View Full Version : Question for the LEOs on POST academy and hiring
So as some know, I tried for the JCSO process earlier this year and was not selected (I assume due to 900+ applicants and I just didn't quite make it maybe due to my not having a BA/BS). An army buddy just informed me yesterday of an idea and I wanted to check the viability. He had an employee at his security company in FL apply for a deputy position with Dade County Sheriff (from what I heard one of the hardest SO's to get on in FL- something like avg. 800+ applicants per process for only about 20 deputy positions- sounds familiar), despite being fmr Army he didn't make it very far into the process. Then he applied to a community college LE Academy, went through, got POST certified, and hired on with a different agency. My question is, would that work here? If I were to go through the Red Rocks Community College LE academy, get my POST certification, would it be possible to be hired on with an agency somewhere in/around Denver/Colo Spgs? Current, active LEOs, does your department do this? I understand some agencies like Lakewood require 3 years as an active LEO for POST transfers, but perhaps with another agency I might have luck? I kind of gave up on the trying for JCSO due to A) I'd be working where I grew up, and recently realized that that line of work in this area would be a bad idea, and B) JCSO is, from what everyone is telling me, a very hard and very competitive agency to get on.
And please no speculative answers, if you don't actually know then please don't speculate. Thanks. [Beer]
OneGuy67
07-09-2013, 17:36
The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.
All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.
The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.
All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.
Awesome, thank you... that's what I was thinking. And I just got an email back from the RRCC VA person and she said yes my post-9/11 GI Bill will pay for the academy, books, POST Exam, AND BAH! My buddy who owns the security company in FL said I should get on with Vail PD- he heard they offer discounted ski passes for city employees- as one of the perks of the job. [Coffee]
OneGuy67
07-09-2013, 17:46
Awesome, thank you... that's what I was thinking. And I just got an email back from the RRCC VA person and she said yes my post-9/11 GI Bill will pay for the academy, books, POST Exam, AND BAH! My buddy who owns the security company in FL said I should get on with Vail PD- he heard they offer discounted ski passes for city employees- as one of the perks of the job. [Coffee]
The ski company offers the officers discounted passes only if they perform a certain amount of days as unpaid ski patrol monitors. The cost of living there is too high compared to the base salary paid for entry officers. You will end up living well outside the Vail valley and commuting or living with a bunch of roommates.
JM Ver. 2.0
07-09-2013, 17:53
The vast majority of law enforcement agencies here in Colorado require a person to be POST certified before applying with them. Very few agencies run their own academies, so one almost always needs to attend an academy on their own dime (or use their GI Bill like I and many others did). After successful completion of the academy, your certification is good for only one year now, I believe (it was three years when I graduated) in which if you don't obtain employment by that time, you will need to attend a refresher course to obtain certification again.
All agencies are hard and competitive agencies to obtain employment with, especially all those in the metro area. Once you start looking in more rural (e.g. low income, low pay) areas, then the pool of candidates drops dramatically.
Rural agencies get something stupid like 8-10 applicants.... of that something even more stupid like 1 or 2 is actually qualified for the job.
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
The ski company offers the officers discounted passes only if they perform a certain amount of days as unpaid ski patrol monitors. The cost of living there is too high compared to the base salary paid for entry officers. You will end up living well outside the Vail valley and commuting or living with a bunch of roommates.
That's what I was afraid of- our friends have a vacation home up in Vail, 1200 sq ft- $780,000- in Lakewood, that same house would be mid 200's. [Shock]
Go through an academy to get POST certified. Many agencies wont even look at you if you aren't. Academy is like a college degree, you pay for bullshit. Good Luck
Agree with all above- If you can get a college degree, or at least P.O.S.T. certified=MAJOR advantage
Good luck....[PoPo]
Having been both an Academy Director and Police Chief, it would help to have the POST if you are applying to agencies that do not send you to an academy. Small to medium municipal agencies, sheriff's offices, etc. Denver PD, Colorado State Patrol, large municipal and county agencies will run you through their in-house academy. But, most of these will accept a lateral transfer. Meaning you are with an agency and "transfer" to the other agency. Go for it!
Becoming a Police officer has more process than getting hired at a Microsoft. :(
DingleBerns
07-10-2013, 00:01
It's definitely a hard career to get into due to the amount of applicants who are well qualified (with 4 year degrees, military experience, laterals, etc.) Obviously getting paid to go through an academy is the best option however sometimes that is not possible. You can do the shotgun approach and try all cities, and counties or only do the ones you really want. My first go I only did three. When I lateraled, I only did two. Some people say the shotgun method shows that you aren't committed to a specific agency and you aren't truly invested in them.
If you can't get on, you can go the Red Rocks or Arapahoe Community College route. Bad thing is you have to pay for it and you will probably have to quite your job. Good thing is that you can now apply to smaller agencies that don't run their own academy. (However some smaller agencies will still put you through an academy i.e. Lone Tree, Vail, Trinidad, and Golden all have gone through Jeffco's academy which is now regionalized with Lakewood Police.) If you go this route, get POST certified, and go to a small department, do your three years and lateral to a bigger department.
Yes to Lateral you need 3 years of street experience but doesn't mean you can't still apply and go through another academy, but this time your getting paid. And don't give up, keep applying to the places you want to show your determination.
Yeah if you can go through POST first it will certainly help, DCSO does both, hires POST as well as participates with JCSO Academy for civilian employees who test into the program(Hopefully me), its hard to get in but sometimes going the civilian route can be faster if your not interested in going to a couple smaller agencies to get your hiring points up (experience is huge), I know most of our new Deputies were very high in their Academy Class. Its pretty amazing how many deputies continue to go through the hiring process even though they are on somewhere else, it seems to never stop. The hiring process for DCSO is 3 to 4 months long so keep that in mind, the way I understand it our hiring process is the norm time wise.
I didn't want to go to several places, I wanted DCSO so I got my foot in the door in a civilian position and then test into the in house program in the last quarter of this year.
I guess it just depends on your personal preferences you know? I can tell you that we can't hire civilian and commissioned personnel fast enough, its amazing how many people come on board through the hiring process then through FTO then the job and decide its not for them or they get another offer at an agency they prefer, crazy how competitive it is once you get going, seems like we are always short handed.
Having been both an Academy Director and Police Chief, it would help to have the POST if you are applying to agencies that do not send you to an academy. Small to medium municipal agencies, sheriff's offices, etc. Denver PD, Colorado State Patrol, large municipal and county agencies will run you through their in-house academy. But, most of these will accept a lateral transfer. Meaning you are with an agency and "transfer" to the other agency. Go for it!
This was my thinking as well. And I've all but thrown out the idea of getting with Jeffco, mainly for the first reason I already stated- kind of hard to be a LEO where you grew up and knowing what you know about many of the people around town (let's put it this way, in high school, even though I chose not to, I always knew where to get "stuff"- already had a "friend" threaten me when he heard about my first attempt at JCSO).
Thanks for all the shared advice and knowledge/experience. I'm putting together my packet today and tomorrow for RRCC's academy, then I'll need to get the gear necessary- holster, belt, mag holder and flashlight (figuring out if I want a small or large light is a little harder than I anticipated [Dunno])- any ideas on local places in the metro area for this? I imagine the holster will probably have to be internet order through galls or something, since there are too many variations (Glocks, Sigs, Berettas, etc.).
OneGuy67
07-10-2013, 08:43
It's definitely a hard career to get into due to the amount of applicants who are well qualified (with 4 year degrees, military experience, laterals, etc.) Obviously getting paid to go through an academy is the best option however sometimes that is not possible. You can do the shotgun approach and try all cities, and counties or only do the ones you really want. My first go I only did three. When I lateraled, I only did two. Some people say the shotgun method shows that you aren't committed to a specific agency and you aren't truly invested in them.
If you can't get on, you can go the Red Rocks or Arapahoe Community College route. Bad thing is you have to pay for it and you will probably have to quite your job. Good thing is that you can now apply to smaller agencies that don't run their own academy. (However some smaller agencies will still put you through an academy i.e. Lone Tree, Vail, Trinidad, and Golden all have gone through Jeffco's academy which is now regionalized with Lakewood Police.) If you go this route, get POST certified, and go to a small department, do your three years and lateral to a bigger department.
Yes to Lateral you need 3 years of street experience but doesn't mean you can't still apply and go through another academy, but this time your getting paid. And don't give up, keep applying to the places you want to show your determination.
The shotgun approach works, but you have to be careful in what you say to the prospective employer. This is tricky as you don't want to lie, but if you do tell them you are testing everywhere, then it does indicate to them you are job shopping and not truly interested in their agency or working for them, just attempting to gain employment.
However, being persistent with one agency doesn't normally work as if you have been turned down previously by a department, your chances to be hired by them are not good if you continue to apply over and over. I've been a part of the hiring process, background investigations and the oral boards for two different agencies and I can say, if we turn you down at pretty much any phase of the process past the initial application process, there is a reason and you will continue to be turned down and being persistent is wasting your time and mine and although I or anyone else cannot tell you, you are wasting your time, you should realize that.
The smaller agencies will not put you through another academy if you are already POST certified. It costs money to them to pay JCSO for their combined academy, so why would you expend the money on something redundant? Once you obtain your certification, it opens doors to agencies ALL over the state. It still isn't easy in getting a LEO job. I have some of my Guard Soldiers who are extremely squared away and have the right make up for law enforcement who are struggling to find LEO employment, mostly due to their own decisions as to where they want to apply.
Yeah if you can go through POST first it will certainly help, DCSO does both, hires POST as well as participates with JCSO Academy for civilian employees who test into the program(Hopefully me), its hard to get in but sometimes going the civilian route can be faster if your not interested in going to a couple smaller agencies to get your hiring points up (experience is huge), I know most of our new Deputies were very high in their Academy Class. Its pretty amazing how many deputies continue to go through the hiring process even though they are on somewhere else, it seems to never stop. The hiring process for DCSO is 3 to 4 months long so keep that in mind, the way I understand it our hiring process is the norm time wise.
I didn't want to go to several places, I wanted DCSO so I got my foot in the door in a civilian position and then test into the in house program in the last quarter of this year.
I guess it just depends on your personal preferences you know? I can tell you that we can't hire civilian and commissioned personnel fast enough, its amazing how many people come on board through the hiring process then through FTO then the job and decide its not for them or they get another offer at an agency they prefer, crazy how competitive it is once you get going, seems like we are always short handed.
Most law enforcement agencies take anywhere between 3-6 months to hire someone, sometimes longer if you were lower on the list and they exhausted and/or hired people above you on that list.
Doing the civilian thing for an agency is a double edged sword as it can provide the agency with a great opportunity to look at you critically and in a way that the normal application process does not and if they like what they see, then it provides you with that easier way to gain LEO employment. However, if they are concerned with what they see, don't like some personal habits of yours or comments you've made, then you will have almost zero chance of gaining LEO employment.
The younger generation does not truly understand the difference between an occupation and a career; conversely, they also do not understand between a profession and a job. Law enforcement isn't something you just hop into as something to do for a year or two, while you wait for your application to law school to be accepted, or obtain your real estate degree, or pilots license (all events I've seen recently by the 20 somethings). There has been a real effort to professionalize the profession and elevate it out of the public perception of being a blue collar job. States and agencies west of the Mississippi have required formal education as a prerequisite to employment for over 20 years, while the east side hires pretty much anyone with a pulse. A little bit of an exaggeration, but not much. Look at college requirements for entry level; look at what degrees the supervisors have now at most agencies. Pretty much every chief in the metro area has a Master's degree or higher, some have law degrees and PhD's. Commanders and equivalent have Master's degrees and all supervisors below that usually have Bachelor's degrees. A Bachelor's degree is required at the state level for everything other than entry level Troopers and DOC employees.
OneGuy67
07-10-2013, 08:45
This was my thinking as well. And I've all but thrown out the idea of getting with Jeffco, mainly for the first reason I already stated- kind of hard to be a LEO where you grew up and knowing what you know about many of the people around town (let's put it this way, in high school, even though I chose not to, I always knew where to get "stuff"- already had a "friend" threaten me when he heard about my first attempt at JCSO).
Thanks for all the shared advice and knowledge/experience. I'm putting together my packet today and tomorrow for RRCC's academy, then I'll need to get the gear necessary- holster, belt, mag holder and flashlight (figuring out if I want a small or large light is a little harder than I anticipated [Dunno])- any ideas on local places in the metro area for this? I imagine the holster will probably have to be internet order through galls or something, since there are too many variations (Glocks, Sigs, Berettas, etc.).
If you are accepted to the academy, they will provide you with a list of accepted items that you can take directly to Neve's and fill. Just bring your credit card and don't look at the end amount when signing.
If you are accepted to the academy, they will provide you with a list of accepted items that you can take directly to Neve's and fill. Just bring your credit card and don't look at the end amount when signing.
Already have the list. Yeah, pricing on Galls and Brownell's police supply sites I don't think I'll be pleased with how much it's gonna cost. [Abused] Where is Neve's?
OneGuy67
07-10-2013, 08:53
Already have the list. Yeah, pricing on Galls and Brownell's police supply sites I don't think I'll be pleased with how much it's gonna cost. [Abused] Where is Neve's?
Google is your friend...Off of I-70 and I-25. Police supply store.
Bailey Guns
07-10-2013, 09:14
Ronin, the RRCC or ACC academies are no-brainers if the GI Bill will pay for it. Being certifiable will open many doors that otherwise wouldn't be open for you. Prepare yourself for a lot of rejection. You may be hired by the first agency you apply to or it may be the 20th.
I'd also hit up Craigslist or even the Trading Post here for used duty gear. Gun shops are also a very valuable resource and frequently have "bargain bins" where you can find a ton of used duty gear for pennies on the dollar. Once you get hired you're going to get issued all new gear anyway (usually with the exception of footwear and gun). Frankly, I wouldn't spend the money on new stuff because it is very expensive and the used stuff will get you through an academy just fine. On the other hand if the GI Bill is paying for equipment, doesn't matter unless maybe you have to front the money.
Good luck. I hope it works out for you.
The younger generation does not truly understand the difference between an occupation and a career; conversely, they also do not understand between a profession and a job. Law enforcement isn't something you just hop into as something to do for a year or two, while you wait for your application to law school to be accepted, or obtain your real estate degree, or pilots license (all events I've seen recently by the 20 somethings).
THIS! Had to single this out because I'm in this for the long haul- done plenty of checking, ride alongs, tag alongs (hanging out with cops), etc. and despite the negatives and moments of sheer and utter boredom, this is what I've decided I want to do with my life in terms of lifestyle and profession (because yes, I realize this is not just a job/profession, it's a lifestyle). Well put! I've even met folks who are using their temporary career as a stepping stone to something else. I'd use an LE career as a stepping stone to promotion within a department (SGT/LT, detective, chief, sheriff... etc.). [Beer]
Google is your friend...
He kept snooping into my affairs so we're on a break. [ROFL1]
Ronin, the RRCC or ACC academies are no-brainers if the GI Bill will pay for it. Being certifiable will open many doors that otherwise wouldn't be open for you. Prepare yourself for a lot of rejection. You may be hired by the first agency you apply to or it may be the 20th.
I'd also hit up Craigslist or even the Trading Post here for used duty gear. Gun shops are also a very valuable resource and frequently have "bargain bins" where you can find a ton of used duty gear for pennies on the dollar. Once you get hired you're going to get issued all new gear anyway (usually with the exception of footwear and gun). Frankly, I wouldn't spend the money on new stuff because it is very expensive and the used stuff will get you through an academy just fine. On the other hand if the GI Bill is paying for equipment, doesn't matter unless maybe you have to front the money.
Good luck. I hope it works out for you.
I'll have to check into that on the GI bill... if it pays for equipment then I'm going on a shopping spree! [Beer]
The other thing I would tell you is to not go all crazy with your gear, because your going to change it, a lot. I'm not saying go get cheap stuff, I'm just saying be frugal, once you get on you will be inundated with suggestions and opinions on what works well, what lasts longer and what is best for this situation and that, you have to make your mind up what works best for you within your departments policy, one thing that has caught my department by storm is a wider under belt, specifically in the small of the back, I don't remember who made it but I will find out today, it was introduced to us early this year and I would say that 40-50% of the department wears this belt now, the rest of your gear is a lot like a ford versus chevy debate so have fun with that.
OneGuy67, made very good points, it certainly has been a ride for me, first thing I learned is you cannot keep your mouth shut enough, when your starting out nobody wants to hear what your ambitions are, do your job do it properly and work hard, that's all anyone cares about at first. Once you establish yourself its a different story, completely, you will be given the opportunity to handle difficult situations from the start, how you handle them will determine what happens next, I can't stress how important it is to be able to articulate any situation clearly, report writing 101, I'm sure the others have important advice too but I sure wished I had taken a class on report writing, learning on the fly has been fun but I wished I had some form of education to back that up, you will get that in the academy, but I know several that supplemented that education by learning from those who write great reports, as I did.
JM Ver. 2.0
07-10-2013, 13:47
If I were you, Ronin, I'd use the GI bill money for something that can be used in more than one profession.
Let's say you blow it all on an academy and then you either can't find a job. Fail out of FTO. Or just decide it's really not for you.
You just wasted all that GI Bill money for something you're never going to use.
Just my thoughts...
And what OneGuy said is totally true. All these little douche bags that I've trained the last 5 years.... None of them want this as a career. They're just here for the money.
Fuck them.
How the one asshole got a job when he said he wanted to be a cop for the money in his oral board is beyond me.
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
OneGuy67
07-10-2013, 14:11
If I were you, Ronin, I'd use the GI bill money for something that can be used in more than one profession.
Let's say you blow it all on an academy and then you either can't find a job. Fail out of FTO. Or just decide it's really not for you.
You just wasted all that GI Bill money for something you're never going to use.
His GI Bill benefits will last longer than just the 3 months for the academy. It is just one semester out many.
ScooterCO
07-10-2013, 14:15
Ronin there is another source other than Neves for police equipment. Ryders Public Safety at Santafe and Oxford. I believe one of the owners is JCSD.
Nice people at Ryders, not that Neves isn't. ;-)
Any of the larger PDs will require you to attend their academy even if you are post certified. I also heard that Denver will be hiring this year.
JM Ver. 2.0
07-10-2013, 15:34
His GI Bill benefits will last longer than just the 3 months for the academy. It is just one semester out many.
Oh.... Well then ignore me and carry on with your plan of attack.... Just don't apply for Adams County any time soon..........
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
DingleBerns
07-10-2013, 15:42
Yes Ryder's public safety is GTG, one of the owner's still works at JSCO and the other owner is another cop. They just opened up last year. Precinct Police Products in Arvada is good as well and that is where I get all my gear. Neve's is my third option only because of my experience with employees and waiting for items (but when it comes to buying guns, they are #1).
If I were you, Ronin, I'd use the GI bill money for something that can be used in more than one profession.
Let's say you blow it all on an academy and then you either can't find a job. Fail out of FTO. Or just decide it's really not for you.
You just wasted all that GI Bill money for something you're never going to use.
Just my thoughts...
OneGuy puts it best... and I'm only about 12 credit hours from my Associates, from there I can get into a quick BA program after my FTO is complete. Besides- I don't want to get a loan for $7k to go to the academy and pay over $400 out of pocket for books and testing and not get reimbursed when the GI Bill will pay for all of that, and more!
His GI Bill benefits will last longer than just the 3 months for the academy. It is just one semester out many.
This!
Ronin there is another source other than Neves for police equipment. Ryders Public Safety at Santafe and Oxford. I believe one of the owners is JCSD.
Nice people at Ryders, not that Neves isn't. ;-)
Any of the larger PDs will require you to attend their academy even if you are post certified. I also heard that Denver will be hiring this year.
I though Denver already did their process earlier this year, unless you've heard they're doing another one.... But I'm almost complete with my packet for the academy next month (almost 100% done in 2 days), I'm gonna get POST Certified and maybe shoot for Glendale PD as my primary and throw my hat in at a few other places around the state. Really nothing much keeping me put- I could pretty much live anywhere (except Trinidad and Boulder [Coffee])
JM Ver. 2.0
07-10-2013, 17:20
OneGuy puts it best... and I'm only about 12 credit hours from my Associates, from there I can get into a quick BA program after my FTO is complete. Besides- I don't want to get a loan for $7k to go to the academy and pay over $400 out of pocket for books and testing and not get reimbursed when the GI Bill will pay for all of that, and more!
This!
I though Denver already did their process earlier this year, unless you've heard they're doing another one.... But I'm almost complete with my packet for the academy next month (almost 100% done in 2 days), I'm gonna get POST Certified and maybe shoot for Glendale PD as my primary and throw my hat in at a few other places around the state. Really nothing much keeping me put- I could pretty much live anywhere (except Trinidad and Boulder [Coffee])
I worked in Boulder for three years. I wouldn't mind living there. It's a nice place and would be cool to work there.
If you can ignore the people you're golden.
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
I worked in Boulder for three years. I wouldn't mind living there. It's a nice place and would be cool to work there.
If you can ignore the people you're golden.
That's my problem, I really don't like the people in Boulder; I'm like Cartman when it comes hippies- I can't stand them... dirty hippies can't even spell the word "fish" correctly. [LOL]
Of course in other parts of the state, where they're not so many in number, I can handle them in small doses. But ideally, I would prefer to not work a college town (Boulder, FTC, Durango, Gunnison), but if I did, Boulder would be my absolute last choice.
Ronin, here is the Duty belt a bunch of my guys are high on http://www.tdlabsadmin.com/Belt-Products/Professional-Comfort-System-p8.html pretty new system though so I don't have any info on its durability, but the guys that use them swear by them.
Hope this helps
Ronin, here is the Duty belt a bunch of my guys are high on http://www.tdlabsadmin.com/Belt-Products/Professional-Comfort-System-p8.html pretty new system though so I don't have any info on its durability, but the guys that use them swear by them.
Hope this helps
Woah, $134? It does look fancy, and very comfortable... I may just go the cheap/used route for the academy, then when I get on a department spend the extra cheese on something more expensive and comfortable. But I do appreciate you going out and looking something up- that might be the Cadillac of duty belts right there, but for starting I think I'll get the early-90's Honda. [Coffee]
Call Anita at POST and talk with her she is a wealth of information.
Bailey Guns
07-11-2013, 10:06
There's some used gear at Colorado Gun Broker...some really cheasy stuff and some good quality stuff, all black basketweave. Didn't see any prices but I'm sure it's reasonable.
A lot of departments do group buys and get price breaks, but I can't disagree with you, also I know more deputies who have had back problems then haven't so remember to strengthen your back, bad backs make you miserable!
And once you get on somewhere try not to get a Sgt. that does the tough mudder stuff, he/she is not really trying to kill you, I think...LOL I love my Sgt. I would go to hell and back for him but somehow he talked me into next years mudder, all I wanted to do was get into great shape for Bow Season, I guess I got a bonus.
I've always used Adamson for all of my gear in Frederick. I try to avoid Neve's whenever possible. Don't go too pricey on the gear at first. Any legitimate agency you get hired on with will provide with you a full gear setup on the department's dime. Colorado Springs even purchases the firearms for their guys because they mandate that they carry M&P 9's.
Call Anita at POST and talk with her she is a wealth of information.
I think I might just have to do that- I would love to pick her brain and find out as much as possible.
A lot of departments do group buys and get price breaks, but I can't disagree with you, also I know more deputies who have had back problems then haven't so remember to strengthen your back, bad backs make you miserable!
And once you get on somewhere try not to get a Sgt. that does the tough mudder stuff, he/she is not really trying to kill you, I think...LOL I love my Sgt. I would go to hell and back for him but somehow he talked me into next years mudder, all I wanted to do was get into great shape for Bow Season, I guess I got a bonus.
I've wanted to do tough mudder for about 2 years now. I don't think I'll be able to get on with a couple of buddies when they do it again, as 2 of them are former Rangers and both play top level men's league hockey.
I've always used Adamson for all of my gear in Frederick. I try to avoid Neve's whenever possible. Don't go too pricey on the gear at first. Any legitimate agency you get hired on with will provide with you a full gear setup on the department's dime. Colorado Springs even purchases the firearms for their guys because they mandate that they carry M&P 9's.
Really? I didn't know that. I'm hoping whatever department I get on will have some leeway on the sidearm deal, as I've grown quite fond of my Sig, and am pretty proficient with it... ya know, for being a 9mm. Que the 9mm vs .40 vs .45 argument in 3... 2... 1... [Coffee]
strm_trpr
07-11-2013, 17:08
Hey Ronin this is a topic I have had quite a bit of exprience with.
I went to UNC for Criminal justice, graduated in 2007 with my BA. I applied for Lakewood and Denver and aurora while i was finishing up school, however, I was passed up on all three at diferent stages. So, I put my self through red rocks police academy. While I was there I learned quite a bit about how to apply and interview better. I then applied to many other agencies to include Breckenridge where I got all the way to the psych only to fail out on my psych score. I then applied to DOC parole and to Arvada. I was in the process for both when I accepted the DOC offer because it was first and I was anxious to get started.
DOC issued me my weapon and most of my gear. Many agencies do so. I buy all my other gear from Precinct and Adamson, I avoid Neives because they are rude.
JM Ver. 2.0
07-11-2013, 18:04
I wonder why you're all saying the people at Neves are rude..... I've always been treated wonderfully.
Sent from my teepee using smoke signals.
Hey Ronin this is a topic I have had quite a bit of exprience with.
I went to UNC for Criminal justice, graduated in 2007 with my BA. I applied for Lakewood and Denver and aurora while i was finishing up school, however, I was passed up on all three at diferent stages. So, I put my self through red rocks police academy. While I was there I learned quite a bit about how to apply and interview better. I then applied to many other agencies to include Breckenridge where I got all the way to the psych only to fail out on my psych score. I then applied to DOC parole and to Arvada. I was in the process for both when I accepted the DOC offer because it was first and I was anxious to get started.
DOC issued me my weapon and most of my gear. Many agencies do so. I buy all my other gear from Precinct and Adamson, I avoid Neives because they are rude.
You may have just become my new friend! How was the RRCC academy? I've dealt with only the Fire end of the RRCC emergency services faculty, and they're awesome! The Fire science head knows my old man from mutual aid (My dad=Evergreen Fire, him=West Metro fire). I'm only waiting on one more college transcript before my packet is complete for hand in. Is the interview and acceptance process for the academy pretty quick and painless?
The only issue I have, I checked out the prices today, and Neve's was about $40 cheaper than Precinct, rudeness I can deal with (once I get into LE work I'll have to [Coffee]), but also on that end I'd much rather deal with a nice person at 5280 or BluCore than a rude, d-bag asshole at Gunsmoke, so maybe the $40 extra is worth it. [Beer]
centrarchidae
07-11-2013, 21:29
I've never had a rudeness issue at Neves. They were a little abrupt, but then they were also slammed most of the times that I've been there.
Precinct's prices were a little better for me, on stuff in stock, but they've screwed up every special order I've ever tried to place through them.
flan7211
07-11-2013, 21:49
Try El Paso SO. They pay you to go through academy. Hiring process is pretty long but worth it. Just my $.02.
Try El Paso SO. They pay you to go through academy. Hiring process is pretty long but worth it. Just my $.02.
I had considered that... and Maketa is one helluva guy! But I'm more inclined to try for closer to where I am, that way I kind of know my way around better (Western half of the metro area at least), and I've already put in hours and money for the RRCC academy.
I wonder why you're all saying the people at Neves are rude..... I've always been treated wonderfully.
I was thinking the same thing, I know a few people over there and sent them the link to this thread, hopefully they will look at things and make improvements, bad press is never a good thing. The Neves family has had a rough year(not business related from all I know the business is doing great) but they deserve to know that the business could do better in some areas.
I was thinking the same thing, I know a few people over there and sent them the link to this thread, hopefully they will look at things and make improvements, bad press is never a good thing. The Neves family has had a rough year(not business related from all I know the business is doing great) but they deserve to know that the business could do better in some areas.
Now that's very admirable. I feel like no one does that anymore. Where are the customer comment cards? I know several businesses that would improve if they just knew they needed to. One place in particular that gets kudos is 5280 Armory, they keep an eye on boards like this one and usually correct any behavior of their employees or practices. Now that doesn't work all the time (Gunsmoke for instance- they didn't treat me too well when I transferred a pistol from NY to CO, although they did do it for free because I was .mil, but they talked a lot of crap because of the brand of pistol).
whistlepig
07-12-2013, 10:08
Hello, find a LEO POST academy and go to it. almost non of the departments will put you in one unless you work there jail for a few years. The State patrol is currently starting there process and often time the bigger metro departments will try to recruit from the graduation classes of the CSP.
DingleBerns
07-12-2013, 13:18
almost non of the departments will put you in one unless you work there jail for a few years.
lakewood police are still doing large academies and denver is hiring some 100 officers and I think the first 50 or so are going to be a lateral class with the rest being new hires after that.
Hello, find a LEO POST academy and go to it. almost non of the departments will put you in one unless you work there jail for a few years. The State patrol is currently starting there process and often time the bigger metro departments will try to recruit from the graduation classes of the CSP.
I don't know of a Sheriff's Office that doesn't require new hires(not Laterals) to start in the Jail in Colorado, not saying they do not exist only that I don't know of any, Our Jail Deputies are Sworn just like any other, they just work in the Jail instead of on the road.
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