Down Economy Bringing Older Recruits to LE Agencies

Technology workers, mortgage-industry refugees, and even those with advanced degrees are arriving at police academies hoping for the stability and benefits of a law enforcement job, especially due to the challenging job market.

April 12, 2010

Technology workers, mortgage-industry refugees, and even those with advanced degrees are arriving at police academies hoping for the stability and benefits of a law enforcement job, especially due to the challenging job market.

Where the average age of a police recruit was once 23, it's now 29.5 at the Alameda County sheriff's academy, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

One 24-year-old police recruit with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said older recruits struggled with physical training that required hopefuls to scale a 6-foot wall, drag a 165-pound dummy 30 feet, and complete a 500-meter run in less than 1 minute, 45 seconds.

Read the full story.

Editorial

375x480 Data Driven Policing Cover Thumbnail 1195772168 En Na Final Sept23 (1)

Data-Driven Policing: Leveraging Telematics for Optimized Police Fleet Performance

Banner Final Skydio X10 Outdoor Shipping Yard

DFR at Work: OKCPD’s Drones Help Find Six Missing Persons

Banner Final Faro 10 15 24

Who Did It? Unraveling Mysteries with 3D Forensic Technology

Gov Public Perception

How Fleet Management Technology Can Help Control Costs and Improve Public Perception

Boise Sergeant Settles with City for $850K Over Training Injury Allegedly Caused by Former Chief

In the lawsuit, Sgt. Kirk Rush, a member of the Boise Police Department’s K-9 Unit, alleged that in October 2021 then Chief Lee demonstrated a neck hold on him without consent during a training exercise, causing injures that later required surgery.

New California Law Mandates Parental Notification Before School Shooting Drills, Prohibits Simulated Gunfire

In addition to prohibiting the use of simulated gunfire, the law mandates a standardized week-of-parental notification that an event is to take place and day-of parental notification after the event has taken place.

Vector Solutions Partners with Vermont Criminal Justice Council for Training Record Management

New requirements stipulate that each law enforcement agency in Vermont must submit an annual training submission form that attests that annual training requirements have been met for each officer employed with the agency.

Massachusetts State Police Suspend Boxing Training After Recruit’s Death

Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, of Worcester, was pronounced dead at a hospital Sept. 13, a day after he participated in an exercise in the boxing ring at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.

Massachusetts State Police Recruit Dies After Becoming Unresponsive in Training

Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, died at a hospital one day after the exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.

Widow Sues Indiana Agency Over Husband’s Training Death

The 11-page civil complaint filed last week by the deputy’s wife claims that the academy and its training staff put the deputy at undue risk of injury and death.

Deputy Asson Hacker of the Vanderburgh County (Indiana) Sheriff's Office died March 2, 2023, after suffering a medical emergency during training.

Dave Smith: The Deadly Effects of De-Training

Tragic events often occur when even well-trained folks do something over and over. It isn’t the rookie that has bad habits, takes shortcuts, or ignores danger signals.

Former Denver Police Recruit Sues Over “Hazing” He Says Cost Him His Legs

Victor Moses told the paramedics that he was "extremely fatigued" and experiencing "extreme leg cramping," a sign of distress in people with sickle cell trait, something Moses said he had in a police application form, the lawsuit says.

NYPD Recruit Dies After Collapsing During Training

Probationary Officer Edgar Ordonez, 33, was training outdoors at the department's shooting range at Rodman's Neck in the Bronx when he collapsed just before noon.

NYPD Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez suffered a medical event and died while training Wednesday at the academy.

NYPD Training Officers in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

"Jiu jitsu and wrestling are both sports that utilize minimal force to control a suspect. So by using minimal force you prevent injuries to suspect civilians and officers," said Lt. Kirk Anderson of the Tactical Training Unit.

10 Tips for Better De-Escalation Training

Knowing how to defuse a situation without force is essential for effective policing. It can prevent injury to officers, the public, and the subject.

Wearing the proper protection is critical to officer and role player safety when using marking rounds in training scenarios.

Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy Wounded in Range Accident

The wounded officer was taken to a nearby hospital for surgery on his serious but non-life-threatening wound, officials said. He is now out of surgery and in stable condition.

Page 1 of 214