Police Recruit

Working long hours or driving a patrol car all day makes it difficult to stay in shape. After several months of reduced physical activity, compared to the Police Academy, even the younger police officers can find five, 10, or even 15 additional pounds around their mid-sections.

Ours is the best job in the world. However, no place in these oaths does it say anything about how we take care of ourselves while we protect and serve. The new recruit is not always prepared for a culture that does not easily lend itself to teaching how to protect oneself from the damaging effects of stress.

Years ago when I was attending my police academy recruit training, one of the many questions my fellow recruits and I pondered was: Will I get sued? In my case, the answer turned out to be, "Yes." And several times at that!

What does it take to really survive a violent confrontation? For all the tactical training and mental preparations, just how much does luck enter into the equation? And what can you do to shift the odds in your favor? These are weighty questions for even the most experienced of cops.

Those were heady days, when the excitement of graduating from the police academy and "hitting the streets" was awaited with great anticipation.

To help give you some insight into what you'll actually need on the street, the editors of POLICE Magazine contacted a number of veteran officers and asked them to give you some advice. Here's what they had to say.

Those who choose to enter the military do so for a variety of different reasons. For some it's simply a wise career move that includes a free college education and some great benefits.  For others, however, it's more of a calling.

Young med students wonder if they will kill a patient. New West Point grads wonder if they have what it takes to lead soldiers into battle. And cops straight out of the academy wonder if they are tough enough and wise enough to maintain the peace.

The editors of POLICE Magazine conducted a survey of more than 5,000 police officers to find out what you might expect from agencies across the country.The results should help answer some questions about your new career in law enforcement.