Citizens Police Academy

Last night was the official night 1 with presentations from the District Representatives and Cadet Training departments. DR's are the guys who focus on relations with the community- schools, block parties, community group meetings, etc. SPO Dunn was a good ol' Boy and a great speaker. He worked a really heavy drug area for a while and told us some stories about Big Tex who was a crack dealer he used to bust a lot. Dunn said they actually had a man to man relationship and it was understood that he was there to make arrests and Big Tex was there to sell crack. And that was just the way it was. Dunn said it had become personal when the cracks dealers starting asking about his wife and kids and he got transfered. TMI I guess.

The second presentation was from a trainer at the academy. I guess I've never give much thought to how smart cops are, I guess i thought it was something somebody did if they couldn't do anything else. I couldn't be more dead wrong. The training in Austin is 8 months, 5 days a week, 10 hours a day. Daily quizzes and weekly tests. A score of 80% is required to maintain status. The book they have to study is like two copies of War and Peace stacked on top of each other. Plus all the defense training, car driving, firearms, etc. Cadets are required to mentor a small kid from the local middle school near the academy and present a paper in front of a public forum regarding a community group they are required to join to learn about diversity. I was really surprised how intense and competitive it is.

One interesting tid bit. After the academy, with all the training, physical fitness etc., they are NOT required to maintain any level of physical fitness. Hence all the fat cops you see and wonder, how the hell is that gut a cop. Fat cop=desk job. Thin and physical fit cop=beat cop. Its just that simple.

Coming up next week is Office of the Police monitor? and Internal Affairs and then what I've been waiting for, Homicide and Cold Cases! I highly suggest if your local department offers this type of class, sign up its really interesting. Did I mention I get to ride along with a cop in a car for an 8 hour shift!!!