I know a few of you have gone through the police academy.

Do you have any advice for somebody thinking about it?

How long does it take?

How much does it cost?

 

I graduated in Sept from Valencia's academy. Here is their website with fee's, dates, and info http://valencia.cc.fl.us/cji/

The night academy is what i had to do so I could continue working during the day. It took about 8 months, but the day academy is a lot quicker. As far as advice, the bookwork and tests are pretty straightforward, you have to maintain a clean and neat uniform at all times, make sure you can handle running and physical excercise, on gym days they worked us like dogs. The gun range and driving are really fun, the classroom stuff gets really boring at times. As far as costs, it's 1800.00 tuition, about 200.00 in books, 250.00 in shoes, uniforms, hats, gym clothes, and another 100.00 for the final state exam which is a 350 question multiple choice test to be ceritified. The other thing I want to mention is start filling out app's to different agencies midway through the academy. DON"T wait until you graduate unless that agency specifies that. They applications are like 20 pages, and it takes 6 months to a year to get hired. Some of the tests you have to do to get hired are : pre-app, full app, one or two lie detector tests, physcological exam, physical exam, background checks, neighbor visits, questionaires for your references, a running/physical abilities test, and oral panel interview. If the website doesn't answer all your questions let me know.

 

If you ever become a cop and get a ls1 interceptor car... Let me ride in it on a fun run!


edit: and turn on the lights and siren!


I think it would be funny to watch you in the drivng school portion... running circles around everyone else

 

i start the acad in june pretty much money wise is rite on the dot with whats stated above.. im sponcerd so the hireing part im not worried about.... come on chuck we could do it together lots o fun

 

How did you manage to get sponsored? Are you going through Valencia or SCC?

I'm seriously considering it. I know a few officers in Longwood and a few more in Winter Springs now. Unfortunately the Winter Springs connections are just from dealing with them not from being friends with them. But at least they recognize me when they see me.

 

i just graduated the academy at scc,
kumar pretty muchcleared it all up except if you decide to go to scc academy i hope you like drill instructors because the scc academy is military based,,,,

good luck and let us know if you have any qs

josh

 

JOSH WTF?? I THOUGHT U WERE SPONCERD THREW CASSELL BERRY???


TO GET SPONCERD CHUCK YA REALLY GOTTA KNOW SOMEONE...

 

i lost that sponsorship and had to pay the whole way through
still worth it

josh

 

Looks like I might start in May at SCC with my brother. Are you going to Valencia?

That's too far to drive everyday for me.

 

SCC GUESS I HAD MY MONTHS WRONG ?

 

That's funny I was thinking the same thing before I read your quote.

 

I really don't think I'm that good. You guys were just newbies last year Jeff. Eric still is.

But yeah, the instructor won't know what hit him. lol

 

ya you guys will have a blast at the driving school,
my favorite was doing serpentine throuth the cones in reverse at night with the lights going,,,,,it was the shiznit!!

josh

 

February and July for day courses. I asked my brother and he told me May. That's why I said that earlier. It says July online.

We'll be shooting for the July start date I guess.

 

yeah the driving is really fun, we got to pull 360's on the skidpad, serpentine the cones, and high speed swerving.. gun range is fun too blasting off pistols and shotguns