tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75726321169252190652024-03-14T08:59:18.736-07:00A Day in the Life of an Academy Recruit: WillRecruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-65970775404999862292009-07-09T08:14:00.000-07:002009-07-09T08:15:27.109-07:00Coming Soon!Coming soon: new blogs from the next class of academy recruits -- beginning in late July!Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-35179252200691162302009-06-20T19:39:00.000-07:002009-06-20T19:47:39.618-07:00Graduation<div align="left">6.19.2009<br /><br /><em>I was lucky enough to get the chance to give our class’ graduation speech today. Below is a copy.<br /><br />The day was a good one.</em><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349605605960728562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpnWcRV_9iAEIEOhPP9FPHa9ioVOZx7N26nKPxism4Lmegl4pWxlrNMaZcNfbH0ipFAXWrx6C2xUyZdhEprAwi9dkD9H_gzOwSn_GsV0KZdtWox8lfyqexjxptNiCg7JdNnAPn9vW9n0/s400/Grad+Speech.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="left"><br /><strong>Jefferson County Law Enforcement Academy Class 2009-01<br />Graduation Speech</strong><br /><br />It’s an honor and a privilege to be speaking to you all, and to be speaking for the class today. I would like to thank Sheriff Mink, Undersheriff Fleer and every one of our friends, our family, our instructors and command staff for joining us in the celebration of this day.<br /><br />From the very start of the academy we’ve been surrounded by some extraordinary people who have taught us, who have led us, who have given their best to shape our minds, our thinking and inevitably shape our careers as Peace Officers. From our very first day I was struck with the force and the honesty of what many of these instructors had to say. From powerful, personal stories of struggle and ultimate growth, to impassioned appeals directing us to seek excellence in all that we do – most every message, most every lesson was one given by an individual bearing a bit of their soul with a seasoned kind of humble honesty which only life and life’s experiences can cultivate.<br /><br />I would like to thank our command staff and the administrators of the academy for placing these extraordinary people in front us, every day. I know that I and every one of my fellow recruits will have some very potent, some very long lasting memories of each of you and of the knowledge that you gave.<br /><br />Thank you Captain W….. , for teaching us to write a proper and thorough report; and to never click a pen in a Captain’s presence again.<br /><br />Thank you Captain S…… and Lieutenant W……. for organizing and maintaining one of the best law enforcement academies in the state; and for giving us the easiest and most anti-climactic Friday morning command inspections we could have imagined.<br /><br />Sgt. B…….. I was never quite sure if there was a hidden message behind one of the department’s toughest, gruffest and brawniest sergeants teaching a decidedly PC topic such as Community Policing, but I wanted to let you know that your honesty and your openness on your experiences at Columbine touched us all very deeply.<br /><br />Investigator S…... Your classes were always the coolest.<br /><br />Sgt. W…. Your stories were always the best, and your appearance always the most highly groomed.<br /><br />Deputy V……. Your biceps were the biggest.<br /><br />Sgt. B…….. Your skills in a car were impressive, your stories were great, and incidentally you became our best and most prolific nickname-giver, providing us names like ‘Angel’ (i.e. Charlie’s Angels) given to the guy over there who will probably start laughing nervously right about now.<br /><br />Officer O….. You were our Samurai sensei. We all had images of you in a white suit and sunglasses, doing back-flips before taking a stance like something from the Matrix and shooting 5 bad guys between the eyes from a pair of handguns that mysteriously appeared from your shirtsleeves.<br /><br />Sgt. DeA….. and Sgt. De…... We sat in your classes like kids just confronted by their childhood heroes, wide-eyed and inspired.<br /><br />DA’s Mark Pautler and Mark Randall. I was tempted to write the Denver Post and to explain to them that from what I saw and learned in your law classes, both of you are absolutely worth every penny as the highest paid employees in Jefferson County.<br /><br />Sgt. Wh….. Our vocabularies have been infinitely expanded with your help. Unfortunately I cannot repeat any of those words here…<br /><br />Deputy S……... Your nickname to all of us was Hollywood. Rare is the arrest control instructor who can wear Gucci sunglasses and a spray tan and get away with it. You were the exception. You taught us to take care of ourselves and you did it with class, and even broke an arm in the process. Even the Israelis would be impressed.<br /><br />Sgt. W…... From day one, I felt like a member of the audience of the Tonight Show, every time you’d speak to the class. There’s an uncanny physical resemblance and I believe that you’re every bit as funny as Jay Leno. You were always there to accentuate a particularly important piece of instruction, there to encourage, there to instruct.<br /><br />Deputy H……. Our lead firearms instructor and Deputy J’s other half and complement. At times it appeared to us that there was a purposeful mother/father or good cop/bad cop dynamic between the two of you. Deputy J would scold us, and you would offer us some bit of comforting, quiet humor. You taught us firearms with skill and devotion and ran the training range like a quiet general. Thank you, Mom.<br /><br />And finally, to our coordinator, Deputy J.<br /><br />Sir, I am still, and will always be afraid of you.<br /><br />You were quick to anger, yet equally quick to laughter, and even tears. It happened on more than one occasion when, during the drudgery of a class on statutes the monotony would be interrupted by an outburst of your laughter, heard even through solid walls and a closed door. We would all share in a collective smile.<br /><br />We had the pleasure of getting to know your daughter from the stories you told, and the messages you relayed: “Ashley says HI….” (for instance)<br /><br />We even received gifts from time to time. Thank you Ashley, for my surfboard.<br /><br />Sir, even without the pushups, and even without the military etiquette, you instilled in every one of us a deep respect for the badge and a deep respect for the duty shared by each individual wearing the gold star. Your presence alone commanded respect and in my mind you are the epitome of a strong and thinking Sheriff’s Deputy, our department’s own John Wayne.<br /><br />None of our instructors ever hid from us the seriousness of the profession that we are entering. Nothing was ever sugar coated. As peace officers we will now be part of the thin blue line, (or in JeffCo’s case, the thin green line), where battles are fought daily between opposing extremes – life and death, justice and villainy, peace and chaos.<br /><br />I mentioned earlier the theme of honesty which was present throughout our days. After this afternoon each one of my classmates will be a part of system which, when one looks closely, is truly remarkable by virtue of the limits it places on itself, the self reflection it ensures; the self effacement it demands. We are now part of the law, now the enforcers of society’s own check, which society has placed upon itself to ensure that justice be done and that the innocent be protected. We are the protectors of democracy’s freedoms, and of democracy’s inherent demand of structure and order.<br /><br />Because of our time here we will take these duties to heart. We will laugh when we can and we will fight when we must, but always, with honesty and dignity will we serve and protect, by courage and arms. Thank you.</p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-24735166169723192042009-06-17T09:55:00.000-07:002009-06-18T07:31:45.754-07:00Little Things, Among the Big…<div align="left">I just finished ironing some uniforms. I also finished cutting the badge holes into the my uniforms above the left front pockets. Holes in the fabric. For a badge.<br /><br />Yup. It was an epiphany of sorts – one of those small, mundane moments when the force of the ‘now’ hits; when you realize what’s going on in the present. In less than 72 hours I’ll have a badge.<br /><br />The last two weeks have been a blur. Today we took our POST certification test. (I passed, btw). We then hit the much-talked-about Lookout Mountain Run. Both were honestly a bit anti-climactic for me. But…the badge holes….now THAT’S inspirational. (yes, the tongue is in my cheek).<br /><br />Last week we were TASED (which wasn’t <em>mandatory</em>, of course). I thought about writing a whole entry on it, but it really comes down to one thing: pain. Lots of it. It hurts. I’ll never need to experience it again to ‘remember’ what that kind of pain felt like.<br /><br />Last week we had some pretty educational, and fun, experiences in the classroom – in a mock crime scene investigation and in a pretty dynamic ‘wet lab’ where various deputies and department staff get drunk (in a perfectly cordial and controlled environment) and allow us to practice our DUI identification skills.<br /><br />This week we’re preparing for our graduation ceremony. I just got off the phone with some friends who are coming…I gave ‘em directions, gave them the invite to the dinner my parents are throwing afterward. Suddenly, 20 weeks are up, after a lot of pain, a lot of joy and accomplishment, and a lot of hard work. Just like that. You start as a nervous, wide-eyed new recruit, and the next thing you know you’re cutting holes in your uniforms for a BADGE.<br /><br />Just a thought.<br /><br />Anyway, here are some pictures!!! :<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348343221639448514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSkhFld6OLRfO7qtxZh1AHCgk4YC1SUMZYnR3ftEjrd6FkBXD4oEf7sXSoknV9zf3fz8kfZ3AiEgEZxQUnfCSO1LFHI4XnwQcxU8iOnIk8A7ZmTG2Vijduk2568sm9WvHY6H1-qqdq9U/s400/Will+Tased.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Me. In pain. Flattering image, eh? They’re laughing, by the way, because I let out this horrendous howl. It slowly faded in intensity as my lungs ran out of air. It sounded like someone was falling from a cliff or something. “Ahhhhhh…hhhh…hhh…hh..h”</span></em> </p><br /><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348343359092474386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ElywdGff2RUjNxc5OumzX-kYRzC3LqcGtO1c6XbYm7HsQLjUWuYYFAudXlRLO8FWWcK7fbs-Xt9kkIAH-menqK9umZ2r7WiZ037QtFtbI0uxou_yecopNVTzumIRYbHctaohbPaoi24/s400/Rhod+Tased+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Self explanatory!</span></em> </p><br /><p align="center"><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348346578374733426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4z1OcTwleuUZa4BT-8YU7usdvLh0Wcgw_88WOnPTah7FEYbmrd2ZVwZs88VAqj-xaONp0GBbX15kGXxovzURQsNXp9Rxg0RnVk69pAitDyD35HrClPRrJUtBo_A2con6MIyE2-uI9WnA/s400/mock_crime_scenes_2009+003.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Mock Crime Scene!</span></em> </p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348347701727580434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8J7De6wiODP9WVW_WMU3ogzXJmnJiCbXcV9K9Wg15r8FjAaeHSMI0mCQnOBDDlwJvgngKwF7Gr4ARXUMnErqS1nEsihyX7zMpkjItLhYuvp2yanasbC35KQCmKC2q4or-VxYqLRvzJU/s400/mock_crime_scenes_2009+011.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Interviewing at a "crime scene"<br /></span></em><br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348347867850775170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzuIN2iBV2S_vGcxTyISB-VzbNWww5hyphenhyphenfEZFoCZp-kC41594XJS_zVfJVf5RlGFwzeUwFF1RaSCVjwT3HykwtDA2QvmZg3w6CMA1iuJDg8VCrEWMuAhqXBCy_we9q_HYhA3o4xpk7C4o/s400/mock_crime_scenes_2009+024.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photographing evidence at a "crime scene"</span></em><br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348012818337090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisY4ISynTYIi1M7BSzG7eGiPb21DOAjXQKOCC3Ge9RBVg-A9j97Y6EsvsmcKDPxzJxstvKmmKG07Yerq6B1i0urU8GW62og7uIheOfBuzxtOgoRX6u-tENXfOObDseXGyfhYZ30LFHok4/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+008.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Wet Lab!</span></em> </p><br /><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348184041998114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MHPDGrumoLUS7kiHKWjLYxxHFPztvDRJJm30cHM9O7kKn9Got8YgrHIJ0in9WOYEokqbj3EWp99atBaWxfx-GHh2H_z_SKaVY0KKAwmIKcqIsIEMTVGQs39kkgqNLJhxkkRAXtMhxnM/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+029.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Roadside sobriety tests</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348346812697426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3R424MXsNJV3BFCkEqbcoDOD1eofROMX7hyCuoBPVpbE4hREH-1o7t2uEue-59zJ1PNpHrNVxKZXtG9Q1qnc4DMXmeJOZEXG720QvSn0px8GQhEazIqvbqQfVNlCLnGOsVqmgd3ARI_4/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+035.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Some walk a straight line better than others.<br /></span></em><br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348529058820898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLkjeTKSco5u41iPbFiPwtIS2pNEbmO0wMxcIq9jaJf8K9Gmy4beXLYPBlhqWp2A-tcIDNBOZLgdYUPFlfYZP0XiAbtRK-F0e_8rvYDDBpbwW-y5cUeTTksBS3bB8B-zeN6MvClU8Le8/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+065.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Checking eye movement</span></em></p><br /><p><br /><br /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348765573880354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsZpjLpDywALWqEF73krf-v8CUZRAfLbNQNDIYRa1s2zVsrIaYKBWmLxYi7piKXRZ7jGuWDqfCjQz50J4Ibzs6-WWCwNRUe2n-EVx4NESiIAQmrWip4syBPbQ2tliv8W0sS0lOx-Jg58/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+070.jpg" border="0" /> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">More eye movement</span></em></p><br /><p><br /><br /></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348348920939894098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpHMwXqQnhIw70VsjZlnFC3_NYuOer_nOiqCcUrrd04Lk4RtICHmlSGQW0DV14h10oC5vZSK5lPUqNs06vtbss40KIfZdEtYlVTUdi-wnlT_jDy36VB8PNjib3H7m-B_fvZO4pdIOVMo/s400/dui_roadsides_2009-1+093.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Walk the line</span></em></p><br /><p></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-78789391146639487322009-06-11T07:55:00.000-07:002009-06-11T08:03:45.772-07:00DRIVING, Continued…<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhOvsyfUwAeT3XeaED9mq1pp6O0YaBXWwVXeb_DCBH1SkjONU2SsZlNIOlrJjVAiH-LuuuTppRAQ2JAXDICdsVNX5D11OrX7e636q262GrgFSx9FxVMkH0VHw1ilORMUf7_N5eyxamOs/s1600-h/oldcar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346084427133551970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhOvsyfUwAeT3XeaED9mq1pp6O0YaBXWwVXeb_DCBH1SkjONU2SsZlNIOlrJjVAiH-LuuuTppRAQ2JAXDICdsVNX5D11OrX7e636q262GrgFSx9FxVMkH0VHw1ilORMUf7_N5eyxamOs/s400/oldcar.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks Deputy B. for sharing your car with us!</span></em> </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">So, last week I mentioned a secret desire to see and possibly film a wicked crash. It didn’t happen. I did, however, do a 360 at about 55mph into the dirt. That kind of counts, eh?<br /><br />Seriously though, I was impressed with our cars, our track, our instructors. We also got a ton of driving time. When the week began I expected to be sitting around for 7 ½ hours out of the day, and driving maybe 30 mins. NOT the case. We got a ton of practice in (which is why nearly disqualifying (in my case) on the open course is somewhat embarrassing, ha).<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346084765465432274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT0wsxotUu3xL85BRrJr8GjpFQpp5Kbo1piRKL7qf_xOoBxJEhPwGLpei7WljIyMEX64sPpzqmBn4qsUH1BowHOz8YTOkPeSMbVZn0djWJgihsQzRNQxR9LTEcYjkfLsAm6IoBFsVukU/s400/ready.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Getting ready for the next run.</span></em> </p><br /><br />Driving home on I-70 after the days had ended was a hoot. I had to consciously slow myself down. Laws are meant to be obeyed, Will. Speed limits are laws. This is your job now. Jeez.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346084915023527746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJzQJ6iUVLtC3RMWLi8KZXz5U25KZTUvUv8o672aWm4vxzHt6p5AnNxDWHIAeVFzHKvfOzFgwSHYV91bb2UCH5TFet-Tph8OWUPp820Jaf9_KTs8HrcejNkVk21AvdS6JDp01poughEI/s400/break.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Taking a break while the instructors set up the next course.<br />Good looking group of men and women, I think.<br />Call a JeffCo recruiter today.</span></em> </p><br /><br />These last three weeks have been as intense as any we’ve experienced in the Academy. On Monday I was TASED (don’t fight with the cops!). Today we had a full day of mock crime scene practice. INTENSE. But with a ton of world-class help from Investigations’ Finest. This is really where my own personal interests lie. It was fascinating and extremely educational to go through an investigative scenario from start to finish with the help of some true pros. Stay tuned for further postings on my smoking hot date with about 10 trillion electrons operating at 50,000 volts, as well as our experiences investigating and arresting an attempted murderer (mock, mock, of course).<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346085030656961490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kgQ7vrh1tQMUIfGAZjdQABY_znK8qRtav0-e-H4XIAv71PCpAL9hMYZT5jPtbKc7xG5kuaBDtVLl8M_JIT5TGqMIgTf5UerLEKXONPcTWzTiNGqIATIu7-rByMpmLZ-x4qSSLFiiidw/s400/nightdrive.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Night drive…lights and sirens! Noise and flashing lights!</span></em></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-12910246431639717412009-06-03T08:57:00.000-07:002009-06-03T09:07:10.308-07:00Fast Cars and Psychedelic Paint BulletsSIMS!<br /><br />I have this scab on my arm. I actually took a picture of it and was even thinking of posting it here but you should all be thankful that the voice of reason (albeit a tired and wheezing voice) was heard, and I decided to NOT post the picture.<br /><br />These Simunitions (Sims) things hurt.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343131741885965970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW3nyq5v6O1ste3dHMMBNxn4zlfr0yUALF-eRFxXG9eWbxPTEypj-oFjWRfpfwydP6pKfApfEbDhpNbiMSUOeHrWRbVRnqF77nTqL2QUCMLwjMJDvdDUwTGAzJIgTGUdNqiAn82lpOms/s400/splat.jpg" border="0" /><br />They’re effectively bullets of paint fired out of converted handguns, coming at you at about half the speed of a real bullet…<br /><br />But they’re also really instructive and a ton of fun. We played out various scenarios over the course of a couple of days. When you get hurt, you know it, and you DON’T make the same mistake twice. Some pics from our adventures:<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343131911477873970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LWdbAhRwELaNvsO94EmAm4EY6GDctADueh1NLpDNny2qVDP3mlzAx661_iKGoPU8oQXhGkp4rgsicnQAr01jR43z-iuHVH4e021wBl9S-MurfuMz80RkVq8PXkpquHQEMV-6L2ezOR8/s400/Sims1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343131996843571410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZK16sS8AQggfukzbxv1Hh_s8_oWO9CUt3Rrd_5uOqiZC1MyiMgQb3e3DjyNgQm6Jo-XTuHIN3kWSMqsJL2XytxJ_ySLy2IIQMa9bGIJ4Q2oSc7qlzbxhc6okLbtVxrHX7yIS9qDeLU98/s400/Sims2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132075947086018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmEch1Ct3regEunv0fLHTPWesMZqgXOUWf56PO2nZdDYrmd0FleaKpofEZibvQkQn_lQ3xgxw-FB_8MRjY8ZAGQoD24Hyz8uSNQ0bFYq0HvWFl4Dk9u4755_ZDy4Zek8fvJ6JZw49FeY/s400/Sims3.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132252390680706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVh2HEn9zbxM0GUmNsIo46SVWkh1XzAZpVem5K7WaoRTow0jTqRTsdIN-q8gsIeX3xuJoCxt43ZqQ_AdveJOurjXLjNGA5pgnq41_D6bVjuOz0JYmTNYLrtxySCeLZ0wuYk8KLxuPniX0/s400/Sims4.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132340536177666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrijH_tSt0_bqp5vLfQEAevhzridPch0H-ybVdwg-KNoIlO4VosqtVI1iIzVMqJMZyn8p5CxWAmBRrxvjd7J5Sp7uTWXErT9tYMND2icMlAHO9t75EQ1Owf4yM3TU5JbZtIaSqgK9PtC4/s400/Sims5.JPG" border="0" /><br />Thanks be to Deputy H., for all his hard work. May your cleaning rods never rust!<br /><br /><br />DRIVING!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132658068925362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKoHimGbDvg228SDo9wJEbAA8ux2sIEvmHx2iX_XlJW9bQf4FkjtJ2r8eZc3Bm7_6AARFqFwGxX7DO-4irGo59NC5WQcfPTv0HLdY8KG40xg4ppXFqUuCIhWaM6jfhT1KwhNAKDAkB9Q/s400/Driving1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />This is fun. Shear fun. I’ve never had so much fun before while getting PAID. These are just a sampling. We’re two days into the driving program, with the rest of the week to come. Stay tuned!<br /><br />And I’ll confess…I’m secretly hoping for a minor crash…provided no one gets hurt, no property is damaged, and the VIDEO is rolling, of course. Everyone’s driving pretty well though…and it didn’t happen today, even with torrential down-pours and high speed maneuvers. Sometimes one can only hope.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132856406164994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs2IbeBlHKUdd7vL5Xn9clk033TN2adlMoELFLihK3JVEM_NiaYHMWYpSrU4XIs2rEJGflikPaXzq3VGeJ0ZOvNXoD4RoIfmf3UYVC8CvpDdmOUdk8oI6QTOhOSxqiJDwkWtaa7KJM1E/s400/driving2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343132993449098178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEqVxfxh_mY_1qTgaLpWOHe2LTsJ1BtwDzJPSXp5HYpni6uCB6i0PcDoRxpOImzJ6Disp749Kw_5AeCuLM6zx9JB75nUyDrE7g3ypNkg4x1tFwNLg0GKH99Fl4NBlQtT_cmkypHGcLRE/s400/Driving3.JPG" border="0" /><br />Thanks, Deputy J, for the pictures!Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-76706558958740911952009-05-28T07:17:00.000-07:002009-05-28T07:28:32.303-07:00Such Is the State of Things<div align="left">I’m guessing that it’s natural to think of Spring, and the coming of Summer when Memorial Day hits. Recently we had an extra day off for the holiday. Besides being welcome, and NEEDED (my fellow recruits and I were teetering on the brink of collapse), all the downtime, the couch time, the beer-and-hot-dog time gave me an opportunity to dwell a bit upon my Academy experience, and to gawk a bit at the surprising realization that we’re getting near to the end.<br /><br />Today we took our formal class pictures for graduation. The scene, by the way, was great. Picture a perfect Spring day in Colorado, skies blue, breeze blowing. 70 degrees. Red Rocks. Tourists. Lots of tourists. Lots of tourists watching as 41 bright and wide-eyed recruits came marching down the flag stone walkway, in full uniform (we’ve graduated to belts and guns even!) marching to a cadence sung by our own Deano, in deep baritone bass that rivaled even the stuff the guys down below doing a sound check for an upcoming concert could dish out with their subwoofers …<br /><br />Firearms training; check. Arrest Control; check. OC Spray; check. We’ve done a lot. A lot is left to come – and even then we’re really we’re just beginning the journey as rookies. Mixed feelings. Daunted by all that’s left to come. I’m somewhat proud of our little accomplishments, proud at how we have all grown a bit in a relatively short period of time.<br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879374769125922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67YfpZO5YR3V9zzwcetarYVZWmAskqcGQ_8-dABd4baIt-ID7VTXvkdJoz7HkZMfq7Vfdw7kUuCfVA2XyNWWd7wJRvJpdzbuogENvgbWOl2zhmBB304qGZU90mjvg9YLUpxAcCAkG2dI/s400/hellday1.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">“Hell Day” PT with Sgt. W. It may not have been ‘Hell’, but … </span></em></p><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879742824075666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreyTB7fI9acQ6Kb_viy5eJZCevjbcpvn7xNIC9O7-UdOdB6s9W6x1ohj199VtZiLshewmf4bff-C962-Rli7AV4bfk27l1B2vFWmQLNn2NBmBYqZvvQx1UKF2MgCw-hIXLxKNM-UzERY/s400/pullup1.JPG" border="0" /></span></em> <div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A pull-up or two …or maybe 23? </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340879933972819538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB83ilprUN67im7TQ1bmo5VOASwNepraqb6BNRZX1wH4hJ6Ipc9Id9Ot0tA4NgR8MyAUMxSwKTS40INJ83I3u60_iJGi9FCwjk-F6grPDqIera3jqQh9ckFLnKLwMjdU8sR0-xRVIrN2o/s400/OC1.JPG" border="0" />Liquid FIRE. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em> </div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340880186823259970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIT8Ae2rmP9wuZhxmzUP0yIrETzGJ6mSarG3flGpyV-g-2FyRihUym525Ay62mCekY5GZGqhmM56qkef50F12pYOMF2UOV6DPWxELOPePjT0jfgGh1p8ZxzfuOSDBLan7_aTVDXjNJCA/s400/OC2.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">We had to fight a dummy for 30 seconds after the spray. It gets your mind off the steadily increasing pain. Trent hitting away at what (at this point) he can’t see. </span></em></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340880362556187026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIfzKbLHPsb_DxDD70dmW1-lTPipYROlSeCQc5NOaEjynechrJ0PG7gbFU64Ex1t85RXE3rdsvumA_T6Tw9aZFaVi_ROIzw2nMhOWAFVLsXs4_gHFrZggIB0GTl7peL9eq-Wcole0dAY/s400/OC3.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Yours truly wondering when the pain was going to REALLY hit. It did. Right after I had that thought.</p><p align="center"></span></em> </p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-9942006132736474992009-05-21T10:24:00.000-07:002009-05-21T10:26:02.586-07:00TwitterSo this Twitter thing…have you heard about this, do you know about this? I thought to myself today that if, IF I were Twittering, today would have been a good one to Twitter about. In homage to Twitter, I’ve prepared some sample Twitters for the day…a true day in the life of an Academy Recruit.<br /><br />(I promise I won’t use the word “Twitter” again!)<br /><br />7:32am<br />Coffee. Glorious coffee. We have ‘scenarios’ in Arrest Control today. AC techniques, use of force continuum applications running through my head. Fear of failure, but motivated to hit it hard…<br /><br />8:55am<br />First one down. Deputy S. was playing a drunk. I did ok, but talked too much, and used an arm bar to arrest when I should have used a simply, lowly ‘bent wrist’.<br /><br />9:22am<br />Disaster! Deputy S. tripped on a mat, fell and broke his arm! We’re all outside of the mat room waiting for word on his condition. Rhod is inside splinting him up.<br /><br />9:50am<br />Deputy S. just left for the hospital. He apologized to US. Unbelievable. Class. Pure class. Thanks, and GOOD LUCK!<br /><br />10:12am<br />We keep on going, even after Deputy S.’s injury. Second scenario goes well. Garrett and I separate two ‘bar patrons’ who were going at it. We didn’t hesitate. I was proud of this.<br /><br />11:15am<br />Scenario 3! Cody and I dealing with a domestic violence situation. Do well, no hesitation in arresting the guy, but could have been a little smoother, and could have communicated better. Cody’s a trip.<br /><br />1:15pm<br />RAID active shooter scenarios in a vacant office building. The place smells like mildew. Dark. Dank. Creepy. And perfect. Using simunitions today. Suited up and ready to go.<br /><br />1:55pm<br />Welts! These things hurt. Sergeant W. giving us some good instruction. We line up and practice shooting the simunitions on a partner, Tombstone “draw and duel” style. Rhod lays some head shots on my mask. Covered in orange paint!<br /><br />2:35pm<br />First scenario down. We could have done better. Someone threw a round and missed the ‘shooter’. This could have been me, ha. Rhod, Jim, Chad and I in the contact group. We didn’t enter into the darkened room simultaneously (as we should have). Should have been slower, calmer, more methodical.<br /><br />3:01pm<br />Second scenario. We rocked it. Emptied our mags into the shooter. I was point. Chad, Rhod right there with me. Situation was chaotic. SWAT guys yelling at us, simulating a real, loud, riotous scenario. We kept it slow, tight and organized. Felt good.<br /><br />4:03pm<br />Third scenario. Failure! Scott was the ‘bad guy’, and armed with a sim-converted Glock. He definitely won. Tough scenario. We all got shot I think. Welts up the side of my chest. I had a weapon malfunction and took cover (which was WRONG!) and kind of screwed up the rest of my crew. Sgt. W. made us do it again….and again. Didn’t end the day on a high note…<br /><br />*These last week has gone by extremely fast. We’re getting closer to the end of the Academy and can all feel it. I have a bunch of media that I’ll post soon, very soon. Sprayed in the face with pepper (OC) spray. Driven into the ground on our ‘Hell Day’ PT. And more, so much more. Stay tuned!*Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-13185336785289419242009-05-13T10:14:00.000-07:002009-05-13T10:28:06.326-07:00Week 15!<div><div>5.12.2009<br /><br />A few months ago I mentioned that I didn’t want to be a blog monopolist (blog-opolist). I meant it! I asked three of my classmates if they wanted to say anything about the Academy and their progress so far. Here’s what they had to say, as well as a little bit of info on them. </div><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335359731792282834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyv2GTjXZseJcSeGx5WN-C-DZZl4t1gfYgm7Moq4T2d6_4Gih5BJVGDI7mweaCznLujppz9wF6YL8uERga422UD4A151LszHru9ooOpHoZI2TvgDgLQY3Vg_U0uUxY-QaI5pDxP6TMkV8/s400/Lance.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:130%;">Lance</span><br /><br />I grew up in northern Pennsylvania and am a graduate of Penn State University. I hold degrees in Wildlife Technology and Recreation and Parks Management. For the past 11 years I worked for a non-profit wildlife conservation organization as a regional director.<br /><br />In 1996 & 1997 I was a Deputy Sheriff in Virginia. I attended a police academy in 1996 and enjoyed law enforcement but for whatever reason the timing wasn't right and I changed careers. Eleven years later I am back in law enforcement and am loving life. My former academy training was great but the caliber of training I have received at Jefferson County has far-surpassed the training I received in Virginia. The JeffCo academy training is incredibly intense and thorough. I know I've spent two, maybe three, times the hours on the shooting range and performing practicals. I can't think of a better place to train for a career in law enforcement. The emphasis put on discipline, training and perfection are key. I believe when I leave this academy I will be as prepared as I can possibly be for the career ahead. I am confident that I will know how to react in most situations I'll encounter. I also have the confidence to know that no matter what happens I will never give up and I will win. The cornerstone value of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is Integrity. Integrity is just as important as training...you'll get a healthy dose of both in this academy. I feel very fortunate to be a recruit here. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335360892022692706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSmwO78CYUlD35uCq0jPkiR6IS4V6yh4Y7pgHcWlX5uTX69Sdl9i8lqWgD_E7JlrUQkRMpQuOgNDS8Zik-NCuHjAvbaDzvIv1cLGGdwz9e_wNDd_Ro60Y_AZsKbxLY5uF13n7Zd_JS-o/s400/Dana.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Dana<br /></span><br />28 years old.<br />Born and raised in Wisconsin got certified a police officer there in 2001 and then left right after to join the Air Force.<br />Did 6 years in the Air Force as signals intelligence.<br />Masters degree in Criminal Justice.<br />Wife and mother of 3 (ages 3, 2, and 4 months).<br /><br />It is intriguing how much information they can cram into 20 weeks. Now at 15 weeks into it, 20 weeks isn't nearly enough. I remember all my feelings and emotions of the unknown from the beginning of the academy like they were yesterday. They are slowly creeping back as we will soon be starting the next chapter of our careers. It has definitely been an experience of a lifetime, I am excited to apply everything that I've been taught. I know graduation is right around the corner and I am prepared and looking forward to the continuing challenges.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335361102413515010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHGH7GSOXHt8yO0jJrYT8j5zl12crzJ3ynD0RB8I6Guba5PLz3bKulnoqAZLyCI9iKIIA6kQ7dST3C06rus6c20jXabpMX0N1WFxwngAcWFy4ZcwywSKcUcq8k7hJaoy8iIDSlK8SZKk/s400/Jeff.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Jeff<br /></span><br />Hello, my name is Jeffrey and I am currently attending the Jefferson County Police Academy for the Arvada Police Department. I moved to Colorado about 8 months ago with my wife from Boston Massachusetts. My wife and I always wanted to move to Colorado so we sold our house and traveled across the country. I managed my father’s car dealership for 8 years prior before its closing in April of 2008.<br /><br />The experience of the academy has been unique and exciting for me. From day one we are taught to work and build as a team. The relationships that you build at the academy are forever lasting, which is exactly what everyone tells you from the beginning. It’s almost a given that the relationships are built because of the amount of time you spend with your fellow recruits and the whole mentality of success as a team. The other recruits are in essence your family for 20 weeks.<br /><br />I don’t think that I am alone when I say that there are many tasks and skills that you perform in the academy that you have doubt on how well your proficiency will actually be. Through hard work, determination, good supervision, and fellow classmates you succeed. In most cases you don’t just succeed, you excel at these absolutely necessary skills. The skills on the surface may seem simple but when you add in some stress, they can be quite challenging but we all get through it.<br /><br />In summation, the academy is all about team building, routines, challenging yourself, and winning. You must learn to work as a team because it is the backbone of successful policing. You need to build a routine so that the important issues are focused on, not the petty things. You need to challenge yourself because someone out there is challenging themselves to beat you. Most importantly, we are hired, trained, and expected to win! </div>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-84846599414550514762009-05-07T07:11:00.000-07:002009-05-07T07:38:34.567-07:005.6.2009<div align="left">I’ve been blessed with the honor of our Class Sergeant title this week (which really just means more work and more responsibility) and today on a PT run, I tried out this little cadence. The names mentioned are classmates, obviously. And yeah, the jokes are all of the ‘inside’ variety, but I thought some of ‘em were pretty catchy:<br /><br />Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what JeffCo has done to me.<br />Push-ups ‘till our arms are blue!<br />This ain’t a place but for the brave and the few.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333085148605866034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-YXGahtir_kw6ZaDDhinJBsImplFZQt0tg51o3RfKcsWCQlLIyckQMoYCgYdo041sMv49n_YvGEEeA__id81_587CgEp6-k13EIdMbI24wK_MbQ715hewBqzajTJC6NY-Io7sbeW9ns/s400/Building+Searches+007.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Building searches, in dark, vacant, creepy buildings.</span></em> </p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what John Z. has done to me.<br />Bless us mother for we have sinned!<br />But with the Rev right here we can do it again.<br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333085387315614818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5-nUsxOaXbF9rq-BbYYDtIVyc8iVXh7ZxCUFOKywzQcAYEAsr5FtBRS41WCUUSI0cP2WBmjmNZfZ8MOlTfgifdvEQs2FnhdaBpDykNNPhigjqC3nEnZhrRVx9gNRqvvxVBqDp8dRdUU/s400/Building+Searches+011.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">More building searches!</span></em><br /></p><br /><br />Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what Bin-Diesel has done to me.<br />Vail better beware and expect a show!<br />When Bin-Diesel gets his new Volvo.<br /><br />Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what the KING has done to me.<br />With a mouth and jokes, ever-expanding.<br />And oh yes Mama, he’s really standing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333085736653521474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFCFZQHTrTQQD7X8nJglIJxGFBEFH7UwP0SHD0Z3lDplWfImLu_veKIaq-EjgW07g8IGIZIdXzUcbtQQBxC47Nuf6FWbXDdLiUZrz1TWy1O3ea96Qnk_d9pQpye07BnmrTT7nThAxMfg/s400/Building+Searches+013.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Garrett, moving fast and looking intense. </span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></p><p align="left"><br /></span></em><br />Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what Trent W. has done to me.<br />Call I-T we need help with the printer!<br />Be sure to send your fastest sprinter!<br /><br />Mama mama can’t you see!<br />Just what Rhodri L. has done to me.<br />This guy knows how to have some fun!<br />EVERY academy should have an Austral-IAN </p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-54309806461848100942009-04-29T07:28:00.000-07:002009-04-29T07:49:57.289-07:00Skills Class Update…!We’re half-way through week 13 and it’s unbelievable how quickly time is passing (part of this is a result of the very small amount of time we have to reflect on this fact). BUT, for the last two weeks it feels as if we’ve been studying what most people think of as real police work. To say it’s been fun is an understatement. I thought I’d give a kind of overview…<br /><br />Most of last week was comprised of CSI type stuff. As we were told, many times, you can’t take the burned-in image of a victim’s killer from their retinas, BUT, there are some seriously cool tools that we’ll have at our disposal. Think fingerprints. Think national DNA databases. Think microscopic fiber analysis. (Our crime scene investigators are every bit as attractive and engaging as Gill Grissom and the like, by the way).<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330120729589276386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 255px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSzoj5hKSZrTcKWq7LERR7VHioTV_Pv_3050dDYmD0701iutew-cL8OPi-7-x0ygfmTgH_TEu3DnNVCIxUPwtCWGgOwuLFzfr6IrPlgm8nNP3WWA6xFQKx-6r0Kvp3MNEwnLpsngKzB8/s400/Fingerpriting+1.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Fingerprinting!</em></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330120837298338530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsAhKGHKbCoXdSxCTqrCTmG8I28gbeky0eZNjbqQFEuxPqAyLs4YP3Ce4AIXXDgwO4dvgQUu4Q5S2sAE_tJeoMOD4cuLNsjLxLpEibvQxPqayXDQrqhczr6ZchsWk5CGx2vijE6L0pHw/s400/Footprints.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Footprints in the snow!!!</span></em> </p><br /><p>Our days on the firing range have been a ton of fun. We’ve done a bit of work on the tactical range (multiple close-range targets set up to mimic real-life shooting scenarios, barricades, mock building walls, mock active-shooter scenarios, etc). Today was a hoot: simulated active shooter scenario (school shooting) complete with instructors banging on buckets like drums, shouting at you with blow horns, grabbing at you and hitting you every time you were ‘shot’. Stress!<br /><br />We go through these scenarios one at a time and every time, before it’s your turn, your stomach churns with butterflies. You wait. You plan your actions. You self-talk. It never fails though…afterward, when the screaming’s stopped, you immediately want to run the course all over again for the fun of it. (And I’ll have pics of today’s fun posted on my next entry, for sure).<br /><br />(Oh, and before I forget, I’d like to thank Big Daddy (Jones) for some excellent advice on what not to do on the driving range…and for what definitely to do during a good vehicle contact!)<br /><br />We’ve also begun fully evolved, more realistic police contact scenario training. Vehicle and pedestrian stops that bring it ALL into play; everything we’ve learned over the last 3 months (law, communication techniques, arrest control, firearms, etc). These are challenging, to say the least. Who ever said police work was going to be easy? The pics below are from last week’s pedestrian contacts class. Trent, Josh, Molly and Laura all played our contact ‘subjects’. They were good…take a look at what Trent’s wearing! All of these exercises are structured to simulate possible challenging ‘realistic’ encounters. We all biff it on these in one way or another (I need to work on my post-arrest suspect searches, for instance) but we all seriously value these learning experiences.<br /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330120949025795890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCmkR2InQOS2hmKsNyRF8rHUAgE9rPkqFvN4NlI-jayMrrQ-bFY1xuAz4-_ju6xA9w1CXW6xea6rLCRt4NAttn9eggZH2m_d5rYhI2YvcSGyAENdLrrGkPZLq7MdARkmTQ05Dcz3JnSY/s400/PedContact1.JPG" border="0" /> Trent doing way too good a job playing a stumbling drunk in the middle of the highway.</span></em><br /></p><p></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330121090923855842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSoAERObFCXhvp06dKfvKFQOYApIYBwrLuZp8zkhLSkYIPD73LS3YHOUOMFcW1z8R2ohn30NIJgsD0D0rJ1rlJGrS608OzFw71GbkcQjyCwvM7OvjQpd23rTaR-4xF9jS5TftBNJnzvM/s400/PedContact3.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">More pedestrian contacts</span></em></p><br /><p></p><br /><p>Vehicle Contacts! These are tougher than you think…<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330123348150191586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Pb7jYVWvWCAhZb3u3q_piCskUeQriByW0IQbPFIygXdvkmSasNClevjs5u65QLJXF81-TMemXwTl6HZH_6bDv6GkR9wgnnhSnS6SUvTHuYJbGa5fuk8SQpuFlap-mrlu1Yg_gnVELM/s400/traffic_stops+002.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Preparing to contact a citizen in a car</span></em></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330123592989617858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZs4_8UID_GUphrEE4vUdsIwJ1K2vYMj1wT9pFU7BNm5jIR17KhNMrgvB0OcmWuTkmNtgpDTKcnUtRW8UBimY1-AOf0UydIbP1-VqEC2B_T6ok7t730nPZjR_Wyjdx5CKD3PA8P81r0rs/s400/traffic_stops+059.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>A little advice from a veteran instructor</em></span></p><p></p><p></p><p><p><br /><br /></p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330123977106582962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahfDYh4bE9f2z7cj2_b9WyT31HieiVDzD3NjlHFzhfDRvEvN_7oAqk4zFnGB2G2OWuffZX2csVUGUM1bRQtMxmf7lj_iZ-MfqYoPg6vghy3ly7-_PDPD2cD8XedexhFNnP2ZUDQp45K8/s400/traffic_stops+072-shop.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>A laugh to lighten the mood<br /></em></span></p><p></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-54567038518579007462009-04-21T07:37:00.001-07:002009-04-21T07:46:01.187-07:00The Myth of Sisyphus, Version 2.0<div align="left">I just got a text from a buddy of mine who ran the Boston Marathon today. The guy finished it in 3:08, which, for those of you out there who don’t run, is a GREAT time. (I typically run a mile in a long distance run at around a 7:30 pace. My friend did the entire marathon, 26.2 miles, averaging something like 6:55 per mile!). I do have a point here…<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327154252458404082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zI2gALtHxmmMvj0CoadVYlpPzMNNnjHFKuuFSevvPex_A-W7FbD1Ey0NHmDjZ7NQJi3xowjdn9xggDEV89MKSgvdGDzb5IS8bR8UNXZPdLxHphu4jq2EwHRC-RzSxf-iItsNL7hhbu8/s400/search+1.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Vehicle Searches!</em></span> </p><p align="left">Anything you do, anything you think you’re good at, anything you’ve been told you’re good at…well, there’s someone out there, probably many people out there who are better at it than you.<br /><br />The connection that I’m making here between law enforcement, this academy, and this somewhat (negative) observation is this: Our instructors, our coordinators, our peers – they’ve all been working pretty hard to get it into our heads that the only way to succeed in this, the only way to grow, the only way to shine is to keep at it. Keep trying. Keep learning, keep practicing, keep getting better. Keep fighting.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327154411066971314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTL7rBtz_gZiVkK7jpTiHwurNdzsPSZ3asROcpea8zeuWmCoqEBvg87fcT94sW1dRLC1FgI6XFzBScIkTb1omhsO4FQ9srGQq4AftJ_YzzHc-zWgiVgkOkWc2E3t4t41FuSDcbUgQGAo0/s400/search+2.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Ian and Chris about to be made examples of…<br />(but doing an awesome job, as always…our stars from Arvada).</span></em> </p><p align="left"><br /><br />No one can be a master of all his trades, but through hard work, through grit and sweat and blood we can get better, and we can get close to mastery. If we’ve been taught anything these last 12 weeks, we’ve been taught that a continuous pursuit of perfection is absolutely necessary for this line of work…<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327154579623512642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0pY_GSSPRkaQLp1v-q8lfghh1iStP0qkYtG5gKoWsx1-g1mO-RJmHv3A_2N4kmbJgmzAFg2WH-cmu9ivsI3BPshpxuM9y-vpgUCfnenGPVYKROCOsYKvw5wR-voKU1-BWiNFzwsNwFo/s400/Outside+old+jail.JPG" border="0" /> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">The Sgt. giving us a tour of the old JeffCo Jail on a cold, wet morning. I bet there were many (clients) who felt a bit cold and wet when they entered into that building…</span></em> </p><p align="left"><br /><br />(Pushups are a favorite tool of our coordinators, along with a few choice words spoken at high decibel levels, in instilling this in us). </p><p align="left"><br /><br /> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327154735891096994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTMethmDY-jQS9gwMSKK2b_XXazFxTTQtQ2fzDHHeL6Ux343UHqQ_elK0f_8g3sU2Da01VtauFJmjtgo8rRMHovhHgpuaXrTrZdMAz4CPWUXmPBnsNNnZEO-dc-p9pb45C6b5i7FUsZQ/s400/table+graffiti.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Looking at the graffiti scratched into an old dining table in the jail.<br />I won’t be posting what it actually said. :)</span></em> </p><p><br />And behind this pursuit can only lie a kind of boiling determination. Sure, the guy that you have to lay hands on to arrest may have just spent the last 10 years pumping iron 4 hours a day in a Department of Corrections bed and breakfast, but he’s not going to care, he’s not going to want to win as much as you. And consequently, naturally, undoubtedly – he won’t.</p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-34576128346804367272009-04-14T07:20:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:23:50.130-07:00“A Failure of Memory …”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqEs7DOhoSBwnQ6xYYwH_u97PUKGcdiApEsOTs47d8GI5DG8jdjW-XzZYtaNQiM3ewe2XBhNjGwdJfBekLmc1w74WMUxs_Sp9yTb_BdsADmA9XDU1rViAXKp7yI_Eb6eLmuTO0aY9sEg/s1600-h/Snow.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324552353719320722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqEs7DOhoSBwnQ6xYYwH_u97PUKGcdiApEsOTs47d8GI5DG8jdjW-XzZYtaNQiM3ewe2XBhNjGwdJfBekLmc1w74WMUxs_Sp9yTb_BdsADmA9XDU1rViAXKp7yI_Eb6eLmuTO0aY9sEg/s400/Snow.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ok, so this image is a few weeks old, but I was scrolling through my picture files and was surprised that I hadn’t posted it (time flies, and distractions happen, in law enforcement academies!). This was a good experience. As our instructors said, if you can shoot well in a blizzard, imagine how you’ll shoot when it’s 72 degrees and sunny.<br /><br />And, the picture really doesn’t have to do with this posting, but hey, it’s a good one.<br /><br />For most of the evening I’ve been grinding the mental gears, attempting to will a good posting into existence. Imagine my mind as an old Ford truck…from the 60’s maybe, rusting away in a field. An old farmer gets in, starts the engine grudgingly and painfully puts it in gear, lets out of the clutch with a squeal and slowly, cacophonously, the machine creeps along through the dust and mud and the weeds…<br /><br />My brain hurts.<br /><br />I read somewhere once which spoke to the lack of pain receptors in the human brain. I think now that this was fictitious. Some doctoral student playing a prank. My brain really does hurt.<br /><br />In previous postings I’ve touched on the shear amount of information we’re required to learn and more accurately MEMORIZE during this academy, but I’ve only hinted…<br /><br />Currently I’m working on my last column of street rotations (streets in JeffCo along with their block numbers…approximately 300 streets in all). I’m working on memorizing the Bill of Rights and our firearms safety rules verbatim. I have the JCSO mission statement, values, and vision statement down (I think) as well as most of the names of departmental command staff. That leaves the material for our fifth test due tomorrow, including mountains of traffic code, various facts on domestic terrorist groups, performance data on less-lethal weapons as well as strategies in dealing with suspect interrogations and confessions.<br /><br />We’ve all been weaned off of bottles and mere glasses full of the stuff – we take our mental nourishment through fire hoses ONLY these days.<br /><br />And, incidentally, the title of this posting – “A Failure of Memory…”. Well, when we miss a question on a quiz or a test we’re required to write out a disciplinary memo to our coordinator elaborating on the REASONS behind that (failure). I’ve found myself relying on this phrase more often than I’d like to admit. It is, however, accurate. It’s honest. (Now if I could just get it to NEVER happen again…!) </div>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-18980362485796688392009-04-08T09:23:00.000-07:002009-04-08T09:25:38.933-07:00“For I am Involved in Mankind…”Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was titled after this poem. It’s one of my favorites (and incidentally, one of Sen. John McCain’s too, I read somewhere once).<br /> <br />No man is an island,<br />Entire of itself.<br />Each is a piece of the continent,<br />A part of the main.<br />If a clod be washed away by the sea,<br />Europe is the less.<br />As well as if a promontory were.<br />As well as if a manner of thine own<br />Or of thine friend's were.<br />Each man's death diminishes me,<br />For I am involved in mankind.<br />Therefore, send not to know<br />For whom the bell tolls,<br />It tolls for thee.<br /><br /><em>John Donne, 1624</em><br /><br />There are some lines in the poem that stand out, I think.<br /><br />During the last two weeks, seven law enforcement officers across the country died in the line of duty, in violent incidents perpetrated by individuals acting alone, who simply didn’t care – neither for the lives of fellow men and women, nor for their own (lives granted them by their mothers, their fathers, their God … i.e. someone other than themselves), and these individuals made the decision to stop the beating hearts of people who DID (care).<br /><br />“Each man’s death diminishes me…”<br /><br />As I slowly make progress toward the badge, these things begin to be felt more; their significance grows inside. Each of my classmates feels the same way. Good people.<br /><br />Hmm.<br /><br />That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say. I tried thinking of someway to ‘wrap’ up an entry on senseless violence, but in the end concluded that there isn’t a moral, there isn’t a lesson, there isn’t even any kind of statement that can be made. I think the best we can do is to feel it. To remember it. To not let the tragedies be felt and forgotten, to not let the sufferers of those tragedies be set apart as “Islands…Entire of themselves.”Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-22527691368626899352009-03-31T07:18:00.000-07:002009-03-31T09:02:56.567-07:00Week 8 Done and Gone.<div align="left">The FUN has BEGUN!!! (Now If I Only Had Time to Reflect on That…) </div><p><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I had dinner with my parents this weekend. </div><p><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We met in Castle Rock at this little, quiet place that has the distinction for us as being the place my sister broke the news of her engagement (to a great guy who treats her very well, and who is making an exceptional addition to the Air Force’s pilot corps as the pilot jock that every little boy wanted to be when he was 8…). </div><br /><br /><p><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">But yes. 8 Weeks. As the parents grilled me on the last two months (over a pretty good beer) I suddenly realized (again) that my life has become this, and this alone. I touched on this theme a bit in a previous posting, but it’s a pretty significant topic, I think… </div><br /><p><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I’m having fun, undoubtedly, and the days have become increasingly engaging. Firearms (with live ammo, in a blizzard this week!), Arrest Control, Investigative Procedures, etc … it’s all become much more ‘real’. But the tendency has been for me to lose perspective a bit as the intensity has increased – to lose sight of the fact that this stuff that we’re doing, this knowledge we’re gaining, this fun we’re having – is inherently cool and at the same time very, very serious (see my Serious Business post from Week 1). </div><br /><p><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">There’s a strong tendency to get caught up in the work, in the activity, in the excitement and the anxiety… </div><br /><p><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">After my workout tonight, driving home from the gym, I made a kind of pact with myself to step back a bit from time to time during the next 3 months and breathe it in, soak it in, ‘smell it’ so to speak. A transition, a change, a pretty hefty transmutation is happening in the lives of every one of my classmates right now. I’ll still get caught up in it, but I’m going to try and be present for it, to be present fully during this change, and hopefully learn a bit more in the process. </div><br /><br /><p><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">(And have a bit more fun too…) </div><div align="left"><br /><P><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinywkElDlY3Ae0VtRR70Urgv8-nU23okE7eMZGJHbKrRoVuaG0sWPFnhYmwa0a90roCpHRdCMF68sBpZvzxpVx30o4qy0EGswwHIPOzjgp0erBYprJ4GGH7y2nFRJxv_P70ARLbx3fWl4/s1600-h/APC2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319357956178233586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinywkElDlY3Ae0VtRR70Urgv8-nU23okE7eMZGJHbKrRoVuaG0sWPFnhYmwa0a90roCpHRdCMF68sBpZvzxpVx30o4qy0EGswwHIPOzjgp0erBYprJ4GGH7y2nFRJxv_P70ARLbx3fWl4/s400/APC2.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>West Metro Swat gave a pretty wicked presentation, one of the best we’ve had the last two months. Here’s the county’s armored personnel carrier. Cool, eh?</em><br /></span><br /><p><br /><p><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5z8dGVRqD0hA-EDeAF1rublYFTBdvjrQFDjDHDQrz55B0v0EuCZGsYPJIz2xaZx2dSj3YSWvfgpCRpxiq7Ay0Daq23a7GwbcdCXNYl4-5inKyiDRi8pgxPaash1BRzkio1oKJu1Bs0I/s1600-h/APC3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319358148028916290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5z8dGVRqD0hA-EDeAF1rublYFTBdvjrQFDjDHDQrz55B0v0EuCZGsYPJIz2xaZx2dSj3YSWvfgpCRpxiq7Ay0Daq23a7GwbcdCXNYl4-5inKyiDRi8pgxPaash1BRzkio1oKJu1Bs0I/s400/APC3.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The APC’s baby brother.</span> </em></p><p align="center"><em><br /></em><br /><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpudzoYaSkcuGk_w-TgjkB6gu-xZ3pJKSQ-tmOoxwf882DfVeMH_1a4R9-LTBafDWrt4g3hrC45od2w0uRv8fsIVrieRqi5sWNoH4oUnZuTyPagqBKF6BysdsYHB7tpTnU5or6WbPW0A/s1600-h/SgtClass.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319358298475934418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpudzoYaSkcuGk_w-TgjkB6gu-xZ3pJKSQ-tmOoxwf882DfVeMH_1a4R9-LTBafDWrt4g3hrC45od2w0uRv8fsIVrieRqi5sWNoH4oUnZuTyPagqBKF6BysdsYHB7tpTnU5or6WbPW0A/s400/SgtClass.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Every one of us was deeply impressed with the SWAT team members who presented the class. I know that many of us (me included) discovered a bit of hero-worship on our faces as the day ended.</span></em> </p><p align="center"><br /><p><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihedTqrt3LVEmcMF2q1wessAEL37pKTLZa3xyQPd1LQADdFYmrkCv93gAmcmVwGsMZsma04_VcDIkn4StwaJO-CGUIRTS1O8KifmVzn4DkCGNIjkCNYAshtxgVHUD7Um6rdLOjJTrjbE/s1600-h/FlashBang.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319358494779421122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihedTqrt3LVEmcMF2q1wessAEL37pKTLZa3xyQPd1LQADdFYmrkCv93gAmcmVwGsMZsma04_VcDIkn4StwaJO-CGUIRTS1O8KifmVzn4DkCGNIjkCNYAshtxgVHUD7Um6rdLOjJTrjbE/s400/FlashBang.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The Sergeant sets off a “Flash Bang” explosive device in the Academy parking lot, which blew a few car alarms :)<br /></span></em><br /><p><br /></p><p align="left">And stay tuned…for possible video next posting!<br /><br /></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-71306270165065990832009-03-23T07:28:00.001-07:002009-03-23T13:28:52.811-07:00Ego Trips…(down long, lonely desert highways…in reverse)<div align="left">I experienced an insight of sorts this week that I wanted to share; an insight on the heals of some pretty gnarly embarrassments (these are the BEST kind!). </div><div align="left">.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So, briefly, I have this episode of the “Simpsons” in my mind right now. Chief Wiggum is holding a ‘citizen’s police academy’ I believe. Some nut screams in frustration, “But when do we get our freakin’ GUNS!?!?” and Chief Wiggum responds, “Later this afternoon…first we have to break you down, then build you up, then break you down again…and if we have time, build you back up…”</div><div align="left">.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">(Here’s a link for all you nerds out there: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Connection">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Springfield_Connection</a> ) </div><div align="left">.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">So, we’ve all heard these ubiquitous references in pop culture to militaristic training regimes involving the ‘breaking down’ of a recruit’s ego and the subsequent ‘re-building’ of said ego. I usually took these references with a grain of salt…as in “What the heck does that really MEAN?!?” </div><div align="left">.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I think I have a hunch…(but first, a picture or two or three): </div><div align="left">.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316391261818775410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hnrFx4TWTfCSF3fasrB-olHs_NbOJ9WTjfjfB4JN1GR3tvzlvZEYV22FIBxsO7zNYSM70u8UxDhKbCSCtCCn1u05HgndBu_UAVwUCHqocmo4n65d_h6JUEepuJU_5F4IPjxxWEeVJWw/s400/Will+Weird.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Mid-action shots with weird, mid-action faces…it wouldn’t be an HONEST blog without them.</span></em><br /></p><p>.</p><p>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316390612509099554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXBzr62iWlUoQviendqaV3fRtpD8reR0GjGzDULPHAiwlpsqb0ixwjRhpHmBqQ0Db8WbJRAW1W9LlxcU8egy9-8MhhhoMm7Vmr64Ck2_4lL87KjHIw2yrrBvf2VhMkFb4M6GPsJxQF0Q/s400/Dennehy1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Chris is our token “I wouldn’t wanna be up against HIM” classmate.</span></em> </p><p></p><p>.</p><p>.</p><p><br /><br /> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316391017045558018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziIMGxxRt_M0wfX7eymtJNvGQ9zJu80bGiUFECVaVG_pT1IfNmFv_N8Su9wmQ9MzEJX9rvdzWlRKsgi6Frx9TpVKGvdVVjAh1FI5Ty4r96m26_LnlnkhyphenhyphenZKGtfn2hzpfXXQzJ_qmYS74/s400/Bindle+Face.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Mike with a battle wound. I asked him to look scary, by the way. He’s really a kitten in person. </span></em></p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">.<br />.</p><p align="left">Ok, so back to it. Egos. </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">A couple of weeks ago, just when I thought I had this groove DOWN, I lost my ID badge. Not a big deal, right? Well, considering it was also an access card to the county JAIL, and considering that I thought there was a possibility that I had lost it on the premises of this JAIL, where inmates could possibly find it and USE it … </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">Embarrassment. </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">And then this week. We began firearms training. Major fun, by the way. But at some point I get to thinking, again, that I had the groove down and at some point I get called up in front of 60+ people to battle another classmate (Lance!) in a malfunction clearing competition*, and at some point during this 2 second BATTLE ROYALE my mind goes completely blank and for at least 5 seconds I just stand there like a dumbfounded idiot and… </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">Embarrassment. </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">The whole point is that you can’t approach this with an ego. It WILL be squashed, like a bug; by circumstance, and certainly by the academy coordinators, who are known to wear some pretty gruesome, heavy, (polished, of course) bug-squashing boots. The whole ‘breaking down’ of the ego thing…it’s to teach honesty, to teach humility, to teach objectivity. I have this sneaking suspicion in the back of my mind that a humble, objective deputy/officer who can enter into a chaotic, possibly life threatening situation without EGO, without SELF-consciousness, would be a pretty effective deputy indeed… </p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left">No ego, no problem. And consequently (as an attractive thought for me right now); no ego, no embarrassment?</p><p align="left">.</p><p align="left"><em>(Malfunction clearing = drills/techniques to clear a weapon of jammed rounds which would prevent the weapon from firing, i.e. bad thing in a fire fight. We 'competed' for time in this case.)</em></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-42282580477896866022009-03-18T07:11:00.000-07:002009-03-18T07:14:28.114-07:00A Pretty Tough ScheduleIt's been a while since I've posted, and for that I apologize. Who knew that this would be so challenging? I was told, but didn't REALLY believe...<br /><br />Between the academics, the policy and statute memorization, the daily prep work involving uniforms, equipment, study materials (and the disciplinary memos, ha) – time is a rare commodity these days.I think it's important for folks who might be interested in applying for the academy to be aware of just how much work is involved. And, if you're accepted, be fully PREPARED.My schedule has become solely centered on THIS, and this alone. A typical schedule for me is as such:<br /><br />515 - 700<br />Preparation for class, materials organization, breakfast, shower, etc<br /><br />700 - 730<br />Drive to the Academy<br /><br />730 - 800<br />Class preparation, boot shining, de-linting, class evaluations<br /><br />800 - 1700<br />Class!<br /><br />1700 - 1830<br />PT! (Either formal, with the class, or without, on my own)<br /><br />1830 - 1900<br />Drive home<br /><br />1900 - 2000<br />Dinner/Rest/etc<br /><br />2000 - 2200<br />Study! Prepare for tomorrow!<br /><br />Realistically, I have about an hour of 'free' time during a typical day, and usually it's just enough to recover a bit of energy for the next gig. AND, I'm single...some of my classmates with families....well, I'll just say they have my respect.<br /><br />So, the point, again: Be prepared to set aside 5 months of your life for THIS, and for THIS alone.(It will, however, be worth it of course...)<br /><br />*Coming soon* - Arrest Control! Firearms Training! With Pics!Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-75908192476732320292009-03-09T07:16:00.000-07:002009-03-09T07:17:24.531-07:00Discipline, or Disciplin(ed), Rather…The following is a memo which I wrote (was assigned, along with the rest of the class) to our Coordinator as a disciplinary action. I decided to post it as a kind of reminder to myself and to provide an example of the ‘culture’ of the academy to those who might be thinking about applying. It’s a different world, certainly.<br /><br />On Monday, March 2nd, we, as a classed, failed in our responsibilities.<br /><br />In this particular case we failed to insure that the room in which we study, the room in which we learn and meditate daily on our new careers, our chosen professions, was clean and in proper order before rushing out to PT this evening. This occured after you had specifically reminded us to clean and straighten the room before leaving. We rushed. We reacted. We didn’t think.<br /><br />I, personally, assumed that the cleaning crew would insure the ordering of the room before leaving. I, personally, “passed the buck”, and simply assumed that others would take care of a responsibility which was mine, as well as theirs. In the end the result was a negative one.<br /><br />Beyond any moral considerations, there is a solid lesson to be learned (and I have learned it). At times, when things need to be done, when things are necessary, and when I, personally, am aware of this necessity, it is best, it is right, it is most efficient, to step up, to speak out, to get it done. In the future I will not “pass the buck” to someone else. I will focus on my own, focus on myself, focus on my responsibilities.<br /><br />President Harry Truman popularized the phrase “The Buck Stops Here”. He was referring to an old poker term and the ability to pass up an opportunity to play a hand by “passing the buck” to another player. The phrase articulates the “passing on” of responsibility, the “passing on” of one’s obligations and duties, to another. As a future LEO, I cannot ever “pass the buck”. As an LEO, THE BUCK STOPS HERE.<br /><br />Responsibility to me is a value of near spiritual magnitude. Responsibility implies a life without excuses, without any blame placed on another when it rests solely on my own shoulders. Other values are encompassed by the concept of responsibility. It is inherently honest. It is inherently just. It is also inherently quiet and at times unappreciated. It does not ask for recognition. It does not ask for congratulations or praise.<br /><br />Responsibility, simply and quietly, calmly and confidently, asks its user to do what is right, to do what is needed, and to uncompromisingly ignore the inconvenience, the imposition that this right act may cause.Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-4576972951559729332009-03-05T13:36:00.000-08:002009-03-05T13:59:45.135-08:00A Month Down …Yeah, I can’t believe it myself…over four weeks under our belts. Time is flying. I caught myself last week (the 70 degree weather helped) feeling SPRING!<br /><br />With this theme in mind, I thought I’d give a few of my classmates the opportunity to say something about how the last month has gone. I think I might periodically check in with some other folks as the weeks go by to get other perspectives and opinions on things (no one likes a blog-monopolist).<br /><br />My own opinions on the last four weeks…well, you should all know them by now, BUT, to re-iterate:<br /><br />“They’re still PAYING us to learn? PAYING us to train? PAYING us to play around at Red Rocks?”<br /><br />Life is good.<br /><div><div><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Jacy, 23</strong><br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309825155824607554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bUPayLmQi0LpWzgWminTN4taqHs6m-ms12irq1vJg5cA920bbY59mupA7eg-AUPGfiTR-KA4C1qTgSEDpJMCaN_U_c-57evQg5RmN03GEdWuCSqB0_CCAgSygmptfmkac4H9FlcEYBQ/s400/Jacy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>"This academy has gone above and beyond my expectations. We have only been here five weeks and already I have learned so much – whether it be from textbook or the experiences of other people. You’re constantly learning. I thought I knew what I was getting into, but there are so many things I never saw coming. It’s the small things that I find most inspiring. Hooh" </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Cody, 27</span> </strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309825430203268386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 377px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM11E4sSLn3ApssHuyK3AI3n3VnWS2-sl9aDJ46l7Igz0Mc7i8yO9RFdEpe0SGk1LLpwCpn8-6DvYkzUONkeMZkNU9IN8FSA5ygiGwF8MLvyyoQFI-i9EKoSN1x8igQXRGN3DSwHPVjvE/s400/Cody.jpg" border="0" /> "Hi, my name is Cody. I am 27 yrs old and currently attending the Jeffco’s (Jefferson County Sheriff) Academy. Before this I was a Denver Sheriff for 2yrs and loved every minute of it, I will surely bring my experiences with me to continue building my future as a Deputy with Jeffco. This Academy truly gives you the chance to succeed and become a highly trained/informed Officer of the law, to serve the public. I truly hope that I will get the chance to serve the Jeffco community and I hope to do the community proud."<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Chad, 33</span></strong> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BLVcfT2huKLkZeTe-DUQRdpyFoC03gr1H5Eo94455dQawBmLH9MxC-HTsETK5hg-ZCMO3cg8gPoe7r5JsGCPfHe1-y_2p1m0DX5hryzoZEnDFFGTZeK_QcD1B-NO60dNfeEbEnYy428/s1600-h/Chad.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309825849427721378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8CxtWql5ZSTHTPU80UuMS3WCi6A5wcQXGiHwOSJmW_pcSC5oQG_OXZvwun9jFrOpksgtG3TyWI_9p3e1pUai_KoYh9jVjJJ8_dsIaQRyWrcQ8SIg38Hn7yFH1-DoraZpqS5ue5xS8Cg/s400/Chad.jpg" border="0" /><br />“Few opportunities in life allow us to be exposed to such a high quality of professionalism, from fellow recruits and instructors, to command staff. The JeffCo Academy is designed for a recruit’s success in law enforcement.”<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Laura, </span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9jxZWQwjCu5E4MRARXjPfgohc12IzeFeVGi-qur-xAa3TNzTXAZzQBwVmxYL7kU7kAK0m4c_VQNXp8ZhUAEVqxqBWTcCmvqEaXAw896BpKf8u7evPzqYRjoRWmMsix7akN4KTNCOUMs/s1600-h/Laura.jpg"><strong></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">27</span></strong></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309825579092651474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 311px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9eqih5mJhhOwOGQTNH00bHIUJUA-5tSZtorGlBX8k7NR_lVI6qyjoitOY9Nv3r_c5KIWIjqLWpic5GQfGCH4JZ6aideIx_daAo6t3EZQe9_vDD8gZFQar6fSPK-OKllAPO_eTMY72og/s400/Laura.jpg" border="0" /><br />Born in NY, residing in CO for only 1 yr, BS in Criminal Justice, MS in Forensic Toxicology<br /><br />“The academy has become fun. We are all getting to know one another and respecting each other more. There is still work to be done, but we are improving. It’s amazing to learn of everyone’s experiences and where they are from. To have 41 different personalities in one room is tough, but like I said, we are moving forward, and that’s a great achievement.”<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Rhod, 35</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S5vBILhX1IRdrRy8hTxL5x9jhl-KAvURykyYQClCIedtVJ5W7MMUNfJsPG-AF7jM4Dy_eFAZLIdv1IIbNJu0KACnYvq8H1YbGE30HEpnnRX2Nyp1NdWu3dqkb37V5-SPDXcq826ETmI/s1600-h/Rhod.jpg"></a></strong></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309826169169998290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX01hbkDRxG7Xmf8hgVfE_K1kB2ZL9r5BiiBCFI7F1ovTepxv90cFoRL9dUyc0xBPVmQ0y7C0heLJKhZpRviK74uKfxy6zMFyodTdM9BEux9GYmuXO-5Ca6x3sNKicVSLyQc_6spUSo8E/s400/Rhod.jpg" border="0" /> <div>"From a small mining town called Ponypridd in South Wales U.K. Had many different professions ranging from firefighting to helicopter/mountain rescue work, from mountain guiding to personal training and self employed contractor. Passions are my family, close friends and outdoor pursuits (climbing, mtn biking etc.)"<br /><br />“Overall I’ve been surprised at the amount of educational material that has been thrust at us. The challenge lies in sifting through what is pertinent and what is not.”<br /><br />“The one thing that has struck me the most is the great number of positive human qualities I’ve observed from all our departmental instructors. They are passionate about their work, their families and achieving longevity in their (and our) chosen professions.”</div></div></div></div>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-58571841947031292302009-02-26T07:46:00.000-08:002009-02-26T08:05:36.053-08:00Graphical…!<div align="left">So, to balance out the heaviness of the last posting, I thought I’d throw in something a bit more light-hearted. Who doesn’t like a few good pics, eh?<br /><br />(Especially when they’re of such attractive people.)<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307134189652267330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYOXSGL0Prt5_5RVP1IQkP1sLQNl_A3r_gn__RImVHRCWdOixK6MCfpUFhmKK2aWsKwulLDsQvD-BpzjA-msaCWf0-imittpNRe-30VYpsl096KjzDTWJweDKTEucKszRGn8-E34hXDo/s400/Red+Rocks+1.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em>Our sometimes-gym. A kind of brutal beauty I think…<br />especially when you add some quad-burn to the mix.<br /></em></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307136305239430962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZuQKgjSotALHpTU1Mg45-mJ_CfNpxRiIMZ8giYSdGn-YESGWttWY1k9cgLOkC7IXgxZKrLKyHCGE0bu-htcvq3oAaefe7kxLs1-E1Ss2Ek4QUUMx2Aff8-bQ_kL3cCLTeLlljx-o0zA/s400/Red+Rocks+Warmups.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p align="center"><em>The class during warmups. </em></p><p><em></em> </p><p><em> </p><p align="center"><br /></p></em><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307134733105782514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHVgO9H1A-5mz-oYJfCYTVy8d2SbyNrZzrQ3VeoGieF5gC32mqW-NIlOFqe2Vffc1Wai9t6iQIftF1M8-O3iI9lCvRU3Rm6SLWzRyCRnceB9UbFEvrSdIlwAiq9oNzvT5gZ1WJr6Qqw4/s400/Red+Rocks+Stairs+Waiting.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>Waiting at the bottom of the stairs (waiting to RUN UP).<br />Yours truly at left, Lance to the right of me, with Mike,<br />Anthony and the rest of the crew behind.</em><br /></p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><br /><br /> </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307134885289004994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTVHsIPkdmVzrL7MmylCZhkW-SoFjWbjLXSThJOWUQYlsT17c7iDuzsG-fv_cFDxqIRYv1Eh-ZvNuKLYmnI09fTw8-Y-zLeQkitaoG1RGFpk9Z5WAspH_OEFPczm7ayvzsb8ufr3aL5s/s400/bandaged_up.jpg" border="0" /><br /><em>Cody complete with expertly administered first aid.<br />From left: Bill, Aaron, Cody and Chad.<br /></em></p><p> </p><p><br /><br /> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307135022370473666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvV6X4_4hFzmS-sYceEb-QSuRiSaI4q6GVFPizxw7VC_jLQ0B3X2h406VMl1u-sadyraqcgcjK78hck8l44WZqYsQt6VbyjCZTkWRjOlDrqK_Wj515rgthAap4SwDfVWBOoV4Tr42TBY/s400/Laura+CPR+Dummy.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em>Laura saving a life!</em><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><br /> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307135300570702226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RLeNSiPkWvCEF3GX2VWMvk0z4M_csCX65Fv-cHnUcTTF6F9VSXR04QmVxNDUg3ErLZOPxKQc74xkAkfv98-guFGYW1bkkRE5uCg4Q4d6L9eMmppw9uGMXIa76HOrtJiHD7Aq5WGrDU0/s400/Rhod+Baby+CPR.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em>Rhod and a little friend.</em><em></em></p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307135832999942786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7ivrwFY6f1RlnNf3macCptCLBsuHQKVyX1GG1642hFyJxPi4B2ptEZfW4joQiNHnx0vKn_weN7cIWhSOKJVVnARJtArkJvwFh4Ysc21cuXMO7xb0JJDtBHh8Ki96PbmSuGdDFx88xPY/s400/Emergency+Medical+Drill.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em>Look at that ACTION! We told Dean afterward<br />that he had his orange vest on backwards… </em></p><p><em></em> </p><p><em> </p><p align="center"><br /></em><br /></p><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307135975795996322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQXbKD9mUkc2u7pbu_tBLX06yLo1kkBhx8R3wzhLO14MFw8WO6VkZ9DPBVXVE7z_E_Z0eJdTTHdRHs3ww0aTlz_YsmQLEDyl594j8EJNla4mdrhHWmgXU3bJtoZ4chIWHk52nxvVdm_0/s400/Fallen+Officers+Memorial.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>And to end on a slightly more somber note:<br />Our morning Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Tribute.<br />Front Column: Don, Josh, Cody and Chad.</em><br /></p><p align="left"><br />Special Thanks to our Coordinators for some of these pictures!!!</p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-18853497565746151802009-02-20T10:50:00.000-08:002009-02-20T10:52:24.873-08:00Sgt's StoryThere was a palpable sense that we had just heard something special.<br /><br />No one spoke, really. No one asked any questions – certainly not about the real topic we had just heard discussed. Our questions would have seemed piteous, petty, pathetic even in comparison to what was just said with such quiet power.<br /><br />We felt lucky to have heard it.<br /><br />Sgt. Beaulieu had just finished a two and a half hour, somewhat impromptu talk and the subject was his experience as an assistant SWAT team leader on a fateful April day in 1999.<br /><br />He was one of the first to enter the Library of the high school, the first to see its horrors.<br /><br />I was struck, we were all struck by the reality, the shear and unapologetic reality of the story. This is it. This is life. This is part of the job, this might one day be part of your life, he was saying.<br /><br />There’s a lot of life experience centered, concentrated in this department (in any law enforcement department, I’d venture) – like some kind of dense, gravitational mass – a mass that other objects gravitate toward (even revolve around). Gigantic, blindingly bright stars that attract other bodies toward them, and at the same time radiate with their light and with their intensity.<br /><br />Experience. Knowledge. Sophistication. As a recruit, as a student, I am repeatedly struck by the people, by my superiors, so willing to open up and impart this wisdom and this knowledge and this understanding to me.<br /><br />It’s incredible.<br /><br />Thanks Sarge.Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-75992580680017113232009-02-17T07:54:00.000-08:002009-02-17T08:00:20.037-08:00Performance – Quantified.<div align="left">Friday was a day of testing – of the body, mind, and well….soul, too, I suppose.<br /><br />The morning academic test (our first) went well. I did ok…but could have done better. We’ve covered a ton of material in the first two weeks of class – most of it pretty varied. It was somewhat difficult to know how exactly to prepare and I spent most of my energies studying material that wasn’t necessarily needed.<br /><br />To balance the mental exertions of the morning, we headed over to the School of Mines Field House for our first physical training (PT) assessment. Good stuff! For those of you who might be contemplating a career with JeffCo, and are thinking about testing for the next academy….be prepared physically! I consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but there’s seriously some good competition in the class…and nothing can make you push more, can make you sweat just a little more than you thought you could, than your buddy breathing down your back.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303796098486945234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNC5l6xJGovEhZCh86dBIpLiqAP3QTLiCm0aPdFrUpcZQg41t53n9sCPpQrtgr_J5NJe2h8da5KjwFkS4vd1BLnWbX0CPLcwhPRg8yWmi9IKsdKLTJc-_zR3FVd1Ogi4eRcch4Us_9lc/s320/First+PT+Assessment+014.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>From left: Jeff, Geoff, Chad hit the mile and a half run hard,<br />with John providing the ‘support’ on the right.<br /></em></span></p><br /><p align="left">Max sit-ups, max pushups in a minute and a 1.5 mile run at speed makes for a good little workout – and we did alright. Our coordinators are cranking the workouts up a notch, ever so slowly. I just took a look at the schedule and saw that we have a workout at Red Rocks this Friday. I’ll be sure to take pictures…only the grimace factor might be a bit higher than these here.<br /><br />Hmmm…(thinking). It might get progressively harder to get my classmates permission to post their smiling (or, as I said, GRIMACING, mugs online). I’ll have to ask nicely.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303796512307536754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7bcXk5CNGIdxmud7D4TUM6hyphenhyphenDQKKRTfrVjHfpUVWpqLrA_-UfE96ApC7qxXiB3CaJ6Ilz1f2zlDarG4Vk0-OzapAfQMKAXx10txx51cBtEHyKWI9ZcQU0PBbtMX3vNkon8jBkJ4AryQ/s320/willrunning.jpg" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Yours truly in action. Thanks Lance! </span></em></p><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><p><br /></p></span></em>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-68569113978751125802009-02-13T07:17:00.000-08:002009-02-13T07:22:29.564-08:00Ready, Aim….Study!<div align="left">2.12.2009<br /><br />Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we have our first academic test. (I’m debating whether or not to blog about my own, actual results when they come in. Maybe I’ll just build a bit of suspense.)<br /><br />So, obviously, a good deal of this academy is academic. I knew this before I began. What has been surprising to me, however, has been the sheer VOLUME of material presented, and how intense the class sessions can be. Now, to be honest, none of it is organic chemistry or advanced differential equations, but there is a TON of it. Classes are typically taught in 4 hour blocks. Both the instructors (and my fellow students) show remarkable stamina throughout.<br /><br />What has also struck me has been the unarguable quality and experience level of each and every one of our class instructors. Chief deputy district attorneys. Doctors of psychology. Sheriff’s deputies with decades of experience. And even the Undersheriff himself.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302302245268433682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIzJ2O3VcP0SMrIT7IkFG77jVmKCt0MTvLR7TPfZkq8ltuEbNXG8A0QTovtwm3mWjvAoTW8kMBDdP4R4ZjhdgzDfgfPbMIBGA0-zMP0HX2KAkPKz80ZzB1NwpaLrVrakXvhW8H7w2m_A/s320/Undersheriff+Fleer%27s+Class+003.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Undersheriff Fleer teaches a class on Ethics and Anti-Biased Policing</span></em></p><p align="left">Nothing is more motivating than a teacher who knows what he or she is talking about; one who cares deeply about the subject matter being taught. Without exception, my classroom experiences these past two weeks have centered on this theme.<br /><br />And speaking of motivation…<br /><br />My nose will officially be in my statutes book (for at least a couple of hours) just as soon as I finish up this entry. Wish me luck?<br /></p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-70036019191276122622009-02-11T06:07:00.000-08:002009-02-11T06:14:42.342-08:00Our First PT!<div align="left">2.10.2009<br /><br />“I don’t know, but I’ve been told…<br />My hands and feet are really cold!”<br /><br />As a welcome break from the hours of class time that we’ve been experiencing over the past week, our first PT session was held Monday morning.<br /><br />Think cold, think 60+ mph winds…</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301542077437704402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcIZFzvIjfNUtQLDY8UxKSYvSM_anGO2Vsq_Uq16Yi2ROhgllkCzIO_BHzfF36HGJQS9JgiGYb835W2e0ypH8nCK0PHn36oUmQ8ktVrfIh9WPgYFlQVyiKX8IAPVvUtL9gjnrh8ezFoA/s320/First+PT+Run+2.9.2009+004.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Mike holds our guidon in the wind.<br />The pic may not show it, but he’s having to brace himself.</span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><div align="left"></span></em>I was half thinking that the coordinators would call the PT session off (it was that bad).<br /><br />Call it off?!? I should do some push ups for the thought alone… </div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301542560790153666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyjYkD-ufVbstFUTesga6C5EwNLBsHHiq3m3dsd38bN9nWIDFJXZXk9SDZGB_oJWfBloIQeNBXbjyzTWJykWLCkdxRF06SZsL7XhKZjN3ZfRPS7vuiSjiHDJlaQOXQS46qJ6WnxbL2Lc/s320/First+PT+Run+2.9.2009+011.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Running behind the Taj Mahal.</em></span></p><p align="left">They made us run. They made us push. They gave it to us just as they should have (all, including our Sergeant, running with us) and at the end of the 90 minutes, with our noses running, our eyes watering, our hearts pounding we felt better for it. We felt like we had a little taste of what is likely to come…<br /><br />(Stay tuned!)</p>Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-62532154204297887172009-02-09T07:48:00.000-08:002009-02-09T07:49:26.674-08:00BackgroundsA little bit about me, before we go any further…<br /><br />27, 5’ 11”, 175lbs, brown hair (well, in a kind of requiem for the hair I ONCE had), blue eyes. I have a degree in Economics from CU, Boulder which led me into a short, somewhat entrepreneurial career in commercial real estate finance. I grew up in a military family and lived in 6 different places as a kid, including South Korea and Hawaii. Colorado is, however, home. I’ve made it my home. Love hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and most of the other “-ings” that Colorado offers so superfluously. Personal interests include the martial arts (especially the Taoist internals) and this little workout phenomena called CrossFit. I’m single, have two dogs, and am very close to my immediate family. My social security number is 254 - …<br /><br />No, really. Backgrounds are important. They tell people where you’ve been, what experiences have shaped your worldview. The first day of class each of us nervously stood up in front of the other 40 (and our coordinators) and briefly gave the spiel. What struck me immediately was how diverse our backgrounds are. There are a few fresh out of school. There are guys just back from Iraq. There are a few with decades of diverse work experience. There are former contractors, former business people, former fundraisers. There are military reservists, ex military special forces, and a tough, tough young woman who just had a baby 3 weeks before! In that moment, if one was listening, one would have gotten the basics, the “macro” factors that make each of us who we are, and contributed to our selection for this academy.<br /><br />As some time has progressed, however; as I’ve talked to a good many of my classmates, and heard their thoughts spoken during class, I’ve begun to know the REAL reasons why they’re all here.<br /><br />Most everyone in this Academy gets it. They care. They’re devoted and engaged and smart and energetic and …<br /><br />I’m excited. The fires are stoked. I’m excited to learn and to work, to sweat and to bleed, and to a degree, compete with some very good people that already, after a week, I look up to in a lot of ways…<br /><br />By Courage and Arms! Hua!<br /><br />(They all get it.)Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572632116925219065.post-89037111270299472732009-02-03T13:56:00.000-08:002009-02-03T13:57:13.239-08:00Serious BusinessI have this creeping suspicion that I should provide a sort of disclaimer, a warning perhaps to any grizzled old law enforcement officer who might be tempted to read further: “Please beware as the potential for gratuitous, youthful, even starry-eyed optimism may lie ahead.” Consider yourselves warned.<br /><br />For the last few weeks it seems like I’ve been having a good many conversations about becoming a sheriff’s deputy. “That’s great!” some have said; and others have reacted with a bit more reservation when I tell them what I’m going to be doing for the next few decades of my life. “Why?” has increasingly been the question of the day.<br /><br />“You know…it’ll be engaging and exciting. I might even be good at it, and you know…it really is a pretty important job…,” goes my response usually.<br /><br />Yeah. I know. That last part…<br /><br />Ever since I uttered it there was a felt sense of inadequacy. It seemed that there was always something missing, something more, some vast depth to the words (and the thought behind the words) that I was only touching the surface of like a breeze skimming the surface of a deep, dark lake. In the back of my mind it felt as if I were saying something (mumbling something) as an afterthought which should have been prominent, should have been shouted and proclaimed with the fervor of a Sunday morning preacher.<br /><br />I was exposed to a lot today, a lot of ‘new’ and a lot of ‘exciting’ – but beyond the glimpses of arrest control classes and firearms training; beyond the briefs of law instruction and policy training; even beyond the animal-like glares that we received from the inmates in the maximum security wing of the detention center – beyond all this I was left with the ability to answer that ever-present “why” question to my own and to everyone else’s satisfaction. And it all came together as I listened to one of our coordinators.<br /><br />Deputy Johnson speaks to this “why” every time he looks you in the eye, every time he launches into one of his talks centered around some variation of the “take this SERIOUS, people!” theme. I saw that Sunday morning preacher speaking today, pointing directly with an unwavering finger to that little “why” question in each of our hearts as we sat listening with wide, unblinking eyes.<br /><br />“This is serious business…,” I kept thinking to myself. “Wow….this is serious.” “I think this is SERIOUS!”<br /><br />Deputy Johnson’s bullet hit its mark. <br /><br />Whenever that “why” question is asked of me from this point forward there won’t be any mumbling and there won’t be any hesitation. There won’t even be an explanation given, no long and intellectualized justification touching on themes of law and order, protection and service, freedom and security, rights and responsibilities; life and death even – themes which are legitimate and themes which law enforcement personnel confront with every buzz of the bedside alarm clock. Of course all of those things will be on my mind, and in my heart but none of it will be spoken aloud, none of it articulated. My questioner will simply hear perhaps an audible increase in volume and tone, and perhaps a bit of that preacher I mentioned earlier when I respond to his “Why? Why get into law enforcement, why be a cop?!?” with a smile:<br /><br />“It’s serious business. It is, perhaps, the most serious of ALL businesses. That’s why.”Recruithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09483145717795692392noreply@blogger.com