Expert: Chris Wagoner - 7/20/2011

Question
Chris, you have put together a great web site. I am 45 and invested the past two months doing everything required to be considered for full sponsorship by a local agency. I was contacted last week with the news that I was chosen, one of very few from a very large number of applicants. I have a high school diploma, 22 years in customer service work, management and a lifetime dream to work in law enforcement. Having been out of school for so long I thought I forgot everything; including how to learn. I proved myself wrong with 12.5’s on the TABE, A 4.0 min time on the agility test, a 90 on the LE CJBAT and a 96 on the correctional CJBAT. I also had two really good interviews. I am scheduled to start classes full time for a total of about 8 months for the dual certification sometime in October 2011. The book you recommended to get started on is the Florida Criminal Justice Sourcebook, 2010-2011 Edition and reading the first 75 pages if I remember correctly. Will there be a 2011-2012 book that comes out by the time I start classes and if so will it be that much different then 2010-2011? Should I wait? I am eager to learn as much as I can prior to class starting. My wife and I have already read the emotional survival for LE and their families. Are there other good reads on this topic that you would recommend? Thank you for your time and for developing a web site that really targets and test the mind and soul of anyone looking to LE as a career.

Answer
Good morning James,

I really appreciate your kind comments about my website. You hit on exactly the reason that I created it in the hopes that it would help people just like yourself. I'm glad you found it useful.

There will be a 2011 – 2012 version of the Florida criminal Justice sourcebook. And the first section called legal guidelines is the part that you need to read at a time if you want to get a good start. You will find it extremely useful in the Academy and it should help you understand some of the issues brought up in class and in your law enforcement textbooks.

When you say are there any other good books to read or that I would recommend are you speaking about for your wife and family or for yourself? There is a book called "blue truth"by Cherokee Paul McDonald. He was a Fort Lauderdale police officer and wrote about his experiences there. He's also a friend of mine. The book is a good look at the issues and transitions that a police officer goes through and would be good for your wife and yourself to both read. For you to read if you're wanting to get some material to use before the Academy I highly recommend the book "warrior mindset"written by Michael J Asken and Lieut. Col. Dave Grossman. It's a book designed just for law enforcement and I think it would be very helpful to you.

I hope that helps and don't forget there are study guides on that website once you get in the Academy that might help you with your end of chapter exams and the state officer certification exam.

Be well and stay safe.