real life situations.

You are correct and if you can take those real life situations and apply your new training without letting your old training take over you will do great.

Plus I'm sure not all California is gang bangers and drug dealers. I could imagine some parts being pretty peaceful and not having too many calls.

The tactics, law,procedures taught to those officers in small slow cities is still the same as those taught to the rougher large cities. That is the beautiful thing about standardized training. They may have forgotten some of it by working in a slow area, but hey were still trained to the same standards. Take the advice of a few of us......get hired....earn a paycheck while you go to an academy and enjoy your training. If you are ahead of the rest of the recruits because of your prior MP training then it will be an easy ride for you while you get paid.

[irishlad2nv]

Sorry it took so long to respond back people. Ive been busy trying to get this deployment situation figured out and forgot I posted this. In any case, I spent 2 years mobilized in 03/05 as a patrol unit at FT drum NY. Never spent any time at the gates because they were already taken over by civilians by then.

A base is no different then a small town. Calling an MP is like calling your local LEO. I still made ALOT of arrests and pulled over plenty of people. I spent a couple weeks at FT Stewart, but that was just a AT, not many arrests because the whole base was pretty much deployed. I had the authority to arrest, charge or ticket civilians, GI's and contractors.

All of my fellow MP's in my unit are actual cops around Miami, FT Lauderdale, West Palm Beach area. I get to hear all there war stories and they have been through alot more than I have. Ive been to your basic calls. Assault and batteries, Domestic's, I worked a little bit with narcotics also at Drum. If you guys think that these military bases are perfect little worlds then your wrong. Theres so much gang and drug activity on these posts.

I know you get a lot of good training in the civilian Academies, but I wonder if 6 months worth of training is as good as 4 months of training and 2 years of exp. Though it might not be CALI good, its still real life situations. Plus I'm sure not all California is gang bangers and drug dealers. I could imagine some parts being pretty peaceful and not having too many calls.

Where is it exactly and who gave you the right to "arrest" anyone, whether it be a contractor or a civilian? MP's are the same and have the same powers to detain as a civilian Police officer for the Army. An MP does not have statutory powers of arrest, meaning you can detain a cilivian, charge them with whatever crime they have committed on the base, but they are not subject to UCMJ, so what are you arresting them for?


I agree that many bases are similar to a "small" town in the civilian world. However civlian LE training is indeed different then MP school and MP work. Everyday the public scrutanizes LE, whether ot be a traffic stop or a domestic. I am not saying a job as an MP is any different on a base, but one thing you have to realize is the gates can be opened and closed on a base. Cities/town do not have gates to close.

Best thing to do is apply to an agency and Take Advantage of the chance to get trained at a Police Academy. Then from there, take your Field Training, get your feet wet for a few yrs, then and only then look back and compare notes from the military LE to civilian LE. You will see a difference in everything. Best of luck in your endeavors.

[LB Blue]

Your profile suggests you have been a police officer for two years, I would imagine you too are young and haven't experienced nearly what you believe you have.

I was with you until you made the comment that CA "cops" are the most elite on the planet, I always thought state police troopers were?

Have you ever served in the military, been deployed?


Yes, I am young 23 (soon to be 24 god willing), but 3 years (need to update my profile) in Long Beach is the same as 10 to 15 years some where else. I never said I was not young and no I havent experienced everything. What i can tell you I have handled everything from 484's to 187's more then once every year. One thing I havent experienced is an Aircraft crash or a major disaster. So you can call me inexperienced since I havent seen it all yet.

That was not my point when I made that statement and this discussion is not about me. I was given another young guy some advice and some pretty good advice if he wants to be a california cop.

I don't know much about state troopers, but what I do know is that most of my training videos on what not to do involved state troopers, if that means anything. But if your in california, then you are well trained. I stand by my word when I say California cops are the best. I've been to many different states and police work is not nearly as good as it is here. Period. But I respect all Law Enforcement Officers no matter where they patrol. No disrespect to anyone, but reality is reality. :cool: NO I HAVENT BEEN IN THE MILITARY. I GIVE MY RESPECTS TO ALL VETS AND THOSE WHO CURRENTLY PROTECT OUR COUNTY. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

[MLPJLP]

Yes, I am young 23 (soon to be 24 god willing), but 3 years (need to update my profile) in Long Beach is the same as 10 to 15 years some where else. I never said I was not young and no I havent experienced everything. What i can tell you I have handled everything from 484's to 187's more then once every year. One thing I havent experienced is an Aircraft crash or a major disaster. So you can call me inexperienced since I havent seen it all yet.

That was not my point when I made that statement and this discussion is not about me. I was given another young guy some advice and some pretty good advice if he wants to be a california cop.

I don't know much about state troopers, but what I do know is that most of my training videos on what not to do involved state troopers, if that means anything. But if your in california, then you are well trained. I stand by my word when I say California cops are the best. I've been to many different states and police work is not nearly as good as it is here. Period. But I respect all Law Enforcement Officers no matter where they patrol. No disrespect to anyone, but reality is reality. :cool: NO I HAVENT BEEN IN THE MILITARY. I GIVE MY RESPECTS TO ALL VETS AND THOSE WHO CURRENTLY PROTECT OUR COUNTY. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.

Good luck in your career, you have a long road ahead.

[wittynbear]

If you know military history then you should know the origin of the word Grunt, it comes from the Korean war where Marine's service record book was stamped Ground Recruit UNTrained, or GRUNT for short.. Your boot camp was learn how to shoot and everything else gets taught on the boat ride over there. Being an MP is very much the same they give you the basic idea and you learn the rest along the way. I think former military should be excused from the boot camp style instruction, been there done that. But as far as learning what is taught in the academy, that should be mandatory. Its your life, and your mistakes may cause someone else theirs as well as yours. I don't know anything about the training there in CA but its probably up there. I like to think of CA as the cereal bowl state, full of nuts, fruits, and flakes. The academy can only make you better don't fear more training, its there to help you.

[deputyryan]

Let me clarify something about Florida laterals. Not just anybody who was prior military police or even out of state police can simply do a lateral and become a Florida LEO.

First you have to show the state you have a minimum of one year law enforcement experience (This does not include manning the gate to a base). Secondly you have to show you had arrest powers and enforced federal/state/municipal laws. Then you have to show what areas you have been trained in. The State of Florida requires a certain amount of training in specific areas. If you don’t have documented training in any of the fields required by the state you are ineligible to do a lateral in Florida.

Areas such as Firearms, defensive tactics, use of force, arrest procedures, traffic crash investigations, traffic enforcement, crime scene preservation/collection, mass casualty/disaster, patrol procedures, EVOC, interview & interrogations, report writing and the list goes on. If your state investigator feels you are lacking in any of the areas required you will be disqualified. If you can’t prove you received the required training you will be disqualified.

Once you get the rubber stamp of approval you have to complete a two week abbreviated academy. Once that is completed you take the same state exam that every other LEO in the state takes to become certified (Which is no walk in the park for even us who went to a full state academy). Once that is complete the department that hires you is responsible to ensure you have all of the other training that the state mandates you receive before going into Field Training. Once you have all the required training required by the state you can go into F.T.

Doing a lateral is not as simple as the word "lateral" sounds. It is more of an equivalency examination of each out of state and military police officer's training experience. I work with a couple ex MPs who did "laterals" and they’re good cops.

MP is a very large field. Not all actually are trained for law enforcement. It entirely depends on what training and experience the MP and out of state police officer received.

[hbliam]

Yes, I am young 23 (soon to be 24 god willing), but 3 years (need to update my profile) in Long Beach is the same as 10 to 15 years some where else. I never said I was not young and no I havent experienced everything. What i can tell you I have handled everything from 484's to 187's more then once every year. One thing I havent experienced is an Aircraft crash or a major disaster. So you can call me inexperienced since I havent seen it all yet.


More like 3 years is worth about 5-8 years in a smaller or less active PD. 10-15 is a stretch.

Regarding the trooper. Seriously? West coast cops are known as the best trained, most professional cops on the planet. State troopers are known for displaying the worst tactics imaginable on video for all to see later.