You are here:

Careers: Police/academy questions

Advertisement


Question
Dear Commander Wagoner:  I am a 48 year old female and I would like to know how demanding is pt?  Is it everyday?  How long is the academy? Are any of the central Florida (BCSO, Cocoa, Rockledge, or Melbourne PD) agencies looking for (older) women?  Is there anyone at BPTC that I can speak with?  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Answer
Hi Ellen,

Your only as old as you feel.

Institute of Public Safety
Brevard Community College, Melbourne Campus
3865 N. Wickham Rd., Building 8
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321) 433-5636


Marian Shelpman - Associate Provost, Institute of Public Safety, Director of Criminal Justice (321) 433-5636

Melissa Walker- Criminal Justice Coordinator: Corrections Academy, Crossover Law Enforcement to Corrections Academy, Security Guard Class D License Course (321) 433-5637

The academy is generally 6 months long. The state of Florida mandates 60 hours of physical training, but it is done differently at each academy. You would have to ask them directly.

Give them a call.  

Careers: Police

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

Experience

I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

Publications
I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

Education/Credentials
I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.