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Careers: Police/Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy-Application?

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Expert: - 11/15/2010


Question
Hi Jack-

Not sure if you will know the answer to this, but I have not been able to find it anywhere, and as usual I am making myself sick with worry.
Do you know the general time it takes for a police academy to let you know whether or not you've been accepted? I recently appliced at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy,and I know they will be conduction interviews in December. The academy runs from Feb-June, and I am just getting anxious.. not sure what the basis is on denying someone,or if they will even tell you if you've been denied.

On a different level, I am also curious on another aspect. Is everyone that attends a police academy physically fit? May seem like a silly question, but I'm sure a lot of people actually have this in the back of their minds.

Thank you so much!

Answer
Lanya,

In my part of the county we do not have private police academies like you have in Florida (thank goodness).  On my department an applicant applies for a position like he would in any other business.  Then there would be a long hiring process that could take up to a year for the successful applicant.  Of course many get washed out in the first couple of weeks just based on interviews and background.

So I do not have any information about a system that I had never heard of until a few years ago (private academy).

I can't say that I was a Superman like character when I started my academy but I managed to get along.  I know now that the recruit classes do a lot of running and that there are minimum standards that have to be met or they show you the door.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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