Becoming a LEO

[nightmare69]

Thanks will do. I called the academy and they told me not to start any of the paperwork till late October cause a lot of it is only good for X amount of days. So I will have to wait awhile before I start anything. I am going to the academy to tomorrow to get the application packet.

[texanjoker]

I got a sponsor today. Local county sheriff dept about a hour away is going to sponsor me cause they know my family well. They normally dont do sponsor ships but they will for me, Im going to meet with the sheriff on labor day and hopefully turn this into a intent to hire. Be a great feeling knowing I have a job waiting on me once I get out of the academy around May. Any other advise yall have I'd love to hear it.

Congrats!

I am not sure what kind of academy they have, but our academy was physical. We ran and ran and ran. We also did lots of pushups.

[nightmare69]

I go to the gym 3-4 times per week to train with weights. I don't do any cardio cause I don't need to lose weight but I guess I need to start.

[Keith B]

I go to the gym 3-4 times per week to train with weights. I don't do any cardio cause I don't need to lose weight but I guess I need to start.

Congrats on finding a sponsor agency. As for exercise at your age I would work on core and do cardio to get in condition. You probably won't loose weight, but will tone up a lot more. And even if you do you will gain it back after you get on full time with the donuts.

[nightmare69]

Haha I am one of those that has to fight to put on weight. At 29 I still have a high metabolism and if I start running I will drop some weight. I'm about 140-145lbs right now. I have a had time keeping on weight in the summer.

[gigag04]

Haha I am one of those that has to fight to put on weight. At 29 I still have a high metabolism and if I start running I will drop some weight. I'm about 140-145lbs right now. I have a had time keeping on weight in the summer.

Thinly veiled brag....

Your academy isn't responsible for finding you employment. The LE hiring process takes forever. Often you ll have to wait for a test date anyway. Starting day 1 and making a calendar/call list will behoove you. Start watching eBay for duty gear. Don't spend a ton for academy gear as your agency, if not putting you through, may have different requirements.

I like ASP cuffs, but they are spendy. SW model 100s will be fine at first.

I wouldn't carry any other holster than a Safariland product.

[gregthehand]

We had some LE supply place sell lots of people some cheap nylon duty gear that barely made it through the academy. I bought mine on EBay and spent as much as they did and it was all high quality Safariland and Bianchi stuff. I agree that when it comes to duty holsters Safariland does seem to be top of the mark.

[Excaliber]

It sounds like you're off to a good start.

You've received excellent advice from Gigag04 on exercise, study, and application materials gathering.

Work hard, study hard.

Remember you're a public servant, not a robocop, and keep in mind that the Constitution is the foundation of our laws rather than an impediment to law enforcement and you'll do fine.

[nightmare69]

Im going to the academy today after work to pick up an application packet and make copies of all the paperwork.

The academy supplies everything expect for the 500rds of 9mm and a 9mm cleaning kit which I have all that. Other than the uniforms they supply all your gear, or so they say.

Anyone have this book for sale cheap?

Texas Criminal Law and Traffic Law Manual (most current edition by LexisNexis / Gould Publications).

[texanjoker]

Haha I am one of those that has to fight to put on weight. At 29 I still have a high metabolism and if I start running I will drop some weight. I'm about 140-145lbs right now. I have a had time keeping on weight in the summer.

When it comes time for the Tcleose test, TCLEOSE TEST . COM This site, which is paid, gives you 1000's of practices questions on tests. I crammed for 3 days on this site and bam, completed my Tcleose test in about 29 minutes with a great score. It was well worth the 50 bucks or so I spent on it.

Before you buy nylon gear, check what the police academy allows. Now once you hit the field, if it is allowed I can say nylon is comfortable. Now the haters will complain that nylon looks too "tactical" and that is part of problem with leos blah blah....In reality it is comfortable and anybody that has worn a gun belt 8-12 hours a day needs whatever they can get to make it more comfortable. I also recommend, if your agency allows a back brace. I got mine from backupbrace.com. I don't know if anybody else makes one, but it really helps with my back injury. It attaches to the gun belt. I wear the bianchi accumold product and got it at GT's. Be wary of some of the nylon junk you find on ebay and other cheap er then dirt type of sites. For the holster you will also have to find what they want you to carry. I prefer the safariland level iii with the optional shroud. While I have never "fought" for my life over my gun, I have had one guy grab the gun. Two of my friends fought for their life for their gun and every bit of protection you can get is worth it.

[Excaliber]

Haha I am one of those that has to fight to put on weight. At 29 I still have a high metabolism and if I start running I will drop some weight. I'm about 140-145lbs right now. I have a had time keeping on weight in the summer.

When it comes time for the Tcleose test, TCLEOSE TEST . COM This site, which is paid, gives you 1000's of practices questions on tests. I crammed for 3 days on this site and bam, completed my Tcleose test in about 29 minutes with a great score. It was well worth the 50 bucks or so I spent on it.

Before you buy nylon gear, check what the police academy allows. Now once you hit the field, if it is allowed I can say nylon is comfortable. Now the haters will complain that nylon looks too "tactical" and that is part of problem with leos blah blah....In reality it is comfortable and anybody that has worn a gun belt 8-12 hours a day needs whatever they can get to make it more comfortable. I also recommend, if your agency allows a back brace. I got mine from backupbrace.com. I don't know if anybody else makes one, but it really helps with my back injury. It attaches to the gun belt. I wear the bianchi accumold product and got it at GT's. Be wary of some of the nylon junk you find on ebay and other cheap er then dirt type of sites. For the holster you will also have to find what they want you to carry. I prefer the safariland level iii with the optional shroud. While I have never "fought" for my life over my gun, I have had one guy grab the gun. Two of my friends fought for their life for their gun and every bit of protection you can get is worth it.

This is good advice on all points.

Nylon is way more comfortable, easier to maintain, and less expensive in the long run.

Definitely don't go for discount gear. Stick with Bianchi or Safariland belts and gear. The few extra dollars in initial cost will more than pay back in not having to buy new belt gear every couple of years, or, even worse, have it fail in the field at a critical moment. Buying one good set that does what it's supposed to is much cheaper than buying 3 or 4 crummy ones that never give good performance from day 1.

I also concur on the Level 3 holster with the shroud. Yes, it takes more practice to become proficient with, but it's worth its weight in gold when you're rolling around on the ground with someone bigger and stronger than you.

[gigag04]

Uncle Mike's belt and Velcro inner was GTG for me. If you're in Houston, hit me up and I can show you how I configure my fear and why. There are endless debates but that is for another time. Get thought the academy first.

[nightmare69]

Will do guys. Going to meet the Marion county sheriff on Labor Day and hopefully persuade him to promise me a job after I graduate.

[nightmare69]

Got to talk to a young deputy at work last night that went through the academy. He said the week of Texas penal code and Juvenal week are the hardest. Out of 40 students 23 failed the penal code test before the grade curve. You can only fail 1 test, you fail 2 you are gone. Pray for me.

[Excaliber]

Got to talk to a young deputy at work last night that went through the academy. He said the week of Texas penal code and Juvenal week are the hardest. Out of 40 students 23 failed the penal code test before the grade curve. You can only fail 1 test, you fail 2 you are gone. Pray for me.

Remember there's no option here for avoiding that learning. If you want to be an LEO you have to know the thousands of points of law you will enforce.

If you start studying the law now and take texanjoker's advice on using the practice exams a week or two before the law material comes up, you'll be the star student in law and will breeze through the law weeks and the test. A side benefit is that doing really well in the academy impresses the boss and significantly increases your desirability for hiring.

If you spend the months before the academy just dreading doing all that studying and leave all that work until the law weeks like those 23 students in an earlier class did, especially if you're not one of those folks who can teach yourself nuclear physics in an evening, those weeks will be painful at best and you may lose a clean shot at the career you've decided on.

If you think about that for a bit I'll bet it won't take too long to arrive at the best choice here.