“It is never too late to be who you might have been” -George Eliot
Prologue:
In the year 2014 I had already
graduated college, had been working as a counselor, and had already made the
decision to go into Law Enforcement. I applied to three agencies, whichever one
hired me first was the one I’d go to. Approximately 4-5 months later, I received
notification that I was going to be hired by the Sheriff’s Office, that I’d be
going through Deputy School, then the full police academy, and that afterwards
I’d be going through field training. The entire training process was estimated
at approximately 8-9 months before I was allowed to be on my own. I was told that
if I didn’t pass any phase of training that I’d be separated from the agency…that
means I’d be fired in the nicest way possible. No pressure…
I did HR day; filled out my hiring
forms, got all my equipment, then did some shadowing and ride alongs to get a
real idea of what the job was like. I had several days of this and also a few on
the computer taking any required online courses associated with the agency (i.e.,
sexual harassment, OSHA, etc.,).
By this time, I’d already been
sworn in but told that I didn’t have any enforcement powers until all phases of
training were completed. However, I was authorized to carry my service weapon,
and display my badge if ever it was needed to verify who I was and what my
position was.
The first training phase was
Deputy School, it was 1-2 months in length, and it was the academy before the
academy basically. When I went through, it was goal-oriented at teaching all
the skills and training tasks specific to Deputy Sheriff’s. The school is
designed to give you the basic skills and understandings associated with
operating as a Court Officer, Jailor, and Civil Process Official. There is
plenty of physical training, plenty of practical/written examinations, and
plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. However, fear not because it is
designed that way, by the end you’ll be spun up and ready for the full police academy.
Deputy School wasn’t hard, just follow directions, pay attention, and you’ll be
fine.
There are two rules to always follow
throughout any kind of training; It isn’t “Personal” and that it has been done
before. Remember those and you’ll be good.
After Deputy School, it was time
to begin the full academy…
Life Having A Badge: Road to the Uniform: Prologue...
