Careers: Page 17

How to Not Look Like a Rookie

My old police academy was near a large mall. Of course, the food court was a lunch hangout for the officers. I used to sit there with a coffee and spot all of the off-duty rookies. Bet I can spot one a mile away.

Bad Habits

A recruit should not feel pressured into doing something that he or she has made a cognitive decision not to do, just for the sake of inclusion.

Dealing with the Dead

Try though they do, the academy does not have a vial of essence of dead man to give you the full effect. So what do you do?

Learning to Speak Effectively

Most officers wish they had spent more time learning interpersonal communications skills early in their career. I suggest you get started now.

Off-Duty Encounter Preparation

I don't know why, but every generation of young officers thinks, "I am now a copper! I have the legal authority and power to carry a weapon off-duty, so here I go!" Wait a minute here; do you have a plan?

Weathering Complaints

If you do your job you will get plenty of complaints and only rarely receive compliments; these are the realities of policework. But how you handle or survive these unpleasantries of life is what is important here.

Calling All Young Warriors

In today's post-9/11 world, we are fighting a different source of evil. I need young warriors. Can I get a volunteer?

Recognize Your Real Friends

The other day a young officer emailed me with a problem. He had come upon some old college chums and they became stand-offish after they discovered he was a cop. The young lad told me that he had heard of this in the academy but could not believe it was happening to him.

Avoid a Dead-End Career

Most all of us enter this vocation with the idea that we want to be a great detective, be a commander of the unit, or be some high-speed tactical operator. Sadly, some take the first job that they are offered and get into a rut and stay there.

Treat the Academy as a Job

If you are getting ready to attend the academy, I want to share with you a philosophy that can help lead to academic success: Treat the academy as a full-time job. This premise may sound simple, nearly an overstatement of the obvious, but following this philosophy will give you focus throughout the academy.

Accepting Department-Issued Equipment

Recently a reader contacted me about a personal dilemma. He told me his department issues a certain make and caliber of pistol and he doesn't like it. He further stated he did not like the holster, in addition to a laundry list of other items he was issued. What could he do now as his agency's newest rookie?

Maintenance Day and Other Rituals

Back when I was in the U.S. Army MP Corps we were taught to set aside time for personal equipment maintenance. I highly recommend you do the same. Warriors need to prepare for their calling; policework is no different.

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