"Why should you be paid a penny more than the equivalent position in the armed forces? "
The military will take just about anyone.. in Calif it takes about 100 applicants, many former military, to hire 3 cops.
Joining the Marines was easy.. took the ASVAB which was simple, a few physicals.. couldn't quit, almost impossible to get fired.
The PD was a different story. Had to apply, if accepted.. passed a written test consisting of logic, IQ, "flags".. Passed an oral interview, then 3
phases of physical tests.. obstacle course, dummy drag, timed 1.5 mile run along with an intensive physical evaluation.
After all that, which took 5 months, a background investigation that took 4 months. Passed all that, then took the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory), followed by a psychological interview / evaluation.
Passing all these tests got my name on an "eligible for hire" list where I was ranked against others who made it that far. There were 3 openings and
10 eligible.. a chiefs interview decided who could attend an 18 week academy... we started with 138, graduated 71.
After the academy, on to field training for 6 months of being messed with, over worked and stressed out .. 15 hour days were common. Of 4 "trainees"
in my cycle, 2 washed out.
Then I was on probation for 18 months, during which the dept could fire me at any time. Once off probation I was awarded a POST (Police Officer
Standards and Training) certificate which afforded me AB301 rights where I could challenge any punitive action via various hearings... that's why I
made $38 per hour plus benefits.
edit on 14-7-2011 by GovtFlu because: spelling