Week six- Guest Blog Kyle, Lone Tree PD



Since I was four years old I have had my mind set on being a police officer and joining the brotherhood of the thin blue line. When I was 15 I joined the Police Explorer program with Parker Police Department allowing me the opportunity to know that this career is exactly where I belong. So there I was a month after my 21^st birthday applying for my first and only police department, Lone Tree Police. I was up against over 200 applicants.  Getting that letter in the mail letting me know I had made it was the moment my life changed. I knew that I had to prove that I was the right choice and that I would wear the badge with honor.

Starting the academy I knew there was a high possibility that I was going to be the youngest, and soon came to find out that I was. I knew it was going to be a challenge to show I had the maturity and drive that anyone else there did.

Going into the sixth week all of us recruits had gotten to know each other and the real personalities were starting to come out.  It was almost if we were starting to hate each other because we are all headstrong stubborn personalities. We started thinking of team-building activities as we went through the week to show that we could work as a team and put our differences beside us. This was especially hard for me because one of the Sergeants had told me that I didn’t have the life experiences that others did and needed to sit back and watch how my peers responded. I knew at this point that I was in a spotlight and needed to prove everyday that I wanted to be there and have what it takes. So from here on out it is my goal to be the best that I can be. I am the only recruit from Lone Tree, and fortunately have a great support from my department, but if they hear I am not doing well, then I have failed them, and myself.

Being the youngest recruit has been a huge learning experience for me thus far. It is teaching me that everyone at the academy is there for my best interest even though this is very hard to see sometimes. I look at the positives in everything that happens even the times that I am getting talked to in the Sergeants office. They are teaching me that I have to have thick skin and a hard head because I will be challenged when I get out on the streets.  I can't be seen as an uneducated rookie, or a pushover. I have to go out there and settle for nothing less than the best.

Week five- Fight, Flight, or Freeze

This week we learned how to fight. 

The only fight I have ever been in is with my twin brother growing up about who had to sit on the "red cooler" between my parents on family road trips.  One of our instructors who teaches us escape moves, jujitsu, and overall how to survive as a Police Officer is also an MMA fighter and extremely skilled in every aspect of everything he teaches us.  The lesson of the week regarding fighting was survival.  If/when the day comes where we have to fight to survive and we get jacked in the face with a fist or other object how are we going to respond?  We're going to fight!  We're going to go home to our families at the end of the day.

Round 1 was punches only.  My main focus was to move. For the average person on the street it is harder to hit a moving target. I didn't seem to phase our instructor but I did it anyway.

Round 2 punching and kicking.  I wasn't about to kick anyone because I do not have the first clue how to kick and I know there are a ton of teeny tiny little bones in the foot that could get easily broken.  So I stuck to what I didn't know better and just stuck to punching and defending. 

Round 3 punching, kicking, grappling.  I remember having wanted to wrestle when I was little because my twin brother got to and I didn't understand why I couldn't.  Now females can wrestle but after Round 3 I am glad I was not allowed to join the little boy wrestling team when I was a child.  It felt like I was grappling with a python.  Needless to say the whole experience of the day was valuable and in one day alone has given us all a taste of reality.

The rest of the week we learned in the classroom about Victim's Rights and bombs.  It is crazy that we are learning about bombs but if you think about it, maybe it is not crazy.  You always have to expect the unexpected in this profession and bombs are not ever expected.

The shooting range was awesome as well.  I feel like a kid when I leave the range because "THAT was so awesome," but then I finish with Arrest Control and I say the same thing.

We are learning how to shoot behind coverage at the range.   We have different sizes of coverage and trying to get small to the big guys is not easy, but they find a way.  I find it interesting the drills the instuctors put us through because I have taught basketball camps for over 10 years and the amount of drills we have for the campers is endless and they are all fun of course.  Same goes for the drills at the range.  There is competition against your peers, but most of them at this point are competition against yourself.   We are learning to shoot at close range as well as far, and we are learning how to shoot in the kneeling and prone positions.  It gets better every day.  We get better every day. 

Fruit Friday cannot come soon enough.  We have started bringing fruit on Fridays.  Fridays are a different beast.  We are exhausted from a full week of shining shoes, ironing uniforms, doing homework, writing reports, completing surveys, studying, packing lunch for the next day, cleaning your guns, and packing your bag for the next day yet our anxiety is high because we have a test to pass, and we have physical training.  Fridays are bitter sweet.  Fridays are like a roller coaster ride at Eliches because before the test you just want to take the test.  Then during the test you have to relax.  Then you have your reaction to your test score which could be high or low.  Then you have to get prepped for PT.  Then you come down from the adrenaline.  Then you have a whole afternoon of classroom but you really want to think about a relaxing weekend.  Regardless of our high or low...we can count on our fruit.

The lesson was a hard one to learn as there were some bloody noses, a lot of bumps and bruises, a lot of sore ribs, etc...but it was the most valuable lessons I have learned thus far.  I made it out with blood free but my jaw got rocked.  I think the two initial reactions to getting popped in the face are to fight or flight.

Next week I will have a guest speaker to share their story about the week.

Week four-Twisted into a Pretzel

We have officially made it a whole month.  It seems as if we have been doing this for a year because of how much we have already learned and how close we have all become. 

This week we spent two days at the range and two days of Arrest Control.  Right when you think training cannot get any better...it does.  The firearms and arrest control instructors are absolutely incredible.   Not only is their experience and expertise valuable, but their patience and vigil towards  officer safety is outstanding.  I am literally taken back by the level of information we are being taught at the intensity we are being taught but even more taken back at the level of professionalism and knowledge of every single one of our instructors.

Each day I get twisted and turned and manipulated into a pretzel by one of my peers or even better by one of the instructors who can make even the biggest guy drop by the tiniest tweak in a movement.  Now I get to do the same techniques to the giants that are my peers. 

The range is a different animal.  Safety is numero uno.  Our weekly motto was "Safety first, safety always" and every move you make at the range has to be made with safety as priority.  The organization and structure of everything we do, not only at the range but in the academy, is well thought out.   If I can go through my day moving with a purpose and understanding that everything I say and everything I do must be with a purpose then my days will be great.

The range was awesome.  Not many of us have ever shot, and if we had it was not more than a time or two so many of us were learning for the first time.  Like all other "firsts" in the academy our first day at the range was officially a success.  Each instructor shares their expertise and even the slightest correction can make the biggest difference. 

It gets hot up on the range so imagine wearing your gear, with a hat, and "eyes and ears" and shooting for 4 hours....right!  Can you possibly imagine doing anything else?!  There IS nothing else.

We also had two full days of Criminal Code from Director Baca.  He is such a great teacher and his presence in the classroom is like no other.  We have a massive amount to learn and it all seems overwhelming but Director Baca's style and approach in how he presents the material makes everything a bit easier to understand.  Every instructor has very real stories that they share but Director Baca is very animated and makes sounds and uses his hands to tell the story.  He clearly knows how to capture an audience.

Next week is an exciting week for us.  We get to wear our academy uniforms.  Adios dress shoes that have been turned into workout shoes.  We have learned that you do not have to wear a t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes to workout; you can do pull ups in a nice button up, slacks, and shined shoes.  Air squats...a different story.  One of our recruits split the backside out of his dress pants doing air squats but the timing was impeccable as we needed a good laugh.  Sergeant could not even resist a good chuckle. 

We have completed Week 4 and I am sure I can speak for the rest of the team that there truly is nothing else we would rather be doing than going to academy for 9 hours and learning from the absolute best there is out there, going home and only having time to eat, play with the family for an hour, study, practice arrest control, practice our draw and weapon manipulation, complete any homework we have, sleep, repeat.

Week three- Have your punishment and eat it too.

By now it's truly official; our instructors want us to succeed.  As intimidating as they can be, they are human.  They smile.  They laugh.  And they all think they are very funny. Nonetheless they are preparing us each and every day.   If we have to do push-ups, pull ups, and squats in the parking lot in our dress clothes it is because as a group we did not do as we were asked.  Allowing us to cut corners will not prepare us for this career.  This is not punishment.  Getting stronger physically and mentally is only better preparing us for the future.  Punishment would be making us eat a chocolate cake while sitting on a couch watching mind numbing reality television.  Although many would agree that this behavior is a necessity on weekends.

The Academy is all about perspective.  We all went through quite a hiring process to be invited to the Academy.  We are all here because we thrive off this environment.  If you are considering applying and going through this hiring process it is important that you understand that the process is tough for a reason, this career is not for everyone.  But I encourage you nonetheless.  You won't be at it alone.  Here's to 17 more weeks! 

Guest Spotlight- James Beaudry

                                                                                             The longest week.

It is the end of week 2, ten percent of the twenty week academy complete, and Lakewood Police Department  (LPD) Sergeant Maestas enters the classroom.  He begins to scan the room while saying he was choosing the class leader for the following week.  He looks at me, and then looks to the other side.  He looks back to me and says “Beaudry.”  I have been selected as class leader.  I respond with the only response I could muster; the only one expected – “yes sir.”  I receive a briefing from last weeks’ outgoing class leader, and leave for my weekend knowing my days for the following week would be even longer.

Monday morning begins, and I decide to get to the academy earlier than I had been the previous two weeks.  Being class leader, I feel I need to set an example.  I arrive prior to 7:15 a.m., and was shocked to see more than half the class was already there.  At 7:30 a.m., we begin our lineup; the daily formation for morning announcements and inspections.  This procedure was taking longer than usual since we now have new groups and squads.  We all notice we have a recruit missing from lineup; a recruit that was not there three days earlier.  I decide to ask the academy staff prior to inspection, and was told it would be addressed.  Soon thereafter, LPD Agent Ruybal exits the building and we snap to attention.  He mentions our missing recruit and leads us to believe he was affected by the courageous, yet difficult, story we heard from an LPD Detective the previous week.  I find out later that day, from a conversation I was probably not meant to hear, our fellow recruit decided not to continue with our academy class.  We are now down two recruits from where we started, although one of those empty seats had been filled by a replacement; our class still strong at forty-one recruits from nine different agencies. 

The classes for the week are ones I had been looking forward to; the beginning of firearms and arrest control training.  It was time for less lecture, and more practical training.  As class leader though, I was confronted with issues from the other recruits.  Many were approaching me, and asking questions meant for the academy staff.  In order for them to be answered, I was the “link” as I was part of the chain-of-command; a concept many recruits were not familiar with two weeks prior.  By the end of Monday, I was sick of hearing my name called by others. 

            As I am driving in Tuesday morning, I realize I forgot my gun cleaning kit at home; not a good start to the day, especially when I am supposed to be setting an example.  We lineup and I immediately admit my error to my fellow recruits.  I then ask if anybody else forgot and two others raise their hands.  This was going to hurt.  Sgt. Maestas exits for inspection, and we snap to attention.  He asks the usual question if there are any issues.  I report that three of us did not have our required equipment.  After our lecture, it was time for what some see as punishment; for me it is just a part of the choice I had made when I changed careers after twelve years, and at the age of thirty-eight.  We were told to choose what we should do; the whole class having to participate for the mistakes of the few (instilling in us the necessity of teamwork and how a seemingly small error by one can have a huge impact on all).  After the first suggestions not being sufficient, it is eventually decided; three sets of 10 pull-ups, 20 push-ups & 20 air squats.  The first set completed before our first class; the rest on our breaks.  We complete our set and enter the classroom.  We fail to snap to attention when the instructor enters; our attention to detail for that morning was missing.  We just earned ourselves another set; another break we would not have.

            Wednesday does not improve, as I am continually approached with the various issues from squad leaders and recruits.  I am thinking this was one of the reasons I chose to leave my prior career; I did not want to go back to being a supervisor at this point in my life, yet here I was dealing with staff issues again.  At the end of the day, I realize I forgot the class leader key at home. I had to ask Sgt. Maestas for the key to secure the building.  He was not thrilled with me and said it would be addressed in the morning.  Two days in a row of forgetting things at home.   This was not like me.  My week as class leader is obviously having a negative effect.          

            Thursday creates a new challenge as class leader.  Our uniforms were in and many recruits had issues with the sizes.  I instruct the recruits to get the issues turned into the squad leaders.  I turn the list in at the end of the day but it was not good enough; more detail was needed and some issues were non-issues.  Short of a custom fitted shirt, uniform shirts are not meant as fashion statements.  The lists were returned to the squad leaders; time to do it again. 

            Friday has finally arrived.  A new class leader would be chosen at the end of the day.  The end is in sight.  As we begin to lineup, it is brought to my attention that a recruit does not have a suit jacket.  I know this is not going to go over well.  When I am asked if there are any issues, I report the issue.  The recruit tells Sgt. Maestas he did not forget it but it was at the cleaners.  One thing we had learned was to just accept responsibility without excuses.  This was really going to be bad.  After an easy day with no physical training on Thursday, it was time he made up for it.  It was time for a pull-up contest between the two groups.  Although I disagreed with allowing assisted pull-ups, the group I was assigned to won.  A reward would be given later that day.  Unfortunately, other events would cause us to lose any possibility of a reward… 

            We take our weekly test, and there were apparently many issues with some of the answers.  We are told they were looking into it and there would probably be some questions eliminated.  Our day continues with a lecture, and then physical training (PT).  As we begin PT, we are told, we will be doing a double rotation since we missed a day of PT the previous week.  After doing pull-ups in the morning, my squad was doing more pull-ups and now push-presses for our first rotation.  We then go inside for fight training, upper bodies already burning from our previous workout, we struggle through four rounds.  At the end of lunch, Sgt. Maestas announces many of the questions were removed and tests rescored.  Without thinking, I go into the test on the computer to see the adjusted score.  An hour later, I am told there was an internet “spike” at 1:10 and told to find out why.  It is immediately apparent many others did the same as I did.  This internet spike occurred in the beginning of class and when an instructor was talking.  I ask the recruits to return to the classroom and asked who looked at the test when class began; we learn there were thirty-one out of forty-one that checked the test or were otherwise online at that time. This was not good.  The day ends and it is time for announcements.  The new class leader was about to be chosen, and the female recruit sitting next to me gets that honor.  I immediately hand her the key, relieved of the responsibility. 

            But wait, our week isn’t over yet; it was time to pay.  We are broken up into groups of five, each with a forty-five pound weight.  We are told to run down to the light and back, approximately a quarter-mile, all the while handing off the weight to the other members of our group.   Once that is completed, it continues; thirty-one push-ups and thirty-one air squats, one for each of us that went online.  We are dismissed.  I give a briefing to the incoming leader and head home; the week is finally over. 

Week two- Lint free and Ready

This week was all about multitasking. 

Coming into the Academy I expected intensity.  My response was, "Finally."  I played Division 1 and a little professional basketball back in the day and I have been unengaged ever since I stopped playing.  That is why I am so set on getting into Law Enforcement because there is no better feeling than being a part of a brotherhood/sisterhood.  I imagine there is not a greater sense of accomplishment than putting on a uniform every day and being pushed to the physical and mental maximum.  This is it.  Some may find throughout this academy that this is not what they expected.  Two recruits are no longer with us.  This is becoming very real to the rest of us.  

This week was a bit more exciting academically and asked us to multi-task a bit more.  We learned about Use of Force which we know soon leads to Firearms Training!